To: Board
From: Lisa Blake, General Manager
Date: July 24, 2013

Manager’s Report:

I have added up the July sales, and so far, this year is 20% over last year. I am tempted to try some radio ads to catch people as they drive, but lack of funds is stopping me.

We have hired Jennifer Mowka to fill in some summer hours. She has volunteered here in the past.

Directions Credit Union cannot set up an escrow account at this time. Nor can they set up an account that requires more than one signature. They are working on it and will probably be able to do this in a couple of months. In the meantime, I am going to look into taking our account there for all of our business. Gloria Voegeli (business accounts) says that she’s certain she can save us money.

I was approached by United North, Nikki Morey, about space in the Manhattan Plaza. I like her a lot, appreciate the mission, but cannot see us surviving (let alone thriving) there.

I have attended another audit, this one at Maple City Market—it was a very good trip, and I so appreciate the willingness of this group to lend expertise. I took a GAP training session with Carol Collins—very good.

I attended a Toledo-Choose-Local meeting this week, Label the Truth (an effort to get a GMO labeling law through as an amendment in Ohio), Northwest Ohio Food Council this morning, and Tom and I have met with the landlord. Report forthcoming.

Discussion of logistics of move, I hope we can have after the meeting. Helen talked to North Country Development Fund. I’ll let her tell us more.

I have confirmed with Scott Ciolek that we’ve heard nothing from the Jackson heirs. We would have five years to go if we’re waiting them out.

Bill Wersell has volunteered to be our contact with Duke Wheeler and Curt Pollux of Reichle/Klein. I was not willing to put anything in writing, but wish to let them know of our ongoing interest in the Cooper space. Bill Wersell did not respond to my inquiries about whether or not they could perform a market study. I asked because I kept hearing that they could HELP us, and I’m not clear on what that means.

We—Kristin and I, and Tom if he wants—are going to go over the numbers in greater detail. We have just finished the inventory. I will send more analysis once we have established the veracity of these P&L numbers.