Steering Committee Conference Call Agenda
October 20th, 11am
Dial-in Number: (857) 232-0476
Conference Code: 544212
Intro and Updates
1. Roll Call (5 minutes): Ron, Portia, Jackie, Leah, Jensen, Melanie,
Laura, Ben F, Kat
• Jackie from SeeLA joining us on today’s call, at the end of
agenda we will discuss the topic of appointing Jackie to the
steering committee. Questions, answers, discussion; Jackie will leave call
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and SC will discuss whether Jackie will join.
Melanie leaving at 12:05, Leah leaving at 11:50. Plan to end the call on time.
2. Approve September Minutes
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Where did we decide to hold the retreat? Much discussion at previous meeting.
Chose St. Dorothy’s Rest. Details later in the agenda. Will add that detail to
minutes. Ron moved to accept the September minutes; Melanie seconded.
Approved.
August and September meeting minutes will be on website by end of the week
3. Stanford Legal Clinic
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Approached to work with students this semester; help non-profits with legal
support. Plan to work with governance guidelines for Alliance.
Leah: Leah and Ben met with students, and head of clinic Jay Mitchell; have
worked with many non-profits including CUESA and AIM; shared what we have
in place for governance structure, will review what we have, offer feedback,
clarify and refine for us; had great questions regarding coting process and
membership selection, appointed membership, and all aspects of Alliance
governance; will help to set up organization in the best way possible for
continued positive evolution; touched briefly on the idea of creating a way for FM
orgs to share information, but that will be secondary to the governance process,
perhaps follow up with that next semester along with other relevant legal issues.
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Asked great questions, much of which we may not have thought through
thoroughly; will ask them to send us all the questions so that we can go through
them as a group; very informative meeting, will do good work for us. Have
already prepared a working document on membership and voting, to help refine
the structure of the organization, and help the SC communicate to the
membership how everything works.
Ben F: very focused on real-world application, standard language. Timeframe is
complete first round f work on governance by end of year; can continue work
next semester. Kat is interested in contributing. Ben will send the materials they
shared, all can look at those and also share thoughts on your perspective on any
of this. Get back to Ben quickly with thoughts.
Leah: governance is the foundation for us and very important to get it right in the
beginning
4. FMPP
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Grant was awarded! Congrats to us! Yeah! Applause!
This grant will cover 2 pieces: market manager trainings, building off CDFA
manual created in 2012-2013, updating it on new changes, and series of
trainings; statewide PSA program about why FM are great, what distinguishes
them, using ad consultant and our partners statewide to place on radio and TV,
and use targeted internet YouTube ads.
Will we discuss more at the retreat?
Ben: will form a subcommittee: have a full agenda for retreat; will bring together
those interested and work on planning, start in January. Put on agenda for call
following retreat. Will send full proposal for project to group again to review.
Items for Discussion/Action
5. Retreat
● Logistics: Arrival 1pm Sunday November 9, check out by Monday at
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4pm. Those coming from airport- will get everyone’s information, rides can
be arranged and coordinated. Let Ben know your plans.
Group lunch at noon nearby for those who arrive early enough (not paid
for).
Sunday dinner cost provided by Alliance; have a kitchen in the farmhouse
where we are staying; prepare dinner together, all SC members can bring
something to contribute. Who wants to help? Laura: plan a menu? Yes.
Diana: can bring fresh ingredients. Melanie Portia, Leah, everyone!
Breakfast Monday morning, all contribute and cook
Can we bring beer and wine? Yes, please do.
Monday lunch will be catered so we can focus on our agenda/work that
day. Sounds great.
● Have options for all dietary needs, but choose one main option that works
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for most. Vegetarian lunch. Let Ben know your special dietary needs and
we can accommodate for all meals.
Room arrangements: facility rate based on double occupancy; if you want
a single room we can accommodate that, but you will need to pay the
additional charge. If you have a request for single room, or a specific
roommate, please let Ben know and he can arrange it.
Leah will be bringing her baby and husband, so may not be able to help
with meal prep; all are welcome to join us for meals
Erin: just joined the call, apologies for being late ☺
Goals: Ben: biggest goal is that we spend time together as a group,
getting to know each other strengthening our relationships, and planning
for the Alliance. Other ideas of how we should spend our time?
Laura: do you have any team building exercises for us? Helps break the
ice and get comfortable. Yes- that is important and will be a part. Share
ideas? Yes has a great example.
Melanie: obvious expected outcomes: attracting more Alliance members,
attracting more shoppers at FMs, and other obvious goals could be overarching theme, with concrete action plans as outcome of retreat. Ben and
Melanie had discussed this idea. Use this as the process, and develop
some specific ideas for how to achieve the goals during the retreat. Ben
has some ideas already, share other expectations and ideas.
Everyone share ideal outcome, open brainstorm session now:
Melanie: Part of the time- come up with creative new ways to increase
sales at FM, and attract new people to shop at FMs
Laura: develop elevator pitch for why is the Alliance important, why should
people join the Alliance
Leah: come up with strategy to reach out to new members, build Alliance
membership
Melanie: come up with what kind of marketing we want to implement over
the next year as an Alliance, and also marketing ideas for individual
members to utilize
Jensen: use time for process work, most effective/efficient way to develop
our process (governance, voting, membership); review FMPP and what
SC members can do to use that work to connect with farmers.
Laura: an exercise with a fictional scenario to engage with our decisionmaking process and see how it works in action; or a real decision, or try
both
Kat: brainstorm ideas of how to put the Alliance on the ground across the
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state
Can send Ben ideas over email, but most often request for emails yields
few results… but please do send ideas after the call
Portia: develop a List of emerging policy and regulatory issues on the
horizon, or that we are currently dealing with
Kat: Ways to leverage AB 1871 and ideas to help market managers get
through the transition to new regulations
Ben: we may not be able to address every idea, but we will endeavor to
tackle as much as we can within the time available. Send feedback and
idea by the end of this week, agenda will be developed; Ben will send a
final draft by Nov 5.
6. Steering Committee Application
● Jackie Sauceda-Rivera
● Jackie: work for SeeLA, foundation and corporate grants manager; been
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with SeeLA for 9 years in various capacities including market manager;
very interested in the work of the Alliance and working with a group of
people interested in furthering the work of FMs in CA.
Jackie would fill the open space left by Alexandra, and could help with
fundraising specifically for Alliance
Laura: can you give your thoughts on the effectiveness and differences
between city-run and non-profit market organizations?
Jackie: Yes, have experience working with restrictions and challenges to
non-profits who have less of a relationship with a specific city; many
strengths to both models
Jensen: how did you hear about Alliance, what interests you about this
group?
Jackie: Ben sent emails last year, and coworker Alexandra was a great fit;
also at SCF. Wonderful opportunity for people across the state to work
together for FMs, have not seen a great statewide partnership for FMs; CA
Market Match Consortium work has been a great experience, and
something similar for FMs as a whole would be great!
Jackie will step off call, SC members will decide how to proceed.
Ben: sense that there is strong support to appoint Jackie to the committee;
please discuss any reservations or concerns
Laura: would be a great addition, great successor to Alexandra, and
SeeLA is a great organization and very representative
Ben: Are there any opposition to appointing Jackie to the Steering
Committee? None
● Kat: moved to appoint Jackie to the Alliance Steering Committee, to finish
out the 2-year term vacated by Alexandra. Seconded.
● No opposition; motion approved. Jackie has been appointed to the
Alliance Steering Committee.
See you all at the Retreat on November 9!