CGIN

Meeting Date: 03/16/2009

Meeting date: 16 March 2009

PRESENT: Steve Cooke, John Eichholz, Dan Gillotte, Gail Graham, Alysen Land, Deirdrie Lang, Doug Walter and Karen Zimbelman.

STAFF: Paula Gilbertson and Bella Waters

A. MEETING PRELIMINARIES
1. The meeting was called to order at 10:06 a.m. (PDT) by Gail Graham
2. The agenda was approved
3. Minutes of the meeting of 8 December 2008: M/S: Doug/Dierdrie: approve the minutes. Approved unanimously.

B.OPERATIONS REPORT
Operations report. The board reviewed the operations report briefly. Specific items discussed:

• Membership and membership renewal: Most board members felt they participated in the renewal survey. Cost of CGIN vs. high level of non-renewals. Should ensure CGIN members are aware of the value of CGIN and the availability of the scholarship fund, especially for small co-ops. Need to address the strategy for ongoing communication about increasing the 2010 CGIN membership fee.
• 2009 membership survey: We shouldn’t assume that the low return of surveys was due to the online format, especially from the first time. Can see various comments related to the issue with the search function resulting in items needing to be purchased. Comments show that we need to increase educational opportunities for the various services on CGIN.
• YTD Financial statements: Financials are looking good. 2008 resulted in earning money rather than the budgeted loss.
• 2009 progress: CGIN will be contracting with TriPark for the design and implementation of Ask Cooper. CGIN did not receive the Cooperative Foundation grant. Food Co-op 500 is very interested in working with CGIN to update the How to Start a Food Co-op manual.
• Scholarship fund: KZ suggested that $5000 of the scholarship grant monies could be applied to the How to Start a Food Co-op manual update.

M/S: Deirdrie/Gail: approve using $5,000 of the scholarship fund for the funding of the How to Start a Food Co-op Manual.

C. LISTSERVE SURVEY RESULTS
Basic listserve survey results: Question 7, part 4, answers are skewed towards the strongly disagree and Question 9 is towards the strongly agree. Potential slow down on the listserve could be due to Facebook or the other methods people are using to feel connected with each other. Listserve is not going to be perfect for everyone, and survey results show that there are people who are comfortable and who are not comfortable with the current listserve. Listserve participants are evolving and the listserve should be evolving and meeting the needs of the subscribers. Need to be mindful of what the decision says about CGIN. Should there be marketing to promote continued participation in the CGIN listserve?

The board approves proceeding with the suggested four proposed action steps. All CGIN directors are invited and encouraged to participate in the advisory group for the operations listserve. Directors are aware of the concerns for going the route of a new, private, GM/operations listserve (such as what has happened to the U-W “Co-opBus” listserve).

D. NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT
Nominating committee has received e-mails from two interested individuals. John and Deirdrie will run for reelection and Doug will send them the board packet. He’ll also follow up with the two interested individuals and remind them of the 23 March deadline.

E. STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION
Portion of the meeting will focus on “Are we doing what we said we would,” progress on changes to the basic listserve and annual meeting plans. John, Alysen and Bella will work together to flesh out the focus and plan the day to ensure an efficient meeting.

F. ANNUAL MEETING PREPARATION
Current plan is to have the room arranged so that participants from the various listserves can meet each other and discuss a few questions, including “What could CGIN do for your group this year?” Doug, Steve, Dan and Bella will be the Annual meeting committee and discuss incentives, process, and chocolate.

Next meeting:
11 May 2009 at 10am Pacific, 12pm Central, 1 pm Eastern.
minutes by Bella Waters