Co-op vision - some ideas

   gobiodieselers!
   It's a toss-up whether Sue and I can make it to the meeting this
   afternoon - but we've been giving a lot of deep thought to how the
   co-op can move forward with the energy it's generated these past few
   years.  I have summarized our thoughts below and we would be willing
   to discuss any and all of these with whomever. (I have also asked Greg
   to make a couple of copies and have them at the meeting in the event
   we can't make it).
   Executive Summary
   In this vision of the future, gobiodiesel coop establishes a broader
   presence in the supply chain of biodiesel through establishing a
   network of independent home-brewers who take advantage of the coop's
   buying, distribution and waste management capabilities.
   gobioidiesel takes on the following really hard problems:
     * establishes a fair, auditable and ASTM certified testing process
       for all of its homebrewer members
     * establishes bulk-buying and distribution for all biodiesel raw
       materials, including WVO, lye, methanol, etc.
     * establishes an environmentally sustainable process for collecting
       and dispensing of homebrewer waste products
     * establishes an web-based coop members-only buying/selling "market"
       to match homebrewers with member buyers

   In addition to the above, gobiodiesel provides advantages to its
   members by:
     * providing at-cost (perhaps negotiates a deal on) appleseed
       processors to all interested homebrewers
     * assuring a quality-of-product that matches or exceeds ASTM
       standards

   gobiodiesel continues to expand its long-standing and successful
   efforts at:
     * collecting WVO, establishing long-term contracts, where possible
       with WVO "producers"
     * education, continuing to promote biodiesel with the general public
       and policy-makers and potential sponsors

   In return, homebrewer coop members agree to be "certified" by
     * demonstrating competency in processing safety, either by
       completing a coop training course or demonstration
     * agreeing to have their product tested by coop testing agents
     * provide a portion of their brew for coop member purchase, amount
       and pricing to be determined, but likely cost-based

   In addition to producing, opportunities for membership include:
     * collection - continuing the great tradition gobiodiesel has
       established
     * testing - establishing Academic or for-profit partners willing to
       donate testing lab time and resources to coop tests in exchange of
       sponsorship, goodwill and/or student educational opportunities
     * testing - becoming a test "agent" - participating in an auditable
       test-trail from producer to lab to
     * transport - raw materials, finished product, etc. - moving product
       in one form or another around the region may be needed depending
       on the model
     * training - new producers, test agents
     * policy and education - speaking opportunities, engaging new
       partners
     * into the coop's coffers for non-producing volunteer members. To
       improve efficiencies transactions are handled through a robust
       web-based process.

   Please feel free to discuss this with Sue and me in the event we are
   unable to attend. We are very excited about the prospects for the coop
   leading the charge to creating for biodiesl what "Oregon-tilth"
   standards did for organic, sustainable farming.
   Leo Frishberg
   Sue Zeidler

   slam.