Challenge Fundraiser: the Friends want your opinions, as well as your donations on September 2nd!

15 supporters of the Friends of the Capital City Grange have put up $100 each–and challenge the rest of the Grange community to match it–for a total of at least $3,000, to support the ongoing improvements and renovations for the Grange Hall.

Enjoy a “Dessert Potluck” with tasty offerings by everyone who can pitch in, and ice cream donated by Ben & Jerry’s!  Available at the break in the contra-dance.   If you can’t bring something, drop a donation in the cans provided.
And of course, there is a great dance for everyone, with just the standard $9.00 admission charge.  Always popular Burlington-based caller Mary Wesley will prompt the dances, and the Irregulars will play–a big group of hard-playing young folks–many of whom grew up coming to this dance!

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All the proceeds of the fundraiser will go to the Friends, to help finance the improvements we want to continue to make to our great Hall.   Most of you know that the FCCGH has helped to plan and implement many of the projects we’ve done:  the new dance floor in 2012, the new windows upstairs and down, the new fire exit from the lower level, and the new bathrooms in 2015!
The Friends will also be looking for your input, to help decide on which of the 2 major projects should be the focus:

Concept A:  “Safe and Sound” includes improvements to the security and the acoustics of the Grange Hall–here are some of the ideas:

• adding acoustic panels to the Hall to reduce reverberation–to help with dances, singing events, public meetings, and group events of various sizes
• increasing security for the Hall by installing new doors in the original entrance–with insulated glass, good weather-stripping, and improved door closers, to reduce air leakage, and improve the connection of the Hall to those entering there.
• changing to programmable locks, to ease the task of getting keys to one-time renters, and to allow us to change access if a code is compromised.
• consider purchasing a sound system for Hall renters to use, to encourage use by groups who can’t afford, or don’t want to organize a sound system.   There are many questions about security, maintenance, set-up and cleanup to be answered!

Concept B:  “Mess Hall to Dining Hall” includes improvements to the lower level, to reduce moisture, increase insulation, and improve the ambience of the cafeteria space.   Components include:

• Installing drain channels to remove liquid water that gets through the foundation
• Installing insulated panels and wallboard to keep cover the cold concrete wall(s), and to create a paintable, cleanable wall surface.
• Replacing the fixed wood tables with movable, smaller-size tables, for flexibility, better cleaning, and more choices in layout.
• Painting the floor for a better appearance.

Join us and let us know what you think!  Ballots and comment sheets will be available for everyone.  You can also donate via Paypal at:  https://capitalcitygrange.org/donate/  and those funds will also go to match the challenge!