When I’m out and about telling others about our amazing Co-op events, I sometimes encounter people who mistakenly believe that they cannot attend because they are not yet member-owners. Cooperative Principle 7, “Concern for Community” is something we embody each time we host an event. Whether monthly activities such as potlucks, Co-op Connections, and our book club or more infrequent events such as our recent trivia night, we welcome everyone! And if you haven’t yet been to a Co-op event, you have been missing out.
New Business Partners
Good Food Vibes, of Cedar Falls, is a business operated by Caitlin Argotsinger, offering both private and group health coaching sessions, as well as a variety of classes ranging from specific health classes to cooking classes. She is offering co-op members $100 off a private health coaching program. Kickstart a healthier new you!
https://www.facebook.com/CaitlinArgotsinger/
Backyard Living, located in Cedar Falls, constructs furniture manufactured locally in the USA from recycled materials. The poly wood construction provides all-weather furniture that comes with a lifetime warranty. This company is offering 10% off recycled poly lumbar furniture to co-op members. Looking for stylish, sustainable, functional furniture? Check out Backyard Living!
https://www.facebook.com/YourBackyardLiving/
http://www.yourbackyardliving.com/
Maxx Rentals, based in Cedar Falls, strives to bring outdoor recreation and outdoor adventures to the Cedar Valley, in an accessible and affordable manor. They offer kayaks, paddle boards, canoes, and more, along with paddle board yoga classes, and shuttle services. They are giving 15% off rental over $20 to all co-op members. For an amazing outdoor experience, go see the experts at Maxx Rentals!
Member Spotlight: Joel Moorhead
Joel Moorhead graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in Communica-tions. He is originally from Seattle WA and has lived in the area for ten years. Joel moved to Iowa to open a Little Caesar’s franchise with his brother. He met his wife, Laura, a few years later on match.com. Running a business took a lot of his time, and there was not much time to meet people. Laura attended UNI where she earned her degree in Sociology and was working at TransAmerica when they bought the Budget Blinds business which serves the Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and Waverly communities. Joel and Laura have been married five years and have two sons, Max is 4, and Alex is 2. They sold Little Caesar’s on Alex’s birthday and started Budget Blinds in 2012. Laura is currently running the family business and is a member of the Junior League. They are also members of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce and have been members of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op about two years. Joel is actively working as an independent Franchise Consultant nationwide byobossconsulting.com.Continue reading
Board Happenings: April 2018
Take a minute to see what your Board has been up to!
– As we get closer to signing a lease and building our store, we’ve been having more discussions about what it means to be a full service grocery store. In-depth conversations about delis, hot bars, and buffets may not sound exciting, but we’re making sure to thoroughly examine every choice to guarantee that we’re bringing you a store you love.
– It’s budget time again! Again, not the most exciting thing, but we go through every detail so you don’t have to! Each year we get better at assembling and projecting the next year’s budget, so by the time the store opens we’ll have this down pat!
– All of our business documents are close to being finalized, including our business plan, financial pro forma, and investment campaign documents.
– If you want to learn more about what your is doing, we invite you to join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, May 16th at 7pm at Millrace.
From the Board President: In the Home Stretch! Getting Ready to Enter the Third and Final Stage of Development
After years of planning, we’re finally getting ready for some of the most dramatic steps in the Co-op’s development, namely site selection, the investment campaign, and designing the store. It’s a very exciting time indeed!
This is not to say that writing bylaws and conducting a market study weren’t exciting in their own right, but the final stage is most exciting because this is where the vision turns into reality.
April Book Club Discussion Group
From farming in Southern Appalachians, Chicago world fair, and some of the finest restaurants in New York, where will our next adventure take us?
As you can see CFFC book club is off to a successful start. What a superb way of meeting like-minded people and share a common interest. The club meets on the 4th Monday of every month at 4:45. At our April 23 meeting the club will be talking about the book The Girl With Seven Names, author: Hyeonseo Lee. Join in the discussion in person or check out the Facebook Group.
Member Spotlight: Wendy Johnson
Wendy Johnson and her husband, Johnny Rafkin, own and operate Jóia Food Farm, located in Northeast Iowa. Together, they have a 5-year old daughter, Vivienne, who is currently planning her own garden for this coming spring. Wendy is originally from Iowa but moved to California after college to pursue her then love of fashion and marketing. In 2010, Wendy returned to Iowa with Johnny to live and work on the family farm. Wendy felt a strong connection to her family heritage and wanted to respect what her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents worked so hard to create. When she returned to Iowa, she didn’t know much about agronomy, so she enrolled in a few classes at Iowa State University, took master gardener classes and found mentorship, peers, and resources through Practical Farmers of Iowa.
Jóia Food Farm raises pigs, sheep and lamb, chicken for eggs and meat, turkeys, and ducks. They also grow organic grains and pastures. The animals are grazed within the organic rotation, adding to the nutrients that the soils need to grow healthy plants. Jóia Food Farm believes in the principles of agro-ecology, with a focus on biodiversity, the sharing of animals and plants working together to create healthy soils, healthy animals, healthy plants, a healthy environment and most importantly, healthy food.
We’re calling for Owner Investment Campaign Volunteers!
Dear Member-Owners,
We’re calling for Owner Investment Campaign Volunteers!
The Cedar Falls Food Co-Op is growing and site selection for our grocery store is happening! As a site becomes available, we will kick off our Owner Investor Campaign and need your help in doing so. The Owner Investor Campaign Committee is seeking Builders and Communicators—two critical volunteer roles to assist with the Owner Investment Campaign. The Owner Investment Campaign will help the Co-op raise the money needed to open our store, and Builders and Communicators will play key roles in the campaign. A description of both volunteer opportunities is provided below:Continue reading
Board Happenings: March 2018
– We sent 5 representatives to this year’s Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference and they had an insightful and invigorating experience. We can’t wait to take what they learned and put it into practice in creating our co-op!
– As we get closer to entering into Stage 3 we have a lot of technical items need to be completed. Items like the business plan and pro forma are getting finalized and we’re almost ready to launch our Owner Investment Campaign. This is going to be a very big summer for the Co-op and we can’t wait to share all this hard work with our Owners!
April 2018 Special Events
Co-op Connections
Thursday, April 12 from 5 – 6:45 p.m. at The Brass Tap (Cedar Falls)
This casual event is a great way to meet others. Join the Co-op outreach coordinator and others to hear about Co-op updates, get your questions answered, and just enjoy the community vibe. The Brass Tap offers a discount to co-op member-owners, so bring your card. Questions? Contact outreach@cedarfallsfood.coop.
Co-op Potluck
Monday, April 16, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Second State Brewing (Cedar Falls)
Want to sample a variety of dishes while engaging in good conversation? All are welcome! Bring a dish to share and if possible, your own table ware. Our potlucks are family-friendly, and we encourage you to bring guests as well. Second State is a business partner, so don’t forget your card if you are a member-owner to get a discount on beer draws. Questions? Contact info@cedarfallsfood.coop.
Co-op Book Club
Monday April 23, 4:45 p.m. Cedar Falls Library
We are excited to continue our book club this month with The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee. Check it out and come join our lively discussion! Questions? Contact info@cedarfallsfood.coop.