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March at the Grange: meeting on the 7th, 10th anniversary of KT&P

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Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) March 2, 2026

Welcome to March, with a Grange meeting this Saturday!

Please join us at our meeting on Saturday, March 7, as we plan for Spring events, and perhaps make a decision about new chairs for the Grange Hall!

  • One decision that we have already made is to hold a performance of the “First Degree” ceremony of Grange membership on May 3rd.   I’ve written about this already, please come to the meeting to learn more!
  • We now have 3 choices of upholstered chairs we might purchase to upgrade the seating in our Hall.   The 3 choices are pictured below.  All have vinyl covered padded seats and backs–vinyl is recommended as the most durable choice.  They are accompanied by “feedback sheets” where Hall users can rate the chairs for different features, so we can see what people with various body types, leg lengths, etc. like and don’t like about these choices.   Please try out these chairs (they’re currently located in the Lower Level) and fill out a line on the form to let us know how they work for you!   We’ll see if we are ready to make a choice at our March 7 meeting.
  • We still need to schedule a Hall Cleaning Day and confirm when we want to hold our Chili Cooking Contest.  Should we combine one or both with our June 3rd Grange meeting?
  • I’ll be reporting on my visit to the Berlin Town Meeting on Saturday, Feb. 28, where I renewed old acquaintances and spread the word about the Grange.   In 2028, we will be petitioning the Town Meeting to renew our exemption from property taxes from the Town’s voters, so it’s important to remind them of the Community Hall that Grange volunteers keep running in Berlin!
  • At the meeting, I will also be talking about our need for Grange webmaster help.   I’ve spent a number of hours over the last couple of weeks trying to solve a problem that cropped up.  I hope I’ll be done with it by the meeting–I am a complete novice at this, even after several years of emergency problem solving.   Are you savvy about running a website?  Want to make our website better, and take one headache off our long list of tasks?  Please send me a reply and we’ll talk!

Coming very soon to a town nearby–
Wednesday in Northfield

As the editor of the Grange Notes for over 20 years, I’m using “executive privilege” to publicize a FREE community gathering and activities which I’ve helped to organize in Northfield–just a few miles south of the Grange Hall on Rt. 12.  The poster below provides most of the information.
In Northfield, where I live, I’ve been part of the “Accessibility, Walkability and Pedestrian Safety Task Force” (AWPS) for nearly 3 years.  We advocate for the interests of people who want to or need to get around without cars, and to increase the physical and social connections of the Town’s citizens.  Last year, we were able to apply for a grant from AARP to put together a “winter place-making event” to bring people together and get them to enjoy doing things outside their houses.  And it’s  happening this Wednesday, Mar. 4!
As you’ll see on the poster, everyone is welcome for this event, starting with the FREE lunch at 11:30 AM.  Then, all afternoon we’re providing a wide variety of “workshops“, in Plumley Armory of Norwich University, and outdoors as well, during the afternoon.  And we’re having a Contra Dance for the community from 3:30 to 5:00 PM.   The dance will feature calling by Mary Wesley, a regular caller at the “Montpelier Contra Dance” series at the Grange Hall–as well as all over New England and the whole U.S.  Live music will be provided by “Frosty Frog”, a Plainfield band which includes Macey Mayfield on fiddle, and Erik Pendleton on guitar; they come highly recommended.
At 5:00, we’ll gather everyone by firepits, where cocoa and cookies will be available, and we’ll start organizing our “Lantern Parade“.  This features lanterns made of paper, bamboo sticks and LED lights, by Northfield folks who came to one of several lantern workshops held in the Town in February.  Some of these workshops were taught by MK Monley, who is the founder of the Waterbury River of Light, which happens every December in that town.   Our parade will be smaller, but equally fun!  We’ve hired the Brass Balagan band to lead the parade with their assortment of instruments!
I hope some of you folks will come and join us to celebrate the returning light happening now–and continuing as we get closer to actual spring!   It will be a fun opportunity to socialize and connect.  I’d especially love it if some contra dancers would come and help to encourage the folks of all ages we hope to have at the dance!
For more info, get in touch with me, Tim:  swartztim15@gmail.com.

