If you are interested in participating in the BFC Conference Planning Group please join the google group by emailing conference@brooklynfoodcoalition.org

October 11^th General Conference Meeting Notes 

Updates from four committees 

1)      Programming committee

-develop 40-60 workshops by the end of January (see panel discussions and Programming meeting notes)

-in need of more volunteers to do outreach to panelists/speakers

-plans to draft an invite letter to email/send to prospective panelists/speakers

2)      Marketing committee

-conflicted about whether to make two fliers or one (save the date and Brooklyn Food Conference). It was suggested that one flier, one image, one message is more powerful.

-Winton’s suggestion for message: “one voice for food justice”

-in need of suggestions for content on back of flier (eg: solicit partners to join conference

-Suggestion to do a large volunteer outreach drive in February and April

3)      Operations committee

-John Cunningham, Brooklyn Tech Science teacher, summarized meeting with Brooklyn Tech’s vice principal David Fanning, three Brooklyn Tech students, Mr. Evangelist, and Jesse Alter. Fanning would like to see students and teachers incorporated in planning the conference and helping with logistical support. He would also like to see a rooftop edible garden built. Jesse Alter will follow-up with all attendees at meeting to work out meeting times.

4)      Fundraising

-Making good progress with raising funds especially Sponsors and Brennan gave $1,000. On October 25, 7 PM the Park Slope Food Coop is voting on becoming a Premier Sponsor for $10,000.

-the expo letter is finalized but needs to be sent out

-an additional letter is to be written for wealthy individuals to donate to Conference. Nancy Romer and Karen Zelermyer will meet to write this letter

-suggestion made to solicit Park Slope Food Coop members to make tax-exempt donation, especially in December 2011.

Conference Outreach Organizer position

-the job needs to be done as the workload mounts daily, we cannot wait for a new steering committee to come in in what will be 3 months, then wait for interviews and finally orienting a new person--we are now talking about mid-February for a job that will end in May  

 -Jesse Alter’s work should be reviewed by the new steering committee with lots of input from BFC Staff and the conference committee to see if this is working

-We have two additional hires who we can start advertising for in January (communications and event planner). Those two positions need to be filled in February so that will allow time for an open search with steering committee deciding the hiring process. Those jobs would run February-May, both on a half-time basis.

There were 24 people at the meeting last night and the vote was unanimous in favor of hiring Jesse Alter now. The discussion was very productive and emphasized the importance of integrating the various parts of the BFC together.

Upcoming Meetings at BFC Headquarters

Fundraising October 27^th 7 PM

Programming November 1^st 6 PM

General Conference November 15^th 7PM

Marketing Committee meets every Monday either in person or via teleconference. Contact Winton (wintonbw@gmail.com)   

Please read about our conference conversation here. DraftProposalfor2011BrooklynFoodConference.pdf