News you can use May 27th....

CreekSide Co-op Member Message of May 27, 2010

This last week of May brings more positive developments in our quest to get funding for our co-op and an even greater determination on the part of the board to not only open this co-op but to make it a success.

First off, a few points of clarification: Some members have been wondering whether the products and prices that are in evidence at the CreekSide Co-op Farmers Market at High School Park each Sunday will be representative of the Co-op’s offerings when it opens.

It’s important to keep in mind that in no way is the farmers market meant to be a direct representation of the products and pricing strategy for the planned co-op store. The board felt forming a farmers market would be a good way to create a sense of community until the Co-op opens. But the farmers and other vendors at the farmers market set their own prices and stock their own inventories. That’s not to say that some of the farmers market vendors won’t be in the new co-op; some of them may very well become vendors.

We are encouraging vendors in this community to bring to our farmers market as much fresh local produce as we can obtain, but the prices and offerings in the coming store will be set by our general manager and his staff with feedback from members and will be priced in the most reasonable manner possible to give healthy and sustainable food options to our members and maintain the viability of the Co-op.

Perhaps some of you have been members of a co-op before, perhaps many of you haven’t. With that in mind we strongly encourage any and all of you to visit the newest outpost of the Weavers Way Co-op at 8424 Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill and Weavers Way Ogontz, at 2129 72^nd Ave. in West Oak Lane in Philadelphia. The Weavers Way flagship store is at 559 Carpenter Avenue in Mt. Airy and is also well worth the visit.

Weavers Way has been around for over 35 years and it is a nice co-op. Visit it, take notes, form impressions and communicate those impressions to your board and to our manager Ryan Youngman. His e-mail is ryanyoungman@creekside.coop. Tell him what you liked and what you didn’t like about Weavers Way.

And speaking of communication, there are now four new ways to communicate with board members. There are four working committees on the CreekSide Co-op board, each formed around a crucial function. We encourage you to reach out to those committee members, offer you services or your ideas and gain a greater sense of participation and understanding of our efforts.

The four committees and their membership are as follows:

Finance: The finance committee is comprised of Fred Milbert, Max Minkoff, Michael Gaines, and Adam Silverman. The finance committee, which is charged with arranging the purchase and financing of the store and the management of CreekSide Co-op’s finances, has an e-mail address at finance@creekside.coop. Anyone who has expertise in this area and ideas about avenues the finance committee can and should be pursuing is strongly encouraged to contact this committee.

Communication: The communication committee is comprised of Scott Laughlin, Neil Wernick and Dan Reynolds. Its e-mail address is communication@creekside.coop. Any member with ideas about how and what the board is communicating is encouraged to contact this committee to offer their energy and expertise.

Membership: Board members Rebecca Condict and Rochelle Sauber have been charged with bringing in new members to the Co-op. They are planning a series of house parties and other events to inform more and more people about the Co-op and to encourage them to join. By all means contact them at membership@creekside.coop.

Fundraising:The fundraising committee, along with finance, is working to coordinate the member loans and additional member equity this co-op will need to cover its financial needs until the co-op gets its primary funding. Members of this committee are board members Jennifer Brandabur and Andy Schloss. Contact this committee at fundraising@creekside.coop if you want to help.

And speaking of fundraising, finance and communication, we continue to receive encouraging news from the United States Department of Agriculture on our loan application. We know that pieces of our application are being sent from sub-department to sub-department within the USDA and all reactions from those sub-departments continue to be encouraging.

We are also within a month or two of hearing from the State of Pennsylvania on yet another loan application from this state’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

We want and need to repeat that the reason this board took the action it did in pursuing a $3 million loan from the USDA was because it represented an opportunity to get a long-term loan at a low fixed rate. The difference between this fixed 4-percent loan and what the banks were talking about giving us is substantial and, to many of us, well worth the wait for approval.

We, like you, want to see this co-op open as soon as possible. But keep in mind that the average length of time to open a co-op is seven years, and we are attempting to pull this off in three. If we hear from the USDA by September it will be another six to seven months until we can open.

In the meantime there is plenty that you can do to help. One way is to contact any of the above committees and offer your time and expertise. This board is committed, but the more help we have the better.  Another way you can help is to forward this e-mail to a friend or neighbor who hasn’t yet joined and encourage them to join CreekSide Co-op just as you have done.

And lastly, if you’ve so far committed only your first year’s payment of $50, go to the CreekSide website, www.creekside.coop and contribute your second year’s payment of $50  and your third and fourth if you can afford it. We need about $50,000 more in equity and/or donations until we can get funded and we need your help to do it.

