Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) September 27, 2024
Saturday, Oct. 5: Rosie Gray from Capstone
We have a speaker on an important issue for our October public program at the Grange Hall. Rosie Gray works for Capstone Community Action, our local anti-poverty non-profit. She teaches people how to navigate financial challenges and achieve long-term success through workshops and counseling. She’s also a “micro-business” counselor, helping people start and run the smallest businesses. She’ll describe her work, and answer questions. This program will run from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, following a brief Grange meeting that starts at 4:30 PM.
And of course, the program will be followed by another delicious Community Potluck Dinner! Bring whatever you want to share–perhaps a main dish from the bountiful harvest of local produce, or a bag of chips and dip picked up from the store on your way over. Or desserts, or beverages–you’ll find appreciative eaters!
Elections: integrating new officers, and improving governance
Every other year, all Granges elect new officers. At our Sept. 7 meeting, I’m pleased to report that we have some new people taking on specific responsibilities by becoming officers in our Grange. This has also allowed some folks to shift to new seats. I know that not everyone wants to read through a list of all the officers, so I’m reporting the lineup in a separate “article” below in this newsletter.
One of the major improvements we made this year is to elect 3 members to the Executive Committee. This group, which also includes the President and Treasurer, is empowered to make interim decisions for the Grange, when decisions need to be taken between Grange meetings. The EC must report its decisions to the next Grange meeting and have them approved. Members of the EC can also hold other offices. Our new EC members are: Charles Mayhood, Patty Giavara and Bill Meckel. While we try to make all decisions through official motions at regular Grange meetings, it’s important to have a way to consider emergency or short-term needs which–inevitably–need to be handled fast–things like building system repairs and purchases are good examples.
State Grange meeting Oct. 25 & 26:
Dishwashing volunteers needed!
We’re hosting the VT State Grange annual session this year–and feeding the delegates! Our intrepid Meals Committee (Charles Mayhood, Alison Forrest, Merry Shernock and Richard DeCosta) has planned a menu of virtually all locally-sourced ingredients for 2 lunches and 2 dinners for this all-day Friday and Saturday event, expecting at least 60 guests! They have plans for cooking and serving the food, but we badly need volunteer dishwashers. This is actually a fun community activity–as you can see in the photo above. We’ll be using the Grange’s collection of vintage china and melamine dinnerware, plus silverware and glasses–no disposables! And this means that we need to wash the dishes after all 4 meals. Please consider being part of the “clean team”–email me to get on the list! You will also get the chance to meet some of the friendly folks from the State Grange whom we’re hosting. We’ve already got a couple of folks signed up, no one will be working alone!
State Grange meeting Oct. 25 & 26:
And we need cookies and quickbreads!
We also need bakers to help us out by providing treats for desserts, including:- Brownies and other bars (all variations welcome!)
- Cookies (ditto!)
- Quickbreads (banana, pumpkin, zucchini, apple…all tasty choices!)
Thanks to our friends at Montpelier Alive!
In the last edition of “Grange Notes”, I reported on the need to get the commercial dehumidifier serviced–the one keeps our Lower Level dry and mildew-free. I’m pleased to report the Northern Basements, from whom we purchased the machine in 2020 has arranged to get it rebuilt by the manufacturer under the 5 year warranty. And we have a “loaner” dehumidifier running to keep moisture controlled, thanks to Montpelier Alive, Alec Ellsworth and the Montpelier Parks & Trees department! They have coordinated Montpelier’s response to the flooding that has hit the city in the past couple of years, and are kind enough to help us while our unit is being serviced. We appreciate it!
Election details–who’s where on our “org chart”
- President: I’m taking this on for one more 2 year term, which will end in 2026. By that time, I will have been in office 20 years. I don’t think it’s good for the organization or for me to be in this position forever, so I am actively looking for others who want to share the duties. I don’t plan to leave the Grange, and I look forward to helping my successor.
- Vice President: Richard DeCosta takes over this office, which has an important part in our meeting ritual, and also serves as backup for the President. Richard has been a member of this Grange since about 1990! He has been “Assistant Steward” for many years, and is ready to do something else.
- Secretary: Bill Meckel stepped forward to take this important job on. Over the past couple of years, Charles Mayhood has improved the organization and processes for which this office is responsible. He’s created a Word template for meeting minutes makes it easier to prepare these records, which are part of the legal records we must maintain to be a legitimate corporation in Vermont, as well as complying with Grange requirements.
- Treasurer: Merry Shernock has been in this office since 2016, and has brought in the use of Quickbooks for our bookkeeping. Between keeping up with rental transactions, paying all the vendors we have, and managing the day-to-day finances, there is plenty to do. Recently, Patty Giavara has been helping with looking at broader trends in our finances.
- Steward: Carl Etnier now has this job, which has one regular duty at our meetings, during the closing. Traditionally, this job is associated with keeping the Hall organized, setting up the “stations” for the meetings, etc. FYI, this is a role I would be happy to fill after I pass on the Presidency!
- Assistant Steward: Bill Meckel is taking on this job, as well as the office of Secretary. The “AS” helps with ritual opening and closing at our meetings.
- Lady Assistant Steward: Jody Pettersen has agreed to fill this chair, which works with the Assistant Steward in the meeting ritual.
- Chaplain: Alison Forrest continues in this job; she has made the regular prayers in our ritual more inclusive and–we think–more in touch with the values we hold.
- Lecturer: Patty Giavara has agreed to take this over from Carl, who has substantial duties as the Chair of the Hunger Mountain Co-op Board taking up a lot of his time these days. The October 5 program with Rosie Gray marks her debut! She welcomes suggestions from anyone.
- Gatekeeper: Liz Benjamin is taking on this sash and seat; in our Grange, the Gatekeeper welcomes people who come to our meetings, since we (long ago) stopped asking attendees for the annual password–everyone is welcome.
- The three Graces are ceremonial roles in the Grange, reserved for women to fill from the founding of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, the official name of the Grange organization. Here are the three now in office:
- Ceres: Cecile Sherburn is stepping in to this role, which includes leading the “Draping the Charter” ceremony with which the Grange honors members who pass away. Gail England filled this role for many years, but is no longer active. Ceres, the goddess of the Harvest, is related to the end of the growing season.
- Flora: Amy Handy, who has been doing a wonderful job improving our flower beds is continuing in this job, which relates to the spirit of the flowers of the garden.
- Pomona: Marty Roberts has taken this on, so we have a full set of the Graces. This office has roles in other Grange rituals, as the spirit of fruits. As you can see, the metaphors of the farm and garden are very important in the Grange.
- Musician: Matt Nunnelly has done a wonderful job as the piano player and song leader who brings us together in song a few times during each meeting, and plays marches for the rituals we perform. We look forward to his continuing! It’s great to be part of an organization that recognizes the importance of music and singing together at every meeting.