Float Decorating Today at the Co-op Today (Sunday, July 3), 1PM at the co-op, we’ll be decorating the float with hay bales, banners, flags, chickens and a lamb. Bring items to help decorate! Contact Ronanne (contact info below) to discuss items needed.

Tent at the Park TomorrowThe co-op will be promoting membership and answering questions about the co-op. We are inviting members to come and promote their co-op related products and farms. Members may sell items in the park at the co-op tent if they desire. Please coordinate with Izzy so we can make a plan. The Store Tomorrow Show up at 8am to help set up; the store will be open from 9am to noon.

Spokes and Jokes Book signing with Chris Quimby

July 9^th, 2016

5:30 pm

Marsh River Cooperative

5 Veterans Hwy

Brooks, Maine

What makes a man pick up his family and decide to bike (bicycle, not motor bike) from Maine to Texas?

Come find out why Chris decided against the comforts of a job with a cubicle and benefits to go on a journey of a life time.

About the Author: Chris Quimby has been making people laugh his entire life. Sometimes intentionally. Throughout his early years, Chris’s stated dream job was standup comedian, although he never thought it would happen. His skill in comedy was refined at Crosby Junior High School in Belfast by recording commercial parodies and fake news broadcasts on ancient 30 minute tapes. Junior High gave way to a series of mocking raps based on each of his eight grade classes followed by his first known song parody, based on Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” called “Man in the Pulp Truck.” After marrying his wife, Heather, in 1996 (Happy 20^th you two!) Chris took to the stage in Winterport, Maine, in a talent show to test his performance skills On two consecutive nights and with a hastily written act, Chris kept the crowd in stitches for 15 minutes. In 2011, Chris severed his 11 year employment with the Bangor Daily to take a more active part in crafting his future. With a renewed desire to meet new people and continue paying his bills, and possibly to meet new people who would pay his bills, Chris now aggressively seeks opportunities in churches and other venues around the country to entertain those who desire some plain old clean comedy.

Chris, his wife, Heather and their two children, Jordon and Emma, are long time Brooks residents. They are also members of the Marsh River Cooperative.

Light refreshments will be served.

The Store July 4th Helpers – arrive at 8am to help open and set up. The store will be open from 9 to noon. Mike and Frank will be outside on the porch grilling burgers. People will pay inside at the register then carry a burger ticket to Mike and Frank to get a burger. For sale on the porch – Burgers $4.00, Cheeseburger $4.50 (rolls, ketchup), Soda, Water, Chips, Popcorn Inside we have Meredith, Heather, and Becky to run the store. We may need more people in the store and welcome help here. We will be selling Stone Fox Creamery 4 oz. ice cream, buy one get one free for as long as they last Nancy will sell 50/50 tickets to the crowd. Ronanne, Kim, – will bring saw horses to block the parking. We will block it off Sunday while we are decorating the Float. Make a cafe out front with tables. The Parade Float We welcome anybody who would like to help decorate the float Decorate on Sunday, July 3rd 1PM. On the Trailer will be 8 bales of hay, banners, flags, a sign saying Happy 200th Birthday Brooks, grain bags, Ronanne – will bring chickens for the float. show up at Izzy’s at 11:30am to help load hay onto the trailer. Mike – lamb Izzy – cage for the chickens, hay, Make signage for burgers and ice cream – Ronanne will provide poster board and paint marker. Tent at the Park Meredith is bringing tent, tables, Alfred and Moriah will be helping Meredith set up at the park. Moriah is updating applications, and brochure. Ronanne will be printing them off. We are not bringing items from the co-op to the park to sell. The co-op will be promoting membership and answering questions about the co-op. We are inviting members to come and promote their co-op related products and farms. Members may sell items in the park at the co-op tent if they desire. Please coordinate with Izzy so we can make a plan. Come join the celebration and be a part of the Co-op on the 4th. We welcome people to help with the tent in the park and more people to join the float in the parade. Ronanne 322-1674 rhaigh1000@gmail.com  Izzy 322-5494 stantialbrookfarm@gmail.com

After reviewing feedback from our recent survey, the Board voted to make the following changes to the Marsh River Cooperative’s membership policy: There will no longer be a general 5% discount on member purchases Anyone (member or non-member) who who volunteers for at least a 2-hour store shift will receive a 10% discount on purchases made during or immediately following their shift.

Why? Our membership responded with a clear message, with lots of good suggestions that we are following up on. About one-third of our members responded, and nearly 90% of you said the proposed changes to the discounts would make no difference to the amount of shopping or volunteering you would do at the Co-op. Goals for the change to our discount policy are: To strengthen the coop financially and build a strong foundation going into the winter months.  To promote in-store volunteering Potentially help bring down pricing in the coop overall We are retaining the Wednesday 5% senior discount. The Board and our new manager are busy implementing additional changes we expect to improve the coop’s finances, increasing our support for and promotion of the local food economy. We’re keeping open the possibility of reinstating member discounts in the future. We are still considering how to handle discounts for non-shift volunteers. And we’re considering other benefits to our membership, such as member-only sales items, a cumulative dividend at the end of the year based on profitability, etc. As a Marsh River Cooperative member, you are part of a great asset to our community, supporting a hub of interests and people and supporting our local economy. If you have questions or comments please speak to a member of the board.

4^th of July People should arrive at 8am to help open and set up. The store will be open from 9 to 12pm.

The Store July 4th

Mike and Frank will be outside on the porch grilling burgers. People will pay inside at the register then carry burger ticket to Mike and frank to get a burger.

10 lbs / 40 + Burgers $4.00 Burger, cheese Burger $4.50(rolls, ketchup, cheese), Soda, Water, Chips, Popcorn – Marsh River Theater has a popcorn maker we will be asking to borrow it.

Inside we have Meredith, Heather to run the store. We may need more people in the store and welcome help here.

We will be selling the small Stone Fox Creamery ice cream buy one get one free for as long as they last 50 small ice creams.

Nancy will sell 50/50 tickets to the crowd.

Signage for burgers. Signage for Ice cream.

Ronanne, Kim, – will bring saw horses to block the parking. We will block it off sunday while we are decorating the Float. Make a cafe out front with tables.

Ronanne – Bring Ezup.

Ronanne- Bring a radio.

Float

We welcome anybody who would like to help decorate the float

Decorate on sunday July 3^rd 1Pm. On the Trailer will be 8 bales of hay, banners, Flags, a sign saying Happy 200 Birthday Brooks, grain bags,

Ronanne- will bring chickens for the float. show up at Izzys at 11:30am to help load hay onto the trailer.

Mike- lamb

Izzy – cage for the chickens, hay,

Make signage for burgers and ice cream – Ronanne will provide poster board and paint marker.

Tent

Meredith is bringing tent, tables, Alfred and Mariah will be helping Meredith set up at the park.

Mariah is updating applications, and brochure. Ronanne will be printing them off.

We are not bringing items from the coop to the park to sell. The co-op will be promoting membership and answering questions about the coop. We are inviting members to come and promote their coop related products and farms. Members may sell items in the park at the co op tent if they desire. Please coordinate with Izzy so we can make a plan .

Come join the celebration and be a part of the Co-op on the 4th. We welcome people to help with the tent in the park and more people to join the float in the parade.