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Note from the Board
Thank
you members who came out to the meeting on January 12th at Manson's
Hall. It was a chance to get up to date with all the changes that have
happened at the Coop, listen to feedback from the members and learn
about the next steps that the Coop is taking to become financially
secure.
We are turning the corner but have to remain very diligent to ensure we
do not overspend on stock or staffing as our store sales are down for a
second year in a row, reflecting the tougher economic times on the
island.
We will be able to have a much better understanding of our financial
situation once we have completed our physical inventory at the end of
February. A physical inventory is the only way to know how much profit
or loss occurred during the year, and is an essential component of an
accurate balance sheet as of our fiscal year end. Most likely it will
show a loss for the year. The better news is that with the changes we
have made to store operations, it is likely that we will stem that
outflow and set the stages for a better year ahead.
That said, the most important change still needed is an electronic
point of sale (POS) system. The benefits are many:
• always current inventory
levels on all stock
• much better ordering quantity management
• easier pricing control
• savings from better information flow
• ability to institute member accounts and rewards
• ability to offer member only discounts
• ability to track membership benefits
• much more efficient financial and accounting systems
• timely ability to track changes, make HST remittances, and more
It is a current goal of the Board to find a donor to help us
purchase a POS system. Please do not be shy if you can help us! We will
find a way to reward you!
We also discussed the idea of reinstating the annual membership fee but
it would be best if we could do that when we have our POS system in
place. Stay tuned for info on this.
We're also in search of a donor, or donors, to help with the $5000
required for the first step of the re-opening the café as a bakery. See
more about this below.
We also talked about the land purchase negotiations with the School
Board et al. and will let you know more as things unfold. If you can
help out please let us know.
The fact that meat sales have gone so well in the past two months
speaks to the importance of responding to the needs of our members. We
are here to serve!
We urge you to shop at your Coop because your financial
support makes the wheels turn! Do let us know any positive ideas that
you have, ways to improve and items that we could order if enough
members would buy it.
Lastly we have a wonderful volunteer Eva Boucek who is heading up our
volunteer liaison. Please see below for more information about this.
Local Vendors! If you want to get paid for
"non-consignment" deliveries that have sold at the Coop, you no longer
need to wait to the end of the month. As soon as a Local Vendor
Representative (Tanya or Kelly) is available to update your Local
Vendor Invoice for wastage or unsold items , they will submit it for
payment. Try to avoid seeking approval on Fridays - it is our busiest
day. Normally, a cheque will be issued and available within a week.
A GINORMOUS Thank You to Membership, Staff Volunteers!
Jason would like
to say a big thanks for all the messages of support that he,
and the
board generally, received from people after the meeting. It was
heartening.
The staff continues to rock the Co-op with their dedication
and donations of many hours every week to make the place beautiful and
well-stocked.
THANK YOU from your board: Jason Andrews - Finance
Committee; Julian Ayers - Bakery
Committee; Ron Bazar - President; Jude Marentette - Secretary;
Jasmine Lawrence - Staff Rep; and, Richard Andrews - Property Purchase
Committee.
Did I Hear You Say 'In-store Bakery'?!
Yes, it’s true...
We are planning to have our in-store bakery open in February, hopefully
by Valentine’s Day!
To keep within our financial parameters, the re-opening of the café
is going to be a gradual process. As a 3-phase project, it’ll start
with an increased selection of freshly-baked goods to be sold at the
store’s bakery table, just inside the main door. In addition to coffee,
we will offer bread, cookies, bars, scones, phyllo pastries and muffins.
The café seating will remained closed for the first two phases. The
second phase begins in April. To the great selection of baked goods,
more savoury fare will be available for take-out and home consumption.
Also, bread
production will be increased to sell to other
bakeries and suppliers, as well as flatbreads, ethnic breads, etc.
Lastly (drum roll please!), by the May long weekend, or sooner if it is
busy, the seating area, patio and coffee bar inside the café will be
re-opened. Because we have no indoor toilets, we will qualify for a
“take-out”, with limited seating and no public washrooms required for a
Health Operating Permit.
You’ll be able to enjoy the juice bar, baked goods, prepared foods,
specialty coffees and take out, with full service at the bar. As the
summer market increases, so will the menu.
If we are better prepared to weather next winter’s slow season, the
board is optimistic we can afford to operate the coffee bar/bakery on a
year-round basis, until such times as the land is purchased, we install
a septic system, and re-open the café.
Many things are still needed for the bakery to open on time, including
volunteer help, and donations of labor, money and materials. If you
would like to help the Bakery Committee get the job done and have some
fun this winter, please contact our new Volunteer Coordinator, Eva
Boucek, or talk to store staff.
We know many of you really want to enjoy
the space and the food again, and we heartily welcome you to be a part
of making this happen!
