DUCK SOUP COOP
Board Minutes
October 17, 2005
Board members present: Peggy James, John Naples, Cynthia Nelson, Tania Nezrick, Ruth Peterson, Mary Helen Polensky, Kathy Stelford.
Other members present: Judy Krajewski, Ann Mueller
The meeting was called to order at 5:15 by President Stelford. Naples asked if the board should meet thirty minutes before the General Membership Meeting. All agreed to meet at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 13.
Stelford introduced Krajewski and Mueller as potential board members and they in turn introduced themselves offering information about their interest in serving on the board. Their questions about duties and board structure were answered by board members and the general manager.
Nezrick reported that DSC had a food booth at the Severson Dells Nature Center Fall Festival in Rockford recently. The response was positive.
The cooler doors are installed and it appears that produce and dairy sales have gone up subsequently. A good crew of workers installed the doors on Sunday night and Monday, October 9 and 10. Next projects include getting the lights fixed on the freezer and working on stopping the leakage problem in the cooler. After that we will address putting in new flooring and then the reset.
The hearing on the unemployment insurance claim resulted in a decision made in favor of DSC. There is a 30-day time for appeal, but if there is no contest, the decision will be final. A contested decision would go to a Review Board but there will not be another hearing.
James distributed the 3rd quarter statistics but indicated that while all numbers reconcile, she had not had time to do an analysis as yet. The numbers show that there was an overall margin for the quarter of .40. Even the deli showed a good margin. The income is ahead of budget and sales are strong. The bank balance has been consistently robust.
Further discussion of the statistical report will take place at the November meeting.
The contract with the deli vendor seems to be working well. DSC earns 3% off the deli sales with 1 % going to taxes. Sales for the last quarter (actually only 2 ½ months) were $5600.
Frontier will be changing jars and labels soon. These will be provided free of charge and DSC will keep the old jars.
The doorframes from the cooler were taken to DIMCO. The doors are available to anyone who would like them.
The minutes from the September meeting were approved as circulated upon a motion by Polensky and second by Naples with the notation that the beginning time should be 7:05 rather than 7:15 p.m.
Three board positions will be voted on at the meeting. Currently Mueller and Krajewski will be candidates and Nelson is still thinking about whether she will run again.
The agenda and budget will be sent out by James shortly. The major topic will be the reset plans. Alternatives will be offered to the members and their input invited.
President Stelford asked the guests of they had any questions. Krajewski asked about indemnification. Nelson reported that she had previously asked a lawyer about this. He had advised that it probably was not useful for the DSC board given the responsibilities of the board.
Discussion regarding fund-raising followed with clarification of our not-for-profit status requiring that we basically put our profits back into the business.
The meeting adjourned at 6:14 p.m. upon notion from Nelson seconded by Polensky.
The next meetings of the board will be at 4:30 p.m. November 13 and at 7 p.m. on November 21.
Ruth Peterson
Secretary