Watauga County Farmers’ Market
Minutes
Monday, January 7, 2008
Present: Alicia Breton, Karl Doege, Karen Bauman, Jeff Thomas, Cheryl Piracci, Susan Graham, Richard Boylan, Don Cox
The meeting came to order at 2:10 p.m. at the North Carolina Agricultural Center, King Street, Boone, NC.
Minutes from last meeting (December 3, 2007) were approved with one correction, namely changing the date of the previous meeting from November 2007 to October 2007.
The Treasurer reported a balance of $4195.49 as of December 31, 2007. The opening balance on January 1, 2008, was $6,214.50. This Jan.1 balance is about $2000 less than anticipated and reflects expenses associated with the post Thanksgiving Farmers’ Market of 2007. The Treasurer expressed the wish that the Board of Directors look in greater detail at the financial picture at the next meeting.
The Treasurer’s report was approved.
A letter from Linda McAllister was read and discussed. This resulted in a general discussion concerning the outlook for membership for the 2008 Market, the possibility of the need to raise fees and other related issues. Linda’s membership, and that of all other vendors, depends on her ability to comply with the WCFM “Guidelines for Crafts,” revised as detailed below. Alicia will notify Linda, by phone, of the Board’s discussions. Notification will also be made to David Mezyinski and Mary Harmon via telephone.
Revisions to the body of the WCFM “Guidelines for Crafts,” are as follows:
Paragraph 2: The penultimate sentence will read: “The Crafts Committee will be composed of two current vendors plus three honorary members chosen by the Board of Directors.”
Paragraph 3: This sentence is changed to read: “100% of all crafts sold at the market must be hand crafted by the vendor.”
Paragraph 4: This sentence is changed to read: “All craft items by any Market Vendor will be juried every odd numbered year, i.e., 2009, 2011, etc.”
Paragraph 6: This paragraph is changed to read: “Additional jury dates will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.”
Added to the Guidelines will be a statement to the effect that crafters are responsible for notifying the WCFM Manager concerning whether or not they will be returning to the 2008 Market. Such information must be provided to the Market Manager in order to insure that the crafter’s space will be available at the 2008 Market. Notification must be made to the Market Manager by February 28, 2008.
Vendors will be notified that the WCFM Craft Jury will be held on the 2nd Saturday of April, (Apr. 12), 2008.
Vendors will also be notified that the Annual Meeting will take place on March 17, 2008.
These measures and changes were all approved by the Board of Directors.
Advertising and Promotion issues were discussed. Richard Boylan moved that Karen Bauman undertake the position of Advertising and Promotion Manager. Alicia Breton seconded the motion. Approved.
An assistant to Karen will be considered at another time, i.e., after she has considered a job description for such a position.
The Board authorized Karen to look at the facility at Old Mable School as a possibility for using it as office space to accommodate her needs as Market Manager/Advertising and Promotion Mgr. Karen will inform the Board of her findings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on February 4, 2008, at the Agricultural Center.