Minimum Qualifications:
Graduation from high school or equivalent, plus five (5) years of experience in general clerical/administrative experience including at least two (2) years of customer service.
Texas Driversʼ License in good standing

Work Hours: Monday – Friday, 20 hours/week flexible between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Pay Rate: $12/hour

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong proficiency with Quickbooks
• Experience with Basic Accounting Principles
• Strong proficiency with MS Office applications (including Word, Excel), email
• Experience using the Internet for communication and research
• Excellent English communication written and oral skills
• Interest in food production, agriculture and/or organic systems

Duties, Responsibilities and Functions:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

1. Greet customers by phone and email. Answer questions regarding TOFGA, respond to customer inquiries and forward inquiries to the appropriate TOFGA member/s.
2. Accounts payable. Receive, organize and ensure that all bills are paid in a timely manner. Work with Board Treasurer to ensure that checks are sent on time. Maintain records of all payables in Quickbooks.
3. Accounts receivable. Prepare invoices using Quickbooks as needed for all memberships and items purchased form TOFGA.
4. Maintain TOFGA member database, communicate with members about membership renewals and all member related activities.
5. Provide administrative support for the TOFGA Board including logistical support for meetings.
6. Provide support for the annual TOFGA Conference held at the end of January each year. Be available to increase hours worked in the 8-12 weeks prior to the conference and be present on-site during the conference to work full days supporting a successful conference.
7. Manage your home office including filing, supplies, phones, and computers. Coordinate with the Treasurer to purchase and maintain adequate inventory levels for various office supplies and materials.
8. Maintain accurate records for regulatory agencies including taxing agencies and prepare and submit regulatory reports in a timely manner.
9. Maintain data and prepare reports in various forms using a variety of office equipment and software applications, including spreadsheets, Quickbooks and databases.
10. Verify the accuracy and completeness of various reports, including purchasing, receiving, accounts payable, sales, profit and loss, income and inventory.
11. Recommend changes to methods, operations, sequences and set procedures for work assigned. Review, evaluate, and analyze a variety of complex administrative issues and determine appropriate courses of action that may include changes to administrative processes

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

1. Use broad and comprehensive knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures in analyzing a variety of issues.
2. Prepare work products with high levels of accuracy, reviews work products and checks for errors; correct errors immediately upon discovery.
3. Review progress and evaluates results.
4. Usually working without established procedures perform a wide variety of non-standard tasks.
5. Ability to learn to accomplish new tasks; eagerness to learn about organic production.
6. Ability to perform extremely detailed work with high accuracy.
7. Affable and friendly with customers and vendors.
8. Ability to work on a team and actively listen to customers and colleagues.
9. Ability to independently discover answers to questions about topics, which are unfamiliar.
10. Recommends and implements changes in procedures, and has substantial latitude for non- reviewed action or decisions.
11. Work on assignments that are complex in nature where considerable judgment and initiative are required in resolving problems and making recommendations.
12. Develop methods and procedures to support implementation of new business strategies.

Other Information: This position requires a criminal background investigation. We are a small organization and this person filling this position will be required to work alone much of the time and must demonstrate the ability to work independently with high productivity and impeccable integrity.

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to Susan Beckwith by email to beckwith@pobox.com
This position announcement closes on March 17, 2010 at 5pm.

Where: Aunt Sue’s Barn, 116 CR 2601, Ponder, TX  76259

Cost: $10.00 per person

This workshop will teach you how to use a cultivator, what natural amendments can be used to enhance the soil, how to install a drip irrigation system and principles of companion planting. This is a hands-on workshop located at a local farm in Ponder – bring your gloves and dress appropriately for the weather.

You must pre-register to attend before March 25^th.  To pre-register, call 214-673-5862 or email Trish Percy at pdpercy@sbcglobal.net.

Directions:

• Take the E University Dr/US-377/US-380 exit off I-35;
• Go west on US-380
• 12.5 mi. Turn right at N County Line Rd
• 358 ft. Turn left at County Rd 2601
• first gate on the right is Aunt Sue’s Barn, look for the balloon!

This workshop is sponsored by Feed Texas First. Feed Texas First is an organization that supports increased food security in North Texas. For more information, go to www.feedtexasfirst.org

When: March 14th, 2 – 4 pm
Where: Gabriel Valley Farms, Jonah, TX

Discussion topics:
1. Do we want a Jonah Farm Tour Weekend: Once a year local farmers open their farms and gardens to the public. Chefs, city folks, future farmers can visit/buy/tour things at your farm. Advertised event.
2. Do we want a farmers market/ craft fair in Jonah/Eastern Williamson County?
3. The online Garden Gate to Kitchen Plate Network and the online Jonah Farm Tour.

