LETS Annual General Meeting
Friday, June 6th, 2008 - Ecology Park
Present: Lori Sainte, Jeannine Crowe, David Baker, Tina Williams, Margaret Wright,
Kim Blodgett
We had a quorum. The 2007 Annual General Meeting Minutes were approved.
Membership:
Margaret announced that there were 10 new members from the last AGM up to March 31st, 2008. Four members have joined since then including Kim who joined that night. Margaret and Lori agreed that some members say they will renew and then don't pay their membership fees. Lori has been removing names of members who don't renew from the Green Page Listings.
Margaret no longer hears the question, "Is the LETS going to fold?"
Margaret said that the office hours the group has at the PSPC (Peterborough Social Planning Council) have also been helpful. Lori confirmed that members renew during these hours.
Margaret mentioned the Facilitation Meeting hosted by Linda Slavin. Lori has tried to respond to the member requests that came from that meeting by compiling the Green Pages and posting minutes to the Message Board. David said that moving the Markets around also addressed another member concern.
Lori extended the board's thanks to Martin Watkins and Jade Anderson for their work and their service. Margaret will place a notice in the next newsletter.
Lori felt that the group needed more small businesses as members. Margaret stated that we only gained one member so far from the Kawartha Christian Business Network (KCBN). The LETS kept its membership with this group despite its name change.
Markets:
Jeannine suggested that the group offer to pay for new lighting at Knox Church. David thought it was a good idea.
Lori needs new people to hold the cafes at Market. Jeannine may help in the fall. Kim was also interested. She also has kitchen handler training.
Margaret explained the trading post concept. The Trading Post is taken to Markets. Members post on it what they have to offer or what they want. Lori commented that it is working well.
Lori mentioned the door prizes while Margaret brought up the silent auction.
Lori commented that Summer Markets may not be convenient for members. Tina suggested that they may attract new members.
Finances:
Margaret and Jeannine agreed that the city grant of $1000 was really helpful.
Jeannine gave a rough financial report. The Green Dollar expenses have been high while the Canadian Dollar expenses have been low. There is more Canadian money coming in than going out. Jeannine insisted this was a good thing but she advised the group needs to increase Green Dollar income by increasing trades.
Advertising:
Margaret thanked Lori for her help at Global Youth Day.
Margaret mentioned the table the LETS had at the Folk Festival last year. She also mentioned the window displays at the library and the PSPC. Member features have been started in the PSPC window.
Lori said that the Newsletter Page on the website will be turned into a Gratuity Section to thank donors to the LETS like the City of Peterborough, Baskin Robbins, and the PSPC. A thank-you to the City of Peterborough will also appear at the back of the Green Pages.
Jeannine suggested that copies of the Green Pages should be printed as needed.
Lori stated that the LETS would have a table at the Folk Festival. Margaret said what the new rules were. Nothing could be sold at the table or we would be charged the merchants' fee of $60 Canadian. The fee would only be $40 Canadian if we paid by June 11th. However, the table could not be subleted.
Margaret has attended several meetings in the past year as a representative of the LETS.
Lori has a draft copy of the Green Pages done.
Newsletter/Website:
Margaret is still the only one working on the newsletter. Jeannine said she needed more people involved with providing copy for it.
Board Membership:
Jeannine advised the board that David Vasey was stepping down from his position.
Lori wondered if Gary Beamish was still interested in being on the board. Tina reported that he had not responded to the message she left for him. It was assumed he was not interested.
Jeannine will remain treasurer but she will get help with the bookkeeping. Kim will join the board as a member-at-large. David will be chair. Margaret will be vice-chair. Lori will be administrator. Tina will remain secretary.
