1. Attendance and Apologies

Attendance (MC): Bruce Diekman, Stephen Catt, Cameron Burgess, Tom Bartels by skype, Kirsten Lunoe by skype, Caroline Brakewell by phone,

Attendance (Members): Maurice Carbrera, Allie Cooke by skype

Apologies:  Ashton Roskill

2. Application for grant

While other attendees were coming in personally or online Cam reported that he was in the process of preparing an application for a grant for AH under the NSW government's My Community Project scheme (as distinct from Community Building Partnership scheme, which is for capital works) ‒ in the realm of $20,000 to $40,000. The idea is to film workshops to provide free online. Good PR for us. Waiting for quote from Chris Shapones for filming.

3. Grow Alfalfa Campaign

Maurice took the lead on this.

To date we have raised about $47,000. At midnight the Campaign will close.

Bruce and Steve agreed to be primarily responsible for contacting perk buyers and arranging delivery of perks. Maurice will make arrangements for most Alfalfa perks. Allie to do the others. Bruce and Steve to do the rest, and to work with Maurice tomorrow to get underway.

We need to allow for GST. Some discussion about this. Maurice thought that we needed to allow for GST on the whole amount raised (conservatively $4,700). Steve said that he thought that GST would not be payable on donations, only on what amounted to a sale of goods and services (i.e. the perks). And we would have to allow 1/11^th (a bit less than 9.1%) rather than 10% of the price paid.

Maurice said to Allie that roughly $18,000 was remaining to come through to book.

Do we already have the perks? Maurice said he would send a complete list of purchasers with full details.

Discussion moved to what to do with the proceeds. Steve suggested putting off discussion of that to the MC meeting next Wednesday (15 May) with a view to reporting at the open MC meeting the following week (22 May). Agreed.

4. Staff changes

The part-time roles of grocery and produce co-ordinators are to be replaced with a full-time Stock Manager position – per Allie, the start date proposed as June 3. Job description is already advertised on Ethical Jobs. Question of AH internal communications and other advertising was raised.

An afternoon shift on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday is to be replaced with volunteers. Allie will work on Sundays, thereby saving a shift paid at premium rates.

5. Store changes

Allie has raised options for discontinuing or changing the vegie box service. For now this service will be put on hold awaiting MC decision.

6. Membership changes

Allie raised a point about the 25% discount being available to all members of a household – this is part of our policy (not our rules) and open to interpretation – the intention is to close this loophole. Member discounts system is flagged for future discussion.

6. ASF amnesty April

MC agreed to extend this for new and existing members to the end of the Crowdfunding campaign.

7. Bank overdraft

Ashton has advised that he will approach our bank (Bank Australia) manager for a temporary overdraft of at least $45,000 – to be confirmed with Tom.

8. Major campaign communications

Advertise 22 May MC meeting to members. A question of whether to defer that meeting to 29 May was discussed and rejected – Ashton would be away for the later date.

9. Fundraising

Maurice reported that there were still 2 more events proposed ‒

• Plant and bake sale. Dorit and Yue (with an MC member?) were to organise and Mel was to setup.
• Then a celebration event, possibly at Camelot (Django Bar?). Currently thinking of late June. We already have an offer of 1 band.