Clonakilty Favour Exchange Committee Meeting, 1st May 2012
Present: Olive W, Bev C , Ger W , Brian D , Deirdre L, Deirdre B, Paul C , Idriz K, Jo B, Richard B, Julia F, Kitty P
Apologies:
Brigid, Karin, John, Xavier, Miriam, Sinead M
Minutes of last meeting
Agreed
Report on progress so far:
Report on progress so far:
Publicity
Great coverage
nationally and locally, though BE reports many locally have not heard of CFE. Suggest circulating meetings plus other local
events – see RAOK below.
Membership
Now 85 members, with majority exchanging, but need to
engage the recent joiners.
Olive offered to
make helping hand list of when and
what people are available for, and coordinate help squads.
O will also
arrange coffee mornings for members
to meet. CFE Market will also be a good
place for members to meet up. [Since the
meeting it’s been agreed that coffee meetups will take place in O’ Donovan’s
Hotel (bar) on Fridays at 2.00pm
after the market.]
Greeters to call
new members and encourage exchanges.
Annie Asks (Ann
Donnelly) has also been very helpful getting exchanges going.
General view that speed
exchange was very effective and another would be good way to engage new
members and build current members relationships. Bev and Olive to organise
Exchanges
450 favours exchanged since 1st march. Huge range of skills – report to come
450 favours exchanged since 1st march. Huge range of skills – report to come
Administration
In addition to Bev, Steven, Sinead M, Kitty, Jo L and Anne
D have already been working on balances and asks page, emails and book
club. Kitty has now finished placement,
and Sinead had baby, so more hands needed to keep admin up to date and
responsive.
Request will go out for members to undertake admin tasks as
favours so that system is efficient
and self sustaining. Lot
of separate tasks now identified.
Levy
The Quarterly Levy of 5 favours per member will be taken on 1stJune, as set out in the rules. The pool of favours will be used primarily for admin and organisation. Others will also be needed for uploading membership, asks and new projects including tool bank, lift-sharing page and market. Requests for favours for admin will be put to and approved by the coordinating group at the monthly meeting
Levy
The Quarterly Levy of 5 favours per member will be taken on 1stJune, as set out in the rules. The pool of favours will be used primarily for admin and organisation. Others will also be needed for uploading membership, asks and new projects including tool bank, lift-sharing page and market. Requests for favours for admin will be put to and approved by the coordinating group at the monthly meeting
Julia F volunteered to manage the car pool page.
O suggested Bev be given favours for some of the admin work
put into scheme so far. Agreed.
Book club Thanks for
Jo for excellent first meeting. Ground floor, private venue needed for
future meetings. Next meeting 6th June pm at Courtyard with author
David Mitchell. Suggestions sought for
next book choices.
Planning for next major events
Goods Exchange June – Agreed that the exchange will be Sunday pm once per month – 2-4, behind O’ Donovan’s Hotel. No fee to exchange or attend, but levy of 1 favour for every 20 exchanged for those who exchange goods to that amount.
Tool Bank. CFE to keep a list of tools for tool bank, + ask members to offer tool mending and repair. All tools registered to be kept by their owners, details of how to loan/borrow them kept in registry. Annual damage fee contributed by all users of bank (amount to be worked out) and all tools registered to be valued against possible loss or damage.
Random Acts of Kindness Festival July 2012
See festival website www.raokclon.com
Three events from CFE – Leviathan political cabaret Fri 20th
July pm
Planning for a Better Clonakilty workshop - event with
Chamber of Commerce, CFE and Constantin Gurdgiev sat 21st am
CFE favours for pledges event Sunday 22nd Emmet Square. Members needed to offer favours on the spot
[eg face painting, face and neck massage, advice corners, astrology, tapestry,
sketching, music – anything!].
Details to follow (Action
Miriam)
AOB
AOB
Nothing.
Next Meeting:
Tuesday 3rd July, The Lodge, 7.30pm.
Contact Bev for agenda items etc 089 435 2675
Present: Ger Walsh, Olive Walsh, Steven Kelly, Bev
Cotton, Miriam Cotton
Apologies: Ann Dinneen, Brian Evans
(NB All members: everybody is welcome to
attend committee meetings – see members’ area on the website for dates, which
we will try to post with good notice.)
