Peterborough LETS Board Meeting
Monday, November 24th, 2008 - King Street
Present: Lori Sainte (Administrator), Margaret Wright (Vice-chair), David Baker (Chair),
Tina Williams (Secretary), Jeannine Crowe (Treasurer)
Absent: Kim Blodgett (Member-at-large)
Administration:
The minutes from the last board meeting were accepted.
Margaret declared that there was quorum.
Board meetings will be happening less. Margaret stated they would not occur during the summer.
Lori received two information requests which Margaret handled.
Margaret and Lori announced that they were founding board members of Our Space. It is located at the bottom of the Brock Mission(217 Murray Street). David signed a letter of support for Our Space on behalf of the LETS.
Lori requested that board members respond to her emails more promptly.
Markets:
Margaret ran the cafe at the October and November Markets.
The October Market was partly held outside. Lori commented that it was good but not large enough.
Lori said that there was a lot of produce at the November Market.
Margaret found that the Lakefield Market had a fun factor she would like to see at the LETS Markets. Lori insisted that empty tables affected the atmosphere. Margaret and Lori both agreed that the atmosphere at the Markets needed to be made more inviting.
Markets will be held at the Knox Church in January, February, and March. Margaret has booked the dates. She also stated that the January cafe will be a potluck. The February Market will take place on the 14th which is during the Family Day Weekend and at the beginning of Reading Week.
Summer Markets will no longer occur.
The Christmas Market will have a snack table run as a fundraiser for Our Space. Margaret stated that the snack shop upstairs wouldn't be open. Lori, the Market Co-ordinator, stated a need for a second host or hostess. Margaret said Christmas music was needed as well.
Former members have started to attend Markets.
Advertising:
Jeannine asked about the availability of the zoo sign. Lori said that she had given a write up to put on the sign for the Christmas Market. She gave them her phone number for more information.
Margaret said she would be interviewed on Trent Radio. The interview would take place on Saturday, November 28th, 2008 at 2 pm.
Margaret commented that the library display was good.
Jeannine purchased a folding table for display purposes at future marketing events. It was in Lori's van.
Lori had already started advertising next year's Markets.
The display at the Family Fair was good exposure for the group. Margaret and Jeannine thanked Lori for her work.
Lori is still working on business flyers.
Membership:
There have been two new members and two renewals.
Margaret announced that the Knox Church had renewed their membership.
Margaret declared that trades were up. She insisted that not the same members were trading. She stated a goal for the new year of every member making one trade.
Lori showed the board a thank-you card from a group member.
Jeannine informed the board that the school started by COIN (Community Opportunity and Innovation Network) is looking for instructors. Lori agreed to send a notice out to members if Jeannine typed it out.
Finances:
The board agreed to pay $15 Canadian for 100 business cards. The cards were to have the group's logo printed on them.
Jeannine announced that the current balance of the group's account at the end of October was $960.81 Canadian. There was roughly $100 outstanding on this account. She stated that the group was financially well right now.
According to Jeannine, the phone bill was down to what it should be. The next three months should be free.
Jeannine had not finished the taxes for 2007. However, the 2006 taxes are done.
Margaret had opened an account with a new local printing company. The printing bills will be mailed to Jeannine. Margaret and Jeannine are registered as the group contacts.
Volunteers:
Lori has been approached by some Trent University students who wish to volunteer their time to the LETS. She asked for suggestions for work they could perform. Jeannine suggested they could work on advertisements on Trent Radio. Margaret and David agreed that they could move stuff at Markets. Lori further explained that these students had been involved in another LETS in another community. Jeannine also suggested help with grant application writing.
Lori stated that we were losing a volunteer.
Transition Town Peterborough:
Lori had attended meetings of Transition Town Peterborough on behalf of the LETS. She stated that it was the first Transition Town in Canada. Tina thought it was good that Lori attended these meetings to keep the LETS in the loop. Lori described the structure of this group and its goals.
Lori asked if the LETS would become an affliate group of Transition Town. Tina stated it may reflect poorly on the LETS if Transition Town failed. Margaret feared it may want to replace the LETS. Lori stated it would be better to work with the group than ignore it. David suggested that a loose affiliation would be a good idea. Jeannine thought the LETS could get a link on their website.
Transition Town, like the LETS, has a part of the Ashburnham Garden.
The next meeting of Transition Town Peterborough will be in the library on December 2nd, 2008 from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Next Meeting: To Be Announced
