Comm comm minutes 1-26-11
Communications Committee Meeting Minutes 1/26/11
Attending: Erin C., Glenda, Paula, Gibson, Amanda, Michael Pettit
Donation Requests - Only request was from Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Since it was outside our mission and our neighborhood, it was decided not to fund it.
9carrots- Michael Pettit from Transition Milwaukee came to the meeting to discuss the 9 Carrots marketing program. 9carrots website will promote the Co-op; in return, Co-op would set aside a specified amount for environmental/energy efficiency upgrades to the business, or an amount to be donated to a local charity. Ideas included LED lighting outside the store, new roof or windows, or donation to Victory Gardens. The Co-op (assisted by 9carrots) would then count 10% of 9carrots customer purchases toward our goal. Milwaukee is the first city in the U.S. to set up a 9carrots program. The Milwaukee 9carrots website (milwaukee.9carrots.org) doesn’t currently show any businesses signed up, although Fischbergers, Centro Cafe and others have reportedly joined. There was some doubt about the program keeping up enough momentum to reach a goal--will customers remember to ask for 9carrots receipts, Will cashiers remember to give out receipts, etc? Committee will discuss and get back to Michael ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
Currents Ad - March ad will promote the cafe, specifically $5.50 Phillys, with a “come in from the cold” theme to hopefully drum up cafe business.
Events - Spaghetti Dinner (Feb. 5) and Chili Cook-off (Feb. 20) have both been advertised in the Currents and online. WMSE will also be plugging our cook-off in on-air promos for the Rockabilly Chili Cookoff. More volunteers and desserts still needed for spaghetti dinner.
Groupon- Communications committee members met with Workers Collective to discuss doing a Groupon. Agreed to do a $5 for $10 coupon with a limit of 75-100. Further discussions with Groupon revealed that we cannot set an upper limit - other restaurants sell an average of 800 coupons with an 80% return rate. Because of our size, we doubt that many would be sold; odds are customers would buy more than $10 worth of food; Groupon would also provide us with a lot of free publicity. Taking all this into consideration, it was decided to go ahead with the promotion.
10th Anniversary - We are still waiting for samples of possible new mugs. Design contest will still be announced at Spaghetti dinner, although we might not have specs by then. Paula and Erin reported back on meeting with Theresa and Nic and others about the cookbook. Discussion of cookbook size options and how to proceed. Consensus is that we want a quality cookbook, but also an affordable one which reflects the spirit of the co-op. More planning and discussion needed.
Annual Meeting - Committee update for the annual report was discussed and approved. Has been sent to the board.
Attending: Erin C., Glenda, Paula, Gibson, Amanda, Michael Pettit
Donation Requests - Only request was from Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Since it was outside our mission and our neighborhood, it was decided not to fund it.
9carrots- Michael Pettit from Transition Milwaukee came to the meeting to discuss the 9 Carrots marketing program. 9carrots website will promote the Co-op; in return, Co-op would set aside a specified amount for environmental/energy efficiency upgrades to the business, or an amount to be donated to a local charity. Ideas included LED lighting outside the store, new roof or windows, or donation to Victory Gardens. The Co-op (assisted by 9carrots) would then count 10% of 9carrots customer purchases toward our goal. Milwaukee is the first city in the U.S. to set up a 9carrots program. The Milwaukee 9carrots website (milwaukee.9carrots.org) doesn’t currently show any businesses signed up, although Fischbergers, Centro Cafe and others have reportedly joined. There was some doubt about the program keeping up enough momentum to reach a goal--will customers remember to ask for 9carrots receipts, Will cashiers remember to give out receipts, etc? Committee will discuss and get back to Michael ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
Currents Ad - March ad will promote the cafe, specifically $5.50 Phillys, with a “come in from the cold” theme to hopefully drum up cafe business.
Events - Spaghetti Dinner (Feb. 5) and Chili Cook-off (Feb. 20) have both been advertised in the Currents and online. WMSE will also be plugging our cook-off in on-air promos for the Rockabilly Chili Cookoff. More volunteers and desserts still needed for spaghetti dinner.
Groupon- Communications committee members met with Workers Collective to discuss doing a Groupon. Agreed to do a $5 for $10 coupon with a limit of 75-100. Further discussions with Groupon revealed that we cannot set an upper limit - other restaurants sell an average of 800 coupons with an 80% return rate. Because of our size, we doubt that many would be sold; odds are customers would buy more than $10 worth of food; Groupon would also provide us with a lot of free publicity. Taking all this into consideration, it was decided to go ahead with the promotion.
10th Anniversary - We are still waiting for samples of possible new mugs. Design contest will still be announced at Spaghetti dinner, although we might not have specs by then. Paula and Erin reported back on meeting with Theresa and Nic and others about the cookbook. Discussion of cookbook size options and how to proceed. Consensus is that we want a quality cookbook, but also an affordable one which reflects the spirit of the co-op. More planning and discussion needed.
Annual Meeting - Committee update for the annual report was discussed and approved. Has been sent to the board.
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