Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help), March 4, 2021
Our limited tax exemption is supported for the next year: how can we build support for a full exemption and more permanent support by the Town?
Berlin voters show overwhelming support for extended tax exemption for the Grange
According to the unofficial tally, the one-year extension of our tax exemption from Berlin town (but not school) taxes was approved by about 616 to 160–a very heartening show of support!
In this year of virtual or non-existent town meetings, we campaigned by Front Porch Forum, by putting an ad in the Washington World, and by appearing at the virtual Town Meeting Info session last Saturday morning. We also put a “sidecar” sign on our Grange sign. Evidently, voters recognize our efforts to provide a community gathering/celebration/etc. Hall for the use of this somewhat fragmented town, plus our overall community service mission, and the many events we–in normal times–host and support.
Based on this vote, once public health guidelines allow it, we will be extending our policy of free use of the Grange Hall by Berlin residents and non-profit organizations, as we had hoped. According to our estimates, we will be excused from about $2,000 in town taxes, though we will still have to pay around $5,000 in school taxes this year. This is a change from the complete exemption from both categories of property taxes we were voted in 2016, for a term of 5 years. For reasons that are still not clear, the Selectboard changed our proposed Town Ballot Article to only request exemption from “Municipal” taxes. We are very grateful to the donors who have given to the fundraising requests we and the Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall have made, which will allow us to pay the school tax bill for this fiscal year–but we don’t see this as a long-term strategy.
At our upcoming (virtual) meeting on Saturday, March 6th, starting at 4:30 PM, we will be discussing how to best arrange for complete exemption in the future, so that we can concentrate on best ways to foster community service and cohesion, rather than struggling to scrape together income to meet a large annual tax bill. Our exemption over the last 5 years has allowed us to achieve a measure of financial stability, as well as catching up on deferred maintenance (like getting our septic tank pumped for the first time in about 25 years), upgrading from an old storage-type hot water heater to an on-demand one, and investing $5,000 in the basement renovations completed about a year ago! We’d like to keep moving forward in ways like these, rather than living on the brink as we used to do.
In this year of virtual or non-existent town meetings, we campaigned by Front Porch Forum, by putting an ad in the Washington World, and by appearing at the virtual Town Meeting Info session last Saturday morning. We also put a “sidecar” sign on our Grange sign. Evidently, voters recognize our efforts to provide a community gathering/celebration/etc. Hall for the use of this somewhat fragmented town, plus our overall community service mission, and the many events we–in normal times–host and support.
Based on this vote, once public health guidelines allow it, we will be extending our policy of free use of the Grange Hall by Berlin residents and non-profit organizations, as we had hoped. According to our estimates, we will be excused from about $2,000 in town taxes, though we will still have to pay around $5,000 in school taxes this year. This is a change from the complete exemption from both categories of property taxes we were voted in 2016, for a term of 5 years. For reasons that are still not clear, the Selectboard changed our proposed Town Ballot Article to only request exemption from “Municipal” taxes. We are very grateful to the donors who have given to the fundraising requests we and the Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall have made, which will allow us to pay the school tax bill for this fiscal year–but we don’t see this as a long-term strategy.
At our upcoming (virtual) meeting on Saturday, March 6th, starting at 4:30 PM, we will be discussing how to best arrange for complete exemption in the future, so that we can concentrate on best ways to foster community service and cohesion, rather than struggling to scrape together income to meet a large annual tax bill. Our exemption over the last 5 years has allowed us to achieve a measure of financial stability, as well as catching up on deferred maintenance (like getting our septic tank pumped for the first time in about 25 years), upgrading from an old storage-type hot water heater to an on-demand one, and investing $5,000 in the basement renovations completed about a year ago! We’d like to keep moving forward in ways like these, rather than living on the brink as we used to do.
The Phantom struck again this year…
The last Grange Notes that I sent on Valentine’s day featured our sign, complete with the extra decorations provided by Montpelier’s Valentine Phantom. Here’s a picture of our Old Entrance doors, also decorated–we just wish more folks could see these! It’s nice to feel liked, isn’t it?
And it is meeting time again, this Saturday
As mentioned above, we will be having a Grange meeting on Mar. 6th, from 4:30 to 6:00. It will be virtual, via Zoom again as we follow VT guidelines for safety and health, so no need to brave whatever snow or wind may be our lot on Saturday!
We hope to welcome some new members to our meeting, as people have responded to my plea for renewals–and new members! In normal times, we would have an “Obligation Ceremony” to welcome Phyllis Rubenstein, Stephen Wright and Janet Cathey to the Grange, but we will have to put that off like so many other things–I haven’t figured out how to virtually gather round new members and–especially–how to sing a welcoming song, given the limitations of Zoom! There are so many things we look forward to doing…
We will be discussing the next steps we can take to campaign for full exemption from Berlin taxes, when we can make a presentation at an actual, in-person Town Meeting. As described above, the large impact the property taxes place on us hinders our work to improve our Grange, our Hall and our community service work.
We have also been offered a chance to “toot our horn” by presenting a Grange display at the Champlain Valley Fair in August of this year; the State Grange is impressed with our progress in building links to our host community, and in our community service to the public. We’ll discuss how–and who–might like to participate in this.
Another topic will be taking a look at the scheduling of our meetings, programs potlucks–originally planned to allow people to attend before dances. We have been getting feedback that the Saturday afternoon/dinnertime schedule does not work well for some folks, especially families with children. The changes wrought by COVID have of course taken away the evening contra-dances around which our plans were built. What options could we/should we explore? We welcome constructive suggestions!
