October Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Submitted by Charles Hueter
DATE: October 25, 2015
LOCATION: Arts + Labor
CALL TO ORDER: 12:05pm
ATTENDING DIRECTORS: Michael Handy, Charles Hueter, Scott Kelley, Kenley
Maddux, John Vinson, and Joe Silva
ATTENDING CO-OP STAFF: Nicole Renaux
ATTENDING GUESTS: Marcus Wilson
Call to order at 12:05pm
Public Comments
Marcus says “Hello!”
Consent Agenda
Kenley asked to add the B.8 Board Perpetuation policy monitoring report to the
consent agenda. Michael asked to add January retreat and Leadership
Development Committee (LDC) update to the agenda for discussion. Kenley
moved to accept it and the September draft minutes, Joe seconded, vote passed
6-0-0.
LDC Update
Michael reported all is moving along. New board members will get set up after
the elections and mentors will be assigned. The board agreed continuous
recruitment is important to keep a pool of candidates active and interested.
Cole arrived at 12:12pm
Finance Committee Update
The committee had nothing to report.
2016 Board Roles and Committees
Annelies was not present but expressed interest in the community project to
Kenley. Scott offered to help as facilitator and graciously suggested taking a shift
beer for compensation. Kenley said he would like to remain President. Charles
said he was not interested in being Secretary again, and the board agreed to keep
the minutes with the role. No one volunteered for the role at the meeting.
John said he would remain the chair of the finance committee. Marcus expressed
interest in doing policy monitoring surveys. Charles offered to be the board
packet assembler. The board discussed rolling action items into the minutestaker
and rotating that role among several directors. Marcus said he would chair
the Annual Report Review Committee. Scott offered to be the timekeeper and will
combine it with facilitation. Steve was penciled in to remain board outreach
chair. Joe and Michael offered to be director mentors. Joe volunteered to help
with minutes if needed.
WA Budgeting Update
Nicole reported that the budget was nearly complete. The Workers’ Assembly is
pursuing staff remuneration reductions to tackle the biggest budget expense
item. She said 2015 is a big improvement compared to 2014 regarding sales
growth, mostly due to lunch and keg distribution. Price increases, particularly for
food, are one option under consideration after reasonable cost-cutting that does
not reduce quality. The board discussed the long-term challenges of the current
ends policies for worker treatment.
2016 Board Budget
Kenley reported an overview of CDS on their involvement with the board and
recommended staying with them. The board reached consensus on staying with
them and on getting competing bids for future financial audits. The board also
discussed the pros and cons of a normal full board retreat versus a smaller group
attending a CBL101 event for January. Michael asked for training ideas for the
LDC and more financial training was the common suggestion.
Memorandum to WA
Kenley wrote and presented a draft memo to the WA regarding the money
challenges facing the co-op, the importance of maintaining compliance with
financial policies, and expressing support for their efforts. Board discussion
involved adding language about the board saying this to represent the members,
understanding the potential sacrifices they are considering, having faith in the
WA, and removing the definition of net income since the staff has financial
training. The board agreed for Kenley to deliver the memo at the next WA
leadership meeting.
BREAK
D.8 BSL Continuity Policy Monitoring Report and D.10 Electronic Communication
Policy Monitoring Report
Marcus mentioned the lack of a calendaring/event subscription system on the
website was a members communications issue. Kenley moved to adopt both
reports, Cole seconded, vote passed 7-0-0.
Ops Update
Nicole reported that there was no MISO update. The anniversary party was a big
success. The co-op earned almost as much that day as during a peak SXSW day,
lots of members participated, and several new ones joined.
Systems Audit Committee
Kenley reported on the committee’s proposed changes. The board agreed the
language was much improved. Kenley moved to adopt the edits, John seconded,
vote passed 7-0-0.
Adjourn at 1:53.