March ALAP Meeting Recap
We are an informal group of
Northern Michigan citizens seeking to have more local impact and connectedness
with our money. We gather once a month for a potluck and to meet local
entrepreneurs and learn about their projects. During our meetings, we
also share ideas for how we might keep more of our money locally and invested
for triple-bottom-line returns (financial, social, and environmental). This is
an experiment of sorts with exciting offshoot possibilities, including the
spawning of a more formal local investing club. For now, though, those
interested in pursuing local investments with other group members or presenting
entrepreneurs may do so independently of this ALAP group. Our meetings
are open to any individual, although we request that you RSVP so that we can
assure sufficient meeting space.
March 8 was the date for another terrific As Local As Possible
(ALAP) Investment Group meeting! We gathered at Michigan Land Use
Institute HQ (thank you MLUI!) for a good mix of food and networking and
discussion focused on community-based investing.
After our opening potluck hour, we heard a five-minute talk and
product sampling from Dennis Bean-Larson. Dennis is a fixture (pun
intended) at The Mercato which serves as the home for the eclectic retail shop
and brick and mortar base for his Fixed
Gear Gallery, one of the country’s largest websites devoted to fixed gear
bikes. At our meeting, Dennis introduced his ERG! energy bar project,
which he hopes to take to the next level with product introductions at several
upcoming bike events. Those interested in learning more about ERG! can
reach Dennis at fixedgearwizard@yahoo.com.
After Dennis, Scotty Bruce of mifarmmarket.com took the floor.
Scotty gave us a spirited overview of his family business which has already
become a success story in Ellsworth. Mifarmmarket.com adds value to both
local farm/food entrepreneurs and discerning consumers with its gourmet food
baskets of All-Michigan-Made products. The company mixes live events and
the latest in search engine optimization/social media techniques to drive
revenue growth and economic benefit to the region’s boutique food producers.
Scotty discussed several of the exciting growth initiatives the company is
targeting in the years ahead and invited those interested in his company to
follow-up with him directly. Scotty can be reached @ scotty@mifarmmarket.com.
During our final hour, the group discussed the evening’s
speakers and planned for our next meeting on April 12 which will feature Ruth
Smith of Selestial Soap. We
plan to have a “working potluck” at this meeting from 6pm sharp and will
attempt to make a dent into a growing backlog of ideas produced by the group
(including the possibility of recording meetings, the merits of boosting the
group’s membership, leading triple-bottom-line “cash mobs”, building in
investment education into the meeting mix, etc). Several group members also
expressed an interest in pursuing an investment club format for those who would
like to pool funds and make joint investments. Anyone interested in
joining the steering committee for this, please contact me and I will forward
details and information for a meeting we will hold on April 5 to get the ball
rolling.
Thanks again for your continued interest and participation
and I look forward to seeing you in the weeks ahead.
Zach
PS: Two upcoming educational events related to
community capital to put on your radar:
1)
Balle’s Accelerating Community Capital
series hosts the latest on the topic of Community Supported Enterprise March 13
@ 1pm EST. More details of this event (with $25 fee) can be found here. For anyone in
the Elk Rapids area Tuesday who would like to join the webinar (and save the
fee), please let me know as I have already subscribed to the series and would
welcome you to join me at Goldeneye HQ.
2)
Orion Magazine call on local investing with the
author of Local Dollars, Local Sense Michael Shuman Thursday, March 22 @
7pm. Info on the call can be found here (thanks
for the tip Maura!)