Minutes:
- Arrange/discuss AGM November/December to decide new committee and election of officers
AGM to be held Tuesday 11th December
in the evening followed by CFE party. Investigate use of The Venue. Cover fee
may need to be charged to pay for room. Members hopefully will provide
entertainment. (Action Miriam)
Committee members to be nominated and elected –
list of vacant positions to be drawn up. (Action Olive)
Membership to be given advance notice of AGM
agenda. (Action Bev)
By-laws and rules to be presented at the
meeting for approval. (Action Steven)
- Giving Officer and Gives Page - draft text for page for approval
Draft approved with minor edits – also to
include clear statement that we are not-for-profit, voluntary, neighbourhood
self-help scheme. Load Giving Page on website. (Bev)
- ‘Security’
It was agreed that CFE is committed to
transparency, openness and community as at present. If members are concerned about email security
we will offer a dedicated gmail account and/or email filtered through BoxBe.
- Launch Friday May 4th - Outstanding preps and plans
Market stall – manning, leaflets etc: Mim to buy drape for table.
Bev to make laminated A3 CFE headers.
Olive/Alison to complete lollipop sign.
Bev to collect balloons and investigate/purchase
ribbon for same!
Olive to blow up balloons! With helium pump
if possible J
Acapellabella will perform three songs at 1.00pm at the stall.
Bev to bring registration forms on the
day.
Mim to bring leaflets
Press –statement for launch day (Mim will circulate draft statement for
approval)
(West Cork People are covering in
advance, Southern Star will be there on the
day, Miriam to check with West Cork Times, Local Campus, Friday Ad,
C103FM, Evening Echo, Irish
Examiner and Cork
Indo)
[Posters to be put up around town –
action Mim & Bev – forgot to
mention at
meeting]
Miriam to issue press release to local media re launch on Monday 30th
April.
Richies – Ann Donnelly has made arrangements
with Richies – Olive to confirm
numbers as best possible by Wednesday
Thank you present for Constantin Gurdgiev: Olive to ask members for home-made
contributions for a hamper.
- Admin
Steven will share administration of the website
and uploading of members registrations and details. Bev
and Steven to meet next week. It was
agreed that all admin and committee time is donated to the scheme at present
but that once the member’s levy begins (1st June) we hope that
administration of the scheme will be self-sustaining as a Favour Exchange
- Money/Expenses
Doantions
to admin costs so far: B&M: 100
G&O:
100
SK: 100
Total
In:
300
Costs so
far: Hire of rooms: 50
Ink: 30
Photocopying: 18
Printed Balloons: 75
T-shirts: 180
Snacks/Sp. Exch. 25
Dot.com reg. 18
Camera battery 11
Total
Out: 397
Fundraisers
to be held later in the year.
- Next Members Evening
Interactive brain storming and social event –
to discuss ways of developing CFE and benefiting the community - in approx two
months time.
- Kilkenomics
Miriam confirmed that economist David
McWilliams has offered us a slot to hold the workshop we promised to run for
interested parties around the country at the Kilkenomics festival. Details and plans for same to be discussed later.
Next Committee Meeting:
Tuesday May 15th, venue/time to be confirmed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Minutes of CFE Committee Meeting 3rd April 2012
Meeting to plan the speed exchange evening and launch.
Present: Olive, Bev Miriam (apologies) Ger
Speed Exchange Evening
Objective: meet members you don't know. Find out the range of skills offered. Encourage more exchanging between a range of members. Come away with at least one arrangement to exchange each
Plan: Introduction to each other and reason for joining CFE
How the exchange will work:
Present and discuss wants and offers and Q+A session about how exchanges work best
Speed exchange: Group A will be members who already (or mostly) know each other well. Group A sit down one side of a set table. Group B sit opposite and move one space a long after each exchange discussion. Each
couple (sitting opposite sides of table) get three minutes to meet each
other and find out what each other are offering and find something they
might need/wants/. Move one space to right after each exchange, person off the end joins the table at the other end again. Keep going until every pair in A has me B. Each to keep a note of numbers and exchanges arranged.
End the evening with tea coffee and chat.
