Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) May 31, 2024
Grange meeting Saturday, June 1 4:30 to 5:00
- Planning our August 3rd barbecue & potluck
- Hearing from our Cooks/Organizers for the October VT State Grange Meeting meals–they will be meeting before our Grange meeting to firm up plans, including produce from local farmers.
- We may have some suggestions for Resolutions to be considered by that October State Grange Meeting. The State Session considers and votes on resolutions about Grange, local and national issues–there’s a standard format, and will require a working committee to do some word-smithing.
- Chairs: we started discussion about possible replacements for our folding chairs–see below for the beginnings of the process.
How many of you love the metal folding chairs?
That’s what I thought…not many. For years we’ve heard that it would be great to have some new chairs, and we’ve started the discussion. So–at our June 1st meeting we’ll get to try out a sample of one of the many options out there for replacements. The picture shows one of the less-expensive ones, which the Grange has purchased for us to try out.
This particular chair may not be the most durable option, so I’ll also be presenting information about other choices, and we’ll be talking about what we can afford compared to what will hold up fro a long time, and what other samples we should consider buying to try out. This will be a significant investment–a few thousand dollars for enough chairs for one of the floors–so we’re not going to rush into a decision; this meeting is just the beginning.
After the meeting–singing and potluck!
We’re looking forward to hearing from one of the musical groups that rehearses at our Grange Hall–the Barre-Tones women’s chorus. Every Monday evening, for quite a few years, 30-50 members of this group have met in our Main Hall, to rehearse the acapella, 4-part barbershop harmony singing they specialize in. Quartets from this group can be hired to deliver singing telegrams and singing Valentines locally, but they also travel to competitions twice a year. You can read about their accomplishments at this spring’s competition in Massachusetts, which qualified them to compete in an international competition in Louisville, KY in November, in this article from the Montpelier Bridge . We’re proud of having this award-winning group as one of the several musical/performance groups that call our Hall home!
After a presentation about their prowess, they will sing some songs, and will also teach us a simple barbershop “tag”–a line that can be sung in 4 parts–that we can sing along with them, so we can feel a bit of what they feel singing together.
Since we’ll have warmed up our vocal cords by then, we’ll be ready for a Grange Sing-along after that, led by our own Grange Musician and accomplished accompanist Matt Nunnelly. Come check it out!
After this musical Program, we’ll revive our energies with our monthly Grange Community Potluck starting at 6:00. Please join us for this (free) event, whether or not you’re able to make it to the meeting or Program. Below is a picture of a typically bountiful spread at one of our past potlucks. Bring your friends who have never been to the Grange Hall, and let them get a real taste of the Grange.
Thanks for some new painting!
This picture of the stage at our Hall shows some new painting, thanks to Mary Wheeler, Director of the Vermont Youth Theater company, which has held lots of rehearsals (and a couple of performances) in our Hall over the last few years. This year, she put new paint on the back wall, and also put a coat of brown paint on the baseboards, as you can see in the picture. This color should show less of the inevitable wear-and-tear of use than the previous white color did. Mary previously repainted the ADA bathroom on the Main Floor, too–all of which we really appreciate.
I would like to get all the white baseboards painted with the same Saddle Brown color–and the stage ones could use a 2nd coat. There are other walls that could use another coat of paint to look really good, also. Are you a decent painter? We’ll supply paint, brushes, dropcloths and other supplies if you can commit to a few hours of painting. We count on Grange members and the hundreds of people who use our beautiful Community Hall to help us keep up with the upkeep, and you’ll get lots of appreciation! Please reply to this newsletter if you’d like to chip in.