Meeting April 17 to plan restaurant workers' emergency fund

I'll be there.

We have already had one sponsor come forward with support for events!! Name to be revealed at the meeting....... looking for more!

I am looking forward to getting together with everyone at Michele's on Goss on the 17th. I will be meeting with the fine folks at Mom's Music who handle MERF tomorrow. If any one is interested in joining PM me, although it is not necessary.
Hopefully the restaurant people are following this thread and thinking of ways they can get involved.

Luca -

Can't wait to hear what you learn from the folks at Mom's!

Michele -
Glad we already have some sponsors. This brings me to two additonal "roles" we'll need to assign at Sunday's meeting - 1) Someone (or a group of people) to begin to keep a list of fundraiser ideas and all the fundraiser offers we get, the company, contact person, what they have offered and an e-mail and/or address and phone. Ideally this is someone with proficiency with Excel or a database program so that we can produce and share lists with appropriate info.
2) Someone to do the same thing with volunteers. Lots of people have PM'd me or reached out wanting to get involved in some way, and we want to keep those people informed and interested in our progress until we are ready to actually begin raising money.
Right now, we're in the "sausage making" phase - not the most fun or glamourous, and not the point where we have lots of people involved, but the very necessary nuts and bolts of assembling the organization ,constructing operating principles and getting all the right "i"s dotted and "t"s crossed to ensure we are legal and operating as a responsible entity that people will be proud to give money, product and time to.

Finally....I think that this thread will lose steam if it continues under the same header. Robin - can we move it to be more specific and re-title it "Forming new non profit to fund emergency needs of restaurant-industry folk - 1st meeting April 17th 4pm" (or a shorter version without the date). If you need me to just create a new thread, and you make it "sticky" at the top of the page, let me know that as well.

Again - it's so gratifying to see how this is starting to come together and thank you all for jumping on board!

[Robin Garr]

Robin - can we move it to be more specific and re-title it "Forming new non profit to fund emergency needs of restaurant-industry folk - 1st meeting April 17th 4pm" (or a shorter version without the date).

Easy enough, Melissa! It will have to be quite a bit shorter, though. I'll come up with something, and if you don't like it, I can change it.

First time poster, long time reader, much longer time in the biz.

This cause has inspired me to jump into the forum. I am a food sales representative here in town. I have always been reluctant to jump into discussions for fear of being perceived or actually being a person whose relationships in the business affect his judgement and/or his postings. I also am fearful that postings might be considered to be soliciting or promoting a customer's business.

But, as I said this cause is very worthy. I have been in the business since I was 15 and have definitely witnessed situations where hard working folks have been in a tight spot. They have been in need of financial support for medical bills, funerals, etc and more often some moral support from people who understand their situation.

Michele was kind enough not to make the announcement publicly, so I will. I work with a local food distributor that has brought together some historic families and businesses here in town.Mattingly Foods of Louisville has brought togehter the A. Thomas company and its tradtion that dates back to The Haymarket and Irish Hill Meats, Louisville's unique neighborhood protein supplier. Many members of the families are still a part of the new venture and are excited to become involved in this cause. John Thomas, our sales manager, has agreed to help sponsor food items for fund raising activities associated with the cause. We will also utilize relationships with manufacturers and brokers as well.
Sorry for the long post. See you on the 17th, Jim. PS I can cook a little too

Jim -

Glad you jumped in and I look forward to meeting you on the 17th! I'm only a semi-regular poster, but we are all in this thread for the right reasons. Personally, even though I've made my career doing marketing for the "dreaded chain" restaurants, I take that money I earn and pour it back into the local restaurant scene. I still feel that this business has given me much to be thankful for, and if I can use my organizational skills to give back, I'm darn well going to do so. Thanks so much for your generous donation - we'll certainly look to it once we get going. Glad you came out of the woodwork

First time poster, long time reader, much longer time in the biz.

This cause has inspired me to jump into the forum. . See you on the 17th, Jim. PS I can cook a little too

It's about time!
I can attest that Jim is one of the finest people I have ever had the privilege to know in this business. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the table that I envy. I'm looking forward to working with him on this worthy endeavor.

[Robin Garr]

First time poster, long time reader, much longer time in the biz.

This cause has inspired me to jump into the forum

Welcome, Jim! Glad to meet you, and thanks for choosing this issue to get involved!

I am trying to shift my schedule to be there -- great cause.

I'm looking forward to the meeting this Sunday. I suggest everyone park in the lot off of Mchenry and come through our back door. You can ignore the no parking signs. Come up the ramp to the dock, past the garden and through the red door.
I'm expecting everyone to show up between 4-5 but don't really know how many. We will have munchies.
Here's the list I have:
Robin & Mary
Dan Thomas
Marsha
Melissa
Luca
Gary F
Bill Szenay
Michele B
Jim Bibb
who am I missing?

I have invited Chef Jim Whaley as well...

Please add Cindy and Ed Vermillion to your list of those attending on Sunday, Michele.

OK, sounds good, just trying to get an estimate

Michele -

Based on the e-mails and PM's I've received, let's plan on 15-20. PM me if you want to discuss further, I'm happy to help with whatever you need!