Greetings RPI Members!
I love March because it means we are one month closer to spring. I love spring because munching on bones outside is a favorite past-time for my dogs (with little fur and 2-3% body fat, my whippets do not appreciate winter). I love my dogs because... well, who doesn't!?!?!?! Oh, yeah... I need to share March updates with you and as usual, there are several. They are in no particular order so please take the time to read the entire blog. If you get bored, take a break and come back to it! This is important information that members need to be familiar with prior to placing this month's order.
1. New products -
a. dehydrated tripe braids. Individually wrapped (thank heavens)!
b. ox-tails - very limited quantities so get 'em while you can.
c. beef liver - individual 1# packages (great for traveling)
2. Quality Control Issue - please note that due to a change in the processing procedure enacted by our wonderful USDA 'processing police', some of the boxes of goat and lamb trim may contain more trachea and esophagus than normal. I apologize. The supplier apologizes. The USDA 'processing police' could care less! I want to bring this to your attention because it appears that sometime during this past month, the neck trim that originally contained mostly meat, some of the boxes now contain less. The kicker is I cannot physically thaw ~30 cases to determine which is which. It is still a great deal for the critters (my crew love lamb trachea!), individual cases may not be quite as 'meaty' as the case next door. The supplier is a great guy. We just got caught by the USDA 'meat mafia'!
3. Pinching Pennies - as a not-for-profit entity, every penny counts. Because of this, we have to change the manner in which we collect funds. Last month alone, we paid ~$250 to Paypal!! Starting in March, we won't have to pay any type of fees because we are going to be using QuickPay offered through Chase Banking.
QuickPay is 100% FREE because RPI banks with them. That will be a HUGE savings for our little growing network and like I said, every penny counts. QuickPay uses paperless checks to transfer money from bank to bank. This is going to be an easy way for RPI to save a few hundred dollars every month and with the growth we are experiencing, that is a really good thing! The more we save, the more funds we'll have to purchase more stock for everyone to enjoy!
While I realize this is the third change to occur in our payment process in the last three months, please understand that we have been searching for something like QuickPay and if all goes as planned, there won't be a need for any more changes. Thank you for your patience during this time of transition.
So, all members will be expected to follow the instructions below. These instructions have been copied directly from the Chase QuickPay FAQ page. If you have any questions, PLEASE read the page prior to emailing either David or me with your concerns and/or questions. As far as RPI is concerned, this is as good as it gets!
How do I enroll in Chase QuickPay?
Enrollment is simple and secure. First, you’ll need to create your Chase online profile and confirm that you own the e-mail address (must match your RPI registration) and bank account you want to use with this service.
• If you’re a Chase customer with an active online profile, please enroll in Chase QuickPay to add it to your Chase online profile.
2. Select and verify your preferred e-mail address.
3. Read and accept the Chase QuickPay Legal Agreement terms and conditions.
4. Select the valid Chase account you want to use with this service.
5. Start using Chase QuickPay to send payment to RPI (rawpawsinfo@gmail.com).
• If you’re a Chase customer but you don’t have an active profile, please:
2. Then, follow the steps above for Chase customers with active online profiles to activate Chase QuickPay.
• If you’re not a Chase customer, please create a Chase profile and enroll in Chase QuickPay:
2. Create a secure profile.
3. Verify your preferred e-mail address.
4. Read and accept the required legal terms including the Chase QuickPay Service Agreement terms and conditions.
5. Add and validate the external bank account you want to use with this service.
6. Start using Chase QuickPay to send and receive money.
During and after enrollment, please check your e-mail account to make sure your Chase QuickPay notifications reach your inbox (and are not blocked). Otherwise, you may not be able to complete enrollment or receive notifications about your Chase QuickPay activity.
Once you've activated your Chase QuickPay profile, you can return to Chase QuickPay anytime:
• If you are a Chase customer on the My Accounts page on Chase.com, click “Payments & Transfers.” Then, click “Chase QuickPay” in the middle of the page. If you're a Chase QuickPay only customer using a non-Chase account then return to
4. I appreciate the cooperation of all members making this 'fee- free' change for the benefit of the CoOp. Members who prefer to continue using Paypal will be expected to add 5% of their total invoice prior to making payment.
5. Supplier Appreciation Month - Something new, but long overdue! This month, members are asked to make something (cookies, pies, candy, etc.). These homemade (nothing store-brought, please) treats will be distributed to our suppliers - not just the suppliers themselves, but the people who actually take care of preparing our critters' food. There are many 'behind the scenes' people that make RPI a success and we need to let them know we appreciate them. This is strictly voluntary, but I am confident the RPI family will come through again! It would be particularly nice if thank-you notes were attached from the dogs.
6. Communication - Now that RPI is up-and-running with delivery routes in place (and growing!), please understand that David will no longer be sitting by the computer for 12-14 hours each day. We'll be racing our whippets on weekends!! E-mail responses will occur in a timely fashion (within 72 hours). Also, I do not answer my telephone or respond to texts during school hours. I shut my phone off (gasp!) at 6 AM and turn it back on around 4:30 or 5:00. Please plan accordingly.
7. RPI Ambassadors - where are you??? We discussed this vital component of our CoOp at December's meeting, but I didn't write names down! I need to know who these folks are so I can route emails out accordingly. E-mails will be routed out using a rotation so one person at the top of the list doesn't get 500 calls! RPI Ambassadors will act as mentors to new members or individuals who need some guidance or have questions on how to get started. I need both cat and dog Ambassadors. Please email David if you are willing to act as an RPIA. Pay is beyond minimal. It is non-existent! Refrigerator magnets, anyone???
8. March D-Day - Friday, March 16th 6-8PM. I am going to need help Thursday night and Friday as well. David will be racing Schooner and Daytona in Jacksonville (cross your fingers for Schooner's safe return to the track) and this is definitely more than just a one-person show! I need help.. maybe 2-3 members? Please email David to let him know if you are available either day. Thanks in advance.
9. Deliveries - Michigan went smoothly with one eensy-teensy issue. David can drive the van and runs deliveries like clock-work. We are blessed to have him on board to run RPI. However, his physical handicap will not allow him to unload the orders. For this reason, satellite managers are asked to make arrangements to have someone (neighbor, RPI member, college-kid, etc.) available to do most of the physical labor necessary. David can move the products to the rear of the van but someone else must be there for the actual off-loading. Thank you to all those who were able to make this happen at the last minute in February.
Thank you for bearing with me to the end of this blog!
Happy Everything to You and Yours,
leslie
