[OKC] FW: Local Food Cooperatives -

Tue Feb 13 12:06:58 PST 2007

How to organize a local food cooperative with the 'Oklahoma Plan'

The Oklahoma Food Cooperative will host a three day workshop on May 17, 18,
19, 2007 in Oklahoma City on how to organize and operate a local food
cooperative internet-based order and delivery system.  

Topics to be covered include organizing campaigns, producer issues,
financial accounting, computer systems, customer and volunteer issues.  The
event will be held in conjunction with the May delivery day of the Oklahoma
Food Cooperative, and attendees will participate in all aspects of that
activity.

Cost of the 3 day workshop is $125 if received by April 16, 2007 ($150
thereafter), which includes all meals (made from local ingredients) and
social events, but does not include your transportation to and from Oklahoma
City or your hotel cost.  

Attendance will be limited to 30 people. To secure your reservation, payment
must be received in full.

Workshop sessions will be held at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church
located at 7336 W. Britton Road in Oklahoma City.  

The closest motel is the Courtesy Inn at 6600 NW Expressway, 405-722-8694.
The next closest motel is the Executive Inn, 6410 NW Expressway,
405-728-9913.  We can provide transportation to Epiphany Church from these
hotels, or others further east on Northwest Expressway, and perhaps from
other areas (check with Bob Waldrop on this).  We will also work on
coordinating transportation to the airport on the final day of the workshop.

To register for the conference, send your name and full contact info
including email to:  Oklahoma Food Cooperative, 1524 NW 21, OKC, OK 73106.
Or send this info in an email to  <mailto:prez at oklahomafood.coop>
prez at oklahomafood.coop and either mail your check or pay with your credit
card or electronic check via Paypal (send money to
<mailto:paypal at oklahomafood.coop> paypal at oklahomafood.coop and put in the
comments field that it is for the 'Oklahoma Plan Conference').

More info will be available as the planning progresses at
<http://www.oklahomafood.coop> http://www.oklahomafood.coop .

Hope to see you in Oklahoma City!

Bob Waldrop, president and general manager

Oklahoma Food Cooperative

prez at oklahomafood.coop

405-613-4688

About the Oklahoma Food Cooperative:

Organized in 2003, the Oklahoma Food Cooperative operates an innovative
internet-based order and delivery system that only sells Oklahoma grown or
made foods and non-food products.  The cooperative has both customer and
producer members.  

The cooperative does not buy wholesale and sell retail. Members order items
from specific producers, so each produce in effect is his or her "brand" in
the coop product lineup. The producer members set their own prices, and the
cooperative charges them a commission for selling through the cooperative.
Customer members pay a commission for buying through the cooperative. The
cooperative operates this delivery cycle once each month.  

Monthly gross revenues are presently ranging from $25,000 to $35,000, and
the coop has 1,000 members. The coop has been completely self-financed since
it was organized via the sale of member shares and operating revenues.

DRAFT SCHEDULE FOR THE WORKSHOP

May 16, Wednesday: 

folks arrive, evening social event

May 17, Thursday

8 AM: delivery day begins (lunch at delivery day site)

6:30 PM, dinner, followed by opening remarks and social time

May 18th, Friday 

8 AM, breakfast

9 AM: Session 1 - Getting started: the organizing campaign

10:30 - break

11 AM- Session 2 - What's for sale?  Producer issues

12:30 - lunch

1:30 - Session 3 - The Amazing Portable Oklahoma Food Cooperative: Delivery
Day

3 PM - break

3:30 PM - Session 4 -- How much does this cost? Financials

Saturday, May 19

8 AM - breakfast

8:45 AM - Session 5 - Internet Commerce and Local Foods: Computer Systems

10:15 - break

10:45 - Session 6, What's the market? Customer and Volunteer Issues

12:15 - lunch and closing remarks.

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