January 2009 Archives

Currently Kedar D. and I are working on the Restaurant Outreach campaign.  We are working with the organizing of the campaign and talking with a few restaurants.

A little while back, we received samples from:

• Teese (Chicago Soy Dairy)
• Follow Your Heart
• Gardein

We have approached Golooney's East Coast Pizza and Dulono's Pizza in Uptown with information packets, and we have given Golooney's Pizza a few samples.  We will be contacting them soon to see if we can actually get them to make any changes to their menus.

Kedar talked with one of the owners of Old Arizona, and it sounds like they may be looking for somebody to take over the cafe portion of their business.  It was mentioned that there is the possibility of it being transformed into an all-vegan cafe.  If anybody knows someone looking to start a cafe, this might be a good opportunity, for the cafe is already set up and it just needs somebody to run it.  We'll keep you all posted.

We have been approached by a few people regarding restaurants just opening or looking to change their menu (Pagoda in Dinkytown, for example), so we will be contacting those places soon.

Much has been done with the CAA library in the past few months.

What has been done so far:

• book database created using GCstar Integrated-Library system
• all books in CAA library entered
• list of borrowers (name and email) entered
  
• all books currently out noted
• Library of Congress call number labels added to books
  

What is planned:

• reminder emails sent to borrowers through GCstar
• VHS and DVDs added to GCstar database
• purchase CD sleeve organizer to store DVDs
• create personalized call # system for CAA movie collection
• create stamp identifying 'CAA Library' material created and put on all materials
• create a LibraryThing account to catalog CAA library online
• Write a 'CAA library mission statement' in order to set guidelines for
  
• possible loan periods
• collection development/acquisitions
• administrative tasks
• write instructions for
• using GCstar to view collection and to record checked out materials
• collaborate with committee/planners for book clubs, lectures, conferences, etc. in order to have appropriate material added to collection
  

CAA's book club is an opportunity for those interested in the lives of non-human animals to connect, explore, and discuss issues presented in the current book selection. We read non-fiction books that focus on animal rights, factory farming, compassionate living, veganism/vegetarianism, and related topics.

Everyone interested in the compassionate treatment of animals is welcome to attend! People come to all, or just to an occasional meeting depending on time and interest. We meet every other month on a Wednesday evening at a veg-friendly establishment in the Twin Cities.

Recently, we have been inviting authors of the books we're reading to join us by conference call for extended discussion. We have had great chats with pattrice jones and Jim Mason.

On Feb 4 we will speak to Hillary Rettig about her book, The Lifelong Activist over a vegan pot luck.

So, what's new in accounting?  Well, first of all, things are running much more smoothly since my recent lesson in double entry accounting, courtesy of Dave Rolsky.  I go to the CAA office once every 3-4 weeks and use the bank statements and any receipts that have been saved to update the books in GNU Cash.  I also process any donations we've received during that time period & deposit them into the checking account. 

Post accounting lesson, I wrote up instructions on how to handle different kinds of transactions.  This way, if I get hit by a bus or something, someone else will have the notes and can hopefully pick up where I left off.  (Please note: I have no intention of being hit by a bus any time soon.)

That's about it in the exciting world of accounting.  Hard to believe, but true.

Happy New Year!