News you can use July 29th

CreekSide Co-op member message forJuly 29, 2010

Austerity Measures

Dear Co-op members,

All of us are buoyed by the news that our application forfunding from the United States Department of Agriculture has been approved bythe Pennsylvania office of the USDA and sent on to Washington. As we await moregood news, we have instituted several austerity measures.

Under an agreement with the West Mt. Airy-based Weavers WayCo-op, we have worked out an arrangement whereby our General Manager, RyanYoungman is serving as a consultant to the Weavers Way store on Ogontz Avenuein the City of Philadelphia's West Oak Lane neighborhood.

The Ogontz store is losing its store manager and Weavers Wayhas agreed to pay us a monthly fee for Ryan's services. We have here a classicwin-win. The Weavers Way Ogontz store will get some needed management supportand we here in Elkins Park can use the fees paid by Weavers Way to offset someof our expenses. This is for a limited period of time until Weavers Way hirestheir new Ogontz Store Manager and/or the USDA funding approval is received,whichever comes first.

Many thanks are due to Jon McGoran, the Weavers Way employeewho serves on our board and Glenn Bergman, the general manager of Weavers Way,for their work in helping bring this about.

Ryan will be devoting approximately 50 percent of his timeto consulting with Weavers Way over the next six to eight weeks.

This is a good time to remind you that you can show yoursupport for the cooperative movement by plunking down some of your grocerydollars at the Ogontz store. Weavers Way Ogontz is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Monday through Saturday.

Getting there is easy. Just go South on 611, hang a right onWest Cheltenham Avenue, travel a little less than a mile, make a left on North21st Street and a right on 72nd Ave. The store will be onyour right.

More Savings

We have also moved the Co-op office to 7900 High School Roadto save money on rent. Ryan can now be found at the farmers market in HighSchool Park on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at the 7900 High School Roadlocation on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10a.m. to 3 p.m.

Garden of Dreams

That's the new name for our November 14 fundraiser at theElkins Estate. But to get there we need some bodies. Subcommittee chairs areneeded for marketing/PR; program and ticket sales; and refreshments. We're alsogoing to need graphics layout and printing services for program and ticketproduction.

We're pleased to announce that CreekSide Co-op member SteveKatz and his son Joshua have agreed to be the auctioneers for the evening. Someauction items have already been donated, but we are looking for other auctionitems that fit the "dream" theme. These could include such things as breakfastwith Mayor Nutter, throwing out the first pitch at a Phillies game, etc. Pleasecontactfundraising@creekside.coopwith your ideas or if you can volunteer your time or an auction item.

Community News

Josh Fattal

As you may very well know, Elkins Park native Josh Fattal hasbeen held in captivity in Iran now for a year. Josh's family are Co-op membersand we want to show our support by reminding you that there will be a vigil forJosh and his friends Sarah Shourd and Shane Bauer on July 31 at 2 p.m. at theLiberty Bell in Downtown Philadelphia. Several CreekSide board members will bethere and we hope you can show your support as well.

Regards,

The CreekSide Co-op Board of Directors

Member Equity Payments

Wecontinue to beat the drum for members who haven't contributed their second orthird year of member equity to please do so. That means if your household hascontributed $50, please consider contributing another $50 toward your fullmember equity total of $400. Even if you've already reached your $400 fullshare, please consider contributing more so that we can make it over the humpuntil we receive the state and federal loans we've applied for. Visit  theCreekSide Co-op website at  www.creekside.coop and you'll find a member equity tab right there on the home page or just click HERE. We aregoing to make this store happen, but we need your help to do it.