Grange Notes by Tim Swartz January 15, 2016
Should the Grange emphasize our Berlin connections with a new name?
One of the benefits of meeting with the VT State Grange Executive Committee in December was that Patty and I discussed with them the possibility of updating the name of our Grange. While we have operated under the name “Capital City” since being chartered in 1914, in actual fact we have been located where we are now, in Berlin since 1952. That was when this Hall began to be built. That’s well more than half of our Grange’s lifespan!
So should we change our name to “Berlin Community Grange #469“? That’s what we’ll be talking about at our Grange meeting this Saturday.
We have been campaigning for an exemption from property taxes from the Town of Berlin. In fact, Merry Shernock has just delivered 112 signatures on petitions to get our motion on the ballot. As we have been talking with Berlin residents about this, several have already brought up this question, in one form or another: “how come your name is ‘Capital City Grange’, if you want Berlin to support you, and to be a ‘community hall’ for the town?”
So changing the name of our Grange would be a logical step to seeming more like a Berlin institution, not a Montpelier one.
We also will need to think about potential down-sides–will this interfere with our long identification with the “Montpelier Contra Dance” series, and the new “Montpelier Contra Exchange series”? Would we need to mount a publicity campaign to ease this change?
Please join us this Saturday, Jan. 16th at the Grange Hall starting at 4:30 to discuss all of these questions–it will take a vote of the Grange members present to start this process!
So should we change our name to “Berlin Community Grange #469“? That’s what we’ll be talking about at our Grange meeting this Saturday.
We have been campaigning for an exemption from property taxes from the Town of Berlin. In fact, Merry Shernock has just delivered 112 signatures on petitions to get our motion on the ballot. As we have been talking with Berlin residents about this, several have already brought up this question, in one form or another: “how come your name is ‘Capital City Grange’, if you want Berlin to support you, and to be a ‘community hall’ for the town?”
So changing the name of our Grange would be a logical step to seeming more like a Berlin institution, not a Montpelier one.
We also will need to think about potential down-sides–will this interfere with our long identification with the “Montpelier Contra Dance” series, and the new “Montpelier Contra Exchange series”? Would we need to mount a publicity campaign to ease this change?
Please join us this Saturday, Jan. 16th at the Grange Hall starting at 4:30 to discuss all of these questions–it will take a vote of the Grange members present to start this process!
Grange dues are….due!
The first meeting of the new year of 2016 brings with it the need for payment of our annual dues. This year, the cost is $30 per member. Some of this money goes to our own Community Grange (whatever its name!), some to support the VT State and National Granges. Paying your dues gives you the right to vote on Grange decisions! Please make checks payable to “Capital City Grange”, and bring them to the meeting, or mail them to:
Charles Martin, Secretary
639 Minister Brook Rd.
Worcester VT 05682
Charles Martin, Secretary
639 Minister Brook Rd.
Worcester VT 05682
A free kids’ clothing exchange? More discussion at the Grange Meeting!
We’ve been contacted by a new arrival to the area, who has told Merry and me about her previous experience coordinating a free exchange service for kids’ clothing (newborn to at least 3T sizes) at a Grange in Santa Cruz CA. Erin Barry is very interested in doing this again at our Grange–a monthly open house to allow people with growing kids to exchange clean, good condition clothes which no longer fit for larger ones. There would be a number of details to work out–but we are impressed by her clear explanation of how it worked on the West Coast.
Erin will be joining us for the Grange meeting on Saturday to describe for everyone (with pictures!) how it has worked, and to discuss her plans for replicating the project here. Come join us to discuss further!
Erin will be joining us for the Grange meeting on Saturday to describe for everyone (with pictures!) how it has worked, and to discuss her plans for replicating the project here. Come join us to discuss further!
More to come about the Family Fun Day, and the next steps in our Tax Relief project!
You can expect more info in your Inbox soon, about the fun schedule for Sunday, Jan. 24th, and the Town Meeting day vote on Mar. 1st–what it will mean, and how we’ll get the votes….plus more about new uses for our Grange Hall–stay tuned!