Grange Notes by Tim Swartz, September 25, 2016
Are these a sock in your eye?
Well, sort of. Our purpose is to remind you that the Grange is collecting socks, and we need some from you. All the new socks we collect will be delivered to the State Grange meeting, on Oct. 14th. The VT State Grange will bring socks from Granges all over the state to the National Grange annual meeting in November, held this year in Washington DC. After that, socks donated from all over the country will be given to homeless shelters. So–bring that extra pair of new socks you decided you didn’t like, or a six-pack of work socks from the back of your drawer, or a couple of pairs you go out and buy this week! We’ll combine all our donations with a number of pairs already given by Cabot Hosiery, and be part of at least 400 pairs from Vermont Granges. We all know winter is coming, and way too many people don’t have any warm socks to get through it–so it is a pleasure to support this national project. We want to AT LEAST fill up the laundry basket at the Hall.
Our next meeting is coming up! Featuring singing!
We have our second meeting in 2 weeks, thanks to our September meeting being delayed to avoid Labor Day. You’ll see a report below. Our October meeting, on the first day of the month, which is also the first Saturday will include more planning for the future, and discussion of the Resolutions to be voted on at the VT State Grange session on Oct. 14th and 15th.
And at 5:30: Singalong at the Grange will feature Grange Musician Matt Nunnally at the piano, providing a strong lead for songs like This Land is Your Land, I’ll Fly Away and Blue Skies, plus Merry will teach some “fun rounds about food”!
After we sing about it, we’ll eat it–at the Community Potluck advertised on the elegant “side-sign” made by the multi-talented Patty Giavara. We now have an easy sign-hanging system which will allow organizations using the Hall to put up signs for special events–no tools required. This one will be used over and over, of course!
Merry has been publicizing our singalong and our potlucks on Front Porch Forum in Berlin, Montpelier and Northfield, plus on the Grange Facebook page–please spread the word where you live, and in all of your social networks, in person and on line.
And at 5:30: Singalong at the Grange will feature Grange Musician Matt Nunnally at the piano, providing a strong lead for songs like This Land is Your Land, I’ll Fly Away and Blue Skies, plus Merry will teach some “fun rounds about food”!
After we sing about it, we’ll eat it–at the Community Potluck advertised on the elegant “side-sign” made by the multi-talented Patty Giavara. We now have an easy sign-hanging system which will allow organizations using the Hall to put up signs for special events–no tools required. This one will be used over and over, of course!
Merry has been publicizing our singalong and our potlucks on Front Porch Forum in Berlin, Montpelier and Northfield, plus on the Grange Facebook page–please spread the word where you live, and in all of your social networks, in person and on line.
Grange meeting votes to join O.R.E., supports community organizations, celebrates summer painting projects, elects officers and starts planning for the fall
Our first Fall meeting for the year got us started on Grange business, and reviewed where we are now. Our treasurer’s report from Les Skinner confirmed that our finances are in better shape than before–our tax abatement voted by the Berlin Town Meeting in March has come into effect, which really helps! Les did report that he did receive a bill for taxes in August, but was able to get the records corrected and the bill withdrawn.
Merry Shernock has been encouraging community involvement with our Grange, and looking for community service opportunities. She has been focusing on Berlin, but embracing the whole region. At her request, we approved having the Grange join the Onion River Exchange, which is a “Time Bank” designed to allow members to donate time (not dollars) to worthy causes and to other people, and thus accumulate “hours” in their accounts. They can then use these to rent the “hours” of others for services of all types. As an “institutional member” we can earn hours by donating use of our facilities–both indoor and outdoor spaces (raised beds? community gardens?)–and by involving our members in providing services to elderly people in the HomeShare program–reading, giving rides, providing companionship, and more. Merry is meeting with the O.R.E. coordinators on September 28th, to learn more specifics. If you want to be involved, get in touch with her!
Merry has also made contact with the Berlin Schools PTA to discuss a rotating display of children’s art at our Hall–which will encourage their parents to come as well. And she is making arrangements for free use of the Hall by the Washington County 4H chapter, which connects us with local agriculture and local young people.
We have room and support to do much more–we need people who want to organize community service projects, or who want to help with Hall projects–we’re happy to have people involved with the Grange, but are also happy to support projects by non-members. Get in touch!
We gave a round of applause to the various painters who have improved the looks of our Grange Hall: Alison Forrest’s interior painters, and Joe Blakely’s exterior painters. Alison has also sewed a new decorative border for the stage opening! Merry has started reorganizing the community bulletin board on the South end of the Hall, to clarify what events are held at the Grange, and to distinguish ads for local goods and services. Check it out! Merry and Alison were approved as the official Hall Re-Decoration committee to decide how and where to hang photos, quilts, woven items, Grange information and art like the Berlin kids’ art we hope to have soon. Want to pitch in? contact Merry at her Grange email address: rentals@capitalcitygrange.org, or Alison: https://feedkidswell@hotmail.
We also held our biennial elections for Grange officers, and were able to add Joe Blakely as Steward to our previous roster. Katherine Blakely was elected to be Pomona–one of the 3 “Graces” who sit at the front of every Grange meeting. Other officers remain the same–ask if you want to know the details, or come to our next meeting to see us in action. As you will see from the notice above, there is fun to be had.
Merry Shernock has been encouraging community involvement with our Grange, and looking for community service opportunities. She has been focusing on Berlin, but embracing the whole region. At her request, we approved having the Grange join the Onion River Exchange, which is a “Time Bank” designed to allow members to donate time (not dollars) to worthy causes and to other people, and thus accumulate “hours” in their accounts. They can then use these to rent the “hours” of others for services of all types. As an “institutional member” we can earn hours by donating use of our facilities–both indoor and outdoor spaces (raised beds? community gardens?)–and by involving our members in providing services to elderly people in the HomeShare program–reading, giving rides, providing companionship, and more. Merry is meeting with the O.R.E. coordinators on September 28th, to learn more specifics. If you want to be involved, get in touch with her!
Merry has also made contact with the Berlin Schools PTA to discuss a rotating display of children’s art at our Hall–which will encourage their parents to come as well. And she is making arrangements for free use of the Hall by the Washington County 4H chapter, which connects us with local agriculture and local young people.
We have room and support to do much more–we need people who want to organize community service projects, or who want to help with Hall projects–we’re happy to have people involved with the Grange, but are also happy to support projects by non-members. Get in touch!
We gave a round of applause to the various painters who have improved the looks of our Grange Hall: Alison Forrest’s interior painters, and Joe Blakely’s exterior painters. Alison has also sewed a new decorative border for the stage opening! Merry has started reorganizing the community bulletin board on the South end of the Hall, to clarify what events are held at the Grange, and to distinguish ads for local goods and services. Check it out! Merry and Alison were approved as the official Hall Re-Decoration committee to decide how and where to hang photos, quilts, woven items, Grange information and art like the Berlin kids’ art we hope to have soon. Want to pitch in? contact Merry at her Grange email address: rentals@capitalcitygrange.org, or Alison: https://feedkidswell@hotmail.
We also held our biennial elections for Grange officers, and were able to add Joe Blakely as Steward to our previous roster. Katherine Blakely was elected to be Pomona–one of the 3 “Graces” who sit at the front of every Grange meeting. Other officers remain the same–ask if you want to know the details, or come to our next meeting to see us in action. As you will see from the notice above, there is fun to be had.