*Call for Art @ the Co-op & Movie Night on 10/13*

ISO: enthusiastic event organizer for the Co-op - help us to make the Co-op a happening place again! contact Sven at "sven.rinke@gmail.com":mailto:sven.rinke@gmail.com for more information.

Are you a local artist? Are you looking for an unconventional, progressive place to show your work? The Co-op may be the place for you! The Co-op is participating in Durham's monthly Culture Crawl www.culturecrawl.com - if you a painter, musician, actor, poet, or sculptor, then we want to hear from you - contact Sven at "sven.rinke@gmail.com":mailto:sven.rinke@gmail.com for more details.

Join us for the next movie night @ the Co-op: On Friday, 10/13, we're starting the evening with a potluck at 7:30pm, and at 8:30pm we'll show the award winning film "Power Trip":www.powertripthemovie.com by Paul Devlin - the movie captures a comic clash of cultures that combusts when an American energy company, AES, tries to transform the dysfunctional electricity distribution system in Tiblisi, capital of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Read more about it at "www.durhamfoodcoop.org/movie":www.durhamfoodcoop.org/movie and "www.powertripthemovie.com":www.powertripthemovie.com - "Bring[s] fresh meaning to the notion of the world as a global village." LA Times

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*Weekly Produce specials *

* Organic Local Stripped and Blob Eggplant $2.99/#
* Organic Local Curly Parsley $1.69/#
* Organic Local Blue Potatoes $0.79/#
* Organic Italian Plums $1.59/#
* Organic Mustard Greens $1.49/bunch
* Organic Carrots $0.89/#
... and more - while supplies last.

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Weekly Co-op Update

We are bringing in fall at the Co-op by clearing away cobwebs. The produce selection has been increased and we are improving our display techniques. Marcus, a former Co-op employee has been volunteering his time and expertise in this endeavor. The back room is systematically being cleared out and cleaned so that we can have a more functional and efficient use of space. Thanks to Denise, Marcus and Diana for starting this project. Check out the back behind the Co-op for free goodies such as shelves, chairs and display cases before they get hauled away.

On the financial side, we are sticking to our budget which means that we are in good standing with almost all of our creditors while being able to keep up stock and not overspend. Sales have picked up in September, from an average of $4800/week in August to $6200/week last month - all the positive energy put into the Co-op by volunteers and staff keeps on showing.

Our last movie night, 9/30 was a success with the progressive documentary Kilowatt Ours. The potluck before the movie was especially enjoyable with such goodies as vegan mint brownies and eggplant parmesan. Visit "www.durhamfoodcoop.org/movie":www.durhamfoodcoop.org/movie for the next Co-op Potluck and Movie night on October 13.

The Co-op is going local! We're constantly increasing our product selection to include more local suppliers. Help is needed with making contacts and selecting suppliers and products - please email Denise at "injira@yahoo.com":injira@yahoo.com if you are interested in participating.

Other volunteer opportunities include becoming a sustainer or participating in one of the Co-op's committees (Marketing, Finance, Personnel, Facilities) or the Board of Directors - see "www.durhamfoodcoop.org/member":www.durhamfoodcoop.org/member
for details. Are you energetic and a media whiz? Become the Co-op's event organizer - movies, readings, lectures, ... It's a great experience - make contacts, connect with interesting people, advertise in media... What are you waiting for?

As always, please let us know what you think of the Co-op. Your comments and Feedback are part of what makes the Co-op the dynamic organization that it is. Our next Board meeting is Sunday 10/15/06 at 4pm and Co-op members are welcome to attend.

