The HWFC Board of Directors met on Wednesday, May 28.

Officers and Committee Assignments

The Board officers for the coming year are: President – Lynne Lekakis; Vice President – Linda Lawrence; Secretary – Jim Monsonis; and Treasurer – Virginia McEwen.

Commmittee liaisons are: Board Development and Nominations – Linda Lawrence; Bylaws – George Broeckx; Communications – Duke Bouchard; Finance – Virginia McEwen; Membership – Jim Monsonis; Nutrition and Education – George Broeckx; Personnel – Lynne Lekakis and Lenore Gensburg; Special Events – Howard Brent; Strategic Planning – David Seaman.

The Board meeting schedule was set.

Finance Committee

It was decided that the Board president will be the only director able to sign checks. Three managers will be able sign checks.

The Board will have a two-hour finance training sessions and authorized payment for this. The cost will be $75 per hour.

Bad Check Policy

The Finance committee looked into a check verification system, but it was determined that costs would be too high for the anticipated benefits. The current policy for dealing with bad checks stays in place for the time being. The policy requires that the check writer receive a phone call, and then a letter if the sum owed is not forthcoming. After an additional letter, a final letter is sent, at which time the matter is referred to the police and district attorney for collection.

Bylaws Committee

The Bylaws committee passed out their current working draft, which incorporates revisions suggested by the Board at a special meeting in May. These changes were to be presented to the membership for a vote at the end of June. The mailing of materials for the meeting and plans for the meeting were noted.

Strategic Planning

The committee will hold a retreat in August that will be attended by both committee members and Board members. The committee had extended an invitation to the membership to get involved, and found attendance at its next meeting increased to the extent that further expansion will be curbed for the time being. Current committee members have broken up into working groups. Each group is looking at various aspects of planning, including how to get input from members, location issues, a marketing survey and financial issues, to name a few. The committee anticipates presenting its strategic plans at a membership event in the fall.

Collective Management

The cash room renovation is proceeding, and was about half completed at the time of this Board meeting. The staff will participate in several training session on shoplifting and robbery with the Albany Police Department. The collective management team has also been reviewing videos to use as part of a customer service training program.

Staff members have completed the living wage survey. The results will be looked at, in light of Census data, to arrive at an accurate idea of a living wage for the Albany area.

The operations and administrative coordinator has contacted a consultant about doing the first part of a market survey for the Coop. The fee will be about $1,750. The Board approved this expenditure.

Executive Session

The Board met in executive session at the end of the meeting.

Minutes

Minutes of all meetings are available at the Coop. Minutes of the most recent meeting are posted on the bulletin board.

Upcoming Meetings