April 11, 2018 Meeting Minutes

President Joan C. Smith called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. EDT via telephone from the National Grange Building in Washington, DC. Also present in the building were Lady Assistant Stewart Jessie Cope, Flora Stephanie Wilkins, Treasurer Amanda Brozana Rios, National Grange Legislative Director Burton Eller, National Grange Sales, Benefits and Program Director Loretta Washington and National Grange  Convention/Operations Director Stephanie Tiller. On the line from New Hampshire were Overseer Leroy Watson and Executive Committee member Sheri Watson and from DC, Secretary Richard Weiss.

The January 16, 2018 minutes were approved as read by Secretary Weiss.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer Amanda Rios submitted her resignation as treasurer and recommended Jessie Cope, who has been handling much of the finances already, for the position.  Jessie was nominated and elected as the new Treasurer. Her current position as Lady Assistant Steward will be left vacant until regular elections in June.  Jessie reported the following:

  • Potomac Grange has received March and April payments from National Grange towards Potomac’s $25,000 Grange building cooler replacement loan.
  • Potomac reimbursed National $47.45 for part of the March 12 party expenses.
  • Potomac has contributed $2,200.00 from the Kile Fund to help support the National Grange Legislative Fly-in.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

Thirty attendees from fourteen states will participate in next week’s Fly-in.  Monday morning briefings will cover health care, broad band, and labor shortages.  The latter will be presented by a new member from New York state. In the afternoon members will have a briefing by the USDA at the agency’s DC headquarters.

OLD BUSINESS

Jessie Cope will join Joan at the April AITC Leaders Summit in Chicago and will be attending the workshops.  Jessie will also help cover concurrent sessions during the conference.  Because USDA covers travel and meal costs the only additional cost will be her $100.00 registration fee.  It was moved, seconded and passed to pay the fee from the Kile Fund.

In June, Joan will attend the annual Ag in the Classroom conference, where Joan will present the National Grange Foundation Agriculture Advocacy Award to a recipient chosen by the NAITC BoD with a $3,500.00 Advocacy Award

Amanda, National Communications Dir, thanked Joan and Jessie for handing the Registration at the Mid-Atlantic Leaders’ Conference held in Westminster, MD in March.  She also thanked each of them for the workshops they presented.  Potomac Grange was well represented

Leroy will submit a few leftover expenses from last year’s National Convention.

NEW BUSINESS

There was consensus to move our meeting day to Wednesday in response to requests from Dick Weiss and Burton Eller who often have conflicts with other ag related meetings on Tuesdays.  It was decided to go with the first Wednesday of each month.  Accordingly, the next meeting will be May 2.

Amanda Rios presented the following resolution for consideration:

RESOLVED that Potomac Grange #1 establish a PayPal account linked with our checking account that allows for the electronic transfer of funds for dues and donations and be it further
RESOLVED that Potomac Grange #1 add a processing fee to all dues collected electronically of no less than 5% per transaction

During discussion it was pointed out that Stephanie Wilkins needs to be notified of who pays and for what kind of membership as she keeps the membership list up to date.  She will be included on the email notification list.  The resolution passed.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

President Smith thanked Grange Building management for the new lighting and painting in the entrance hall.  She pointed out the need for refurbishing the brass entry doors and elevator doors.  Stephanie Tiller noted that said work is scheduled and will run $700.00 to $1,000.00.

There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Richard B Weiss

Secretary, Potomac Grange #1