March 2021
COMMITTEE CORNER March 2O21 HWFC Meeting Summaries
by Stephanie Conde Sales and Fiscal Performance (for 7 mos. ending Jan. 31, 2021) ∙ Ordinary Income increased $22,280 or 7.7% to $311,462 vs. $289,182 last year ($51,631 or 14% under budgeted amount of $363,093). ∙ Net Income increased $97,468 from $50,001 to $147,470 ($38,956 under budgeted $186,426). ∙ EBITDA decreased by $122,892 to $527,568 v. $650,460 last year (under budgeted $562,408 by $34,840). ∙ Total Expenses were down $81,057 or 1.3% from $6,362,771 to $6,362,771 (under budgeted $6,441,697 by $78,926 or 1.2%). ∙ Costs of Goods were up $361,254 or 3.7% at $10,037,646 vs. $9,675,776 last year (under budgeted $10,126,918 by $89,272 or 0.8%). ∙ Overall Gross Profit was down $58,777 or 0.9% at $6,674,234 vs. $6,773,011 last year (under budgeted $6,804,700 by $130,557 or 1.9%). Gross Margin was 39.9% vs. 40% last year (under budgeted 40%). Elections and Nominations Committee (ENC) ∙ Conducted research before selecting Survey Monkey for web-based voting. Survey Monkey working well for voting and ballot counting. ∙ Planned assignments for Apr. 25 election meeting. Recommended not including paper ballot in mailed notices to MOs. Requested Board of Directors (BOD) decide if ENC should remove ballots from mailers. ∙ Updated BOD candidate nomination packet for website posting and distribution. Requested BOD approve dates, provide candidate nomination packet feedback. ∙ Discussed ways to encourage MOs to run for BOD. Recommend BOD incentivize participation—offer incremental gift cards based on nominee’s participation in pre-election activities (submitting nomination forms early, attending meet-the-can-
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Honest Slate
didates events, attending March and April BOD meetings). Requested BOD support recommendation, inform Membership. ∙ Discussed developing process to actively seek new ENC members. ∙ Updating Elections and Nominations Guide. Environment Committee (EC) ∙ Presented proposed Environment Manual to Membership, highlighting goal to help codify Co-op’s stated environmental values into recommendations and guidelines for practice. Researched other co-ops’ similar manuals. Placed notice in Honest Slate inviting Membership input and participation. Began gathering info to inform manual’s structure and considerations for outline version. ∙ Met to reconfigure Zero Waste presentation with focus to reduce amount of content presented; considering two sections (for varying knowledge and expertise of Zero Waste and to avoid bogging people down with too much information). Nutrition and Education Committee (NEC) ∙ Completed Meat Chart format, design. ∙ Completed proposal for virtual farm visit logistics. ∙ Article on vegan milk substitutes will appear in March Honest Slate. Communications Committee (CC) Honest Slate submissions schedule: ∙ Finished articles (by groups or individuals) due 25th of each month. Committee articles require consensus or approval before submitting. April deadline is Mar. 25. ∙ For blurbs (short notices, announcements), email information before 25th of each month preceding publication. ∙ Request interviews for articles by 10th of each month for next month’s edition (next deadline Mar. 10). ∙ Next publication dates: Mar. 5, Apr. 8. ∙ Submit questions, ideas, and writer recommendations to honestslate@honestweight.coop.
This article provides a summary of preliminary committee reports submitted to the Board of Directors for their Feb. 2, 2021, Board meeting. See Board meeting packet for details. Full Board-approved committee reports are posted on HWFC’s website.
To learn more about Honest Weight Food Co-op committees, visit https://www.honestweight.coop/page/ committees-of-the-board-14.html Honest Arts Committee (HAC) ∙ Reviewed Zoom training issues. ∙ “Black Lives Matter” virtual show currently running through March on HWFC website and social media. Several entries will appear in store. ∙ Brainstorming future show themes. Membership Committee (MC) ∙ Orientations continue successfully using Zoom (in-person orientations remain on hold due to Covid). Materials distributed to potential new members updated to include new Bylaws Manual, Governance page links, and “What Boards Do” sessions. ∙ MO outreach phone calls continue. Feedback generally positive—members pleased to get a call yet not comfortable returning to in-store time investment. ∙ Discussed February Honest Slate article and removed language on “events only.” ∙ Agreed Jan. Membership Meeting (MM) presentation went well. Pleased with vote to enact changes. Format and pacing seemed to work for Membership. Updating MO Manual. ∙ First book discussion facilitated by Cara went well, was reported in Honest Slate. Next book Local Is Our Future—Steps to an Economics of Happiness is available at Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza if ordered in advance. May’s book event is planned in conjunction with another committee. ∙ Honest Slate to include call for additional MC members. Anti-Racism Committee (ARC) ∙ Working on plans. continued on page 10
Honest Weight Food Co-op • 100 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY 12206 • 518-482-2667 • https://www.honestweight.coop/ • honestslate@honestweight.coop