To do:
Book room for Tuesday 24th April - O Donovan's Hotel Clonakilty 8.00 pm (Action Bev)
Advertise: posters round town and stall at market, plus email (Action Miriam/Bev/Olive)
All current members and prospective members to be invited by email and text
(Action: Committee, Coordination Bev)
Launch
Planned for 4th May. Three main events – market stall to give out leaflets
Acapellabella to sing in market at 1.00 pm
Press conference with Constantin Gurdiev for 2.00 pm
Dinner for well wishers early evening
Needed
T shirts and balloons for launch
Posters and leaflets for launch
Press to be booked for conference – second speaker for debate?
Book market and hotel
(Action: Committee, Coordination Miriam)
The website
Wants Page/Swapping
Current skills page is a wish list drawn up before CFE began. It can now be written to reflect the actual range of skills offered and then be useful as a search prompt. (Action Bev)
Website edits
Committee invited to look over the website to see that it is keeping up wiht new changes and membership (Action committee/report changes needed to Bev)
New members
Need to encourage new members to start exchanging, and to come to exchange evening (Action Olive)
General review of progress so far
Membership is increasing steadily, exchanges beginning and press coverage positive.
Next meeting Friday 27th April 3.00 pm to plan launch
========================================
Minutes for C.F.E. meeting held on Monday 23rd Feb 2012
Present at meeting were:
Bev Cotton
Miriam Cotton
Gerald Walsh
Olive Walsh
*Our meeting began with Bev reading of minutes from our last meeting.
*We decided to change the name of our group to the Clonakilty Favour Exchange as we believe it describes more clearly what we are about.
*We also renamed our Hit Squad to Help Squad.
*We agreed to concentrate on building up our favor exchange and not to get involved in the trading of goods at this time.
*We discussed the idea of asking new members to provide photo ID. We decided against this as it could be off-putting.
We also decided against charging a membership fee preferring instead to arrange a fundraiser later on in the year. A gig at a Clonakilty venue was suggested.
In the mean time until fundraising begins Bev and Miriam Cotton and Ger and Olive Walsh have agreed to fund the initial costs of the publicity i.e... brochures posters T-shirts.
Monies to be refunded some time in the future. A sum of 300 hundred euro. 150 per couple was agreed.
*We took advice from C.A.B. regarding involvement in our C.F.E. group while in receipt of Unemployment Benefit.
There is currently no rule against involvement, however it is up to the individual to inform the Benefits Agency of any voluntary work.
*Miriam presented her proposal draft promotions plan and time table launch for our C.F.E. group. Available to read on website. All present agreed with plan.
*Miriam is to look into Census information to better understand our local demographic.
*Olive described her understanding of the scope/remit of her Membership Co-ordination Role.
*Ger shared his list of jobs/skills as a prompt to new members joining the scheme which is to be published on the C.f.E. website.
*We also discussed having a Wanted section to encourage trading. As well as listing skills and qualifications Bev suggested having a willing to do list to enable members to increase their potential offers.
Bev suggested a 15 minute or small job section i.e...for a dripping tap or other job that takes little time to complete.
Bev is to work on the website to breaking down skills and presenting them in a user friendly way, perhaps incorporating symbols.
*Bev read his up to date work on our Constitution/Rules/Ethos. Available on our website.
*We would like to aim for 3 projects a year for our Help Squad,in the Clonakilty area.
These projects will be to the benefit of those in need of help who are unable to participate in our scheme and will be funded by the quarterly subs of 5 favors per member.
*Miriam suggested a message board on our website to encourage members to communicate with each other.
*We plan to have a presence once a month at the Friday market to continue to promote our group and find new members.
* Olive suggested preparing a generic letter to send to potential recipients of our Help Squad
We decided on time plan for timetable to launch.
*Next meeting to be held on Tue 21th Feb. The purpose of this meeting is to invite interested people to find out about C.F.E. and invite them to join. We will begin to trade as soon as possible to test system and if possible photograph some trades for our website.
*A meeting on the Tue 20 March is planned for wider recruitment.
*We decided that the optimum time for a public meeting was about 4-5 weeks before Launch date. Not sure if we set a date for that.
*Launch is planned for Friday 11th May, market day. Suggested venue is
Astna Square followed by a leafleting of the Clonakilty area. We decided it is important to take good contact information from interested people and follow up with a call wihin two weeks of Launch.
