Adams County Food Policy Council

Minutes, March 6, 2012

Present: Amy Dailey, Sara Tower, Kim Davidson, Nancy Forgang, Kathy Gaskin, Kathy Glahn, Salma Monani, Audrey Hess, J’Amy Graham-Thomas, Gretchen Carlson Natter

AmeriCorps*VISTA Member: Our application was accepted to hire an AmeriCorps*VISTA member to support the FPC! The person will be VISTA trained at the end of July and will start with us at the end of July/beginning of August. Person needs to be hired by May 9.

  • Job description needs to be finalized by Thursday.
  • Selection Committee: Kathy Gaskin, Sara, Kim, Gretchen. All ACFPC will be invited to interviews
  • Attached is the VAD (VISTA Assignment Description) that we submitted to outline the VISTA’s Activities.
  • Brainstorm for housing support.
  • Will check with College
  • Ask at the Local Foods network
  • Lodge at Hundredfold Farm, but lots of travel/would need car
  • Ben Kennedy, Eddie Rankin
  • Ideas for where the position should be announced.
  • Peace Corps hotline
  • Zumppa
  • Amy will forward public health sites
  • Community Food Security Coalition
  • Salma forward a few undergrad/academic focused sites
  • Local college career centers (Dickinson, Wilson)
  • Healthy Adams County, UWAC email lists
  • Gettysburg College HR website

Fair Share:

  • Minutes from last FSP meeting attached. Next meeting in Friday at 11am at CPS
  • 3.5 shares were donated (Beech Springs, Everblossom, Sherlock’s and Common Grounds Farm)
  • 3 have been sold already (Everblossom, Beech Springs and Sherlock’s Farm).
  • Need to sell a half a share of Common Grounds . Any takers before advertising begins?
  • March Matchness begins next week and runs for 3 weeks. The website is ready to go! Ideas for post for donations? Local Foods google group, college digest, Farmers’ Market, Cheryl Burns/regional networks
  • See timeline on Fair Share minutes. This month focus is fundraising. Waiting to hear back from Hoffman. Kathy did receive a few questions from Barb Ernico, including whether or not $4000 was enough! Kathy added $1000
  • Friday will identify who agency partners will be. Will be able to tell them target number of families by end of March (based on fundraising outcomes)
  • Amy working on survey to assess impact of FSP
  • Brainstorming educational activities.
  • Environmental Studies department has some funding for student faculty research that might help support these efforts. Emily (Salma’s student) will work on documentary and support SNAP efforts when returns in July.

Healthy Lifestyles at VIDA

Next unit is on Food Equity. Audrey would like members of the community to come to her class to discuss local efforts related to food security.Classes run between 10 & 3. Contact her if interested. Audrey will also let us know what her proposed schedule and topics are.

2nd Annual Kid's Health and Safety Day at the Apple Blossom Festival

FPC Table on South Mountain Fairgrounds on May 5th. The event is from 9:00 to 5:00 with the availability to set up Friday evening or before 8:30 on Saturday morning. J’Amy volunteered to facilitate.

Ag Education Committee

Salma shared information she has received as a follow-up to the Ag Summit in regards to incorporating agriculture more widely in K-12 classrooms. See attached December meeting notes.

Regional Health Summit Planning

  • Tuesday, September 18 at Gettysburg Hotel
  • Working with DCNR and South Mountain Appalachian Trail to plan
  • Exploring keynotes – Gina Calhoun (tie between physical and mental health); also another person from Penn State extension in Franklin County
  • Two tracks - Food and Recreation/Fitness
  • Ideas generated for 3-4 workshops for the Food track
  • Class issues and food – Elaine Livis/Project Share as potential presenter
  • Food products of the region – guides and cookbooks utilizing local foods
  • Emergency food services in the South Mountain region
  • Kids program
  • Institutional buying through local providers
  • Fair Share
  • Kids’ nutrition education
  • Planning for a regional food assessment

Announcements:

  • Grants
  • Waiting Hoffman grant for funding for double dollars and possibly for Fair Share vouchers – hear in March.
  • Waiting on WellSpan Partnership Grant to support VISTA – Hear in June.
  • Read CFSC’s Monthly Federal Policy E-Newsletter– Tara Baugher interested in collaborating to facilitate a forum that demonstrates both farm and community issues in the Farm Bill. Kathy Gaskin and Gretchen will follow-up.
  • New book out: The American Way of Eating by Tracie McMillan
  • Campus Kitchen will begin nutrition activities at Big Brothers Big Sisters at end of March.
  • Local Food Network Potluck Dinner at Farmhouse: Tuesday, March 6 at 6:30. 400 Carlisle Street. Program is starting seeds.
  • Check out the recent article Seven Food Desert Myths
  • Kathy Gaskin now part of learning community with CFSC for Institutional Buying – especially learning about insurance/security issues. Most recent model was a Rhode Island model that supports farmers in being certified. Locally, this is happening through extension and Rice Fruit Co.
  • USDA promotional grant RFP will be available again soon. Will probably apply through ACEDC to look at economic impact and utilizing feasibility study for permanent market site. Working with Robin Fitzpatrick.
  • Kathy Gaskin and Kathy Glahn – Going to Ag Issues breakfast on March 8. Speaker Tim Kelsey will talk about agriculture as economic driver in Adams County.
  • Pastor Matthew Lenahan from Lancaster County Hunger Coalition may attend next meeting.