Sven Rinke

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*Upcoming Events*

* Movie @ the Co-op, Friday 10/13 -- Potluck at 7:30pm, and at 8:30pm we'll show "Power Trip." Visit "www.durhamfoodcoop.org/movie":www.durhamfoodcoop.org/movie for details. Come and meet old and new friends!
* Culture Crawl on Friday, 10/20 -- Join us for a potluck at 7.30pm before heading to Culture Crawl events such as the Troika Music Festival - see www.durhamfoodcoop.org/culture for details

*Upcoming Co-op Meetings:*

* Marketing Committee, Friday 10/13 6pm-7.30pm
* Board meeting, Sunday 10/15 4pm

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*CSC - Community Supported Co-op Produce Program*

If you live in the neighborhoods listed below you can get a bag of fresh produce delivered to your door. The produce is chosen based on the availability of seasonal, local and organic produce. Each bag will contain a variety of produce including greens, root vegetables and fruit. You don't have to be home to receive your delivery. For details on how to sign up, visit "www.durhamfoodcoop.org/CSC":www.durhamfoodcoop.org/CSC.

Downtown Durham, Duke Central Campus, Duke East Campus, Duke Forest, Duke Park, Duke West Campus, Forest Hills, Lakewood, Morehead Hills, Old West Durham, Old North Durham, Trinity Heights, Trinity Park, Walltown, Watts, Watts-Hillandale, The West End

Denise VanDeCruze, BoD & CSC Initiator

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*The Local Foods Gazette* - straight from "www.localfoodsgazette.info":www.localfoodsgazette.info

"Dear Local Food Supporter,

Welcome to the Local Foods Gazette, the new on-line newsletter dedicated to promoting the growth of the local food system in the Triangle and surrounding counties. It is becoming increasingly clear as fuel prices continue to rise, that in order to assure our food security, we must create more demand for locally produced foods that will demonstrate to local farmers that there is a market for local food products.

"Local" is the new organic. The organic label served farmers well for a while, but many people have come to realize that organic is not enough. More and more Triangle residents are questioning whether organically produced food from California or other far away places is better for the environment than local, conventionally produced foods. Not that organic is not important or can't be grown here. Certainly, the ideal would be locally produced, organic foods.

There are a number of reasons locally produced food is a good idea besides food security and environmental reasons. Fruits and vegetables are fresher, likely better tasting, and have greater nutritional value. They support local farmers whose average household income from farming, according to the latest USDA statistics, is only $7,373. By making local farmers more profitable, they are more able to continue farming their land, and therefore less likely to sell it for development. Making farming more profitable would also make it more attractive to aspiring young farmers, which would help remedy the age problem that US agriculture faces (the average age of farmers is now more than 55 years). A more profitable agricultural system also means that the surrounding rural areas are economically reinvigorated, which would result in the need for less government assistance. Demand for organic foods will help develop alternative means of soil fertility before rising fossil fuel costs prohibits their use. Buying locally produced foods keeps money in the local economy and preserves our local wealth and in turn creates the need for and investment in local food businesses that would process, package, add value to, and distribute these foods. These businesses would further increase local economic activity and create even more local wealth. You, as a local food buyer, have the power to make all these hopes and dreams become reality. Redirecting the flow of the $4 billion dollars spent annually on food in Wake, Durham, and Orange Counties to local farmers and related local businesses would produce unimaginable benefits for us all!

The Local Foods Gazette will attempt to alert you, the local food buyer, to local farms trying to find their niche in the local food system. It will also keep you informed about foods that are currently in season and where you can buy them or pick your own. It will also occasionally highlight local businesses that support this vision of a local food system with their own business practices. I hope you will enjoy reading the stories and learning about seasonal produce and other food products, such as local meats, when they are available.

If the Local Foods Gazette is not for you, let me know and I'll remove your name from our e-mail list. If you like it, tell your friends and family who live in the area and have them subscribe. The more local food buyers involved in this effort, the more demand will increase and the faster the local food system will develop. If you have questions or comments, please call (245-2063) or e-mail (mlanier@co.orange.nc.us) me, I'd be glad to hear from you.

