DUCK SOUP COOP
Board Minutes
June 18, 2007
Present: Peggy James, Judy Krajewski, Ann Mueller, Cynthia Nelson, Tania Nezrick, Ruth Peterson, mary Helen Polensky, Patty Ruback
President Nelson called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. The board went into a short executive session. At 7:05pm the open meeting resumed.
There were no minutes from the May meeting because there was not quorum at that meeting. Those present informally discussed reset plans.
Manager’s Report
The reset has gone very well, there were a lot of volunteers who worked and were very cordial, even returning to work when they were not scheduled to work.
There was a problem with wrong wiring when the produce cooler was initially started, but the electricians have taken full responsibility and that problem should be fixed shortly. The electricians did a fine job. It took longer to do some of the wiring because the building is very well built and this caused them some access problems.
The checkout stands are workable but not quite finished yet. Point of Sale system is almost ready to go and should be ready by sometime in July. Some details of power need to be checked and work with the trainer still needs to be done.
James mentioned that the staff learned many things about working under stress and with each other. Many good staff characteristics were seen and duly noted. It was an excellent experience.
Other Business
President Nelson brought up the question of incorporating as a cooperative. This incorporation would have to be done outside of Illinois because Illinois does not have provisions for it. We are currently a not-for-profit corporation. Such a move might enable us to use a rebate system instead of a discount system.
We would need to investigate the pros and cons of such an action. The president and the manager will check with the National Cooperative Business Association and the Center for Cooperatives in Madison WI and will report back to the board after the reset and point-of-sale changes are completed.
In the next couple of days a thank you sign with photographs of the workers will be posted in the store. There will be an acknowledgement of volunteer labor in the newsletter as well. Krajewski will submit a newspaper article on the reset as well.
A Grand Reopening will be scheduled for sometime in October. This will coincide with our anniversary date and also be about the same time as our last reset celebration.
James will make the financials for the end of the second quarter available very soon.
The committees should plan to meet again now that the reset is almost done.
Krajewski moved and Polensky seconded a motion that the April minutes be approved as circulated. The motion passed.
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 7:50pm
A short executive session was held immediately upon the adjournment.
The next meeting will be July 16 in the board room.
Ruth Peterson
Secretary