MEETINGS
Meetings of the Food Co-op are held at the Manly Environment Centre (18 Whistler St) every Thursday at 7.30pm. All members and others wishing to join are welcome to come along and take an active part in the proceedings. They are very informal, and we encourage participation and contributions from all present. As such, we welcome members of all ages and walks of life. The only agenda we have is that we all want to participate in the setting up and running of a shop which will make food, products, and services of high quality available at reasonable cost to Co-op members and the local community. Come on down!!

FOOD CO-OP IN THE PRESS
The Manly Food Co-op has attracted a lot of publicity since itís inception, most of it very positive (refer above). We received praise from Nina Karen, the dietitian at Manly hospital, in the article "Food Co-op goes ahead". We hope that this newsletter can be used as a forum to provide information or raise any queries you may have.

We are particularly keen to keep up the positive momentum and maintain our public profile, especially given that our Co-op is run by and for the community. In that light, if you have any information or material you would like to include in the newsletter, please contact Rob Hall on 9977 0805 (home). 		ITíS ON!!
After many months of hard work the Manly Food Co-op is really starting to take off. We are very close to getting premises centrally located in Manly, and the plan is to have it up and running for business by the end of January, 1997.

This location was chosen as the best on offer for a number of reasons:
  • The Manly Food Co-op wants be an integral part of the local community. A central location will help in establishing the idea of who we are and who we serve. We will be easily accessible to all customers and members.
  • The store location will be particularly convenient for local Manly food shops and restaurant owners who we can supply.
  • Community support for the Co-op has been very positive, with over a 100 current members and a further 150 others on our list as potential members (join now!). Through our meetings and promotional activities to date, we have found that there is broad support for a shop to provide healthy, environmentally friendly, locally grown food for our community. Letís keep the momentum going.
- PAGE 2 -
5 GOOD REASONS TO JOIN THE MANLY FOOD CO-OP
  1. Enjoy and support the activities of a vital local community organisation.
  2. Make an informed and ethical choice when buying foods and products for yourself and your family. There will be a discount on member purchases.
  3. Support local producers and promote employment opportunities in the local community.
  4. Meet and be a part of the local community. How many times have you wanted to do something in and for the local community, but you werenít sure what you could do? This is your chance, take it and make a difference.
  5. We are planning a number of fun and interesting fund-raising events for the Co-op. Come along and enjoy them.


5 EVEN BETTER WAYS MEMBERS CAN HELP OUT
  1. Take an active role in the running of your Co-op by coming to the steering committee meetings on Thursday evenings.
  2. We need particular skills such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc... and all members who can lend a hand with the refurbishment of the new shop in January. We also need help with the supply of building or decorating materials that could be used. Can anyone help?
  3. Our Co-op can use people from all walks of life. We need people with experience in catering, research, letter writing, business, etc.Ö i.e. anything and everything.
  4. Once the shop is open we need you to bring in bags, jars and bottles to contain your own purchases and for re-use.
  5. Come along and support our fund-raising events. Meet some new people, make some new friends, find out that this is really a community thingÖ and have some fun while youíre at it!
APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP
The Manly Food Co-op has been awarded a $500 development grant from the Manly Council. The decision is an indication that the Council has seen merit in the Co-opís plans - to provide Manly with the supply of healthy food alternatives and to assist in the education of practical and responsible food consumption. Thank you Manly Council!

We have had a table at Manly markets on several occasions offering information, application forms and flyers. There has been lots of interest shown on each occasion.

We raised money at Ocean Care Day selling stickers and calico bags, while offering the usual Co-op information.

We are holding our first fundraising event, a ëBush Danceí, on Saturday the 8th of February, 1997.

Venue: Kangaroo Street Youth Center in Kangaroo Street, Manly

Time: 7.30 ñ 11.00pm

Cost: $10 per adult, children for free

Soft drinks, punch, liquor and nibblies will be available to buy on the night. Please bring your own drink containers (non disposable please). OFF THE WALL DANCERS will be providing the music and calling the dancing

By the way, if you hurry and buy tickets for the Bush Dance before the end of December you can save 10% (ring Keelah Lam on 9948 1311). Another great idea for a nice present!

The Manly Library has invited us to be on their Homepage on the Internet.

Claus has designed our new logo which you can see at the top of this newsletter. Look out for it at local events. T-shirts and bags featuring the logo will be available soon.

Negotiations on our location are at a critical stage, but unfortunately no final decisions were made by the time this newsletter went to press. Confirmation of shop location should be arriving within the next week. Watch the Manly Daily and The Weekender for details of our shop.
For late Christmas shoppers we have a novel gift idea:

a Gift Voucher for membership to the Manly Food Co-op.
Contact Keelah Lam on Phone: 9948 1311