CreekSide Co-op is an exciting effort by a group of people to make a difference in the world and each member’s commitment brings us that much closer to success.

Sincerely,

The CreekSide Co-op Board of Directors

News you can use May 20th....

CreekSide Farmers Market Continues to Grow and Prosper

The CreekSide Co-op Farmers Market at High School Park had another record-breaking day this past Sunday.  With a total of 28 vendors and more shoppers than ever before, the Farmers Market continued to offer the community a greater breadth of local products including more locally-grown produce from two local farms.

This week we were joined by Tall Pine Farms of Rushland, in Bucks County. They hosted a beautiful stand with quarts of local strawberries, bags of baby salad greens and potted herbs that included Russian tarragon, savory and mint.

Also joining us this week was Kate Sparks of Lilacs and Lavender, from Doylestown. Kate’s booth featured potted herbs and a variety of beautiful cut flowers.

Members of the CreekSide Co-op and others from the greater community arrived early to experience the products as well as the excitement of the Farmers Market.  As the slight morning chill gave way to sunshine and mild breezes, the community stocked up for the week on baked goods, coffees, cookies, dairy products, eggs, fresh-cut flowers, herbs, honey, meats, mushrooms, specialty crafts, salads and spreads, seafood, teas and local produce; the variety and amount of which is growing from week to week.

The positive feedback, encouragement and support from the community are a clear indication that the farmers market has given Co-op members and others a taste of what to expect when the CreekSide Co-op opens. 

More new members joined the Co-op this week and current members continued to add to their membership equity in support of the ongoing fundraising that the co-op’s board and management are conducting until we get loan approval from the USDA.

The vendors continue to be delighted with the turnout as well as the friendliness and growing loyalty of the Elkins Park community.    Many vendors who are veterans of numerous farmers markets have commented that there is something very special about the CreekSide Farmers Market that sets it apart from most other Farmers Markets: And that is the palpable positive spirit of this community.

So we thank all of you for your weekly vote of confidence.  And we look forward to seeing you back at High School Park this coming Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm.

Arts in the Park

Don’t forget the “Arts in the Park” festival hosted by the Friends of High School Park that is scheduled for June 6. Because of the arts festival there will be no CreekSide Farmers Market on June 6.

This 15^th annual “Arts in the Park” celebration will feature the work of 50 juried artists and will be running from 10 am to 5 pm featuring live music all day.

The Friends of High School Park have been fantastic partners in helping to launch the farmers market and we look forward to supporting that festival as enthusiastically as this farmers market has been supported.

The Board of Directors and management of the CreekSide Co-op

News you can use for May 5th (Cinco de Mayo)

The Lovely Month of May...
 
...is here, with its brilliant blooming flowers. Also brightening and taking on more color are our efforts to bring this co-op to fruition. The feedback we've received lately when calling members for additional equity indicates that co-op members are reading these e-newsletters, and that they are becoming more and more aware of the challenges and opportunities ahead of us. So here is more information in an effort to keep you as fully informed as we can.
 

A Message from the General Manager


Since we've been so successful at the farmers market, we decided to share our success with the USDA to further underscore the need for a grocery co-op in Elkins Park!  We continue to ask our membership to bring us resources in the way of information for a better farmers market and financial resources for the bridge needed between now and getting the USDA loan.  Here is the link to the CreekSide Co-op website, or to contribute more equity directly, click HERE.
 
Those members that don't like to use Pay Pal or credit cards are welcomed and encouraged to send their additional equity payment of $50 or more to CreekSide Co-op, P.O. Box 26773, Elkins Park, PA 19027. They can also stop by the office at 7901 High School Road (the site of the former pharmacy).  We are there most weekdays until 5 p.m.  Call ahead to make an appointment. General Manager Ryan Youngman's cell phone is 425-367-9493. 
 
We have also been asked by members who are fully vested at the $400.00 lifetime equity contribution how they can help. Those members that are fully vested can contribute additional funds, either as increases to the equity, or as a straight donation.
 
To those of you that have already contributed, we want to thank you.  We have raised in excess of $5,000 in additional member equity, yet much more is needed.
 

USDA Loan Approval Process
 
Speaking of the USDA Loan, we wanted members to know that we are receiving positive feedback from USDA on our loan application. The USDA has stimulus money that it needs to allocate by the end of September, so that's the latest they'll make a decision on our application, but it could be sooner. While this is not yet a done deal, all indications are that they want to fund us. Once funding is approved, between bidding out the work, closing on the loan and acquisition of the property, construction and pre-opening, we expect it to take 7-8 months between loan approval and opening the doors.
 

