Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) for November 19, 2018
Happy Thanksgiving to all in the Grange community!
As we head toward the holiday on Thursday, we are thankful for the many people who keep the Grange and the Hall going, to help us in our community service mission. We hope that the holiday will give us a chance to consider the many helpful people in each of the communities we inhabit, which make life better for all of us. And that all of us have a bountiful Thanksgiving feast to enjoy!
Our Grange Hall will be used by a large extended family on Thursday for their holiday meal, FYI!
Our Grange Hall will be used by a large extended family on Thursday for their holiday meal, FYI!
and mark your calendars for the Dec. 1st Grange meeting
Our monthly meeting, starting at 4:15 to give us time to complete the Grange business part before the “program”. What goes on at a Grange meeting? check out the description on the Grange website. This month, the program will be a presentation on the VT Community Loan Fund. We have chosen to invest some of the savings we have been able to make in the VCLF; we will hear from Jake Ide, the director of Investment and Philanthropy, about the work that the organization does with the money invested in it. He’ll answer questions, and explain how the Loan Fund chooses worthy recipients for loans, and tell about the results which the Fund has seen seen since being founded in 1986. For more info, check the VCLF website. You could invest there too!
and for the next Community Potluck, starting about 6:00, we’ll share the tasty dishes brought by participants, and have a chance to chew upon and digest what we have discussed with other people who have come to the meeting, and/or the discussion about the Loan Fund. We’ll be glad to try your special recipes–by then we might even be ready for a bit more turkey, in some form or other.
Grange meetings and events are free and open to all, members and non-members, local or visiting from far away. No password required!
and for the next Community Potluck, starting about 6:00, we’ll share the tasty dishes brought by participants, and have a chance to chew upon and digest what we have discussed with other people who have come to the meeting, and/or the discussion about the Loan Fund. We’ll be glad to try your special recipes–by then we might even be ready for a bit more turkey, in some form or other.
Grange meetings and events are free and open to all, members and non-members, local or visiting from far away. No password required!
Have you ever wished you didn’t make that turn?
We suspect that applies to one of the people attending the memorial service on Sunday, just before the snowstorm–see the top photo. The “hairpin turn” from the lane on the west side, to go down the driveway has led to some problems in the past, and our reflector posts and orange pylons have not stayed in place. With the help of Kurt Giavara and a post-hole tool, we put in a more solid indicator (4×4) for where the turn should happen. We’ll add some reflectors later this week to make it even more visible in the ever-growing night-time hours. Please drive safely in the winter weather, including in the Grange parking lot and the driveway!
“Upscale Resale” brings new visitors, and sends donations to Circle
Despite the first snow of the season, the “pop-up” consignment store set up in the Grange Hall on Oct. 27th attracted over 20 vendor booths, and lots of customers for the higher-end clothing, jewelry and other items being sold. Donations of booth fees to “Circle”, the shelter for abused women in Barre added up to over $200.
We look forward to more events like these–we’re glad to facilitate moving unused items to people who can appreciate them, and to the increase of community ties this event can bring. Many new people came to our Hall, and were impressed with the space and its convenient location, so we hope this will lead to more uses by Berlin residents and others.
One note about the basement level, which we have plans to insulate and improve–the number of booth requests led to some vendors setting up downstairs. There were complaints about the smell of mildew (which we’ll note in our next grant application for the renovation project)–but sales were still better than expected!
Help us fill this year’s Holiday Boxes, at least as full as last year’s!
Pictured above are the 2017 holiday season meal boxes, which got filled with donations of non-perishable food, as well as financial donations for produce, a turkey and more. We are repeating the process this year, using boxes decorated by Alison Forrest, one of our resident cooks as well as being Chaplain for the Grange again. The boxes will be donated to 6 families with children who are in need, identified by the local Headstart organization. They confirm that even our generally financial comfortable communities, most of whom can afford a holiday dinner, still include a lot of families who can’t provide one for themselves. We’re concentrating on providing ingredients for the holiday-time dinners, knowing that other organizations are collecting toys and gifts, so please bring in non-perishable foods like:
- crackers
- white potatoes, yellow potatoes, sweet potatoes or yams
- canned cranberry sauce
- pasta
- non-alcoholic holiday beverages
- nuts
- stuffing mix
- any other tasty foods–you know they will be appreciated!
We have already had donations that have let Merry Shernock buy turkeys to be added before we send them off in mid-December, and we’ll use other donations to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, etc. to be added at the last minute. So donations by cash or check will be welcome as well! Drop them off in the specially marked vase which is set out with the donation boxes at the Grange, or give a check to a Grange member, or mail it to the Grange postal address: PO Box 208, Northfield Falls VT 05664.
Put the Grange Holiday Sing-Along on your calendar!
