Location Vij’s Restaurant
Call to Order: at 3:02pm – Vikram Vij
Roll Call: Mary McKay noted attendance
Present Board Members:  Vikram Vij, Neil Wyles, Tony Minichiello, Mary Mackay, Julian Bond, Dino Renaerts, Scott Jaeger, David Hawksworth, Robert Clark, Don Letendre, John Bishop,  Tiffany Soper, Karri Schuermans, Sid Cross, Andrew Morrison

Approval of board minutes from February 19, 2007
1st John Bishop
2nd Julian Bond

  1. Spot Prawn Festival
    • Robert Clark and Julian Bond met to organize the Spot Prawn Festival
    • Had a meeting with the False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf representatives
    • The FCFW is a participating sponsor of the event
    • The dock has been booked for Saturday, May 5th between 12 noon and 6pm
    • Washrooms and water are available for public use
    • A cooking stage will be set up for cooking demo’s (1pm to 5pm)
    • Robert reviewed a list of jobs to be performed by the board members
    • Rentals: Vikram to contact A&B Party Rentals regarding tents, BBQ’s and chairs (Robert to see if Aquarium can loan chairs, about 100)
    • Parking: Julian is securing parking for the public, 86 parking places secured, $3.00 flat rate
    • Signage: Don and Vikram are organizing having signs made up and posted on the day of event
    • Drinks: no alcohol served, Tiffany will secure a bottled water sponsor
    • Cooking demos: board members volunteered for demo spots, will open this up to all members in the future but due to time restrictions only board members this time.  Chefs will be responsible for bringing along all supplies for the cooking demos, each demo will include sample portions for the public, and demos will be 30 minutes maximum in length.
    • The boat will arrive around 2pm with fresh spot prawns.  Demos will stop when the boat arrives so that we can parade the fresh prawns up to the stage.
    • Photos: Tiffany will secure a photographer to sponsor the event.  All chefs are to show up in black pants and white chef jackets for a group photo on the dock.
    • Steve will be selling the prawns to the public that day for $12 per pound, CTS members $10 per pound, Steve will donate $0.50 per pound prawns sold back to the CTS.
    • Media: Robert will contact City TV for breakfast television and city cooks
    • Press Release: Tiffany and Andrew will prepare and will post details on the CTS website, Dino will mention the event at the Healthy Chef Show, Andrew will post the event on Urban Diner Vancouver
    • Emcee: will ask Jamie Maw , a representative for the False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf will address the public as well.
    • Go Fish: Tiffany will make arrangements with Go Fish
    • Insurance: Vikram will look into liability insurance for the Chefs Table Society
    • Cross Promotion with Granville Island Market: David will speak to market manager, chefs demos could include recipe cards that promote shopping for ingredients at the market
    • Cross Promotion with Edible BC: Robert
    • Vancouver Magazine Awards: will promote the Spot Prawn Festival at the awards by handing out brochures, Mary, Don, Robert, Neil, Tiffany, Tony, Julian and Tiffany volunteered to work the CTS table at the awards.
    • Brochures: Karri will prepare brochures to hand out to public promoting the event.  Focus on Fisherman’s Wharf is the farmer’s market of the waters (nicely put by Andrew).  Restaurants can hand out brochures as well to promote to public.  Board gave approval for cost of brochures to be printed.
    • Ocean Wise: Robert will contact
    • Stage: Robert will see if Nu can loan a stage
    • Volunteers: Scott will organize for set up and clean up.  Motion passed by board (1st Scott, 2nd Dino) to pay $600 towards sending young chefs out on the boats with Steve.  This will cover the cost of fishing licenses for 10 chefs and include a picnic lunch on the boat ride.
    • Guests: want chefs, media and the public to attend the event.  Neil will invite the Vancouver mayor.
  2. Project CHEF
    • Barbara Finley gave an update on the progress she is making on Project Chef
    • Information packages were handed out to new board members to review Barbara’s proposal
    • Barbara is asking the CTS to donate $5000 to develop and implement a pilot project this spring and endorsement from the CTS
    • The board will vote on a decision to support Project Chef at the next board meeting
  3. Financial
    • Tony and Neil met with Jack to review financial statements
    • $40,000 in GIC, $1,800 cash on hand
    • Board needs to discuss how to operate on a financially sustainable basis.  Need to come up with new forms of fundraising and discuss a 2nd cookbook as an option to raise money.
    • The spot prawn sales will generate some income for the society; Steve will keep track of the amount of prawns sold to the CTS members


Meeting adjourned at 4:30pm

  • Next Board meeting will be held Monday, April 30, 2007 2pm, Vij’s Restaurant.
  • Board meetings will be held the last Monday of every month.  Meetings will not be held in July, August or December.