Recent Networkwide Posts

• admin wrote a new post, March 18, 2014 Meeting Minutes, on the site Potomac Grange 1 1 month ago

  Meeting start time: 9:36 a.m.

  Present on the phone: Leroy Watson, Cherie Watson, Amanda Brozana

  Present in the Saunders Library: Joan Smith, Austin Miller, Stephanie Wilkins, Bobbi Rencevicz, Jessie Cope

  Minutes read and approved as corrected

  Treasurers Report:

  Kile Fund Feb. 28 Bal $37,003.67

  Kile trust 12/31/13 bal $315,075.65

  Operating account 3/18 $969.62

  We need to pay 4th quarter dues of $72. And bonding for $136.

  We have a $50 gift certificate to the Grange Store to spend.

  Expenditures made from Kile Fund: $100 Ford’s Theater, $5 Soles for Souls, $150 Grange Foundation for scanner

  Old Business:

  A question came up about the gazebo at the Arboretum. The Lecturer will check on the project.

  Youth Conference

  Jr. Ambassador Patrick Lanstrum will make a presentation during the conference.

  Funds collected for the conference should offset costs.

  Jessie will call all state youth directors to determine participation and encourage registrations.

  It was decided the $50 Grange Store gift certificate should be used for door prizes for the conference.

  Jessie will file for the permit to use the park for the drill competition and practice.

  The menus were decided for the conference.

  Jr. Grange:

  Fox Valley Good Earth had 6 peole at the March meeting.

  April 11-13 Wisconsin Great Lakes Leaders Conference will be attended by the Watsons. Jr. Grange bratwurst fundraiser is in development stages.

  New Business:

  Discussion about fundraising options held. It was decided not to pursue any new fundraisers until after the youth conference. It was decided to ask the youth to bring used books to the conference to contribute to our next used book sale.

• admin wrote a new post, February 18, 2014 Meeting Minutes, on the site Potomac Grange 1 1 month ago

  Present for the meeting was Master, Joan Smith, Lecturer, Samantha Johnson; Lady Assistant Steward, Jessie Cope; Steward, Amanda Brozana; Treasurer, Bobbi Rencevicz; Assistant Steward, Austin Miller; Flora, Stephanie Wilkins; and Chaplain Grace Boatright. On the phone we were joined by Overseer Leroy Watson; and Executive Board Member Cheryl Watson.

  Old Business:

  A motion was made and approved to change minutes from January 28th meeting. The correct amount paid to the National Grange for the Potomac Grange Holiday dinner was $942.30. Also, it should be 9 PM Friday, April 4th for the Sign a Song and Public Speaking Contests for the Eastern Regional Youth Conference.

  Treasurer Report:

  Kyle Fund as of January 31, 2013 has $37,395.55

  We had no update on our operating account.

  Also, Treasure Rencevicz has not spoken to Eric our accountant about our IRS Filings for the 2013.

  We did receive 3 dues checks, totaling $180 which will be deposited in our operating account at BB&T.

  Junior Grange Committee Report:

  Cheryl and Leroy Watson said they had 5 Juniors come to the Fox Valley Good Earth Grange #776 meeting in January. They are looking to bring several Granges together in WI to brainstorm about them bringing together their juniors. Rachel Watson will be added to Grange Radio as a speaker.

  The meeting was temporarily suspended for 5 minutes for the National Grange Staff Meeting. We reopened at 10:07am.

  New Business:

  Confirming details for the Eastern Regional Conference that Potomac Grange will be sponsoring, also the National Grange Fly-In will be incorporated into this event.

  Jessie Cope was able to get 2 hotels to block rooms for us: The Hilton Arlington for $149.00 plus tax. These rooms can be single/double/quadruple. Breakfast is not included but it is 1 block from the Metro. The room block at the Hilton: 15 rooms for Friday, 15 for Saturday, 10 for Sunday, and 8 for Monday. The Hilton will create a personalized webpage.

  The Comfort Inn at Ballston will also give us a block rooms for $99/night + 13% tax for single to quad occupancy. This hotel includes breakfast and free parking but is a bit further from the metro.

  All meals, Ford’s Theater entrance price, and $15 Smart Trip Cards will be provided to attendees. The registration price is $30 for 14 and up and $15 for 14 and under.

  We are on waiting list for Martha’s Table as a Community Service Project. It has been suggested we look at working with the Humane Society to do a pet adoption as the community service project. President Smith will continue to look for a Community Service Project.

