Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Monday March 28, 2016
Solar Fair: 2:00 to 4:30 PM: CCG sponsors a “Solar Fair” to offer choices for the public–representatives from 5 different solar contractors, plus a bank that offers low-interest energy improvement loans will be there to answer your questions.
April Grange meeting welcomes new members, discusses rental policies, and plans for our May 7th celebration–starting at 5:00!
We’ll be performing an “Obligation Ceremony” early in the meeting, to officially bring in the new members we have gained this year–even if you are not (yet) a member, you are welcome to come to our meetings and take part–we just can’t let you vote on decisions we make! That is one of the “perks” of membership.
This meeting will include some policy decisions–the sort of thing on which we need to vote, to “exemplify” our Grange principles:
Rental policies: We have agreed to let Berlin residents use the Hall for free, in return for the (much appreciated) tax exemption we requested. Merry, our volunteer Rental Agent has been working out the implications of this. We have realized, for example, that we have been asking all tenants to provide proof of liability insurance coverage that protects them and the Grange when they rent our Hall. Does this contradict the “free” offer we have made? How do we judge whether we can make some sort of exception for some tenants–and should we?
We are also asking ourselves if we would define our free rental policy to:
This meeting will include some policy decisions–the sort of thing on which we need to vote, to “exemplify” our Grange principles:
Rental policies: We have agreed to let Berlin residents use the Hall for free, in return for the (much appreciated) tax exemption we requested. Merry, our volunteer Rental Agent has been working out the implications of this. We have realized, for example, that we have been asking all tenants to provide proof of liability insurance coverage that protects them and the Grange when they rent our Hall. Does this contradict the “free” offer we have made? How do we judge whether we can make some sort of exception for some tenants–and should we?
We are also asking ourselves if we would define our free rental policy to:
- Allow free rental for any organization with a single member from Berlin?
- Allow free rental for only non-profit organizations based in Berlin?
- Allow free rental for for-profit businesses based in Berlin?
- If not for businesses, what defines a “business”? Selling products? Charging for admission to events?
This last group of questions has also brought up differences in opinion (among those of us who think a lot about Grange business) about whether it compromises our Grange principles to rent to people who “make money” off their use of our Hall. Should we, or must we limit the uses for the Hall? We’d like to hear from everyone who is concerned with our Grange and its mission.
Insurance changes: This in turn has brought up other insurance questions–and have ended up with us agreeing to switch the Grange’s liability coverage to a local agency, Noyle Johnson, so that we can get counseling on these questions from a local agent, rather than trying to deal with the DC-based agency which used to handle our liability insurance.
To address these issues, we will be discussing these questions at the April 2nd Grange meeting–what do you think? Join us for the discussion. It may seem like small distinctions on the surface–but we find we end up discussing our basic values and how we apply them in the real-world running of the Hall we all care about.
Another major focus of our meeting will be more planning for the open house we decided on holding on May 7th, to showcase all that goes on at the Grange Hall. We will be discussing setting up a “spring-cleaning” day before that, to look our best for the people we attract–and because we always seem to need a spring cleaning!
Regarding the plans for the “open house”–here’s what we started at our March meeting: A committee including Alison Forrest and Merry Shernock has been asking regular renters to take part in this “open house”, to showcase their talents, their classes and their welcome to new participants. We plan to have some community singing (one of the attractions of Grange meetings for many of us), with simple “rounds” led by veteran leader Louise Brill. The event will end with a potluck dinner with some back-up food provided by us, making sure that everyone will feel welcome, whether they can bring a home-cooked offering or not–because it’s always good to meet while we eat!
Can you help with the planning for this? Do you have other ideas for presenting the Grange’s attractions? Contact Merry (see the header), or Alison at: feedkidswell@hotmail.com to offer your involvement.
We’ll be starting our meeting a bit later than usual, to make time for the Solar Fair–so mark your calendars!
Following our own belief in enjoying good food together, the meeting will be followed by another tasty Grange Potluck at 6:30. As always, the Solar Fair, the meeting and the potluck are free and open to all!
Insurance changes: This in turn has brought up other insurance questions–and have ended up with us agreeing to switch the Grange’s liability coverage to a local agency, Noyle Johnson, so that we can get counseling on these questions from a local agent, rather than trying to deal with the DC-based agency which used to handle our liability insurance.
To address these issues, we will be discussing these questions at the April 2nd Grange meeting–what do you think? Join us for the discussion. It may seem like small distinctions on the surface–but we find we end up discussing our basic values and how we apply them in the real-world running of the Hall we all care about.
Another major focus of our meeting will be more planning for the open house we decided on holding on May 7th, to showcase all that goes on at the Grange Hall. We will be discussing setting up a “spring-cleaning” day before that, to look our best for the people we attract–and because we always seem to need a spring cleaning!
Regarding the plans for the “open house”–here’s what we started at our March meeting: A committee including Alison Forrest and Merry Shernock has been asking regular renters to take part in this “open house”, to showcase their talents, their classes and their welcome to new participants. We plan to have some community singing (one of the attractions of Grange meetings for many of us), with simple “rounds” led by veteran leader Louise Brill. The event will end with a potluck dinner with some back-up food provided by us, making sure that everyone will feel welcome, whether they can bring a home-cooked offering or not–because it’s always good to meet while we eat!
Can you help with the planning for this? Do you have other ideas for presenting the Grange’s attractions? Contact Merry (see the header), or Alison at: feedkidswell@hotmail.com to offer your involvement.
We’ll be starting our meeting a bit later than usual, to make time for the Solar Fair–so mark your calendars!
Following our own belief in enjoying good food together, the meeting will be followed by another tasty Grange Potluck at 6:30. As always, the Solar Fair, the meeting and the potluck are free and open to all!