They’re back at the end of March–
the Bob Dylan Wannabes!

Last year, the benefit “Green Mountain Bob Dylan Wannabe Contest” at the Grange raised about $2,500 for the People’s Health & Wellness Clinic in Barre.  We’re sponsoring the contest again this year, by providing our Grange Hall, and we hope you will attend, enjoy and donate!   Put March 28 on your calendar!
As noted on the flyer, if you want to be a contender, you can contact Bronwyn Fryer to see if you can be added to the list.

Grange meeting–in person or via Zoom! Setup 3:30, meeting starts at 4:30

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In person or Zoom meetings!  Be part of our meeting, safely

We’ll be happy to  have you, any way you want to attend!

We’ll be running the ceiling-mounted air purifier, and our Energy Recovery Ventilator which brings in warmed fresh air. Both of these have been installed recently, to improve our Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

On odd-numbered months, we usually hold a full, official Grange meeting, complete with officers wearing sashes, sitting in their assigned locations, and following the modified ritual script we’ve developed.

Zoom link:  Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86215093517?pwd=jT8AOSNTDEWwfy1GruHabSI1ajJDwl.1

Meeting ID: 862 1509 3517
Passcode: 586754

 

At our March 7 meeting, we’ll be discussing:

  • Plans for the May 3rd performance of the First Degree of Grange membership.
  • Scheduling the annual Grange cooking contest–this year it’s chili, in meat and meatless divisions.   Perhaps at the June 6th meeting?
  • Reporting on the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) improvements:  ERV bringing in fresh air, ceiling-mounted air purifier in the Main Hall, both of which are now functioning.
  • We’ll have our legally required “Corporation Meeting”–come see if we can do it in under 5 minutes!
  • We hope to have 3 types of padded folding chairs available for all to try, so we can decide which type to order.
  • Grant Orenstein and Indivisible Calais will be asking for Grange sponsorship for another dance, to happen in August or September.  This one will benefit Vermont Bridge to Care, an organization working to make it easier for Vermonters to access mental health care, and to train Vermont’s mental health workforce.  The director will be joining us to talk about the organization at about 5:00 PM.

And as always, there will be a potluck at 6:00!

Grange meetings: What happens there, anyway?

What happens at a Grange meeting?

A Grange meeting might seem intimidating, before you check one out yourself, because it seems a little mysterious and full of “Grange Ritual”. Let’s describe a bit of what goes on, to take away the mystery.

Overall structure:

We do have a ritual opening and closing process, adapted by our Community Grange a few years ago to be a little more stream-lined than the ritual outlined in the Grange manual. Our Opening serves as a formal introduction to the “work of the day”–the agenda of reports and discussions which all Community Granges are expected to go through. It always includes singing—of the National Anthem or an alternative, and of an opening song chosen by our Grange Musician.   Singing together is one of the fun parts!   The opening also includes a performance of the “Grange Salutation” which reminds us of the ideals that Grange Members are to live by—Faith, Hope, Charity and Fidelity.

Next, we start work on the agenda, which includes reports on Agriculture and Legislative matters. In our Grange, which does not currently include any active farmers, but does include many with an interest in locally-grown food and the localvore movement, the Agriculture report often includes discussions of farmers’ markets, schools supplying themselves with local foods, and ways that people can preserve food for off-season storage, climate change, state and national food polices, and so on. The Legislative report follows the health-care system debates in Vermont, the “hot issues” on the legislative table, the actions of the Governor, and describes the internal workings of the political system.

We also have a report on Health Concerns from a working nurse about issues she sees in her practice with Central VT Home Health & Hospice, and in her reading about health-care. We hear from our Secretary, who is a former VT State Grange Chair for Home Economics, about upcoming knitting and sewing contests, or the annual baking contest.

We have a report on the Hall, which is such a large part of our activities, as well of our expenses. We talk about problems that need addressing, and about plans for the future improvement of the Hall. This responsibility is shared with the “Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall”, which was set up to focus on Hall projects and ways to fund them.

