Thanks, Community Cultivators!

November 16, 2011 Board Notes

MINUTES from SUNFLOWER CO-OP Board Meeting

Sunday, November 6, 2011

PRESENT: Resident members: Erin Hickok, Michele Hallahan and Maya Smith Non-Resident members Patty Adams and Virgil Tripp ABSENT: Jim Hoadley

General discussion set out that the agenda would be described as: 1) set the intention 2) read minutes from prior meeting 3) discuss house updates 4) discuss house finances 5) discuss house legal topics 6) decide board positions 7) review this meeting

1. Discussed was the desirability of relatively concise meetings to accommodate busy schedules. This meeting came in at 1.5 hours which was deemed fine.
2. The reading of minutes from prior meeting was omitted at this time due to the volume. Maya will read them and make corrections and give feedback for revision as needed.
3. Resident members concurred that things were going generally well. The house is full; overall and individual fulfillment seems fine.
4. Board discussion of house finances was deferred until after receipt and review by the finance team of the appropriate documents prepared by Judy Henderson. Michele, Bobette and Dom comprise the finance team and they will meet independently before Christmas.
5. Board discussion of house legal topics was deferred until after the legal team of Emma, Bobette and Dom meets independently before Christmas. Paralegal Shari Tripp (spouse of Virgil Tripp and long-time friend of Esther} offers to assist the legal team if desired.
6. Board positions were filled after nomination and unanimous approval. PRESIDENT Erin Hickok;

VICE-PRESIDENT Jim Hoadley (elected in his absence and subject to his approval); SECRETARY Maya Smith; and TREASURER Judy Henderson (continuation of her position).

7) Some other topics during the meeting were discussed. Patty requested clarification of the various methods of communication re. Sunflower: 1) email 2) facebook page for members and another page for the general public/friends and followers 3) Sunflower blog spot. Also, there was recognition of the excellent work done on the upcoming new by-laws.

Dates were set for upcoming monthly Board meetings: December3, 2010 (2:30 PM); January 15, 2011 (6 PM); and February 12, 2011 (6 PM).

The special meeting of the House and Board is March 25, 2012 (time to be set). At this special meeting, it is hoped that the new by-laws will be voted on and accepted. It is also hoped that the method of disbursing resident and former resident investment dividends will be voted on and accepted. This is a show up and vote meeting. Be there.

Notice of special meeting, agenda, and copies of the proposed by-laws and proposed method of dividend disbursement will be made available to all residents and former residents by February 17, 2012. Due diligence in contacting these parties will be observed.

8) Meeting review was that the Board mix of old and new felt functional. There was round robin personal space. Meeting was adjourned by Erin.

Prepared by: Virgil Tripp

Annual Meeting 2011

We had a wonderful annual gathering yesterday!

The house provided an excellent Fall-themed spread including sweet-potato-stuffed squash, wild rice pilaf, homemade cranberry sauce, and pumpkin cheesecake, not to mention a number of thoughtful dishes from our guests. We took time to remember Esther, a beloved founder of our home who passed away last year.

We are planting a fig tree in her memory, and have ordered a carved stone to commemorate all she has done for us. Unfortunately, the stone arrived a day late for the gathering, but Dom produced a substitute.

The meeting ran a little long, as we have a lot of legal and financial choices on the horizon, but it was wonderful to get so much feedback on our hard work. Thanks to everyone who came, you all mean so much to us!

2011 Annual General Meeting

Meeting Agenda

i) greetings!

ii) critical thinking exercise overview and discussion

iii) board presentation

iv) committee presentations

a) legal committee:

presentation of proposed new bylaws

-q & a

-discussion

presentation of proposed new certificate of formation (a.k.a articles of incorporation)

-q & a

-discussion

b) finance committee:

overview of 2011 actuals

equity disbursement proposal

c) maintenance committee:

2011 project overview

                        -pest control

fall/winter 2011 & 2012 projection

-house painting workday

d) garden committee:

2011 project overview

                        -tree care

                        -mulch

fall/winter 2011 & 2012 projection

-vegetable and herb garden

-perennial planting

v) board reelection

vi) closing discussion

Looks Like Rain!

Our Garden...in April

This Summer's drought really knocked us out. We lost dozens of organic and heirloom tomatoes, beans, eggplants, peppers, and herbs to the dry heat. We focused on keeping our trees alive, ultimately investing $1700 in trimming and ball moss removal.

Planting seeds last week was definitely a leap of faith. Bobette put in okra, beets, radishes, bush beans, and other yummy babies.  Now the question is whether or not rain will come in time to see them through to adulthood...

 

Yesterday it sprinkled, and today we're hearing thunder for the first time in nearly a year! Looks like our fall garden might have a fighting chance after all :)

What is a Sunflower Cooperative?

Sunflower, like most housing cooperatives, is an established group committed to sharing living space and associated expenses. We Sunnies own our home equally, and our "rent" covers the cost of utilities, property taxes, groceries, maintenance, appliances, and so on. By doing so we are able to drastically reduce both our personal expenses and ecological footprint.

The "House" is actually two. One is primarily private bedrooms and bathrooms, the other hosts our community spaces: kitchen, den, office, and pantry. Through mundane daily interactions, weekly meetings, and the occasional party, we learn how to communicate, tolerate, and care for each other. Our house is a home, and we live as a family.