23 September, 2021 – Minutes
Date | 23 September, 2021 |
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Time | 6.45 PM |
Location | via ZOOM Meeting ID: 816 8608 3368 Password: 085562 |
Meeting opened at | 6.45 PM |
Meeting closed at | 8.40 PM |
Facilitator | Cyrus |
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Minute taker | Janet |
Timekeeper | Bruce |
Next meeting date | 28 October 2021 |
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.
We welcome all participants to this Alfalfa House gathering and acknowledge our aim to build a community based on mutual respect and support for each other through acts of active listening, thoughtful and clear communication, sharing of knowledge and experience, and the creation of safe spaces where each of us can participate in achieving the aims of our co-op.
1. Attendance and Apologies
Attendance (MC): Bruce Diekman, Janet Loughman, Cyrus Irani, Tara Morelos, Andrew Whittington, Isabel Togi
Attendance (Members): Ran de Silva, Sandra Clark, Shaun Cavestany, Tom Bartels (from 8pm for Enmore Rd. competition discussion)
Apologies: Lisa Kwok, Jenny Kent, Sharyn Foulis (attended Woolworths Enmore Rd. community consultation).
It was noted that Jennifer Saminathen has resigned from the MC creating a casual vacancy.
2. Approval of Agenda
2.1 That the agenda be approved.
Moved: Bruce Diekman
Seconded: Isabel Togi
Carried by consensus
3. Consent Agenda
3.1 That the consent agenda be approved.
Moved: Isabel Togi
Seconded: Bruce Diekman
Carried by consensus
3.2. Adoption of Previous Minutes
That the minutes of the 26 August 2021 meeting be adopted.
3.3. New Members and Cancellations
That the 31 members (m'ship numbers 15581 to 15611) listed below, who joined in August 2021, be officially accepted as Alfalfa House members.
3.4 Co-op Grocers Ltd - sharing information
That the Alfalfa House FY21 Profit Margin Analysis be shared with the members of Co-op Grocers Ltd for the purpose of quantifying aggregated purchasing opportunities to reduce prices and costs for our members; and a cover email state that the data only be shared, accessible and used by the Co-op Grocers board and its specific delegates for this stated purpose.
4. Business Arising from the last meeting
5. Finance Report
Summary
Trading was down in August, but was expected after a spike in July during the lockdown. We are making higher revenue than in May or June, and all up August was a pretty good month. July and August showing stability. The lockdown effect was not too significant. EOY reports will be presented next meeting.
We were approved for JobSaver grant - $3,000 per fortnight towards wages. We have to continually re-confirm our eligibility. We applied for the one-off Covid business grant: still not 100% sure we are eligible, so still chance we may will receive this.
Adding at least two (2) MC signatories to our Bank Australia accounts: Cyrus’s is now activated; Janet Loughman has volunteered to be an additional signatory.
5.1 That the Finance Report be approved.
Moved: Bruce Diekman
Seconded: Cyrus Irani
Carried by consensus
6. Acting Manager’s Report
Manager Report_Sept 2021.docx
6.1 That the Acting Manager’s report be approved.
Moved: Isabel Togi
Seconded: Andrew Whittington
Carried by consensus
Discussion Points:
1. Togi will present about sustainability, Alfalfa House to the Aurecon business request. AH will ask for a donation
2. We need a new printer - approved.
3. Ran raised question about whether we can transfer money from operating account to other account - as a way of saving money / putting funds aside to pay the director loans. Andrew explained that Ran could do this, that how the money is represented on the balance sheet is how we see how our cash position.
Informally (before EOY reports are finished) Andrew can say that the balance sheet today vs the balance sheet in 2020 is about $107,000 vs $86,000. Cash position has improved too. We can discuss again when trading picks up after lockdown, since we are getting closer to be able to pay back the loans.
7. Member Fees Sub-Committee Report
The Member Fees Sub-committee unanimously recommends a new set of fees for 2022: a standard fee increase to $30, the introduction of a $20 concession rate, as well as a $50 gold membership rate. Andrew has scoped two sets of financial calculations for next year’s fee settings, based on us having around either 1000 or 1500 members. Please refer to the attached files, below, for more information.
Annual Fees for 2022 : see tabled report and calculations
ASF 2022 Backgrounder_Sept 2021.docx
ASF Options - 1000 Members.pdf
ASF Options - 1500 Members.pdf
7.1 That the Member Fees Sub-committee proposal be approved.
Moved: Isabel Togi
Seconded: Andrew Whittington
Carried by consensus
Questions were raised as to whether half yearly fees would create too much admin.
8. Competition: Enmore Vegan supermarket and Woolworths
This week a Vegan Cafe-Supermarket consortium, who are seeking to develop the vacant lot at 159-161 Enmore Road (previously Simplicity Funeral Parlour) announced their plans to enter the Enmore-Newtown vegan universe, via a media release, reported in Broadsheet, and Good Food. The Co-op also received a letter from the Woolworths Group (attached below), detailing their plans for the old service station site at 26 Enmore Road, and announced an online Community Consultation meeting, at the same time as our meeting tonight, which member Sharyn is attending.
DISCUSSION: The Vegans are coming to Enmore! Threat or Opportunity?
Competition coming from Enmore Road Vegan supermarket and new Woolworths Metro.
Andrew declared that although not a conflict of interest, he acts for the owner of 59 Enmore Road Enmore.
Vegan supermarket likely early 2022 and Woolworths in about 18 months.
Tom Bartels attended the meeting and addressed the need to use more public comms for Alfalfa House to promote itself.
Ideally we refurbish: Re-align the shelves (Togi); new liquid dispensers (faster ones). Waiting on outcome of grant application as well.
Ideal for a 40th anniversary fundraiser?
A cake and plant sale on their opening day?
How are we going to differentiate ourselves … Business Plan?
Personal service focus for AH, as opposed to supermarkets.
We need a team to move this forward
Tara: we need to also refurbish the website - invest in upgrade.
9. Staffing Sub-Committee Report – in camera
The staffing sub-committee will report on its plan to advertise the Manager position, and seek in principle MC approval for steps to be taken in this regard.
[LINK]
10. Other Business