The thought and effort behind the action
The Company Incorporated Bylaws Officers Annual tax report Liability Insurance Clear identification of resource ownership –Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, Inc. –Reese Farm –Williamson Farm
Board of Directors Frank Reese, Jr., President Jeff May, Vice President Dave Mueller, Vice President Danny Williamson, Secretary/Treasurer
Monthly Meetings Mission – everything is filtered through this lens All meetings are tape recorded Follow Roberts Rules of Order
Agenda Previous minutes Financial Report –Payables –receivables –checks written –cash flow –financial projection
Agenda Inventory –sold –in storage: fresh, refrigerated and frozen –coming in –sent to primary customers –at processing plant –What’s not selling develop plan based on shelf life, product value
Agenda Line of Credit –Status –Payment schedule –Interest Old Business New Business Agenda & officiator set for next meeting
Roles – Danny Williamson HACCP Labeling Website Orders Shipping – liaison with processor on this Record keeping & archives Book keeping Meeting notification & agenda development Reception – calls go to him
Roles - Jeff May Liaison between GSTR and farmers –Meets with every farmer every 2 months –Helps set up farm plan –Manages all contracts Rules & Regulations Liaison with Processing –Negotiates terms –Establishes dates
Roles – Brian Anselmo Customer Relations –with new customers –When there are shortages & replacements Processing –On-site rep –Product distribution & delivery Liaison between GSTR hatchery & farmers –Hatchery record keeping –Learning to run hatchery –Delivers day-olds to farmers
Roles – Frank Reese Oversees entire operation –Mediator / Negotiator both inside and outside of GSTR Genetics –Manages breeder flocks –Operates GSTR hatchery Quality Control –Liaison with Graders and USDA –Decides what’s Grade A and downgrade Marketing, Promotion & Sales –His story and his face sell the product –Liaison with primary customers –Developing new markets
Production Planning 1 year in advance New business: –Chickens: Contract + 6 months –Turkeys, ducks & geese: contract + 12 months
Communication Communication is imperative! If the chain of communication is broken, quality suffers and the market it lost
Financing Sources of funding –Loans –Credit –Personal resources –Enterprise Income –Other Cash flow issues
Promotional Expenses Free birds + overnight shipping Posters Apron cards Promotional visits Other
Marketing Expenses Label development Label approval Educating potential buyers Negotiating Other
Pay & Benefits No one on the Board currently gets paid All have off-farm income –Frank works On farm: 7-8 hours/day x 7 days/week x 52 Off farm: 6 hours/day x 5 days/week x 52 Hope Board can one day be paid as consultants
Farmer Relations GSTR contracts are different from industry Allowed to keep other livestock and poultry Allowed to sell eggs and meat beyond contract obligation (e.g. Farmers’ Market)
Farmer Relations Farmers own birds & buy feed Farmers pay for transport to processor –$1500 per truck Farmers get paid according to grade