The Royal City Farmers Market AGM was held January 28. For those who were unable to attend, we are posting the text of the speeches each board member gave to summarize our progress in the 2009 market year.
First of all, on behalf of all the current Board members, I’d like to thank Marjorie Staal who has been the RCFM Treasurer since the day the group started until October 2009. Marjorie offered wise and level headed counsel as well as the usual treasurer duties to the RCFM group over the last 2 ½ years. Thank you Marjorie!
The Board found a very capable, energetic and committed market manager, Jennifer Arbo, this spring. The tally sheets and detailed reports from her make the work of your treasurer much easier. I’d also like to thank our bookkeeper, John Mori, and Murray Ovens who reviewed our records and prepared the financial statements for 2009.
The financial statements presented here reflect a very successful second season for the Royal City Farmer’s Market. Our budget predictions were quite tight going into the summer 2009 market season. Both the past treasurer and I were very pleased to see so many happy individuals, families, pets, kids, community groups and of course, market vendors every Thursday afternoon. It became a real New West community event to attend this year!
We are pleased to be in a stable situation at year end and have now started to build a small contingency fund for future market seasons if things such as bad weather, community support, or location issues appear on the horizon.
This year the Board was very pleased to be able participate in the BC Association of Farmers Markets’ Nutrition Coupon Program. The funding came through Fraser Health Authority and we partnered with Fraser Health Pregnancy Outreach Program, Baby & Me Program. Young mums in the New West and Burnaby areas received coupons for purchases of fresh, nutritious and locally grown food at the summer farmers’ market. 86% of the coupons were redeemed – a very high rate, and the total coupon value spent at the market was $7,900.
This year we started a series of five winter markets from December through to April. These markets are a bit more difficult to sponsor and so, we need your support and help in spreading the word to have more people attend each winter market.
Thank you all for your support for the Royal City Farmers’ Market. We look forward to seeing you at the next winter market Feb. 20 and then into the summer and fall.
