EAT minutes for September

EAT Meeting

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

6:40-8:20 pm

Wenatchee World Conference Room

 

 

In Attendence:

Sandi Bammer, Mike Cochran, Rich Colson, Tony Davis, Amanda Ellis, Nadine Lehrer,

Joan Qazi, Laurie Riegert, Kristi Roberts, Antonina Shapovalova, Kerry Steffan, Michel Wiman.  Guest appearances by Colleen Donovan and Patrice Barrentine.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Current balance $931.34.  Top Foods calendar sales are probably a write-off since we can’t get anyone from there to respond to our requests.  Café Mela has said they would send us a check after two invoices sent to them, but nothing yet.  They had 10 calendars to sell and we are assuming 5 sold at $10 and 5 sold at $5 sale price.

 

Updates:

 

Farm-to-School: 

  1. “Taste Washington” day at Wenatchee High School.  Jan Hansen, kitchen manager, invited several local growers to bring foods for kids to sample.  Ken Toevs (as Chef Toevs) roasted butternut squash.  Maggie McManus brought seckel pears and apples.  Anne Gaspar brought cherry tomatoes.  Jeepers Bagels was also there.
  2. Several parents with children in the Wenatchee School District met with Kent Getzin to discuss changes to the current menus.  They learned about changes that have been made in recent years, including removing the fryer (no french fries are served), and no longer serving flavored milks.  Due to logistical difficulties most of the improvements to nutrition and incorporating more fresh produce have been at the high school and middle school levels.
  3. One high school student has drawn up a petition to bring back chocolate milk.  1,000 kids have signed it, so this student will be meeting with Kent Getzin on Tuesday, Oct 5th.  Anyone interested in this matter is encouraged to attend.

 

School Gardens:

There are many opportunities to volunteer, including weeding, teaching composting, and working with garden clubs.  Help is especially needed at Foothills Middle School.  Contact Jake Carvitto, 7th grade science teacher:  (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 

Community Garden:

  1. The “Block Party” was very well-attended.
  2. Planning a “Salsa Party” on Oct. 18 at Community Garden.  Would be in conjunction with youth mariachi group performance.   EAT will provide plates and utensils. Everyone is encouraged to attend the salsa tasting.
  3. Compost- looking to set up a bin at the site. New EAT members and Americorps volunteers, Kristi, Antonina, and Amanda, expressed interest in helping.

 

Community Kitchen:

  1. Joan and Nadine met with David Gerlach (director of community center) to discuss setting up a community kitchen at the community center.  Would make it a certified kitchen, for anyone to rent and use for commercial production of food.  Several people have approached David requesting such a kitchen to make tamales, salsa, and other foods.
  2. Existing community center kitchens would need updating, including adding storage for regular users to keep their supplies on-site.
  3. Would need a grant to start this, and it would be great have an Americorps volunteer to help set up and assist in this project.

 

Calendar:

  1. Estimated cost (from Print Guys) for calendars is about $2,000 for 200 calendars.
  2. Wenatchee Valley Medical Center has a print shop they use for their own materials.  Could ask them to print for us, rather than paying cash to sponsor the calendars and have them printed elsewhere.
  3. Other possible sponsors:  Valley Tractor, restaurants that use local food, health food stores.
  4. What will be very important is to find a few dedicated sellers rather than dealing with many and trying to collect from them all.
  5. Sandi is working hard to assemble photos, recipes, and info tidbits for each month.  Many EAT members have contributed beautiful photos. Please send seasonal recipes directly to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).   Thank you!

 

 

Next Meeting on October 27th at 12:30pm in Van Tassell at Wenatchee Valley College

 

 

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