Every meeting includes a Treasurer’s report, which lets us know how the Grange’s bank accounts are doing, what the prospects are for rental income, and upcoming expenses. Members have the opportunity to question the Treasurer about details, and financial decisions being taken, before the report is accepted by the membership.

“Suggestions for the Good of the Order” is a regular item of discussion, as we continue to figure out how to be a Grange in the 21st century.  We are in a Grange Hall which is not a central meeting place for a farm community, but is rather on the outskirts of a (small) state capital.  We draw hundreds of people from long distances to use our community Hall as a meeting place, dance hall and performance space.  We work on building our relationship with the Town of Berlin, for which we serve as a vital meeting-place for Town residents, families, and organizations.  The Town itself also holds public hearings and meetings in our Hall.

During the meeting, members who are present may suggest a motion to commit the Grange to a project, express an opinion, send a letter or make a contribution. Members are given the opportunity to discuss all aspects, before the Grange votes for or against the resolution. Grange meetings are run on Roberts’ Rules of Order, and are designed as a forum for civil discussion and debate, in which all can have their say and be equal in decision-making.  We’re happy to support projects when there is someone who cares to follow through on the outcome, so bring your ideas!

Each meeting also asks if any Grange members are “sick or in distress”, and if so, may direct Flora (one of the 3 Graces) to send a card, fruit and/or flowers.  Or someone may volunteer to visit and help out.

After completing the agenda, the meeting closes with a little more ritual.   It always includes a closing song in which all can join, and the Grange Salutation affirming our commitment to Faith, Hope, Charity and Fidelity.

Then, we move the furniture around, put away the sashes, special stations, staves for officers, and re-arrange the chairs for the “Community Potluck” that starts about 6:00–we always have good food and people to join us, and hope that you will too!

Erica Heilman report, sample padded chairs, May 3rd for the First Degree!

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Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help) February 23, 2026

Erica Heilman on making “Rumblestrip Vermont”

We had a good turnout, on Feb. 7, to hear Erica Heilman, who produces her award-winning podcast from her home in East Calais.   She spoke about her individual approach to interviewing and podcasting from a chair, with her laptop on her knees so that she could play clips from her show.   The first was one from her friend and fellow podcaster Scott Carrier, reading selections from the Montpelier & Barre police logs; she played several others during her talk.   She also shared her good memories of when she rented our Grange Hall for her 50th birthday party…
She said she had no interest in listening to “experts” and famous people; she feels that everybody knows something, and is the expert in their own life.  She makes her shows for herself first, making audio stories about “unimportant parts” of everyday life.   Erica feels that she does her best work when she “falls in love” with the person she’s interviewing, and can get listeners to fall in love as well.  Together, Erica and her interviewees create a “new thing” between them, more than each of them separately.   Some of her favorite conversations are with kids–who are the authorities on childhood.   And she strongly believes that one can either judge other people or interview them.
Editing is not her favorite part of the work.  Listening to her recorded interviews, she finds, is “about 80% self-loathing and confusion”–but at the end “there’s a sweet, sweet place” that emerges.  To hear her own words, check out her Rumblestrip Vermont website, where you can hear over a decade of podcasts–all free (though she is happy to get donations).
We were pleased to get a good turnout–by our standards–for this presentation–about 20 people came in person or by Zoom.  Keep your eyes peeled for the next program in our series, on April 4!

February Grange meeting report:

As usual before a Community Program, we had a brief meeting.  Here’s what we dealt with:
  • We agreed on a date for our Grange to perform the First Degree of Grange membership, on Sunday, May 3rd.   This ritual welcome to new members provides links to the past of the organization, with metaphors drawn from rural life.   The Executive Committee has been tasked with arranging the details; we have invited North Branch Grange (in Worcester) and Caledonia Grange (East Hardwick) to join us in putting this on.   The ceremony is open to everyone; all paid-up Grange members are urged to join us in particular!
  • Grant Orenstein and Indivisible Calais asked for and received Grange support for another benefit contra dance, to be held on Saturday, May 9th.  Proceeds from this  one will benefit VPIRG, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, and will feature calling by Don Stratton, and music by The Turning Stile.  Grange sponsorship means that we will not charge rent, so that more of the proceeds can go to VPIRG.