New Bi-Monthly Member Draw!
Congratulations to Nori Fletcher
and Bill Andrews!! They were winners of our
bi-monthly draws for a $25 gift certificate & free movie. You
could win too!
Place your name & phone number on your receipt and
into the beautiful and colourful (AND larger) box with happy faces all
over it. It begs for your receipts of over $25. We draw names
every two
weeks. Thanks Cortes!
New & Local Products!
iChoc
by Vivani Don't pass up these bars because of
their trendy
name. This is chocolate for all styles and ages! Vivani's latest Gold
award, by the German
Agriculture Association, was for all of the iChoc chocolates in which
they use the finest organic chocolate. When you
purchase
iChoc products you are benefiting not only your own well-being, but
also giving Latin American and African farmers the chance to engage in
healthy agricultural techniques. Read More >>>
Bob's Red Mill Wheat-free
Oats are produced using time-honored techniques, like
grinding whole grains at cool temperatures with a traditional stone
mill. The oats are higher quality and taste fresher! Read More >>>
Skinny
Chips
are baked, natural and delicious! And this tasty snack is guilt-free:
no extra calories, cholesterol, or a whole lot of fat - especially
those undesirable trans fats found in so many snacks.
You can eat 1 serving of Skinny Chips (approx. 2 cups) and feel more
satisfied than after eating an
entire bag of most snacks.
Nancy's Non-Fat Yogurt is made with fresh,
non-fat milk and live cultures. It's unsweetened and is fully
cultured with billions of live probiotics per spoonful. Simple, rich,
real food!
Read More >>>
O.N.E. Kids
Coconut Raspberry Lemonade Drink Boxes are great tasting,
super hydrating and nutritious beverages. With a coconut water
base and fruit juice added for extra flavour, it has less sugar than
typical fruit juices. The cool, slightly sweet water from inside a
young, green coconut contains some of the same electrolytes found in
blood, and is a good source of potassium. It's also one of the best
ways to hydrate. They're great for active kids! Read More >>>
Job Postings at the Co-op!
Natural Foods Store Manager Wanted
CNFC requires the talents of a full-time
natural foods store manager. The successful applicant will have proven
experience in, and would eventually oversee the following areas:
personnel, budgeting, financial reporting, facility maintenance,
purchasing, inventory system management, sales, promotions, pricing,
and merchandising. Prior experience administrating a Point of Sales
system would be an advantage.
Your excellent communication and inter-personal skills would help
establish and maintain good relations with staff, membership, board,
community, local producers, vendors and agencies. You have the ability
to attend to a wide variety of operational details, while working
toward long-term goals for the improved overall efficiency of the coop.
Your interest in, and ability to research related issues, such as
nutrition, health, food security, food politics, natural food trends
and the development of local food resources would improve and expand
the coop’s offerings to the community.
Natural food/grocery/co-op store work experience is a definite asset.
Salary negotiable, dependent upon skills and experience.
Please apply with a resume and 3 references to the Co-op Board
by
Jan 31st, 2012.
Keeper of the Books
The Cortes Natural Food Coop is looking for a permanent, Full-Charge
Bookkeeper to work a basic 1-3 days/weeks, varying by season.
Appropriate experience is essential.
Additional periodic effort required for end of current year processing,
HST remittances re-statements and revising last year's end of year
statements.
Pay rates will vary between $20-$25/hr depending upon experience and
qualifications.
The suitable applicant must have a detailed understanding of double
entry bookkeeping. In addition to entering all current financial
transactions on a weekly basis, responsibilities will include running
payroll , weekly reconciliation of accounting records with bank
statements, and producing detailed financial statements weekly and
monthly.
Applicants please contact Jason.
A Message from Tanya about Produce
How are we doing? Let us know!
There are many ways to give me your thoughts. As always, we have a
Suggestions Box at the Co-op.
Any feedback specifically about produce can be directed there or
addressed to
me, Tanya, personally when you see me. I can also be emailed.
Returns are easy and any feedback, positive and/or constructive, is
welcome.
And, just a reminder, that during the winter months, the Co-op only
has one delivery per week, on Wednesdays. So, in other words, for the
freshest veggies –
come in on a Wednesday or Thursday, rather than a
Tuesday! We are doing our best with those
limitations. Thanks for understanding!
Photo Contest: Show Us Your Co-op!
As you may know, the United Nations proclaimed 2012 
International Year
of Co-operatives in order to recognize the important
contribution of this business model to socio-economic development. One
of the key objectives for this year is to raise awareness of
co-operatives throughout
the world and in Canada.
We invite you to participate in the photo contest: "Show Us Your Co-op!"
For more information, visit this site.
Local Profile: SolBella - Truly Organic Skincare!
SolBella offers a line of
all-organic, chemical-free, locally-made and fun, nourishing
moisturizers, massage oils, body butter, foot cream, lip balm, bath
products and more!
