EAT Minutes February 2008

February 27, 2008 at 12:30 pm, Wells Hall Rm 1033

The meeting began at 12:30pm and concluded at 2:15pm. Next meeting is March 26, 2008 from 6:30-8pm at the Tree Fruit Research Station Employee Lunch Room.

Members Present:

Joan Qazi; Angela Schaub; Sherry Schneider; Fran Taber; Julie Nebel; Beth Spadoni; Kim Lohse; Judy Preston; Michel Wiman; JoEllen Colson; Marcy Ostrom

Dates to Watch For:

  • March is National Nutrition Month!!!!! Celebrate with hearty gusto!!
  • March 31, Monday from 1-4pm: 2nd Annual Farm to Table POSTPONED

Treasurer’s Report:

JoEllen submitted the treasurer’s report that shows a balance of $1400. We will try to get the new webmaster to post the treasurers reports on our website.

Old Business:

  • JoEllen and Joan went to a CPA for tax advice. EAT has no tax liability as long as the budget stays under $25,000. Joan sent the W-9 that STEPS needed.
  • We would like to make a decision very soon about 501c3 status.

New Business:

  • Welcome to Julie Nebel and Beth Spedoni. Beth came to us through the focus groups from the CFA. Julie heard about us through her friend, Beth!
  • Large scale CSA program is being developed by CFC. Rufus Woods has offered the use of 112 N. Mission store front for a CSA location, rent free for a year. Start up would begin this season and run by volunteers. A grant from the Icicle Creek Foundation has been applied for to be used towards operation/ administrative responsibilities for the CSA store location.

Committee Reports

  • CFA Over 600 surveys have been logged into our database. Accurate Translation has been recommended to transcribe the Spanish transcription tapes. The next step is to create an updated food system atlas for the Chelan County. Marcy Ostrom and Michel Wiman have offered their services to help with this. Joan presented the calendar to focus group attendees and received an enthusiastic response from them. Joan is looking for volunteers for the calendar project. It was brought up again that this would make an excellent fundraiser for EAT. This project will be tabled for next month’s meeting. Joan shared that Clark County and Community Choices (Spokane) have spring-boarded off EAT’s CFA survey and created their own surveys.
  • Consumer Education In order to promote National Nutrition Month for March, it was agreed that the photo novellas could be displayed at various locations throughout Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. Judy will contact the museum, mall, and the library for displaying the posters. They will also be displayed at the students’ respective schools where the posters were created. Joan will also work on an explanatory piece discussing the purpose of the photo novellas to display along side the posters.
  • 501c3 Exploratory Committee No time to follow up during this meeting.
  • Grant Work STEPS has funded school gardens for the Orondo School District and Foothills Middle School. Each grant was for $1000. STEPS also purchased a middle school Junior Master Gardeners curriculum.
  • School Garden Committee Foothills MS is moving forward with the school garden project. Tracy Naubert and Angela Schaub will be the designated parent co-coordinators for the garden. A meeting with Bryan Visscher, M/O manager for WSD is set for March 7th at 3pm to talk about the garden site with school garden designer, Scott Parsons. Shelby Lockhart is the staff liaison and will be purchasing seeds to be used by the Newbery students for planting starts in both gardens. Newbery students are halfway through their curriculum. They will be seeding starts here shortly. Ken Lacy, a master gardener with WSU Extension Office will be the special visitor for this project. He has worked with students before in similar projects. Scott Parsons joined the kids to help set up a mini-hoop house seeded with Russian red kale for the kids to harvest in April. The children will also be planning a spring work party and undergo preparations to host a Family Fun Night for Newbery families. This project will serve as a cumulative community/leadership project to be applied towards the certification requirements as a Junior Master Gardener. Since the Lowe’s grant request was denied, Newbery will be looking at a few small scale fundraisers such as a cookbook, plant sale, and Farmer’s Market stand to help bring in funds.
  • Website A page listing area CSAs was recommended.
  • Media A paid advertisement in the Wenatchee World Newspaper during the month of March is being developed to promote National Nutrition Month. Funding would come from STEPS. Content will include Farmer’s Market and CSA availabilities. Michel Wiman, Sherry Schneider and Joan Qazi agreed to work on the spread. Judy mentioned that the Wenatchee World offers opportunities for guest editorials and suggested that EAT write a submission for March. Joan agreed to resubmit an updated previous editorial submission of hers.
  • Farm to Table This event will be run by Cascade Harvest, an organization that hosts these workshops throughout the state. Joan sent a synopsis of last year’s event to the current coordinator. Discussion ensued about EAT’s role in the event this year regarding and the limited time to organize it before planting season. Marcy and Joan will be in contact with the event coordinator to get a clear idea of what type of help is needed to facilitate preparations. EAT will recommend the following schedule based on last year’s survey responses: introduction and then break out sessions with panel speakers (transportation/distribution; mobile slaughter; school gardens). EAT will also suggest postponing the event until the Fall so that more members can be present.

Follow-up on Topic(s) that were discussed in this meeting:

  • CFA Calendar (everyone will choose a month to work on)
  • Photo Novella displays at the local libraries in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. (Judy Preston)
  • Foothills Middle School garden progress (Angela Schaub)
  • Farm-to-Table Workshop (Marcy/Joan)
  • National Nutrition Month paid advertisement (Michel/Marcy/Joan)

Committee Sign-Up:

  • Working Group Chairperson Joan Qazi; Meeting Facilitator: Joan Qazi; Minute Taker: Angela Schaub; Treasurer: JoEllen Colson; Webmaster: Dave O’Connor; Newsletter: Fran Taber; Media Diva: Kim Langston; Fundraising: Scott Parsons
  • Community Food Assessment Chairperson Joan Qazi; Billie Jo Ellis; Fran Taber; Colleen Donovan; Kim Langston; Judy Preston; Angela Schaub (Data Analysis); Marcy Ostrom; Laurie Riegert; JoEllen Colson; Consuelo Coronel
  • Consumer Education Chairperson None; Kim Langston; Billie Jo Ellis; Shawn Hansen; Joan Qazi; Ginny O’Kelley; Laurie Riegert; Judy Preston
  • Community Garden Chairperson None; Jenn Crawford; Sharlynn Cobaugh; Kim Langston; Shawn Hansen; Dawn Fisher; Michel Wiman
  • 501c3 Exploratory Chairperson Angela Schaub; Angela Schaub; Fran Taber; Colleen Donovan, Sharlynn Cobaugh;
  • Edible Schoolyard /Farm to School Chairperson Angela Schaub; Angela Schaub; JoEllen Colson; Joan Qazi; Scott Parsons; Dawn Fisher
  • Farm-to-Table Chairperson None; Fran Taber; Marcy Ostrom; Bill and Vonnie Smith; Michel Wiman

Suggestions for next meeting:

  • Next Meeting March 26th from 6:30-8pm at the Tree Fruit Research Station Employee Lunch Room.
  • Meeting Minutes Responsibility Angela Schaub will have copies for distribution
  • Treasurer’s Report Responsibility JoEllen Colson will have copies for distribution.

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