PFC Board of Directors Meeting
Minutes for March 15, 2004

Attendance
Board Members: John Austin; Linda Diane Feldt; Arun Mathur; Martin Piszczalski; Howard Shapiro; Duane Thomas; Carol Collins, PFC General Manager

Absent: Laurie White

Rusty Brach, PFC Information Technologies Manager - facilitating

Kathryn Sanderson, Member/Owner volunteer - recording minutes

Call to order - 7:31pm by Rusty

Announcements
Martin announced his resignation effective April 4, 2004 because of business commitments that will make him unable to keep up with Board duties.

Consent Agenda
minutes and web minutes of 2/16/04 meeting; GM monitoring L.1 Treatment of Members, L.4 Financial Conditions and Activities, L.6 Asset Protection, and Board self-monitoring report M.2 Accountability of the GM (Laurie). All Directors having reviewed and understood these materials, the consent agenda was approved.

Ends Policy Development
Discussion of the cost/relative worth/priority component of the Ends policy work. An informal vote tentatively prioritized the draft policies in this order: E.2 Products and Services, E.3 Cooperative Community, E.1 Education, E.4 Collective Action. Discussion will continue at future meetings.

Annual Meeting
Final planning for the meeting at Gladwin Farm, 3/27. Tasks were assigned.

National Cooperative Grocers Association restructuring
By working together in a cooperative fashion, retail food co-ops expect to strengthen their operations in the face of intense competition from the for-profit sector. One benefit will be the creation of a cooperative buying program, reducing cost of goods. Some concerns were expressed about surrendering autonomy and independence (4th Cooperative Principle) and the desirability of rewriting the contract with NCGA. Support for PFC participation was approved 5-1 with Duane opposed.

Volunteer Discount Proposal
The discount program will be an agenda topic at the Annual Meeting in Linda Diane’s President’s Report. The continuation of the current 7% volunteer discount while alternate methods of showing appreciation to volunteers are explored and Member feedback is sought was approved 5-1 with Linda Diane opposed.

Policy L.4.5 - GM purchase limit
The addition of the wording “excluding trade payables” was approved.

Board Direction for GM Monitoring Reports
Postponed until next meeting; Duane will write a proposal to amend policy.

Martin’s Comments
He’s proud of the Co-op and says that the Board members are diligent and hardworking, but believes that PFC needs to do more to empower Members by soliciting their participation. Martin was given a card and cake in appreciation of his service to PFC.

Absences –Laurie’s absence was approved.

Next Meeting – Monday, April 19, 2004, 7:30pm at Menlo Innovations (212 N. 4th Ave).

Adjournment – the regular meeting was adjourned at 9:15.

Executive Session (Board only) – Discussion of PFC’s accounting firm and the 2003 General Manager evaluation.

Respectfully submitted by John Austin, Board Secretary