Annual Membership Meeting and Banquet

Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004

Meeting 4 pm, Banquet 6 pm

Important! Send your banquet RSVPs, whether "maybe" or definite, by Friday, October 8.

Location. Wilmont Place Baptist Church, 6440 S. Santa Fe, in Oklahoma City (directions below).

Annual Meeting

We will elect officers and board members, and discuss the future direction of our cooperative. The "State of the Co-op" is in Bob's Notes. The members' survey results from this summer are now available for download as a PDF document.

"Why so late" on the time? We are setting the time so that some of our producers who sell at farmers markets can still attend. Also, the time works so that members from, say, Tulsa can get home at a reasonable hour.

Volunteer. Volunteers will be needed to set up, cook, and clean up for the dinner, and also to help with the election and count the ballots. Let us know if you want to help with the dinner or meeting.

If you are interested in running for one of the offices, please send an announcement to Robert Waldrop and he will send it to the membership.

Banquet

As of October 7, the menu for this delicious Oklahoma Food banquet will include buffalo pot roast, baked winter squash, Springhill Farms bread, pumpkin pie made from fresh fall Oklahoma grown pumpkins, and Southern-style cooked "cooperative greens." Chef Andrea Beesley of The Culinary Tutor will be in charge of the kitchen.

Cost. The cost for the co-op banquet is $5/person, kids eat free; nonmember tickets for the banquet will be $7.50; RSVP by October 8. There is no charge for attendance at the business meeting.

Election of Officers and Board

We have received the following announcements of candidacies for offices of the cooperative.

Officers

At-Large Board Members

Information on the responsibilites and duties of the officers and board members

Co-op Officer Candidates' Statements

President: Robert Waldrop (OKC)

Robert Waldrop is the founder and first president of the Oklahoma Food Cooperative, the director of music at Epiphany Catholic Church, and the founder of the Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House. He serves on the Advisory Committee for Migrants and Refugees of Catholic Charities, on the board of the Oklahoma Sustainability Network and is a member of the Oklahoma Food Policy Council. He is a native, fourth generation Okie, all of his great grandparents were here before statehood and two of them drew land in the last land lotteries that settled Tillman County. He grew up on a farm southwest of Frederick, during a time when the area still had a reasonably functioning local food system. As director of music at Epiphany, he is responsible for coordinating the activities of about 60 volunteer musicians, and arranging music for all of the liturgical services of the parish, which has about 1500 families as members. Thus far this year the Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House has delivered food to nearly 2,000 families in need who don't have transportation to get to a regular food bank.

With the food co-op, he answers phone calls and emails, consults with producers, writes publicity materials, develops ideas to help people use Oklahoma foods, participates in national and international food security/sustainable agriculture discussions via listservs and discussion groups, manages delivery day activities, troubleshoots, problem solves, and generally tries to keep pace with what is happening and keep everybody happy and participating. As president, he is also general manager (until such time as the cooperative grows to the point where it can hire a general manager).

Vice President for Producers: Kim Barker (Waynoka)

I have been ranching for about 35 years in Woods County OK, We currently raise cattle and sheep. I have a wife and three daughters. Am currently on these boards: Oklahoma Food Policy Council, Oklahoma Grazinglands Conservation Association, Oklahoma Land Stewardship Alliance, Ogallala Commons, and the OK Food Co-op. I also teach land and grazing management seminars. The thing that ties all of these together is that in everything I do with all of these boards I try to help rural Oklahoma by promoting better land management, increasing sustainable agriculture practices, and improving rural incomes and economies.

Vice President for Customers: Susan Young (Tulsa)

I am a registered nurse and clinical social worker, fluent in Spanish and French, have been cooking for years and years, learned at my mother and grandmothers' elbows (I make great pie crust!); long-time interest in both practical nutrition and in social and political aspects of the food industry. I am married to Tim Young with two sons, Josh, 18 and David, 21. I am a fourth-generation Oklahoman: one set of my great-grandparents arrived in OKC in 1897 in a covered wagon and started farming, another set moved to Tulsa a few years later and opened a grocery store! (Food and retailing are in my blood :-) ) The formation of the Oklahoma Food Co-op represents a rare and much-needed opportunity to promote health and a secure food supply for Oklahoma's citizens while at the same time enlarging the local market for food and goods made in Oklahoma by Oklahoma producers. I am dedicated to making this co-op work and I am willing to support it with my time, money, energy, and skills. I believe that the co-op's customers need a representative who will both advocate for their interests and exhort them to be fully active as members. I am excited to have the opportunity to take part in the growth of an enterprise that has the potential to do so much good for so many in my native state.

Treasurer: Dennis Garrett (Eufaula)

I am a licensed Certified Public Accountant authorized by the Oklahoma State Board of Accountancy to practice public accounting in the state of Oklahoma. I own and operate an accounting firm that specializes in small business and individual accounting and taxation. I believe the proper function of the treasury position is to 1) design and oversee systems that both comply with generally accepted accounting principles and safeguard the assets of the cooperative, 2) provide relevant and timely reports that allow management to make informed decisions, and 3) ensure regulatory compliance through properly filed external reports including tax returns. In addition to being an accountant, I own and operate Belle Starr Buffalo, a working buffalo ranch and buffalo meat business. I have been both a consumer and producer member of the cooperative since its inception and believe in the mission and integrity of this endeavor.

Secretary: Walter Kelley (Norman)

Walter Kelley has been involved with the cooperative from its very beginning, attending the first public meeting we held in Norman and serving on our organizing committee. Besides serving as secretary, he is head of the Producer Standards and Compliance committee. He participates as a delivery day volunteer, and does the heavy work of moving member orders from Oklahoma City to Norman. He is a retired mathematics professor at OU.

