Dear Friends and Supporters,
The Gleaners are Growing! We brought nearly 5,000 more pounds of fresh, local produce to people in need in 2011 than we did in 2010. We have more volunteers, donors, recipients, grants, and funders than ever before, but we still are only scratching the surface of our potential impact on the local food system. Our current board and staff are putting structures in place to enable BAG to grow sustainably. To that end, BAG is looking for 3-5 people to add to our working Board of Directors. Passion for our mission and time to devote to the work of building the organization are the main requirements. However, people who can contribute skills and experience in accounting, publicity, and fundraising are especially sought. The Board meets in the evening every 4-6 weeks. Additional time to devote to one committee or project is also needed. Board members serve 2 year terms. We ask that interested candidates submit a letter of interest and resume to the BAG search committee by February 29, 2012. Board member terms will start at the upcoming Annual Meeting, on April 1, 2012. Send inquiries and applications to: duck@bostonareagleaners.org Don't hesitate to contact us with questions! And thanks for your continued support. BAG hosted a Winter Party yesterday, Saturday January 28, at founder Oakes Plimpton's house in Arlington, MA. The party was potluck style, and a celebration of a phenomenal season of gleaning. A casual affair, BAG hosted the party to thank its volunteers and partners for their help throughout the season. In one room, a slideshow played with photos from the season's gleanings. In the other, volunteers chatted around the food. As the party went on, more and more volunteers arrived carrying new and interesting foods, which of course, were quickly consumed by the room of foodies. Ranging from pumpkin bread to home made dumplings, I was literally chomping away the entire afternoon.
Duck thanks Volunteer of the Season Todd Kaplan for his wonderful work this season. Towards the end of the party, Duck gave a short speech, sharing the impressive stats from this season's gleanings. She thanked the volunteers for their hard work because BAG could not have had such a great season without their support. BAG was also glad to see some of its partners such as Medford Food Pantry attend. While winter gives some down time as gleaners, BAG is glad to get a chance to reflect on the season and thank its volunteers and partners for their support! -- Chris, BAG Intern Boston AreaGleaners is excited to welcome Fay Strongin and Katherine Murray to the team! Both Interns will be hard at work this season in the office organizing data, writing grants and promoting BAG.
Katherine Murray is a senior at Colby College where she is majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Conservation Biology. Katherine is interning during the month of January and hopes to learn about the administrative side of running non-profit organization as well as how to connect local farmers with local initiatives in the city. Since there is not much gleaning in January, Katherine is mainly working in the office on organizing the photos for the webpage and sorting the gleaning data from 2011. At Colby, Katherine enjoys running and is one of the captains of the Colby Ultimate Frisbee team.Fay Strongin is an urban farmer at Sidewalk Ends Farm in Providence, RI, which she co-founded last spring. She grows chemical-free vegetables and cares for five beautiful hens. When she is not farming, you can find her drawing, printmaking, or serving coffee. Now that it is winter, Fay has a little time to spare, and she is happy to join the BAG team as a volunteer researcher and grant writer. Fay is hoping to broaden her understanding of the who, what, when, and where of local food systems and also to gain experience working with non-profits. |
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