Join the Grange–and renew your membership!

If you’re already a Grange member, please send your annual dues (which now costs $36) to the Grange PO box in the header.  Please pay by check made out to Capital City Grange.
If you can help us manage the Grange Hall, and increase our community services, we’d love to have you join the Grange, and vote at our meetings.   You can fill in an online form, or download a fill-able Word doc at this webpage.
If you mostly want to support the Grange financially, please note that annual membership payments provide our Grange with only $6 per year; the balance goes to support the State and National Grange.  Tax deductible contributions to the Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall can be made online at the Donate page on our website, and will support major building renovation projects.

March 7 meeting plans

We’ll have a full length (4:30 to 6:00 PM) Grange meeting on the first Saturday of March.   We hope you’ll join us–we need the support of all the folks who support the Grange and its Hall, and the input of our diverse community.   It’s the only way that we’ll continue to survive for the long term!  You may think I’m exaggerating, but I certainly am not.
Here are a few of the issues we’ll be discussing:
  • We will be signing people up to fill all the officer roles which have speaking parts in the First Degree performance on May 3rd.  We’ll also be working out some of the details of how that will go.   Any Grange member can be part of the Degree Team; we have scripts and “stage directions” available, and we don’t expect everyone to have their part memorized.  We’re planning a partial rehearsal at the May 2 Grange meeting.   Get in touch with Tim to learn more.
  • Time to schedule our annual Grange Cooking Contest which this year is Chili–with or without meat! Possibly at the June meeting?  Start testing recipes!   No canned chili or use of chili “kits”–we want your home-made best!
  • We’ll be reporting on our experience with the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) project–we now have the ERV functioning, and are able to schedule that and our two air purifiers remotely!
  • We’ll have the legally required “Capital City Grange, Inc.” corporation meeting–we hope to do it in 5 minutes or less!
  • We’ll have a report on new, padded folding chairs from the Chair replacement committee meeting–and hope to have at least 2 samples for all to test!
  • Grant Orenstein and Indivisible Calais will be asking for sponsorship of another dance event, in August or September.  That one will be for the benefit of “Vermont Bridge to Care“, raising funds to train counselors so more care is available for those who need it, and to pay for mental health care for Vermonters.  Founder Kathleen Landry will be coming to tell us about it and answer questions.
       As usual, we’ll have a Community Potluck following the meeting, with the usual assortment of tasty options.  Mark your calendars for the meeting and the potluck!

Freshly cleaned!

Thanks to planning by Patty Giavara, our Lower Level carpet, plus the carpeted stairs and foyer at the original entrance got professionally cleaned.  Delair’s Carpet brought in their steam-cleaning truck, after Patty & I piled the chairs on the fixed tables, and made the carpets look–at least for a little while–almost new!   We’ve been advised that leaving dirt in the carpets leads to earlier wearing-out; this is the second time we’ve had them cleaned since their installation in 2020.

New screen in our Lower Level!

A while ago, our Rental Agent/Treasurer, Merry Shernock, located a projection screen, same width as the one upstairs, being sold on locally for $25!   Recently, I installed some chains to make 2 locations for hanging the screen: in the “center aisle” for folks in the cafeteria section, and in the “coffee-house alcove”, for smaller meetings and gatherings.   We think they will be useful for various group sizes, and will make the downstairs even more attractive to renters.  Want to hold a movie night?  Show pictures from your hike on the  Appalachian Trail (as recently happened upstairs)?  Email Merry to make arrangements!

 

Available–for a little while:  FREE risers for your chorus!

The Barre-Tones, who have rehearsed in our Hall almost every Monday evening for at least 10 years have purchased a new set of risers for their singers.   They are giving away their old ones–shown set up in the Grange Hall, with the hope of helping other groups who need a little help getting up in the world!
If you’re interested, contact Jane Watson via email to make arrangements.  The ones they’re giving away are on our ADA porch, and need to be moved out as soon as possible–or go to the metal recyclers.

 

Contact Us

Tim Swartz, President, CCG#469
802-225-8921 (cell)
grangepresident@capitalcitygrange.org

 

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