  Jessie Cope and Amanda Brozana worked on getting the information and the forms ready for the Registration process. Lecturer Johnson will process registration information. Deadline for Registration has been set for March 28, 2014. Registration will be e-mailed to State Masters and State Youth Directors immediately and put on the National Grange Youth website.

  Lecturer Johnson has made the reservations for Ford’s Theater on April 5th at 2pm.

  It was suggested that we use Fran Vitt as one of our judges for the Public Speaking Contest, Lecturer Johnson will contact him. Also, we are trying to confirm one to two judges from Gallaudet University for the Sign a Song Contest.

  We are encouraging attendees to bring gently used shoes for the Soles to Souls donation Box.

  Grange Advocacy has offered to donate $1,000 worth of Grange Store items to Potomac Grange for sales at the Youth Conference.

  Meeting concluded at 11:00 am.

  Next meeting scheduled for March 18, 2014.

   

   

   

   

   

   

• admin wrote a new post, January 28, 2014 Meeting Minutes, on the site Potomac Grange 1 1 month ago

  President Joan Smith called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m. in the 10th floor Saunders Library of the National Grange Building in Washington, DC. Also present were Lecturer Samantha Johnson, Lady Assistant Steward Jessie Cope, Chaplain Grace Boatright, Treasurer Bobbie Rencevicz, Assistant Steward Austin Miller, Flora Stephanie Wilkins, Steward Amanda Brozana and Secretary Richard Weiss.

  Minutes from the December 10, 2013 holiday meeting were approved as read.

  Treasurer’s Report

  As of December 31, 2013 the Kile Fund balance at PNC Bank was                         $37,395.55

  A payment of $2,569.95 was received from the trust in December 2013.

  The Operating Fund balance at BB&T Bank was not available. It was surmised that the bank is still emailing statements to Amber and not Bobbi. Amber’s email has been deactivated.

  Samantha Johnson advised the meeting that Potomac Grange holds a U.S. Savings Bond which is currently worth $340.24 and could be cashed now. It was decided to wait until the maturity date of June 20, 2014 as the bond is paying 4% and the Operating Fund is sound.

  Bills to be paid:

  $395.88 to Richard Weiss for 2013 convention expenses. To be paid from the Kile Fund
  $867.50 to National Grange for the Potomac Grange holiday dinner. To be paid from the Kile Fund
  $72.00 to the National Grange for 4th quarter 2013 dues. To be paid from the Operating Account.
  $136.00 to the National Grange for bonding insurance. To be paid from the Operating Account.
  An estimated $325.00 to the National Grange for materials and postage for the World War II Patriots Program. This will be finalized when exact postage is determined and will be paid from the Kile Fund.

  PR/Communications Committee – Amanda Brozana
  

  Amanda will work with Stephanie on updating the Potomac Grange web site.
  The Grange Connect photo CD program at the 2013 convention received mild attention.
  

  IT Committee – Stephanie Wilkins

  Stephanie and Dick Weiss have cleaned up the members list by eliminating many no pays and feel the list is now accurate. Weiss stated that the number of Golden Sheafs was reduced from eight to four, as we could really only identify four.

  Program Committee – Samantha Johnson

  Samantha and Austin Miller are starting work on the Korean War Patriots Program. They will try to get interviews with Korean War veterans.

  Junior Report – Joan Smith and others.

  Jodi Salley will do Grange Radio interviews about her three children who are 10, 7 and 5.
  There was discussion about the new Junior Grange rule which allows juniors to affiliate with a state Grange, not necessarily a Subordinate. This might allow Potomac Grange to create a “virtual” Junior Grange with juniors from outside DC.
  

  Membership – Joan Smith

   Leroy Watson picked up regalia from Potomac Grange for his Wisconsin Junior Grange.

  Tennessee continues work on opening a new Grange in that State.

   Old Business

  Potomac Grange #1 will host the 2014 Eastern Regional Youth Conference on April 4 and 5. It has been decided to couple this with the annual Legislative Fly-in on April 7 and 8.

  Anticipated Expenses to be paid from the Kile Fund and Registration Fees:

  50 Metro Smart Cards at $17.00 each ($2.00 for the card. $15.00 in fare.) – $850.00
  Meals Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and dinner, Sunday breakfast and lunch for those staying over for the Fly-in. – $1,000.00
  Ford’s Theater Tour – $200.00
  Lodging – It was decided not to use the 4H facility due to minimums and expensive requirements such as mandatory breakfast purchase from 4H. After discussion, it was decided to block rooms in a few hotels, but let the youth groups do their own bookings.
  Registration fees. 14 years and up – $30.00, Under 14 – $15.00.

