SPECIAL CALLED MEETING
FORMER DURHAM FOOD CO-OP MEMBERS
SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009, 4:00 PM
AUDITORIUM OF DURHAM COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (DOWNTOWN)
300 N ROXBORO STREET, DURHAM, NC

Agenda:
1. Personnel and organization:
a. Roll call and determine eligibility to vote of those present
b. Officers and Board--confirm that Jeane Bross continues service as president/treasurer, Christine Westfall as secretary, Dan Read and Tom Harris as additional board members
2. Review of recent business--sale of building, voucher reimbursements, payment of existing debts to vendors, debt owed to Co-op
3. Continued business of DFC/PIFC--buying club, lease
4. Consider amendment of bylaws: proposed to amend by-laws and articles of incorporation to allow disbursement of assets to Durham Central Market, or like cooperative organization that may be a profit-making venture, and to include that such payments may inure to benefit of members of PIFC (i.e. purchase DCM memberships)
5. Old DFC/PIFC debts:
a. Repay organizations that have forgiven debt
b. Pay old promissory notes that would be barred by statute of limitations (provided said promissory notes are documented in writing and notice of requested repayment is received no later than one week before meeting, i.e., by July12, 2009)
6. What to do with money that is left: proceeds may be paid out to more than one recipient. See thumb-nail sketches below of suggestions received. Persons having made suggestions will be allowed up to five (5) minutes to speak for their proposal. Requests for fuller descriptions (if any) need to be received by July 12, 2009, by email to PIFC_BUYING_CLUB@YAHOO.COM. Additional suggestions for use of remaining Co-op assets need to be received by July 12, 2009, by email to PIFC_BUYING_CLUB@YAHOO.COM.

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Potential Recipient followed by Thumb-nail Summary (alphabetical order)

Achievement Academy of Durham: Donate funds to AAD, which works with at-risk youth/students, to fulfill one of the core purposes of the very low interest rate loans/grants package received years ago from the Institute for Community Economics (ICE) to help residents of a low income neighborhood in central Durham.

Clean Water for North Carolina: Donate to CWFNC, which is developing a pilot project in collaboration with several partners to develop green jobs for youth in Durham to create street-side “rain gardens” to treat storm water from neighborhoods that drain to impaired streams (Third Fork Creek, New Hope Creek) and polluted Jordan Lake, as an attractive and affordable approach to a watershed wide clean up effort. This would be collaborative with neighborhood organizations and homeowners, with a priority on enhancing low income residential areas.

Community-building joint DFC/PIFC/DCM project: Purchase a bio diesel truck that would pick up local goods and produce from area farmers to sell at the DCM

Community-building joint DFC/PIFC/DCM project: Design and fund a specific garden space or gathering space at the yet-to-be-designed DCM that would pay homage to PIFC and offer classes or workshops to members

Community-building joint DFC/PIFC/DCM project: Purchase a fuel efficient vehicle that could be used to deliver groceries weekly by DCM staff or volunteers to in-town seniors and/or home bound owners

DCM/Self Help Credit Union/ National Cooperative Bank: Establish a start-up loan fund for co-ops in Durham, including DCM, ideally to be handled through Self Help Credit Union, being the local and cooperative option, or through National Cooperative Bank

DFC/PIFC Buying Club: Retain some of the assets to pay a few hours a week to an organizer who will publicize the buying club and keep its records

Durham Bike Co-op (DBC): Donate to existing co-op that functions as a community bike workshop and that offers skills and knowledge-sharing, a community space for Durham cyclists and provides hundreds of bikes a year to its earn-a-bike program participants; DBC has a fiscal sponsor that lends 501c3 status to its recognition as an NC nonprofit by the Secretary of State's office

Durham Central Market (DCM): Make a loan to DCM

Durham Central Market (DCM): Purchase owner shares in DCM for our membership (this require amendment by-laws/articles)

Durham Central Market (DCM): Donate funds to DCM with restrictions on its use, such as providing memberships for low income families

Durham Central Market (DCM): Donate funds to DCM for specific restricted use that would further the success of the new co-op, such as capital investment in equipment

Durham Soup Kitchen: Donate to help feed Durham's hungry/homeless

Forgiven loans: Offer to repay the orders of nuns who forgave our loans.because we are no longer using the money for the purpose their loans were to achieve, serving low-income residents around the co-op.

Loans from 1990s: Repay members holding executed promissory notes that have gone beyond statute of limitations if requested by lendor as stated in agenda/notice

Nonprofit: Donate to an advocacy group for those who are hungry

Onedurhameverybodyeats: Donate to community kitchen/organic restaurant/garden initiative on the site of the old Hartman Steakhouse on E. Geer planning to offer subsidized whole food meals and a variety of educational activities for families of at-risk teens in the Durham schools and the NE Central Durham neighborhood, while also offering organic fare to middle class diners

Student Action with Farmworkers: Donate to SAF programs that work statewide and regionally for food justice

Triangle Free Press: Donate to TFP, which has been producing a paper on a volunteer basis for over five years for the Triangle area, at considerable personal expense for several volunteers. They do not have formal 501 c 3 status so have not been eligible for funding, but costs have been several thousand $$ each year

Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation: Establish a Durham Cooperative Community Fund, where interest earned by the DCCF fund would be available to donate to nonprofits and co-ops in our community, with a group of Trustees to be the advisors to our DCCF fund playing a role in stewarding the assets

Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation: Add our remaining assets to that of the Weaver Street Cooperative Community Fund

Urban organic garden: Develop/fund/evaluate/monitor an urban organic gardening program (perhaps partnering with Bountiful Backyards or an allied nonprofit) in nearby neighborhoods surrounding the former DFC that would provide small grants to residents to transform their yards (and/or abandoned lots) into organic gardens; funds could be available for remediating the soil (if necessary) and installing permaculture systems so that people could maximize their ability to grow their own food. Ideally, this program could eventually include workshops on cooking with homegrown foods and other wellness classes.