Sunday, Dec. 23rd will mark the 2nd annual get-together, just to sing holiday favorites at the Grange Hall. Mat Nunnelly, our excellent Grange Musician, will accompany songs on the piano. We will do our best to sing along with any seasonal songs you bring, from sacred songs of any tradition to less-than-sacred ditties about the demise of elderly relatives at the hands (or hooves) of seasonal ungulates. We are non-denominational and non-partisan, we just like to sing! Bring song-books or printed lyrics if you have them.
Join us from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. We’ll provide some mulled cider–please bring some goodies to share if you can. We’ll also provide some distractions for little ones downstairs–or they can join in the singing!
P.S.: no judges will be present to award points for flashy singing(–or to take points away if you sing like I do–Tim)
Join us from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. We’ll provide some mulled cider–please bring some goodies to share if you can. We’ll also provide some distractions for little ones downstairs–or they can join in the singing!
P.S.: no judges will be present to award points for flashy singing(–or to take points away if you sing like I do–Tim)
Resolution results from State Session–and National Grange Convention wrapped up in Stowe
Dedicated readers will remember that the VT State Grange’s annual meeting, known as the “state session” was held on October 19 & 20th. Among the work done at the session was deliberation on the many Resolutions (over 20) submitted to be voted on by the assembled delegates. If passed, they become the official policy of the State Grange. While the Grange is not as large as it once was (there are about 1100 members in 36 Community Granges in VT), it’s still a good talking point with your local select-board, legislators and senators if you can say that a particular position is State Grange policy.
The results of the State Session votes are now available on the CCG website: Resolutions with Votes if you want to see how they fared. The topics range from restricting the use to neonicitinoid pesticides (passed), to support for a minimum wage increase to $12.00 per hour (passed), to making marijuana smoking subject to the same limitations as tobacco smoking (rejected, as we were told this is already legislated policy). Check the whole list of resolutions to see more.
Also concerning the “upper levels” of the Grange, Vermont hosted the 152nd National Convention at the Stoweflake, from Nov. 14th to 18th. Grange members from across the country got a good dose of VT weather, with the snowstorms of last week, but as far as I know a good time was had by all. VT State Grange officials are probably quite tired after coordinating the tours, hospitality and coffee needed by over 400 visitors! Our Grange loaned some coffee-makers to the event, I helped to relay donated “personal care items” for homeless veterans donated by VT Granges to the Stoweflake, and Marj Power helped to iron costumes fro Grange rituals one afternoon!
Eventually, the National Grange will pass on how the Convention voted on State resolutions that affect National policy. All resolutions start at the Community Grange level, so think about what you’d like CCG #469 to submit for next year’s State and National sessions!
The results of the State Session votes are now available on the CCG website: Resolutions with Votes if you want to see how they fared. The topics range from restricting the use to neonicitinoid pesticides (passed), to support for a minimum wage increase to $12.00 per hour (passed), to making marijuana smoking subject to the same limitations as tobacco smoking (rejected, as we were told this is already legislated policy). Check the whole list of resolutions to see more.
Also concerning the “upper levels” of the Grange, Vermont hosted the 152nd National Convention at the Stoweflake, from Nov. 14th to 18th. Grange members from across the country got a good dose of VT weather, with the snowstorms of last week, but as far as I know a good time was had by all. VT State Grange officials are probably quite tired after coordinating the tours, hospitality and coffee needed by over 400 visitors! Our Grange loaned some coffee-makers to the event, I helped to relay donated “personal care items” for homeless veterans donated by VT Granges to the Stoweflake, and Marj Power helped to iron costumes fro Grange rituals one afternoon!
Eventually, the National Grange will pass on how the Convention voted on State resolutions that affect National policy. All resolutions start at the Community Grange level, so think about what you’d like CCG #469 to submit for next year’s State and National sessions!
It’s almost Membership Renewal Time
We know that it’s hard to keep track of everything that happens in this holiday season, with special events, special foods to prepare and eat, special songs to sing, family to entertain (or be entertained by), presents to agonize over, buy and wrap and much more.
So–we’ll be sending out a reminder to Grange members and friends soon, letting them know that as of Jan. 1st, it’s time to renew your Capital City Grange membership, or sign up for the first time! I’ll keep sending out Grange Notes to all of you regardless of your membership status–but it really helps us to be an active Community Grange if you join us. Help us provide community service that makes a difference, and respond when you get the membership email soon! Then you won’t have to remember when January rolls around.
So–we’ll be sending out a reminder to Grange members and friends soon, letting them know that as of Jan. 1st, it’s time to renew your Capital City Grange membership, or sign up for the first time! I’ll keep sending out Grange Notes to all of you regardless of your membership status–but it really helps us to be an active Community Grange if you join us. Help us provide community service that makes a difference, and respond when you get the membership email soon! Then you won’t have to remember when January rolls around.