New Membership Drive
 
In addition to the additional member equity fundraiser that we have been conducting, we are also conducting a member drive to increase our number of members. The talents and energies of two board members, Rochelle Sauber and Rebecca Condit, along with member/volunteer Pam Marquette are being devoted to this effort. By all means, those of you who are members and who have friends, family, co-workers or best friends for life that are not yet members, reach out to them and help us in this effort. At this point we have 1,220 families that have joined this co-op, and we continue to add more members as people in the community drop by our information table at the farmers market. Don't forget the Co-op website at www.creekside.coopto direct those prospective members for more information
 
 
Farmers Market
 
According to our General Manager Ryan Youngman, two more farmers are joining our farmers market over the next two weeks as this young growing season finds its first legs. We'll see you there again this Sunday in High School Park between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.   It's Mother's Day, so come buy something tasty to serve your family that evening!
 
Please don't be shy, stop by the Co-op table and say hi to a volunteer or a board member and introduce yourself. We'll always try to answer your questions or find someone nearby who can. And if you've pledged to add more member equity but haven't yet, you can drop by the Co-op table at the farmers market and add more equity there.
 

Sincerely,
 
The Board of Directors of the CreekSide Co-op

News you can use.....

Welcome to your weekly board and management newsletter!

First off, here is some “News You Can Use” from our general Manager Ryan Youngman.

Hello Folks!

Quick review – It’s been a productive week and half of moving forward. We had a membership meeting on the 15th. We also had our first open house at our office Tuesday night (thanks to all that stopped by for some chit-chat). Upcoming events- Since we have our direction (see last communiqué for questions) to get to the goal now in our sites, we need to fund raise to get there. We will be doing a fund raising telethon (call a thon) on Wednesday & Thursday April 7th & 8th. Our goal is to raise $75,000.

We will be asking for an additional $50-$100 from all members to go into their member equity accounts. With all of your help we can get there!!

Creekside Co-Ops Farmer’s Market at High School Park starts on April 11th. We look forward to seeing all of you each week as we dazzle you with fantastic essentials, like veggies and eggs and also small plate meals, ready to eat while talking to your neighbors!

You may want to even bring your own foldable chairs or put out a blanket and soak up the environment. A list of vendors will be available on the Web site the week before the Farmer’s Market starts. We are getting closer so chip in and help make this dream come true. We thank you and have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Ryan Youngman

And now, a word or two from the board.

Dear Fellow Creekside Co-op Members,

To pull off the Call-A-Thon that Ryan mentioned above, we need volunteers. All you need is a cell phone, a strong speaking voice and the desire to help build this co-op.

The nights in question are April 7 and April 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Please e-mail Ryan at ryanyoungman@creekside.coop to volunteer. We need 25 volunteers on Wednesday, the 7^th and 20 volunteers on Thursday, the 8^th.

As part of efforts by the board of directors to communicate more frequently with the membership, the board decided that it wanted to include brief summaries of the minutes of board meetings in our weekly communications to members.

The most recent co-op board meeting was on March 10 and the following is a summary of the issues that were discussed.

General Manager Ryan Youngman gave a presentation on the upcoming Creekside Co-op Farmer’s Market at High School Park. The farmer’s market is scheduled for every Sunday between April 11 and the end of October. Exceptions are the “Arts in the Park” date of June 6 and July 4.

Ryan said he expected between 10 and 15 vendors locally and from surrounding counties to participate and that set-up would start at around 9 am and tear down would be in the 2pm to 3pm range.

Fred Milbert and the finance committee gave an update on loans and grants that the co-op is pursuing. In case you missed last week’s message, the co-op’s board and general manager, in addition to pursuing a direct loan from the United States Department of Agriculture for $3 million, are also pursuing a $450,00 loan from the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

The board then went over details of the March 15 membership meeting, the details of which were the topic of last week’s membership communication.

A Brief Note

As some of you may have noticed, the old Ashbourne Market has been posted with a notice that it will be going to sheriff's sale at the end of April. We  have discussed this with the owner and expressed our concern. He has told us that he expects to strike a deal with his lender that will cancel or delay the sheriff's sale until we can complete our acquisition of the building. We believe that it is very unlikely that the building will actually go to sherriff's sale, but if it does we will actively pursue securing its purchase.

