Grange Notes for September 21, 2018 by Tim Swartz, Grange President (with everyone’s help)

Rocky II–corrected day = Sunday

In the last Grange Notes, I incorrectly said that the flower bed project would be on Saturday–please come on Sunday, Sept. 23rd from 1:00 to 5:00 to help us move rocks, shovel soil & plant perennials on the remaining sides of the entrance porch.
In the to picture below, see the first new planting bed, full of late-summer greenery & flowers. We could use some help weeding this bed as well!
Below that, see the other corner–doesn’t it look naked? A few more rocks and a little time will make it look good!

Dancing at the Grange Center Fall Festival–one more picture

Debby Ploof of the State Grange, who organized the Fall Festival sent me a better photo, showing the range of Grangers who enjoyed the dancing. I couldn’t resist!

Grange Meetings for the Fall began on Sept. 15th. “Mission” is on our minds.

We had a chance to do a “summer catch-up”, reviewing all the work that has been done on the plumbing, the septic tank pumping, and the driveway re-work.   We gave the expenditures a formal approval to supplement the email discussion. We also decided on a formal limit to the amount that can be spent between Grange meetings, with authorization from the President, the Vice President, or the Executive Committee: $250.
We also had a good discussion of ways to make our meetings more interesting–which quickly morphed into a discussion of how to attract more people to get involved in the Grange. This in turn moved us to begin a discussion of the mission of our Grange. Besides maintaining a community Hall, how can we broaden our community service? What sort of projects would the people already familiar with the Hall like to get involved in–and what other types of people could we seek to serve with new projects?
This is only the beginning of a longer discussion, I’m sure. We would welcome input from those who read these Grange notes–send an email to: swartztim15@gmail.com and we’ll add them to the list. Even better, please join us at our next meeting: Oct. 6th, at 4:30 PM.
Our October meeting will also include our every-two-years elections for Grange Officers–which brings up the point that a lot of us who are officers are, for some reason, getting older every year!   We’d love to have some new, energetic faces join us, as active members and as the officers who work to chart the course for our organization.   Much support is available–as long as we last, at least!
Also on the agenda:   discussion of the Resolutions to be voted on at the VT State Grange annual session, Oct. 19 & 20. These will cover all sorts of areas–agricultural, state government, environmental & Grange-related. I’ll send out PDF copies, or a link to them on the VT State Grange website as soon as I get them from the State.
And starting about 5:45, we’ll also have a chance to meet the local state rep candidates–see below:

Coming in October: Meet & greet VT State Rep candidates

Following our October 6th meeting, starting about 5:45, please join us to welcome many of the candidates for the Washington-1 district, which includes Berlin and Northfield. We have gotten confirmation from the following:

Gordon Bock–independent
Jeremy Hansen–Progressive/Democrat
Denise MacMartin–Democrat
Rebecca Trower–independent

Current incumbent Rep. Anne Donahue will be unable to attend–at a family reunion.
Kenneth Goslant has not yet replied–we’ll keep you posted!
For information on all candidates who will be on the ballot on Nov. 6th, including financial disclosure forms, check the Vermont Government website: https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/candidates.aspx
These candidates will join us for our Community Potluck, starting at 6:00, so you’ll have a chance to speak with them in a relaxed fashion–and see what they like to eat, also!

Our talented tenants!

The Barretones have been making beautiful barbershop music in Central VT since 1969. Beginning a few years ago, they have rented our Hall on Monday evenings for rehearsals. Check them out at their annual concert, this coming weekend.

Also nearby…Open House at the (now) Stickney Barn in East Granville–Sept. 30th

The picture below is one of many which will be on display at the “Dickerman Barn”, which used to be a hall with regular dances. The Stickney family, which now owns the property, is having an Open House, and will be showing their large trove of photos, diaries, letters and memorabilia from the decades when the Barn was a happening place. The Barn will be open from 3:00 to 7:00. Bring a potluck dish, and share with other Central VT folks. And there will be a community contra dance from 5-7:00! Check out the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/752503061760047/

Contra Dance: Nils Fredland calling to Riptide

Contra Dance: Don Stratton calling to Audrey & Clayton

Contra Dance: Luke Donforth calling to The Figments

VT State Rep candidates–5:45 to 7:00–meet, greet & eat with them!

Grange mission discussion, Rocky II and another community Hall