UKIAH NATURAL FOODS
(A.K.A. THE HOMESTEAD EXCHANGE)
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of Ukiah Natural Foods (a.k.a. Homestead Exchange
Cooperative, Inc.) held this meeting on September 22, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Board President Terry Nieves presided over the meeting. Jacquie Lee was
the minute-taker.
The following board members were in attendance at the meeting, as indicated,
and constituted a quorum of the board.
Terry Nieves, President [X]PRESENT [ ]ABSENT
Dan Hamburg , Vice President [ ]PRESENT [X ]ABSENT
Jacquie Lee, Secretary [X]PRESENT [ ] ABSENT
George Gibbs, Treasurer [X]PRESENT [ ]ABSENT
Nehemiah Bear []PRESENT [ X]ABSENT
Adam Gaska [X]PRESENT [ ]ABSENT
Mary Lou Leonard []PRESENT [ X ]ABSENT
Joe Wildman [X]PRESENT [ ]ABSENT
The following staff members were in attendance at the meeting:
Lori Rosenberg, General Manager
The following Co-op members were in attendance: Cliff Paulin, Ann Brean
& Joann Saccato from the Lake County Community Co-op
INTRODUCTIONS
President Terry Nieves called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES
M/S/C Joe Louis Wildman and Dan Hamburg approval of agenda all in favor
M/S/C George Gibbs and Adam Gaska approval of minutes Abstain Dan Hamburg
and Nehemiah Bear
Secretary’s Announcement - None
GM REPORT
The board members received the report prior to the meeting. General Manager
Lori Rosenberg asked if there were any questions regarding her report.
No comments . Lori received new publication “Leadership” from
NCGA. Please read copy given to each of us and give Lori feedback. Should
be get a subscription? Any questions- None
Phase I- we need more electricity. Traffic Study has been done. Anne
working on Proforma with Bill Gestenter
Dan asks - How much more electricity will we be using after Phase I?
Lori says No idea. Should be a 10% decrease in usage. We need a new line
for our electrical from the city. No dollar amount is known as yet. Lori
talked with Sutti & assoca. regarding solar panels for Phase II.
Phase I cost $l.2 million. savings Bank of Mendocino regarding loan for
part of Phase I since we will be using most of the cash on hand (1.6 million).
We should borrow some of this. Also,because if we do Phase II we will
need at least 30% in cash to get a loan. Lori will get back with construction
amounts.
Anne Wright discussed patronage refunds-equity draws and member Loans.
A member of the co-op would also like to invest some of her inheritance
with us.
Anne Wright would like to contact more banks just to get an overview
about borrowing money. Marty Lombardi(Savings Bank of Mendocino) suggested
all this . Anne will also check with national co-ops as well. The traffic
study available in 2 weeks. The Board will get copies.
George Gibbs said Sutt & Assocs. bid wa 30% over-what is going on?
Lori sais the electrical was totally unexpected. 30% is unacceptable -
Suuti & Assocs. rushed the job says George. Phase II -George wants
it to be done smoothly with the figures not jumping more than 5-10%
Joe Louis Wildman injected that we should borrow from members rather
than from banks. Everyone agrees. Talk to members at the member gathering
on September 28th. Joe will give a brief talk.
ACTION ITEMS
4.1 - Nomination of Cliff Paulin for the vacant seat on the UNF Board
of Directors. He will take Don Sanderson seat that ends in 2010.
M/S/C Joe Louis Wildman & Dan Hamburg All in favor
Cliff Paulin says thank you. He would like more dialog in the Co-op.
He thinks this is an exciting time.
4.2 Filling vacany on Committees
Election Comm. Chair Dan Hamburg -Cliff Paulin, Nehemiah Bear, Jacquie
Lee
Governance Comm. Chair Joe Louis Wildman-Cliff Paulin, Jacquie Lee
Committees - check your letters to get new members on committee
Lori will update list of Board Members
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
Educations Outreach Membership
Met today before Board Meeting. Discussed Sept. 28 meeting
Member meetings scheduled for Thurs. Feb. 19th 2009 6 to 8 at the Alex.R.
Center
Next meeting October 20 at 4:00 pm at the Co-op
Donations and Grants - No Meeting
Election-Nominations -No Meeting
Finance Committee-George Gibbs and Anne Wright met-went over 1/2 year
financials-pretty close to budget on sales for first half of year. August
sales low but Anne’s chart showed August sales are usually down.
Anne is tracking freight costs as we never had freight charges before
but now everyone is charging for gas and freight charges have gone up
25%. United Natural Foods freight charges are $9,000 a year-a small percentage
compared to what we get ($35.00 a truck load). We are geting close to
another Financial review. last year was sales tax this year maybe frontend
practices. Next Meeting October 13 at 4:30 at the Co-op
Governance-No meeting
Human Resources- no meeting. Dan will e-mail Mary Lou about next meeting
Local Food Security-ad hoc- as needed
NEW BUSINESS
6.1 Where is the Co-op going?
Joe put this item on the agenda to quantify the direction of the Co-op,
economy, global warming. Dan says scary tings are happenng - to what degree
does the Co-op respond to these situations. How pro-activ to we want to
be? We should discuss this at the retreat. Lori went to the NCGA Meeting
talked to Holly Jarvis a facilitater, strategric planner with Co-ops.
Lori will e-mail her about being our facilitator at the retreat . Dates
to ask about are Sunday January 25, 2009 or February lst, 2009
DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS
Director Reports - None
Future Agenda Items
Retreat
MEMBER COMMENTS
Visitors from Lake County Co-op came to ask questions and just sit through
a Board Meeting. JoAnn Saccato and Ann Breen thanked us for the visit.
ADJOURMENT-MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:45 ON September 22, 2008
Next Meeting October 20, 2008 at 6pm
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