  Tentative Schedule

  Friday, April 4 at National Grange Building, Goss Conference Room

  Early evening – Grange Jeopardy while youth arrive.

  9:00 p.m. Sign a Song and Public Speaking Contests. (Samantha Johnson to contact Gallaudet for judges.)

  Saturday, April 5:

  9:00 – Work shop at Grange Building

  Lunch- Community Service serving at Martha’s Table. Having lunch there.

  2:00 p.m. – Ford’s Theater Tour

  6:00 p.m. – Drill teams in Lafayette Park followed by dinner in the Grange Building. Grange Radio interviews in the evening.

  Sunday, April 5

  a.m. – Breakfast and Korean War speaker and certificate presentation.

  p.m. – Work on Grange historical documents in sub-basement.

  Monday, April 6

  a.m., – Possible Pentagon tour.

  p.m. – Fly-in.

  There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
  Respectfully submitted,

  Richard B. Weiss, Secretary
  Potomac Grange #1

• admin wrote a new post, April 22, 2014 Meeting Minutes, on the site Potomac Grange 1 1 month ago

  President Joan Smith called the meeting to order, by phone, at 9:10 a.m. in the 10th floor Saunders Library of the National Grange Building in Washington, DC. Also present present for the meeting was Lecturer, Samantha Johnson; Lady Assistant Steward, Jessie Cope; Steward, Amanda Brozana; Treasurer, Bobbi Rencevicz; Assistant Steward, Austin Miller; Flora, Stephanie Wilkins. Also on the phone, we were joined by Overseer Leroy Watson; and Executive Board Member Cheryl Watson.
  

  Treasurer’s Report  

  Kile Fund Investment Account as of March 31, 2014 is $316,360.00
  Kile Fund in our PNC Checking Account as April 1, 2014 – $36,061.37

  Four checks have been issued from the PNC Account:

  $150.00 to the National Grange Foundation-Digitizing Grange Records
  $50.00 for Christian Vasquez a judge for the Sign A Song at Eastern Youth Regional
  $50.00 for Debbie Colbert a judge for the Sign A Song at Eastern Youth Regional
  $105.00 Potomac Grange reimbursement to National Grange; $100 for Ford’s Theatre 50 tickets and $5.00 for Soles4Souls Collection Box.

  There was a request from Treasurer Rencevicz to pay $923.37 American Express Bill which was for the food for Eastern Youth Regional Conference; $621.93 various items put on the National Grange credit card for items relating to Eastern Youth Regional; and $27.56 to Joan Smith for her purchase of ice.

  Our Operating Account as of March 31, 2014 is $1,149.62. Two checks issued $72.00 for 4th Quarter Dues and $136.00 for Bonding. Ending balance of April 21, 2014 $941.62.

  Registration Income from Eastern Youth Regional was $1,290.00 and it was decided to put in our operating account.
  

  Old Business

  We discussed the Eastern Youth Regional Conference. Everything went well. Jessie took care of all food and all meal functions went well. We did have left over food which was used for meals for the National Grange Executive Committee and a couple of lunches for the National Grange Staff.

  Junior Grange Committee Report

  Cheryl and Leroy Watson said that WI Junior Grangers will be joining WI State Junior Grange. They both spoke about Wib Justi’s passing and bringing back “I’ll be Delighted” either back to our Youth or the Grange in general for the National Grange Convention. Would like to have something for the Youth table. Wib was a 70 Year member of Potomac Grange and we discussed something we might do to honor Wib, example challenge coin, a pin, etc.

  New Business

  We discussed making improvements to the 1st Floor Kitchen at the National Grange Building. Peg, Joan, and Jessie cleaned and got the kitchen ready for use during the Eastern Youth Regional. The kitchen faucet need to be replaced, Joan would like to use money from the operating account to cover costs to replace it. Jessie would like to add a Garbage Disposal. We discussed if Potomac Grange should be responsible for making improvements to the National Grange Building. Talked about if we make changes Potomac Grange could get more use out of the kitchen. Leroy brought forth a motion to form a committee to decide on improvements for the kitchen. This was seconded and passed. Joan and Cheri will be on the committee.

  We spoke about obtaining Joan’s Golden Sheaf Award. Amanda would like to do a special presentation. We also looked in to scheduling another book sale either for May or June. Also, we thought about having a lemonade stand outside to bring in people for the book sales.

  Also, Joan told us that Dick Weiss has been very ill with pneumonia.

  There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 10:45 am.

  Respectfully submitted,

  Samantha Johnson
  Potomac Grange #1