Remember, anyone is welcome to join us and our discussions–but only Grange members can vote on policy changes, expenditures, etc.! All can join using this Zoom link:https://www.zoom.us/j/
Erin Barry, lead organizer of the clothing exchange for kids, parents and families has been able to keep it going during the depths of the winter, and the heights of the Coronavirus curve in VT. In March, Erin and one other volunteer will again bag up “pre-requested” items of clothing, games, books, etc. They will match size, color and gender (if that is important) requests to the best of their ability. Pickup will be outside.
Erin tells us that they have begun to use up the donated clothing for kids (newborn through Junior 12 sizes), since they have not been open for the usual service, so she is requesting that people bring in donations–at specific times when volunteers can take them in:
We hope to welcome some new members to our meeting, as people have responded to my plea for renewals–and new members! In normal times, we would have an “Obligation Ceremony” to welcome Phyllis Rubenstein, Stephen Wright and Janet Cathey to the Grange, but we will have to put that off like so many other things–I haven’t figured out how to virtually gather round new members and–especially–how to sing a welcoming song, given the limitations of Zoom! There are so many things we look forward to doing…
We will be discussing the next steps we can take to campaign for full exemption from Berlin taxes, when we can make a presentation at an actual, in-person Town Meeting. As described above, the large impact the property taxes place on us hinders our work to improve our Grange, our Hall and our community service work.
We have also been offered a chance to “toot our horn” by presenting a Grange display at the Champlain Valley Fair in August of this year; the State Grange is impressed with our progress in building links to our host community, and in our community service to the public. We’ll discuss how–and who–might like to participate in this.
Another topic will be taking a look at the scheduling of our meetings, programs potlucks–originally planned to allow people to attend before dances. We have been getting feedback that the Saturday afternoon/dinnertime schedule does not work well for some folks, especially families with children. The changes wrought by COVID have of course taken away the evening contra-dances around which our plans were built. What options could we/should we explore? We welcome constructive suggestions!
Remember, anyone is welcome to join us and our discussions–but only Grange members can vote on policy changes, expenditures, etc.! All can join using this Zoom link:
https://www.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID 918 9458 0413
A “clerical” note: new PO box
The truly alert reader may have noticed a new detail in red, in the header at the top of these Notes: our Grange PO box has changed. We realized that the large PO box we have used for years is overkill for the small volume of postal mail we receive, so we have rented a smaller one. Please update your address books with our UPDATED mailing address:
PO Box 234
Northfield Falls VT 05664
Note that membership checks should still be sent to our Secretary, as detailed below. The PO box is mostly for mail to the Treasurer, general inquiries about the Grange, and communications from State and National Grange.
PO Box 234
Northfield Falls VT 05664
Note that membership checks should still be sent to our Secretary, as detailed below. The PO box is mostly for mail to the Treasurer, general inquiries about the Grange, and communications from State and National Grange.
Join the cool kids in the Grange!
As I’ve mentioned, it’s the annual renewal time at the Grange–and you are welcome to join at any time! Annual dues of $30 make you a full member of the Grange, able to vote in Grange meetings, and show your support for our local Community Grange. The dues go also to support the VT State and the National Granges, under the rules of the Grange charter.
Being a Grange member also makes available some benefits negotiated by the National Grange, everything from prescription discounts to hearing screenings and discounts. You can read all about them by clicking this link to Grange member benefits.
If you aren’t yet a Grange member and want to join, we ask you to go to this page: https://capitalcitygrange.org/
Charles Martin
639 Minister Brook Rd.
Worcester VT 05682
If you are ready to renew your existing membership, please mail your check to Charles Martin at the address above. We don’t yet have an electronic way to fill out and deliver these payments. Maybe you can help us set them up for the folks who no longer routinely use checks! Our all-volunteer organization needs help in lots of ways, and we welcome your energy! Please email me with any questions: swartztim15@gmail.com.
Being a Grange member also makes available some benefits negotiated by the National Grange, everything from prescription discounts to hearing screenings and discounts. You can read all about them by clicking this link to Grange member benefits.
If you aren’t yet a Grange member and want to join, we ask you to go to this page: https://capitalcitygrange.org/
Charles Martin
639 Minister Brook Rd.
Worcester VT 05682
If you are ready to renew your existing membership, please mail your check to Charles Martin at the address above. We don’t yet have an electronic way to fill out and deliver these payments. Maybe you can help us set them up for the folks who no longer routinely use checks! Our all-volunteer organization needs help in lots of ways, and we welcome your energy! Please email me with any questions: swartztim15@gmail.com.
March will again feature “Curbside Service” by Kids Trade and Play–and donations are needed!
Erin Barry, lead organizer of the clothing exchange for kids, parents and families has been able to keep it going during the depths of the winter, and the heights of the Coronavirus curve in VT. In March, Erin and one other volunteer will again bag up “pre-requested” items of clothing, games, books, etc. They will match size, color and gender (if that is important) requests to the best of their ability. Pickup will be outside.Erin tells us that they have begun to use up the donated clothing for kids (newborn through Junior 12 sizes), since they have not been open for the usual service, so she is requesting that people bring in donations–at specific times when volunteers can take them in:
- Saturday, March 6th, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Friday, March 12th, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday, March 13th, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM (this is also PICKUP DAY)
Working safely in the lower level of the basement with social distancing and masks, Erin and her helper have done their best to meet the requests transmitted through private messages to their Facebook page, or by email to Erin: birthsinnerlight@yahoo.com. The Facebook page is the best way to keep in touch with KT&P.