Minutes
Alaska Food Coalition
Executive Committee Meeting
Kodiak, Alaska
October 25 and 26, 2002
Present: Sam Castle-Kirstein, Diane Disanto, Sara Jackson,
Trevor Jones, Susannah Morgan and Wendell Ottness
The agenda items were: treasury update, review of
the minutes from the Fairbanks meeting, and discussion of
action steps.
Susannah gave a treasury report.
Wendell shared with us a memo he had received from Molly
Wheeler. It contained a proposal to fight hunger in villages
that are effected by the fishing disaster. Molly's idea is
to have a statewide food drive through the schools and send
the collected food out to villages that may be suffering food
shortages. She was also hoping that the Alaska Food Coalition
might have extra funds to help pay for the cost of shipping.
After a lengthy discussion, the following points were agreed
upon:
1. The Food Coalition does not advocate sending unsolicited
food out to villages. There are cultural issues and issues
of pride and food preferences. Such an action might do more
harm than good.
2. We do not have the funds to contribute to distribution
costs.
3. We do encourage school food drives for educational purposes.
The collected food should be distributed to those in need
in the home community.
Wendell will draft a response to Molly.
Sam commented that she would like for Molly to work on getting
more TEFAP food and money to distribute it.
Trevor had a meeting set up with Al Birch of the Alaska Dragger's
Association, Ken Chanson of US Dept. of Commerce Nymphs Enforcement,
Matt Mover with Alaska Pacific Salmon and Mitt Kilborne of
Western Alaska Fisheries. Sam and Susannah accompanied him
to discuss the possibility of salvaging the halibut by-catch
from the Salmon trawlers to feed hungry people in Alaska.
This project could eventually involve Dutch Harbor and Sand
Point as well as Kodiak. The point was made that many people
in need of food assistance are people who work in the fishing
industry, so they would be helping their own workers along
with others.
The meeting went very well. There was positive interest.
If we are able to pull this off, the responsible parties would
deserve lots of recognition, such as an Alaska Food Coalition
Conservation Award. We must proceed with great care, there
is heavy politics and lengthy regulations that must be followed.
We have to get a Prohibited Species Halibut Donation Program
Permit. Trevor will work on the application process.
Sam and Susannah and Diane will get key people to send thank
yous to the meeting participants.
This project could conceivably begin in March. Mitch Kilborne
offered to contact CSX about donating freight .
The food coalition can use the $35,000 reserved for food
distribution to reimburse packers for materials and to get
the product out.
We think the project has political appeal.
There was a discussion as to whether this project is in competition
to Second Harvest Seashare. Our project does not involve a
large enough amount to worry about that.
Wendell brought up the annual meeting and said that he thought
it was more important than usual for us to meet in Juneau
this year and build relationships with the new administration.
We should go down earlier. Probably in March.
It was decided that the executive committee should meet one
more time on November 6 to plan for the teleconference because
so many decisions hinge upon who gets into office on the 5th.
We can move the teleconference to the 13th.
Discussion shifted to proceeding with our action steps. Where
shall we put our energy? We need to hire a grant consultant
to research the best possibilities for us. Perhaps Cindy Adams
or Lynne Ballew.
Susannah moved that we spend up to $2,000 for a preliminary
assessment of where we can get grant funding for information,
education or food distribution. Sam seconded. Motion passed.
We discussed our goal of rural food pantry capacity building.
We need:
1. A reliable person willing to manage the pantry.
2. Heated, lockable place for food storage. Denali Commission
might help to provide.
Susannah would like to start by enhancing existing programs
first, then build upon a positive track record.
Someone will have to pay for the heat. Wendell suggests linking
the pantries with school facilities. Susannah said we could
also link with tribal councils.
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