At-Large Board Candidates' Statements

Shaheen Ayub (Norman)

John Herndon (Norman)

I've handled the memberships for the Cooperative for almost a year now as chairman of the Membership Committee. I work as an organic gardener. I've been very active with the Community Gardens in central Oklahoma and served as the coordinator for two years. I teach horticulture to ‘at risk’ youth through the Community Youth Outreach program in Oklahoma City. My wife, Beverly, is an Oriental Brushwork artist and teacher. We live on a small acreage east of Norman which we share with some Goats, Llamas, and a large garden. I've helped quite a few producers get underway with the co-op and we hope to be selling through the co-op ourselves next summer.

Jonalu Johnstone (OKC)

Jonalu Johnstone has lived in Oklahoma for only five years, but her family has deep roots here. Her great-grandparents farmed near the intersection of Reno and Sooner Road in the City; her grandparents farmed outside Davis, OK. She manages to grow only a few tomatoes each year, but maintains a strong commitment to creating economic options supportive of small family farms and of sustainable ways of living. She has served as the Treasurer of the Co-op during its first year, and as a leader in the Green Party of Oklahoma County. Jonalu's day job is as one of the ministers of the First Unitarian Church in Oklahoma City. Her background includes working as a teacher and in the mental health system before entering ministry. She's lived in a wide variety of places, from West Virginia to Wisconsin, and has been a member of more than one grocery cooperative, and for several years, a Community Supported Agriculture farm.

Sarah Keeney (OKC)

I have been an Oklahoma resident for just about a year. While researching my move to Oklahoma City, one of the first things I found, and one of the first things that got me really excited about Oklahoma, was the Oklahoma Food Co-op. What I lack in Oklahoma experience I make up for with enthusiasm about the Co-op and its important work. I am a big believer in eating locally and supporting systems that reduce the time and the distance between the soil, the farm, and my plate. I am a regular Co-op customer, an organic gardener, and a fledgling cook. I also love to eat.

I currently work from home as the director of a conservation organization called the Western Mining Action Network. We are a loose group of 160 concerned citizens that work on mining and water quality issues throughout the West. I graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Environmental Science, and most recently worked for conservation groups in Alaska as a grassroots organizer and as the Interim Director of a statewide coalition. I have five years of experience in non-profit administration, grant writing, fundraising, community organizing, media outreach, and organizational development. I promise to work hard and throw my energy and time into keeping this co-op strong and healthy as it grows.

Bill Smith (MWC)

Originally from Chesapeake, VA, I came to Oklahoma in 1971 when stationed at Tinker AFB on my first assignment in U.S.A.F. I liked the people here, so after a tour of duty overseas, decided to return. Met my wife Trudy and settled in Midwest City after being discharged in 1980. Attended Rose State College and Central State University where I achieved Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education. Worked as a substitute teacher for OKC and Mid-Del Schools. Completed the Master Gardener program in 1991 and have been an active member of the Oklahoma County chapter since. Served mainly on public relations committee. Currently serve as group counselor to new class of MG trainees. Have worked at OSU-OKC Farmers Market for past 5 years assisting vendors with all phases of market operation: setup, selling, etc. Also designed and operate a community garden at OSU-OKC and am further involved in community gardening through the Regional Foodbank of Oklahoma. Been member of the Co-op for about a year helping on delivery day and as Mid-Del Route Manager.

Scott West (Norman)

I have lived 30+ years in the Norman area, and spent a year living on a Dairy Farm just outside of Washington, Oklahoma. I graduated from Washington High School, and received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Oklahoma in 1999. I work for Advanced Financial Solutions, a bank imaging software company. My responsibilities include providing management of technical issues and technical resources for our customer base. Conflict resolution and resource management are two of the most important skills that contribute to my success. I have a firm conviction that the power of a team lies within its cohesive nature and its ability to employ its resources toward a common purpose.

My family has worked to create, nurture and grow the concept of community within our circle(s) of influence. It is our belief that through support, working together, and a commitment to one another, that our communities are enriched and grown. This belief propels us to give of ourselves and to participate in the building of quality organizations such as the Oklahoma Food Cooperative. I believe that we are creating an excellent economic relationship between Oklahomans and the Farming/Enterprising Community of Okahoma. This mutually beneficial relationship, I believe, represents a portion of the solution to some of the many problems and issues that we face as Oklahomans. I enjoy knowing that purchasing products from the Cooperative contributes to the success of the Oklahoma Farming Community. I would like to give of my time and resources to promote the success of the Oklahoma Food Cooperative, and believe that my experience and skill would add value to the organization.

Information will be added about Michael Reese (Norman) as soon as we receive it.

Directions

Wilmont Place Baptist Church, 6440 S. Santa Fe, in Oklahoma City

From the north: Take Interstate 35 South to the SE 59th exit. Turn West (right) and go to Santa Fe. Turn south (left)on Santa Fe and go about two and a half blocks.

From the south: Take Interstate 35 North to the SE 59th exit. Turn West (left)and go to Santa Fe. Turn south (left)on Santa Fe and go about two and a half blocks.

From the east: Take Interstate 40 West and catch I-240. Get off at the Shields exit. Go straight another mile west to Santa Fe. Turn north (right) at Sante Fe. Go north about a mile.

From the west: Take Interstate 40 East to I-44 going toward Lawton. Follow I-44 until it curves east (left) into I-240 East. Take I-240 east to the Santa Fe exit. Turn north (left) on Santa Fe. Go north about a mile.

It is a large church on the east side of the street. Go in the large parking lot on the south side of the church and follow the building until you see the Welcome Center. That is where the meeting and banquet will be.