3 Rivers Food Co-op 1612 Sherman Blvd.  Fort Wayne, IN  46808  (260) 424-8812 Public Welcome!     Hours Monday-Saturday: 8:00am-8:00pm, Sundays 10:00am-6:00pm

Annual Membership Meeting
October 20, 2002

Our annual membership meeting was held on October 20, 2002 in the Granola Bowl, the space above the co-op. A tasty carry-in meal began at 5 pm. Member provided delicious fare including salads and deserts. The co-op provided some yummy Fall Harvest Soup, bread and drinks. An extraordinary Pineapple Upside-Down Cake was served in honor of John Young's birthday. Janelle Martin applauded the work so far on the Granola Bowl and encouraged members to volunteer in finishing this great space.

Kathy Roudebush, Board President, called the meeting to order at 6:15. She gave the State of the Coop address. A copy of the profit and loss statement was distributed. This past year was another profitable one for the coop, with a total profit of around $500,000. Kathy continued her address with a board report. The remaining grocery cooperatives serving the Midwest-North Farm and Blooming Prairie-have respectively closed or merged with other companies. Blooming Prairie recently merged with United Natural Foods, the largest national supplier of health foods. They will create an 3 million dollar endowment available for creation and improvement of food cooperatives. Eldon Horner, Board Secretary and Grocery Buyer, shared information about the Great Lakes Cooperative Grocers Association now forming with other cooperatives in Michigan and Indiana. A lively discussion of purchasing options followed. The board has completed its transition to policy governance. This allows the board to monitor staff, yet concentrate on broader issues of the myriad of the coop. Kathy also reminded members of the new organic standards which took effect on October 21st.

Location was high on the list of concerns of the membership. Kathy reviewed the options available for the co-op. Remaining in the current location would have an estimated cost of $500,000. This would address the basic issues of parking, drainage in the basement, flooring, roofing, etc. but not allow for any expansion. Various locations downtown have been investigated, with none fully meeting our needs. The Walgreen's building, at State and Sherman streets, has 60+ parking spaces, coolers & shelves, a loading dock, and is only 9 blocks North of downtown. The guiding principal of location for the board and staff has been to avoid debt by making minor renovations to an existing space in the downtown area with meeting space for community use. The member equity program, in which contributions to the liquid assets of the coop boost our ability to move and improve, is still the best option to bolster coop funds toward moving.

Kathy reminded all members of the upcoming board vacancies in January. Applications to run for the board are due January 15th. REACH, a group formed by Diane Dickson, is concerned about pesticide spraying in the city and is meeting monthly at the Granola Bowl.

The meeting adjourned at 7:35.

Respectfully submitted by Board Recorder, Heather Grady.