South Philly Food Co-op

Steering Committee Meeting

Monday, November 8, 2010

In attendance: Alison, Julia, Julie, Marsha, David, Rebecca, John, Josh, Cassie,
Mary Beth, Stephanie, Maria

1. Subcommittee update
a. Outreach
i. Julie and Mary Beth presented at Ignite Philly
ii. Sunday—first local business survey (food survey)
iii. new surveys for religious groups w/different dietary needs (Katie
Oxx)
iv. Kensington Co-op meet and greet at PBC on November 18th
v. they reached out to pastors to get into the community
vi. should we try to have a meeting at a church instead of SPOAC?
b. Legal/Finance
i. recommendation is to incorporate
1. fees for incorporating then fees for submitting bylaws
2. recommendation for Steering will be at next meeting
3. happy hour fundraiser soon (Devil’s Den, POPE, SPTR 1601)—
1st week of December (Tues, Wed, Thurs)---$5 at the door
maybe food specials

2. Letter to Fattah
a. CC Bob Noble
b. send similar letter to Bob Brady
c. Erica will sign b/c she lives on other side of Broad in Fattah’s district

3. General discussion: membership structures

a. Ideas from last time
i. Optional volunteer Program/Committee
a. prices the same for everyone but offer coupons for
doing work hours instead of discount
ii. Mandatory “initial” volunteer hours
1. would have to be spread out in case we have a large amount
of members join and then a lapse
b. If people are working/non-working and pay different amounts—not equal
equity
c. incentives to shop---points card?
d. 2 price system---members price or non-members price
i. how do we manage our prices—make sure that lowest price is the
base price, not a discount
e. Weavers Way examples: members can do cash back on purchases. Work
= 6hrs per person per year. Handicap(able) persons are exempt. $30/yr
f. what is ‘work?’ What about training people?
 g. larger you are, more policies, more things to do. Smaller stores can be
more relaxed, require fewer people
h. Everyone is non-working w/a volunteer bank—PCC in Seattle
i. some board members at other coops get paid so a wider variety of people
can serve
j. members could sponsor other members
k. Working: How should it work? 8 hours per person (adult) in the
household or 8 hours per household?
l. One equity share per household, but how much should each
member of the household work?
m. card can carry up to 2 people, then you need another card
4. Unanimous: we want the co-op to be open to the public
i. point system for members who work as incentive—earn
coupons/rewards
ii. easier to start as working-only and then revise as needed rather
than ask people to work later on
iii. Phases---it won’t be perfect right at once
iv. we like the member/non-member price
v. if everyone is required to work—no coupons/rewards
5. Steering committee proposal :
a. “Steering committee recommends that the co-op is open to the
public, that co-op member-owners pay lower prices than non-
member-owners and that member-owners will work 8 hours a
year.”
b. questions to pose: 1) Should it be 8 hours per person (adult) in
the household or 8 hours per household? 2) If each household
has more than 2 adults, should additional hours be worked?
6. These items will be proposed to the other committees for feedback.

7. Other news?

a. Fall membership general meeting soon

8. Set date and time for next meeting.

a. Education topic for next meeting: History of Food Co-ops

Next meeting: Maria’s house 1617 S 11th --