Island Roots Market Co-op General Membership Meeting

Island Roots Market Co-operative
General Membership Meeting
7:30 pm Friday October 12, 2012
Activity Room # 1 Bowen Park Complex
Nanaimo, BC

Agenda

• Call to Order
• Membership Report
• Directors' Report
• Financial Report 
• Accountant's Comments (review)
• Appointment of Auditor (if any)
• Market Location Report
• Consideration, and approval if appropriate, of the actions of the Directors
• Election - Seven Directors to be elected. Two must be Producers, Two must be Consumers. The remainder may be from any membership group. Two places are reserved for workers (when we have some) and will be left vacant.
• Questions and Answers on any related topic
• Other Business
• Adjournment

Notes

• Anyone may attend this meeting. If you are not a member you may join on line now at www.islandrootsmarket.ca
• You may also join at the door of the meeting.
• To be eligible to vote at this meeting or hold office in the Co-op you must have been a member by Sept 12, 2012

Life-time member Introduction: Owen Kennedy

Introducing Mr.Owen Kennedy, former Nanaimo city council member and now a life-time member of the Island Roots Market Co-operative. He kindly took some time to share his personal background with everyone and explain why he has chosen to become a member of the Island Roots Market Co-operative.

Mr. Kennedy has been involved in politics since about 1934. He was only 8 years old when he joined his first union, the Canadian Seamen's Union when he was 16. At 17 he joined the RCAF and arrived overseas at 18.

He worked in construction with his father until 1950 when he joined the Army and went to Korea.

He came home in 1952 and met Betty. She was only 16 when they met so they waited until she was 18 before they married.

They came to B.C. in 1955 and to Nanaimo the next year, where he got a job at the Biological Station.

They made a detour to Halifax where he got a degree in biology. Then returned to Nanaimo as a family of six.

He got involved in local politics and served 17 years as an elected official. He retired from his job as a fisheries biologist at age 58. Betty and Owen bought a motor home and did nothing productive until her death in 1998. About 6 years ago he went blind and moved into Berwick about 5 years ago.

1) How did Owen get involved with the Island Roots Market Co-operative?

In 1965 he joined the Nanaimo oil co-op and when the idea of a grocery co-op came up he quickly joined it. He is also a member of the Nanaimo Credit Union which he considers a money co-op

In 2008 he was appalled by the fact that we appeared to be in a depression and the government was exasperating the problem by trying to balance the budget by firing workers. This of course increased the problem.

Occupy Nanaimo arrived on the scene so he went to visit them. There he met Larry Whaley (President), an old friend. He told me about his work with the Co-op and he joined Larry, through e-mail. Today he is a member of the 'Roots Group'.

2) How does Owen feel the Island Roots Market Co-operative will benefit the community?

At a time when unemployment and poverty are on the increase, one group is trying to start the economy moving in a positive way. Starting a new fledgling industry can do nothing but good for the community. Long range this can be the start of an economy based on the co-operative movement where we could replace the greed of the capitalistic system for one designed to supply the needs of all the people.

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Owen was the first to support the Island Roots Market Co-operative by becoming a Life-time member, you can also become a member by signing up on the website

Island Roots Market Co-operative

Introducing the Island Roots Market Co-operative's official blog!

Mission:

The Island Roots Market Co-operative is about using the Co-operative economic model (one member one vote) and International Co-op Principles, to deal with 4 local issues:

1. A lack of good jobs in Nanaimo and the surrounding area.

2. The need for economic justice (a reduction in the income spread between the wealthy and the rest).

3. A demand for a greater say in our economy, the development of our community and the environment in which we live. Real democracy.

4. The demand for locally produced food.

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What is the purpose of the Island Roots Market Co-operative?


The Island Roots Market Co-operative provides a means to gather local food and other locally made items and the accompanying farmers/producers to create a year-round farmers' market.

We support producers in getting their products to folks who would not normally access them through farm-gate sales or by attending weekly farmer's markets.

Our organization stimulates demand for local production by making local food more available, particularly in the off season when farmers markets are closed. This acts as a stimulus for farmers, food producers, the local food movement; it increases our communities' sustainability, food sustainability, food security, creates jobs, increases the economic viability of agriculture and adds to the general well being of all citizens involved.

Cost To Join:

Requirements for Consumers:

Purchase of at least one share for $10 is required
Purchase of at least 5 shares for $50 is recommended
Purchase of 100 shares for $1000 - Life Time Membership is optional

Requirements for Producers:
Purchase at least one share for $10 is required
Purchase of at least 10 shares for $100 is recommended
Purchase of 200 shares for $2000 - Life Time Membership is optional

Supportive Organization:
Purchase of 50 shares for $500 is recommended

One share ($10) includes full participation in the Co-op's activities, please provide your support by buying the number of shares that your organization would like to contribute.