On another topic, the board wishes to send out its heartiest thanks to the founders and members of the Hazon CSA at Congregation Kol Ami. When word got out that the co-op was going to launch a farmer’s market, the CSA sent out a beautiful message to its members in support of the Farmer’s Market and the Co-op.

The CSA folks noted that all three founding members of the CSA are members of the co-op and that there are several co-op board members who are members of the CSA. There is a natural synchronicity to both organizations as they both support local agriculture and the healthy lifestyles of their members.

So, thank you Hazon CSA at Congregation Kol Ami for your neighborliness and your support! And thanks to all of you members for your continuing support of this dream-becoming-a reality of a co-op in Elkins Park.

See you at the farmer’s market!

Sincerely,

The Creekside Co-op Board of Directors

Local news you can use....

Report on the Creekside Co-op Members Meeting – March 15, 2010

It was a dark and stormy night…the Ides of March.  The place was Curtis Hall where 70 of your fellow members of the Creekside Co-op gathered for one hour to hear an update from the Board that covered the following:  1) What we’ve been doing; 2) The path forward; 3) CreekSide Farmer’s Market at High School Park; and 4) Q&A.

Most importantly, there was a discussion of all current options for funding the start-up of the CreekSide Co-op.  Each of three viable options was discussed in detail and the following comparison of estimates was presented:

	Developer Acquisition	USDA Loan Guarantee	USDA Direct Loan
Project Cost	$3.5 MM	$3.5 MM	$3.7 MM
Annual Cost	$300,000 - $336,000	$324,000	$216,000
Fixed Interest	NO	NO	YES
Loan Term	12 year loan Rent	22 years	30+ years
Member Loans	$200,000	$150,000 - $400,000	$150,000 - $400,000
Doors Open	11/10 - 12/10?	12/10 - 2/11?	12/10 - 5/11?

The deciding factor among the options for the Board was Annual Cost.  This has the greatest influence on the prices that members will pay for food at the Co-Op.  The annual cost of a Direct Loan from the US Department of Agriculture would have an annual cost approximately 33 percent lower than the other two options. This option is also the only path forward that provides a “Fixed-Cost” option that will provide the future of CreekSide Co-op a known cost of financing vs. the un-known of rising interest rates and/or rents. Even though this option would delay the opening of CreekSide Co-op by several months when compared to the other options, the Board believes that the significantly lower annual cost is worth that wait.

The very arduous loan application process has begun and we have already received from several government officials much encouragement and cause for cautious optimism regarding a favorable outcome.   In addition we have submitted a Letter of Interest for a $100,000 grant from the Wallace Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development (HUFED) and have submitted an application for $450,000 “near-zero” interest loan from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). 

All financing options require us to implement a member loan program in order to raise up to $400,000 as part of the overall funding.  More details to follow in a subsequent communication.   In addition, to meet the funding shortfall between now and loan closing we’re asking each member household to make a $50 additional pre-payment of future equity.  Another option is to have every member introduce one more household to the Co-op.  More details will be coming this week via email and the CreekSide Co-op website.  There were also a variety of member-initiated creative options, suggestions and questions for meeting near-term expenses that include the following:

• How can we encourage members to contribute more equity or to make outright donations/loans to the co-op?
• Should we solicit letters from members to elected officials?
• How do we expand the e-mail lists or invite other groups to send Co-op news to their members?
• Should we send volunteers door to door in a membership/fund raising campaign?
• How about a member table at the Farmers' Market?
• What about gift cards towards future purchases at CreekSide Co-op as a way to raise money?

These suggestions will soon be considered for action by the Board.

Starting next Tuesday, March 23^rd from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm and continuing monthly as we move ahead with funding, construction and membership growth, there will be an “Ask CreekSide” evening at the Co-Op Office (former Elkins Park Pharmacy).  Board Members and our General Manager will be on hand to answer all of your questions.

In another major positive development, the Board announced that the CreekSide Farmer’s Market at High School Park will begin on Sunday April 11th, 10:00am – 2:00pm and continue weekly through October.   Clearly, there is a lot happening and these weekly E-mail communications will continue to keep you informed about the latest developments.

Lastly, the spirit of Monday’s meeting was upbeat and positive.  The Board is so grateful for the support, energy and encouragement that we continue to receive from the Creekside Co-Op community.  It is your confidence and positive feedback that remind us every day about the mission that we have been empowered by you to accomplish.  It remains our privilege and our pleasure to be doing this work on behalf of the community.