Directions:
Take Hwy 29 East to Jonah. Go right on Old Hwy 29
Meet and Greet at Gabriel Valley Farms 440 Old Hwy. 29 East

Hosts Web Site:
www.gabrielvalleyfarms.com Email: gvfarms@att.net
Hosts of the online network and for Questions contact:
www.thecrookedcreekfarm.com Email: gate2plate@aol.com

AUSTIN - Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced today that a Texas Department of Agriculture inspection has resulted in a prison sentence for Basilio Coronado. The Brownfield company owner was sentenced to 24 months in a federal prison for falsely portraying his company’s produce as organic. The evidence of misrepresentation was discovered during a TDA inspection of Sel-Cor Bean and Pea Inc.

“The message is clear – if you illegally market your products and try to defraud consumers, we will catch you and you’ll pay a high price,” Commissioner Staples said.

“Due to the excellent work of our inspectors and through the coordination with USDA’s enforcement investigation, a company owner who wasn’t complying with national and state organic guidelines will pay the consequences through jail time and restitution. Texas consumers deserve to get what they pay for when they purchase organic products, and we will continue to support USDA’s enforcement efforts by ensuring those companies TDA certifies are providing consumers true organic products.”

Coronado plead guilty to falsely telling state and federal agents he bought and sold organic milo, pinto beans and garbanzo beans, when in fact, the products were not organic. In addition to his federal prison sentence, Coronado must also pay more than $523,000 in restitution and is prohibited from participating in a USDA program for five years.

TDA is accredited by the USDA National Organic Program to conduct inspections and certify organic farms, processors, distributors and retailers of organic food and fiber.

Sel-Cor was certified as an organic distributor in 2003 and is based in Brownfield near Lubbock. TDA revoked its certification as a result of the information gathered by the agency.

The 4^th Annual Tejas Art and Book Festival- Catch the Spirit in Rockdale is a multi-faceted event. TOFGA Region 1 wil have a book and resources table at the event. Stop by and say hi!

Event includes visiting authors doing book reviews, selling books in the library, authors visiting the schools to talk to the students, artist displaying and selling their wares, folk life activities in the historical Depot Museum, Car Show, local entertainment provided by students and adults and street vendors. Visit the website at www.rockdalechamber.com/.

Phone # 1-218-936-4700

Participant access code – 486506.

TOFGA Board Meeting – February 25, 2010 6:30-8:30 pm

PROPOSED AGENDA

I Welcome and check agenda – Susan 5 mins (6:30-6:35)
- Designate timekeeper

II Review and Approval of Previous Minutes – Amanda 5 mins (6:35-6:40)

III Treasurer’s Report – Jay 10 mins (6:40-6:50)
- TCOOPS 2010
- Budget for 2010

III Regional Director updates – Sabino, Jennifer, Pamela 15 mins (5 mins each) (6:50-7:05)
- What’s new?
- What is planned?
- What support is needed from Board?
- What support is needed from members?
- Open issues needing resolution? (e.g. regional autonomy, regional director training)

IV TOFGA Marketing and Branding – Susan 5 mins (7:05-7:10)

V Newsletter – Jay 10 mins (7:10-7:20)
- What support is needed from Board and members?
- Deadlines for 2010
- Budget for 2010 Newsletters

VI Communication with Members – Susan 15 mins (7:20-7:35)
- Volunteer job descriptions, process, recognition
- Leadership teams: Communications/Media, TCOOPS 2011, Funding
- Use of constant contact (Deborah)

VII Summarize Action Items from this meeting- Amanda 10 mins (7:35-7:45)

VIII Set next Meeting and Propose Items for next Agenda – Susan 10 mins (7:45-7:55)
- March meeting Face-to-Face. Work session
- Budget for face-to-face – Jay
- Standard Agenda Item: Regional Updates
- Board Calendar for 2010 – Deborah? Amanda?

IX Closing remarks – All 5 mins (7:55-8:00)

X Adjourn

Phone # 1-218-936-4700

Participant access code – 486506.

TOFGA Special Called Board Meeting – February 20, 2010 6:30-7:30 pm

PROPOSED AGENDA

For more information and to register, visit: http://www.extension.org/article/25971