Annual General Meeting Minutes 2008
Wednesday November 12, 2008
Children’s Services Central, Building 21 Addison Road Community Centre, Marrickville
Start: 7pm

Appointment of facilitator, minute taker
Lara, facilitator; Gemma, minute taker

Attendance and apologies
Attendance: Sarah Cook*, Genevieve Derwent*, Nassim Arrage*, David Harris, Phoebe Torzillo, Sandra Oates, Nija Dalal, Monika Baumann, Sarah Runcle, Jo Rose, Katherine Myers*, Lara Daley*, Gemma Beall*, Stevie Bee
Apologies: Linda Grkinic*, Amity Lynch

* current MC at time of AGM

Acceptance of minutes
That the minutes of the 2007 AGM be accepted. Lara/Sarah CARRIED

Co-op Coordinator’s Report
That the Co-op Coordinator’s report* be accepted. Lara/Nassim CARRIED

Directors’ report
That the Directors' report is accepted. Nassim/Gemma CARRIED

Finance report
• Official audited documents were received yesterday (Nov. 11). They reflect a loss of $1800 in the last financial year. The previous year’s profit was $800.
• Our projected budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year reflects a $20,000 deficit.
• Have methods in place to reduce the deficit, including our business plan, which will be published in our e-news and put on the website. It basically involves increasing membership engagement, increasing volunteering, fundraising linked to building community, staying afloat, and improving staff conditions.
• Nassim (Treasurer) discussed a method of lowering our liability, i.e., becoming shareless co-op. Suggested it be discussed with a broader section of the co-op, but that it will help our finances significantly. This was tabled to General Business.

That AH adopt the Auditor’s report and accept the Finance report.
Lara/Genevieve CARRIED

Other reports
That the Groceries and F+V reports* be accepted. Nassim/Lara CARRIED

* The reports appear in the co-op's annual newsletter. To view click here

Election of returning officer
That Nija Dalal be appointed Returning Officer. Nassim/Sarah CARRIED

Call for nominations
Nija declared the current Management Committee dissolved and called for nominations for the new Management Committee. The following nominations were received.

Genevieve Derwent: Passionate about the existence of the coop, continuity from the last MC to this one, to meet the challenges.
Nassim/Stevie

Jo Rose: PR/Media/Comm background, passionate for AH history and what it stands for, has worked on E-news with Stevie, interested in vollie support, helping people feel a part of it
Genevieve/Lara

Linda Grkinic: Lifestyle choices based on environmental concerns, informed choices, vision of the world helped by joining community, economically viable business choices, 15 years in HR which can help the coop.
Nassim/Sarah

Sarah Cook: Corporate background, currently Admin Manager for Greening Australia, important to give back to the community, connecting people and their involvement, understanding of daily AH business as was Co-op Manager between 2006-2007.
Nassim/Gemma

Report from Returning Officer: There being no objections and no more nominations than the maximum number of members nominating for the management Committee, I declare Sarah Cook, Jo Rose, Linda Grkinic and Genevieve Derwent elected.

Proposal: That the Returning Officer's Report be accepted. Stevie/Lara CARRIED

Confirmation of Auditor
That Auditor Andrew Savva and Associates be confirmed as the co-op’s auditor.
Nassim/Sarah CARRIED

General business
• Discussion centred on AH converting to a shareless co-op. AH is currently a non-trading share-based co-op (twenty $1 shares). Historically those shares have been absorbed into the co-op's general revenue. Six months ago AH recognised the importance of setting aside that money in case it needed to pay out all members' shares. Our current liability for members’ shares is around $50,000.
• Could it be a donation from members?
• Such a proposal would require constitutional change so would need a special general meeting or an AGM to approve it. Over the next 12 months it should be discussed, members should engage and decide.
• It's an administrative burden on the co-op to chase non-shopping members. (if a member fails to shop for a period of two years without suspension, the co-op is required to forfeit the member's shares.)

Meeting closed 7.30pm