The Clipper City Co-op has BIG news and BIG plans!

Join us in a little Happy Dance :)

We were one of 12 Co-op Start-ups that were awarded a $10,000 matching grant to help with the costs that a beginning Co-op (like ours) has on their way to becoming a functioning community Co-op. I received the phone call, did my Happy Dance and then passed the word on to the other Steering Committee members. We kept it under wraps for about a week, until the Co-op Initiative made their announcement. If you follow us on Facebook, then you also heard the news - yeah!!

This is a matching grant - which means we will have to come up with our own funds to match what they awarded us. But it is a BIG thrill to be recognized and rewarded for the work and commitment we have put in so far - and will continue to put in! We are gaining more and more support as time goes on. And this was just the push we needed in our summer of gathering Seed Members. And one of the BIG reasons for getting the financial commitment is for a feasibility study we plan on doing in the fall/winter. The matching grant will help with that - as will attaining our goal of 100 Seed Members by the end of the year!

There will be press coverage and representatives of the Co-op Initiative will come to the area to help spread information about why we need a community co-op in the Lakeshore area. So watch for announcements!

Speaking of 'matching the Grant'.....

Our Seed Member Drive is in full swing! Just helped with a presentation at Kim and Jill's church group this Sunday. A short presentation and LOTS of great questions and enthusiasm - and I do believe we picked up a few Seed Members too!

Do YOU have a group in your circle that may be interested in learning about the Co-op? It could be from your church - garden club - knitting club - card club....any group of interested and curious people. We are very flexible and would LOVE the chance to spread the word and answer any and all questions as best we can.

While we ARE looking for Seed Members - people who make a commitment to financially support our goal of a community Co-op - the 'asking for money' part is very low key. No one is pushed or hounded. We love it when people take the brochures and applications home. We want you to think about it and be SURE that you can support the Clipper City Co-op now and in the future.

So if you are interested in having a 'Co-op Party', let us know! We will make sure it happens!!

Check out our website for all the info and forms you will need to be a wonderful Seed Member - helping us on our way to being YOUR community Co-op!

And just what IS a Seed Member, you ask?

Someone who believes in the Clipper City Co-op becoming a reality and wants to help us attain that dream! You plant your 'seed' by paying $200 now - this is equity paid to the Co-op, to be used by the Steering Committee for expenses. The Seed money is actually a share and when the Co-op opens it's doors you will already be an owner/member of the Clipper City Co-op.

There is a good chance that most if not all of the Seed money will be used. So it may not be there if you want to take your equity out of the Co-op (which you are able to do, once the Co-op is a running store). But Seed Members are critical for support and working capital - so please consider becoming one! Any and all questions can be answered at a House Party, an Open Meeting, at one of our Outreach programs or just email us!

Up And Coming.....

Here's some items that you need to put on your calendar!

July 7 - Two Rivers Lester Library - 5pm to about 6 or so. We will again be showing a short clip from Food For Change and answering any questions you may have. A great chance to socialize with others, get some information and get to know some Steering Committee people.

Every 4th Monday nite of the month, our regular Steering Committee meeting becomes an Open Meeting. You can sit in on our meeting, see just what the heck we DO twice a month, and give us some feedback at the end.

Last month we had a few people join us (one was a Seed Member!) and we had a great discussion afterwards.

We would LOVE to have you feel a part of the Co-op and it's great for us to meet people who are interested in our journey - and maybe even get a little involved!

Meetings always start at 6:30pm and we try to be done by 8pm. Last week we were at the Holy Family Wellness Center, in the Cooperstown Room. Nothing is written in ink yet, but I'm thinking that it will be there again. Will try to send out a quick reminder as it gets closer - and keep checking Facebook.