Sustainably,
Mike Lanier
Agricultural Economic Development
NC Cooperative Extension"

True economic security derives from local self-sufficiency in the production of necessities. Community-based economics and regional trade keep money circulating largely in the community and the region, rather than going to distant corporate headquarters as soon as a purchase is made. Also, buying locally-made products reduces shipping costs both in terms of energy usage and money spent, and so is better for the environment.

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*Cooperatives - What They Are and the Role of Members and Directors*

This is a summary, for more information see the document source: "www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/cir11-ppt.pdf":www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/cir11-ppt.pdf

*What Are Cooperatives?* People and businesses use cooperatives to serve their common interests and for mutual benefit. Cooperatives are complex organizations with unique principles, practices, member benefits, and structural characteristics. Geographic area, governance system, and functions performed explain organizational structure and size and scope of member service. Cooperatives exist in many segments of the American system of business today providing purchasing, marketing, and service for member-owners. Members use purchasing cooperatives to buy food, consumer goods, and business and production supplies. Cooperatives are used to market and process farm-grown commodities such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton. Others provide transportation, credit, housing, recreational equipment, and facilities. Cooperatives consist of members, directors, management, and employees. All have important participation roles to play and responsibilities to fulfill.

*Make Cooperatives Work:* As owners of the cooperative, members have associated responsibilities. They must use, control, and finance their cooperative to gain the economic benefits for which it was organized. In taking an active ownership role by patronizing and financing the cooperative, expressing their views and needs, participating in the governance process and decision making, and evaluating how well the cooperative is performing, they gain other benefits as well. They become educated in business practices and see first hand the benefits derived from working together. They often gain valuable leadership training. The experience they gain from expressing their views in various meetings, participating on committees, serving on the board of directors, and speaking on behalf of the cooperative helps develop leadership traits that they transfer to other personal and business pursuits. Participation in cooperative business affairs can add to a member's personal stature in the community, in the industry in which the cooperative operates, and in governmental affairs. All in all, cooperative ownership can give a member a well-earned sense of personal and business achievement along with the numerous benefits the cooperative's existence provides.

*The Cooperative Director.* The board of directors is the cooperative's central decision center. In carrying out this overall responsibility, the board performs several important supporting roles. It is a listening post, hearing from management and membership. It is a communications hub, imparting information between members and management. It is an advisory body to members and management, providing recommendations and guidance. But in every role and action, the board is accountable to members. Members choose director candidates and elect them to office. From their peers, members select individuals with the best judgment and business management skills to represent them and conduct affairs on the cooperative's board of directors. Loyalty, integrity, the ability to make wise business decisions, and willingness to serve are necessary characteristics for board members. Acting as a group, directors set the objectives for the cooperative and make decisions that set the course the cooperative will follow in achieving those objectives. In carrying out their responsibilities, directors serve much like trustees, charged with a legal obligation to protect the assets of the members. Directors must fulfill their responsibilities while exercising due care to act within the parameters of the cooperative's policies and the law.

For more details, see "www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/cir11-ppt.pdf":www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/cir11-ppt.pdf

[Fair Use Notice: The material in this newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of scientific, environmental, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.]

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*VOTING: WANT TO VOTE EARLY?? HAVE YOU MOVED?*

To file a new or updated voter registration with your county, print out this registration form and mail it to your county's board of election before October 13. Be a patriot, help someone vote!
Registration form: "www.sboe.state.nc.us/pdf/form06.pdf": www.sboe.state.nc.us/pdf/form06.pdf
Address for county offices: "www.sboe.state.nc.us/about/directors.asp":www.sboe.state.nc.us/about/directors.asp

To get an absentee ballot NOW by mail, send a letter (sign it yourself or have parent, spouse or other near-relative sign it) requesting an absentee ballot for the 2006 general election. Instructions will arrive with the ballot. Send the request to the county board listed on: "www.sboe.state.nc.us/about/directors.asp":www.sboe.state.nc.us/about/directors.asp