Board of Directors
MEETING MINUTES
October 23, 2022 - 1:00 pm
Hosted in EFC Downtown Store, 34 N. Park Row
Attending: President - Shari Gross, Vice President - Alison Kaminski, Secretary - Kevin Schaaf, Directors: Liz Bugbee, Derek Golembeski & Chauncey Dumbya Brown, Board Assistant - Alethea Bodine Absent: Treasurer - Michael Barron; Directors: Amanda Gates and Joelyn Bush
Staff Personnel: Chief Executive Officer/General Manager - LeAnna Nieratko; Marketing Manager - Heidi Yeagle, 26th St. Store Manager - Chad Sedwick, IT Manager - Jason Mucio, HR Manager - Chris Wrobel, Marketing Associate - Ash Smitham
Guests: There were 7 member-owners present.
AGENDA:
Shari Gross called the meeting to order at 1:17 PM.
Introductions:
Shari introduced the Directors in attendance.
Review of Last Month’s Minutes; K. Schaaf
Motion was made by Derek to accept the September 2022 Minutes as written. Chauncey seconded. All were in favor. Motion passed.
President’s Report: Shari Gross
Shari spoke about remembering the request from the Erie Downtown Development Corporation, asking that the Coop consider opening another store and cafe in the downtown footprint of their development. And how adopting a name change was such an important part of this growth. She expressed her gratitude for the directors and all the supporting agencies, community groups and individuals that have contributed to making the downtown location a reality.
CEO/GM Reporting; L. Nieratko
LeAnna presented the Annual Report for the 2021-2022 Season to the small crowd of directors and member owners that were present. A printed copy of this report was made available to those in attendance. Printed copies are kept at both locations at Customer Service.
Overall, the Strategic Business Plan for the first (9) months of operation miraculously met outcomes for the season - in ways that only the EFC’s patrons could have dictated. Numbers from the 2021-2022 season showed the opening of the new location increased the sales at the original location, while new member ownership hit a record high. Refunds of equity were also at an all time low. LeAnna shared that the two stores have a strategic plan to support one another in a variety of ways that will be new practices for the organization. As operational support projects and construction in the downtown area are slowly and systematically completed, the EFC foresees even greater growth in service to the communities in their immediate vicinities.
Motion was made by Chauncey Brown to accept the GM’s Report and compliance with B1- Financial Condition and General Reporting. Liz Bugbee seconded. All were in favor. Motion passed.
Board Elections; K. Schaaf
Kevin gave information about how and when the voting will happen. The election will start immediately after the meeting and run through the end of the business day on Nov. 22.
Board Candidates introduced themselves:
Amanda Gates - videotaped introduction
Sarah Parker
Wren Holquist
Colleen Daisley
General Reporting; L. Nieratko
FYIs
Jar Library for the Bulk Department
Completion of the parking lot at 26th St. is well underway.
A new Refrigeration Unit was acquired at 26th St.
Delivery for online orders from North Park Row has been well received with plans to increase sales and delivery at Erie Insurance.
Thanksgiving Plates and Comfort Confections will be available through both locations. December Member Owner Sale is scheduled for both locations.
LeAnna went on to speak about the Product Policy Revision and why it was revised. Outreach programming will center around what “Healthy Food” means. The EFC plans to partner with other community organizations that champion public health and education by offering programs that are centered around food.
Q & A Period:
Why is the Community Room unavailable to the Member Owner base for public use any more?
LeAnna shared that the Community Room has gone into a bit of a state of disrepair that started as a result of the Pandemic. The plan is to address the re-evaluation of how that space is being utilized and how a surrogate space for the community can be created for the larger Coop community to convene safely.
Where do we draw the line for selling GMO foods? Much has changed since the inception of the Co-op.
Shari responded that the Coop still listens to the community of patrons that shop with it. The process in place still strives to address meeting the needs of the community that patronizes it.
Chauncey replied that the issue the Co-op faces is educating the community about what foods patrons are buying, what the nutritional content of that food is and where it comes from. She went on to share that she regularly holds classes with youth and families at the downtown Erie YMCA about food and how closely interlinked it is with our overall health as well as our ability to learn and live healthy connected lives within our communities.
Closure:
○ A Drawing was held for (5) $50 EFC Gift Cards for those in attendance.
○ Next board meeting will be held Nov. 30th, 2022 at 5:30 pm in the Community Room at the 26th Street Store
○ Next PG reviews:
■ B8 - Board Logistical Support
Motion was made by Derek to adjourn the meeting. Liz seconded. Meeting adjourned at 2:33 PM. —
Annual Meeting and October Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted for addition and revision by Alethea Bodine, 11/18/22