Thanks to everyone who has already joined.

In early November we reached our first milestone of 500 members. We continue to grow to over 538 members strong today. The more people who join the faster we can continue to grow the co-op and reach our goals. Consider joining today if you haven't already and spread the word to friends and family if you have.

https://charlesriverfood.coop/join

You can also consider giving gift memberships as explained later in this newsletter.

Fig City News Announces Our Success

We received coverage in the Fig City News on November 9th of our success in reaching our first goal of reaching 500 members.

https://figcitynews.com/2022/11/charles-river-food-co-op-reaches-goal-of-500-founding-members/

Immediate opening for volunteer Newsletter Editor.

Apply today for a part time volunteer position as Newsletter Editor for the co-op. Our goal is to send it out monthly to all the members and everyone on our email list. We send hardcopy versions to those who prefer that format. Proficiency with Mailchimp is required. Send your resume to info@charlesriverfood.coop. Our goals are to keep our members and others informed about the progress is establishing the coop, to educate our members about cooperative ownership, to encourage more people to become members, and to help build our community. One of the first paid positions we will consider filling to continue to grow the coop in the near future is an Outreach Coordinator.

Gift Memberships Now Available

You can now purchase a gift membership on the website for anyone you choose. When you purchase a gift membership, an email will be sent to the recipient alerting them of the offer. When they choose to accept the offer, the recipient fills out the online membership form and they and their family become a fully qualified lifetime member. You can use the link below to get started:

Thanks to All the Volunteers who have Helped us this Year

We set up tables at events in Watertown, Waltham and Newton this year to get the word out about the launch of the co-op. We had a table at Riverfest in Waltham, Faire on the Square in Watertown, Harvest Fair in Newton, Upper Falls Day in Newton, and at the farmers markets in Watertown and Belmont. Board members and many volunteers helped out and we thank all of those who did so. We plan to have a presence at many outdoor events next season and welcome volunteers to help us out.

Below is the booth at the Newton Harvest Fair with four of the volunteers (Judith, Christina, Lissa, and Nick)

*Our booth at the Newton Harvest Fair over the Fall*

Co-op Member Wins Raffle

A member of the Charles River Food Co-op won the New Member Raffle by joining the co-op in the month of October, International Co-op Month. Sarah from Watertown is a Runner Up winner--prize is Cabot Ultimate Cheese Box, 2 Mad River Glen Co-op Day Ski Tickets, and $30 REI Co-op Gift Card

This generous giveaway of co-op prizes is exclusive for our NFCA Member Co-ops designed to  be an incentive prize drawing for all new members who join your Co-op in October.  Ten names were randomly drawn from the nearly 900 entries from NFCA Member Co-ops. (3 1st place, 7 Runner up) Special thanks to Cabot Creamery Co-op for helping to organize this give-away and REI, Mad River and Cabot for the prizes!

Co-op signs contract with Columinate

In November, the co-op signed a contract with a co-op consulting firm, Columinate to help prepare a comprehensive financial plan. The plan will outline the sources and uses of funds that the co-op can expect over the next several years to operate successfully. https://columinate.coop/

CRFC continues to work with Co-op Advisors

We’d like to say thank you to all of the amazing members of our community and our wider co-operator network who have helped make our initiative successful in the first few months. They’ve spent dozens of hours helping us hone our ideas and focus our group’s efforts on what really matters.

The co-op continues to meet via Zoom with advisors from the Food Cooperative Initiative (FCI) and the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) and other co-ops to share our progress and receive advice. Those advisors include Siobain Mitchell, JQ Hannah (left) https://fci.coop/ and Bonnie Hudspeth (right). https://nfca.coop/

Charles River Food Co-op simply wouldn’t be where it is today without the support of FCI and especially of JQ. They’ve provided us with an immense amount of ideas, support, and guidance and we’re excited to bring their ideas to reality here close to Boston.

Bonnie at the Neighboring Food Co-op Association has helped us with our co-op’s by-laws, getting connected to other regional co-ops. She’s been a huge help in making our co-op real over this past year.

Thank you!

Coop Sets Goals for Next Six Months

The Board of Directors of CRFC set the following goals for the next six months (January-June 2023):

1. Complete a first draft of the Pro Forma financial plan
2. Select a partner for and sign a contract with them for a Preliminary Market Study
3. Reach 850 members by adding 311 new members
4. Plan for an general membership meeting and election of 3 members of the Board of Directors
5. Plan and schedule 10 public tabling events

Once again thank you so much to all of you for your support and please spread the word by forwarding this email to a few friends.

In co-operation,

The Charles River Food Co-op Board
(Nick, Melissa, Thomas, Tim, Christina, Lissa, Lew, Benny, & Jen)

First Milestone Reached - Over 500 Members