Originally, SolBella began
many years ago as a hobby by Island local,
Lara. Her wish was to give the highest quality gifts as possible to
family and friends, and for them to an alternative to the preservative
and chemical-filled moisturizers found on most store shelves. SolBella
received an enthusiastic welcome at Farmers' Markets on the Islands
this past summer. We are now excited to be able to offer these products
year round at the co-op.
With a deep and lifelong commitment to organics and sustainability, and
for the health of ourselves and our families, we use only the best
quality organic and fair trade ingredients. We source as many local
ingredients as possible, specifically home-grown calendula and roses,
as well as beeswax. We also utilize some of the wonderful products
offered by Gathering Place Trading Company.
To be as pure as we can, we package our products in beautiful glass
bottles and jars when possible. Custom creations and gift baskets
available. Enquiries, comments and suggestions are always welcome!
solbellaorganics@gmail.com 250-830-4300
Staff Profile: ♪ Hey Jude! ♪
How long have you been working at the Co-op?
Last summer I started volunteering, then began to work on the till. I
was asked to replace an outgoing director on the previous Board. In the
Co-op’s first few years, I worked on systems, policies, purchasing,
receiving and merchandising, and attended countless endless,
mostly-friendly meetings.
What are your roles at the Co-op?
I joined the current Board at the last AGM because I was
extremely
concerned
about the financial nose-dive as well as the low morale and
divisiveness the
café project had 
generated.
In the short time the remaining Board
members have been together, (and not dealing with other crises), some
crucial cost control and bookkeeping practices have been established.
However, with our eyes on the bottom-line and catastrophe avoidance,
we have over-looked some basic tenets of co-operative ventures and the
pre-existing Co-op culture. Most obvious of these omissions has been
consultation and inclusive communication.
Given the luxury of time and
skill-development and help, I’m confident the Board, staff and
membership can co-create a healthy, co-operative and sustainable
business together. That nearly 90 members are available and willing to
gather, some for almost 4 hours, on a cold January night to have a
conversation about the Co-op is incredibly encouraging, or at least,
incredible. Does no one have cable TV?
What do you like most about working at the Co-op?
Walking there.
What are your other interests or hobbies or work?
I play heavy-metal nose harp and Baroque Theremin music, and enjoy
fly-tying.
What does your ideal Co-op look like?
My fantasy Co-op would be FULL of local produce and value-added goods
originating from local gardens and fields and greenhouses and pastures
and orchards and vineyards and waters. Oh! And there would be a
year-round, carbon-neutral, chlorine-free swimming pool and sauna and
Japanese bath house, world peace and clean air, water, nourishment
and justice for all! And Bambi’s mother would never die.
RAW Recipes: Coconut Cheese
By Tanya Krahn
1/2 cup soaked macadamia nuts
1/2 cup fresh coconut meat
2 tbls soaked irish moss seaweed (thickener)
1 tsp sea salt
Blend on high until thick and creamy.
Add two capsules opened acidophilus (optional).
Put into a cheese cloth-lined colander overnight in a warm place. The
next day, place in the fridge to firm. Add spices or lemon juice.
Eat with sauerkraut, or stuff into marinated mushrooms, or draw a
wintery scene on kale trees.
It tastes like rain clouds soaked in sunshine.
Volunteers and Committees
As a result of the January 12th meeting, several people have
stepped
forward to
help. Here’s an update on committees:
-
Several highly-qualified
volunteers have agreed to sit
on the IT Committee and assist with the POSIM procurement project - we
have what we need, thanks!
-
In addition, a Meat Committee has formed.
Several people are interested in joining and more are welcome!
-
There are still no takers in the Financial Committee.
Please
step up if you have time, and are willing and able to assist
with some basic administrative and accounting functions. OR you'd be
helping immensely – if you have a filing cabinet laying around,
preferably with a lock, that you
could donate.
-
Lastly, a volunteer has started a Volunteer
Committee! As a co-operative and active business on Cortes, we
truly value
our volunteers. If you have a few hours to spare and are interested in
contributing to the Co-op and bakery, then please reach out directly to
Eva,
our
Volunteer Coordinator. She will work
with you in matching you to the best volunteering position available.
More About Our
Distributors: Discovery
Organics
Every year we
receive a Holiday Letter from Discovery Organics
in Vancouver. We'd like to share a little of 2011's letter with you, to
give you a glimpse of why we love working with Discovery.
You have paid
a little extra for bananas, apples,
pears, kiwi, passion fruit, blueberries, mangos, avocados and
grapefruit.
