This month we signed  to accept Technical Assistance from the North West Co-op Development Center in Olympia.

They are funded by a grant from the USDA and with the 2008/09 Grant that they got, we get to enjoy personal assistance from them.  We have agreed to email and conference till January when Andrew will again visit us and set up the second step of the program. 
We will start with formalizing the business aspects, and then work on the marketing message. and the business plans etc. 

It is a future direction for us all here.

It is Conference Time. 

This Saturday and Sunday we will be meeting at the Three Sisters of Clallam Art Gallery and Healing Center.  We will be happy to see you there. Be prepared for fun and time to talk things out  in the interest of our community and its cooperative nature.

Bring your happy and innovative ideas and see what support you can muster for and with your brain waves. 

Lets play, in the future interest of our community.

The Garden Group:

Al, Nick, Neil, John, Sasha & Autumn thank you all; have a start on the Co-op Gardens. They have dug and weeded, added soil and nutrients and planted and are now 'relaxing' to watch the growth of their endeavors. They will have fresh produce ready for the Co-op in a few weeks or days time! Humor here but serious as well, maybe it will take a little longer. 

Keep an eye on us for future growth and the availability of fresh local produce.

A dream come true.

Following our meeting yesterday, lots of positive thoughts and ideas were shared by the interested people. 

We talked about fund raising for our immediate small needs and our long term plans.

We talked about the needs of the Co-op involving a van (which is currently happening) for pick up and delivery and local delivery of orders, a cash register, pricing gun, card stock package, plastic sleeves, and a commercial frig.

We shared ideas about the future development of our areas, the impact of the contact with a bank that does small community banking, and its possibility here.

We shared our hopes and dreams for the impact that the Co-op will have on our community. 

We decided that it is doing a good job, and that it will continue to grow in the way that it is with the blessing of those who are interested in it. We will have one years experience up on the 2nd July.

Jane

Following our meeting today, it was decide to elect a chair person and a vice chair.  These positions are to be filled by Cathy Walde and Neil Adams. Thank you to these two folks.

Our next business meeting will beheld on the second Tuesday of next month, where we will discuss things that affect the Co-op in regard to continued quality outcomes for our patrons.

The following meeting we will be ready to review the Bylaws and the Articles of Incorporation specific to our Co-op to be ready for our transition into a Not-For-Profit Organization.  

Our Board members are Cathy Walde, Sue Heiny, Diana Goplen, Jane and Terry, Sue Zalokar, Nancy Messmer, George Konopik, and any other person interested in our project.

We are currently looking for a humorous and healthy name for our community co-op, please blog your suggestions for us all to consider.   Jane

Let us know how you feel about your food needs in the West End. What do you need to become self sufficient. Add ideas about job opportunities and local production .

Welcome to the West End Coop Blog, lets talk about food.
Any comments are welcome.