Astna Square followed by a leafleting of the Clonakilty area. We decided it is important to take good contact information from interested people and follow up with a call wihin two weeks of Launch.
22 May meeting for all members.
19 June review meeting.
______________________________________________________________________
Minutes of Meeting 9th January 2012
Present:
Olive Walsh
Ger Walsh
Bev Cotton
Miriam Cotton
Minutes
Agreed that purpose of meeting was to establish the ethos of Clon LETS and to identify an immediate plan of action to get the scheme up and running.
The following points were agreed:
Ethos/Rules/Constitution
The ethos of Clon LETS is to be supportive, inclusive and respectful of the differing inputs of members.
All types of labour will be treated as equal – measured in units of time to be called Favours – one Favour =15 minutes of labour.
An appropriate constitution and set of operating rules to be established as soon as possible - perhaps adapted from another LETS scheme – possible texts to be presented at next meeting for discussion/agreement – ACTION Bev Cotton
Website
Photo ID to be included for each member where possible
Images of people doing work should be prominent
Registration of work exchange/trade is to be online via email or text to the web administrator and recorded on the site
The website will encourage feedback/constructive criticism of any aspect of the scheme via email or text to the Website Administrator/Membership Coordinator.
Praise or testimonials for the work of individual members will be included on their personal entry
Administration
Administration work will be contributed on the basis of a levy of 5 Favours each quarter on each member which can be redeemed by committee members according to the hours of admin they have contributed.
Clon LETS ‘Hit Squad’
The quarterly levy (see above under ‘Administration’) will also be used to make labour available for voluntary projects on behalf of the scheme which could be offered to local groups or individuals. Agreed to identify a deserving cause asap and report back with suggestions to next meeting. Action: All present.
Committee
Olive reported experience from established groups is that a core committee responsible for ten specific functions is needed to ensure productive administration of the scheme. The following roles were volunteered for:
Membership Co-ordinator, Olive
General Support, Ger
Webmaster
Group Co-Cordinator
Bev
Promotions/Events Organiser/Newsletter, Miriam
Minute taking to be rotated among existing 4 committee members until a Secretary is found
Committee roles yet to be filled:
Secretary
Treasurer
Others (can’t remember!)
Membership
All present to make as many contacts with other possible interested parties and invite them to a formal meeting in early February. Venue (hopefully The Grace Centre) and date to be confirmed – Action Bev/Miriam asap
General/Other
Points of discussion minuted here to be discussed as part of the agenda for the next meeting 23rd January (see below) according to agreed roles/agenda items:
Ideas for encouraging new members or those in large debt to the scheme to get trading included: inviting them along to squad work and inviting them to help with admin work.
(Membership Coordinator/Olive W)
Members in credit to be encouraged to call those in debt to get the scheme back in balance.
(Membership Coordinator/Olive W)
Committee agreed to the idea that the maximum and minimum number of Favours to be in credit or debit to be 100 (equivalent of 25 hours). (Core rules/Group Coordinator/Bev C)
Also agreed that exceptions to the maximums (for compassionate reasons etc) can be approved by the committee on request. (Core rules/Group Coordinator/Bev C)
List of jobs skills which could be used to prompt new members when registering to be discussed at next meeting. (Action: Ger W)
Various ideas for promoting the scheme: Posters/flyers; finish website with pictures of work done locally by Clon LETS ‘Hit Squad’; identification of short medium and long term objectives with promotional activity to support same; identification of various groups or ‘publics’ with promotional activity tailored for same (eg GPs, individuals, voluntary organisations/charities, sympathetic businesses etc); regular stall at Clonakilty Market. (Promotions/Events Organiser/ Miriam C)
Planning & Time-table
Official launch of Clonakilty LETS is planned for early-mid May. Working back from that:
Next meeting of the initial group 23rd of January at Olive and Ger’s – 11am.
Agenda for this meeting as follows:
*Draft promotions plan + timetable to launch. Action Miriam C
*Membership Co-ordination Role – scope/remit etc Action Olive W
*List of jobs/skills as a prompt to new members joining the scheme Ger W
*Constitution/Rules/Ethos Action Bev C
*Planning for first open meeting in early Mid-Feb All
Miriam Cotton