Over the past two years your purchases of Fair Trade produce bought
from Discovery have guaranteed literally
thousands of farm families a secure and reasonable income – for many of
them it’s the first time in their lives. You
have also, through you and your customers’ purchases over the past 2
years, provided an additional $380,000 to social
projects all through the Americas, funded by Fair Trade Social Premiums
we pay, above and beyond the cost of the
produce.
You’ve built the “Discovery Organics Summer School” in Salitral,
brought potable water to a remote village in central
Mexico, and an elementary school in Peru. You paid for elders to learn
to write Spanish in Piura, and hire specialized
teachers to work with mentally challenged children in Tambo Grande in
Peru and Michoacan in Mexico. You have
helped support a first-of-its-kind micro-finance system for 1200 farm
families and workers, in the poorest area of South
America in Sullana, Peru, operated jointly by a banana and a mango
cooperative. You have funded new remote medical
centers in both Peru and Argentina. You alone have paid to rebuild or
replace 80 homes for farm workers in earthquake
stricken Concepcion, Chile, and 100 more through a special earthquake
fund many of you supported 20 months ago.
The letter went on and
on with heartwarming tales. Amazing what you can
do by just shopping at the Co-op! Read More >>>
DVDs at the
Co-op
Please
return your movies on time, your
fellow Co-op members are waiting
for them, especially the new releases. You owe $1.00 per day per DVD
for every late day. If you are not sure, ask the staff to check whether
it's overdue.
Irene is busily checking out lists of the best films of
2011 and ordering them as they come available on DVD.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams: Werner Herzog documentary
about the most ancient cave paintings
ever found, Chauvet Cave in France, discovered in the 1990's. This is
the first time a film crew was allowed inside. Archeology and artistry
from 30,000 years ago, in pristine condition.
Midnight
in Paris: Woody Allen comedy about
a modern
day writer who
discovers a portal into the bohemian Paris of the 1920's and meets his
creative idols: Hemingway, Picasso, Salvador Dali, and
their cronies.
Poetry:
Korean drama and winner Best
Screenplay at
Cannes. A woman in
her mid-60s, who is raising her grandson, enrolls in a poetry class at
the local community center. Her desire is to write one poem. 
Crazy Stupid Love: Romantic comedy with a big heart
starring Steve
Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Emma Stone. 
The
Help: Based on best-selling novel set
in
southern USA in the early
60's: young white woman befriends the black women who work as maids for
her friends and family.
Another Earth:
A new planet appears, close by, in
the sky. In fact, it
is another Earth, identical to our own. Special Jury Prize, Sundance.
Phil Ochs There But For Fortune: Documentary about
politically-minded
singer/songwriter of the 1960's who commit suicide at age 35.
Margin Call: Human drama of the beginning of the
2008 financial
meltdown as it affects the employees of a Wall Street investment firm.
Trust: Psychological thriller, very well done. A
14-year old girl falls
for an internet predator, an older man, and her father is really upset.
Terri: Quirky edgy comedy about a sensitive obese
teenage boy, his
school counsellor and his misfit friends.
Sarah's Key: Based on the popular novel about the
eviction of Jewish
families in Paris during WW2 and a modern-day journalist who
investigates the history of her husband's family apartment.
Brand New Day: Feel-good Australian flick.
Breaking Bad Season 2: TV black humour (Season 1
available, too!)
Gruffalo: A family film.
In case you missed last week's screening of Velcrow Ripper's powerful
documentary Fierce Light, it is available for rent.
Articles of
Interest
The
Big Questions
- A Personal
Dilemma
Dianne Bersea, Discovery Islander
This is a beautiful piece of prose written by artist and Cortes
Islander, Dianne Bersea about where - and how - to stand on divisive
community issues. Read
More >>>
A Lantzville Couple’s Fight for the Right to Grow Food
Dirk Becker and Nicole Shaw, Synergy Magazine
An article about how those 2 authors are fighting municipal by-laws
about urban agriculture on their 2.5 acres of residentially-zoned land
on a quiet, dead-end street. Read More >>>
Sixteen months later, here's the follow-up.
Soil and Trouble: Vancouver Island Agriculture
Andrew Findlay, BC Business
As land values and demographics threaten the future of small-scale
agriculture on Vancouver Island, a new generation of farmers is finding
innovative ways to put down roots. Read More >>>
Happy Planet Juices 2L carton - Now $4.65
(reg. $5.55)
Enjoy the sweetness of organice juices made with tree-ripe and local
fruit – and
veggies – whenever possible. The 'Art & Craft of Juice' without
artificial additives! Made in Vancouver. Read
more
>>>
Annie's
Homegrown Pasta all kinds! 20% off
- Now $2.05 (reg. $2.60) Make it a pasta night with rice
or whole wheat organic
petite shells and family size! Annie's delicious organic and natural
comfort food made with simple ingredients. All of Annie's foods use
only non-GMO ingredients. Good for the environment and
good for the belly! Read More >>>
