Committees
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness, accountability, and transparency of the Board of Directors. It also includes the former Bylaws Committee, its main function is to draft initial bylaws – the rules that govern internal management – for the Jersey City Food Co-op. With input from owners and professional legal guidance, the committee will create bylaws that meet the requirements for nonprofits, as set by New Jersey statute and present to the Board of Trustees for adoption. Under the direction of the Board of Trustees, the committee will also review and update Jersey City Food Co-op business registration and incorporation information.
External Relations Committee
Formally the Education and Outreach, Events & Marketing and Fundraising Committees. The education and outreach tasks are finding creative ways to explain the cooperative ownership structure of the Jersey City Food Co-op and its benefits. This can be done in a variety of ways, including attending community group meetings and conducting information sessions at places of business, schools, senior homes, places of worship and events.
The events and marketing tasks oversee all event planning, advertising, and PR for the Co-op. We’re always looking for fresh ideas, so contact us. Contact Alma Malabanan-McGrath or Eve Rametta at events@jcfoodcoop.coop for more information.
The primary duty of the fundraising is to develop and execute a strategy for acquiring funding to establish the Jersey City Food Co-op. Responsibilities of the Fundraising Committee include identifying and maintaining a list of potential sponsors/donors, soliciting sponsors/donors, overseeing all interaction with donors/sponsors, obtaining funds or in-kind services, thanking donors/sponsors in writing, and acknowledging or assuring that the donor/sponsors are acknowledged in all proper venues.
Finance Committee
The finance committee is focused on developing the business side of the Jersey City Food Co-op. This involves keeping up with the bookkeeping, reconciling the bank accounts on a regular basis, and performing the invoicing function for the Pre-Shop. The finance committee is involved in the budgeting and cash control aspects of fundraising events that the Jersey City Food Co-op hosts, as well as helping to provide needed financial information for grant applications. Current and ongoing projects include developing both short and long term budgets as well as evaluating the operations and sustainability of the Pre-Shop activities. The finance committee is looking for new members, those that have experience with Quickbooks, budgeting, or handling money would be welcome additions.
Membership Committee
The membership committee is charged with recruiting and processing new members of the Jersey City Food Co-op. This will include working on membership materials (handbook, etc.) as well as organizing and running orientations. We will also help keep track of work shifts completed by members.
Operations Committee
Formerly the Preshop, Location/Facilities and IT committees, the JCFC Operations Committee is responsible for managing the Preshop and performing the supporting tasks that will lead to our future retail store. This includes establishing the vendor relationships; overseeing the PreShop orders and inventory; product research and selection; quality control; product demos; creating and processing Preshop invoices; managing outstanding payments and Preshop credits; supervise facility needs for the Preshop; research, plan, budget, direct and coordinate for the location and facility of pending co-op storefront; investigate, implement and oversee all of the technology support and needs of the Preshop and the organization as a whole; and expand, grow and maintain the website and other technology tools and investments of the JCFC.
Members:
Roland Arnold, Lisa Clarke, Joanna De Leon, Sheila Kirven, Kathy Kozachok, Eileen Li, Alma Malabanan-McGrath, Nicholas Phillips, Cassandra Robertson-Reuter, Ray Schwartz, Robyn Volker, Gregory Werhner, John Wong
