13 January 2021 – Members Consultation: Zoom Meeting

Owned by Bruce Diekman
Last updated: Jan 19, 2021
4 min read




Date13 January 2021

Time

7.00 PM – 8.30 PM
Location

via Zoom Meeting

Meeting opened at7.00 PM
Meeting closed at8.40 PM
FacilitatorBruce Diekman, other MC members
Minute takerMeeting & Zoom 'chat' will be recorded
Timekeeper

The meeting is proposed to last for 90 minutes. Timings have been allocated accordingly to each main section of the Agenda – but can only be approximate, and may vary as we proceed.

Please respect other participants, and their right to speak, using Zoom's Hand Raised, Hand Down and Mute options where necessary.

Next meeting dateWednesday 20 January, 7.00 PM


Acknowledgement of Country: Before we begin the meeting, I would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the traditional owners, both past and present, of the land we occupy and upon which we meet — the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. It is also upon their ancestral lands that Alfalfa House is built.


1. Attendance and Apologies

Attendance (MC): 

Attendance (Members):

Apologies: 

2. Statement from the MC

The Members' Council is of the view that, unless there is significant and urgent, active member support to improve Alfalfa House's declining fortunes, there will be no option but to close our shopfront doors in the near future.

This is an extremely regrettable situation, but something we must face head on and together. The best case scenario may be that the Alfalfa House Co-op entity can still be salvaged, to rise again another day, in another form.

(PLEASE note that the Co-operative is separate from our retail business which has been trading at 113 Enmore Road for over 30 years).

The success of our efforts can only depend on your energies, follow-through and support as active members.

We welcome your INPUT, THOUGHTS & ACTION tonight.

MOST IMPORTANTLY PLEASE KEEP SUPPORTING ALFALFA HOUSE by continuing to shop with us, and in any other ways you can.

If you have questions or require more information on anything in this Agenda, please contact us at: alfalfamc@googlegroups.com

3. Background information

PLEASE READ the minutes and record of our previous Zoom Consultation Meeting on January 6 which further explain our current circumstances, and sets out ways YOU CAN HELP!

There is also plenty of background in attached and linked to our 2020 Annual General Meeting minutes, and earlier communications and newsletters.

3. Our current Financial, Operating & Legal Position at 13th January 2021 (10 minutes)

To be reported on.

4. Financial Position at 31 December 2020

The following spreadsheets provide a snapshot of our Financial Postion at the end of 2020.

5. What has happened since last week (10 minutes)

5.1 Non-compulsory 2021 Annual Subscription Fee announced

This has been announced to members via our email newsletter and social media. A5 flyers for members are also in the shop from this week.

The initial response has been encouraging.

5.2 Temporary removal of the 20% vounteer discount

The 10% standard discount will still apply, however members can elect NOT to receive this if they choose to support us in this way. This has also been announced today via the member newsletter, and social media.

5.3 January shop hours have been adjusted

Shop hours have been adjusted to make it easier for more members to shop, primarily between 5.00 and 6.00pm. We will also re-open on Sundays.

From 11 January, the shop will now be OPEN from:

  • MONDAY to FRIDAY – 11.00am to 6.00pm
  • SATURDAY – 10.00am to 5.00pm
  • SUNDAY – 11.00am to 4.00pm

We intend to keep the shop stocked with fresh produce (i.e. fruit and vegetables) at least until the end of January, but will reduce our grocery orders as the month proceeds, so as not to be left overstocked if closure does go ahead.

5.3 Working group, business case for stay option?

As co-working group with AH 2.0 Team?

5.4 Working group set up to develop a formal Business Plan for AH 2.0 (20 minutes)

Cyrus is heading this vounteer group. He can be contacted by email on: cyrus957@gmail.com

The AH 2.0 working group will meet this Thursday 14 January from 7.00PM  to 9.00PM upstairs at P&V Wines, 64 Enmore Road, Newtown.

Their suggested Agenda items for that meeting are:

  • Summary and categorisation of ideas generated from members
  • Expert opinion of the ideas generated so far
  • Approach for deciding upon and fleshing out top ideas to move forward
  • Looking at models
  • Assigning people to teams
  • Timelines

PROGRESS REPORT: Cyrus, Peter

5.5 Member phone calling team launched (10 minutes)

Please don’t be surprised if you get a call from us, giving you updates and seeking your support.

To join our phone contact team, please contact Tara at: tara.m@arteconnect.com.au

PROGRESS REPORT: Tara, James

6. What we still need to do (additional to work already commenced) (20 minutes)

Conduct ZOOM POLL on Stay (current shop) or Go options (AH2.0) – Eamonn to explain, moderate.

Find potential storage space if necessary for hard assets.

7. Other ideas, options, discussions (20 minutes)

8. Next Meeting

A further Zoom meeting is proposed for January 20 at 7.00 PM

Details are:

Meeting ID: 815 5144 4391

Passcode: 209431

9. Please find edited Minutes for this meeting attached

Thanks to Eamonn O'Flaherty, and others.