December 13, 2014 – Plumsteadville Grange

• Christmas Celebration / Pot Luck Dinner
• Save the Date – SATURDAY evening -6:30 pm
• Visit from St. Nick – Gifts for the children
• Entertainment by our own Grange/4-H Players: “Dick Whittington & his Cat”
• No regular monthly meeting in December

January 14, 2015 – Plumsteadville Grange

• Monthly Meeting – 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall
• Program: New Year – New Ideas

Come prepared to discuss your ideas of what you would like your Grange to accomplish, service projects, fun things to do, partnerships with other service organizations, programs, etc.

From the Master’s Desk

Jane D. Birk, Master/President, Plumsteadville Grange #1738

It becomes my sad duty to report that Brother Harold Keeler long-time Plumsteadville Grange member passed away on November 21, 2014. He and his late wife Anna Mary were very active Plumsteadville Grange members until health problems made it impossible, and always enjoyed helping Grange dinners and other functions. We extend our sincere condolences to his family at this difficult time.

Discovery Projects International

Barbara Carlson, Founder

Discovery Service Projects is going to Costa Rica again and are taking Food Bags to be filled with rice, beans, dry milk, sugar, and cornmeal – enough to feed a family for a week. For $12 a bag, it is a good opportunity for us to help our needy neighbors. Alan Powell will collect the money and see that it gets to Costa Rica. (due by the end of January) If anyone would like to decorate their bags, they will be available at the Christmas Dinner. For more information visit www.discoveryserviceprojects.org or view brochure at PlumsteadvilleGrange.org

Your Ticket for the Christmas Party –
Lord’s Pantry Donations

We are asking each person attending the Christmas Party to bring a non-perishable food item for the Lord’s Pantry Food Bank. Help us reach our goal to collect 100 pounds of food for the needy. Monetary donations are also welcome.

From the Desk of Marguerite Quinn

State Representative, 143rd Legislative District

Stopping Predators in Schools

The General Assembly passed legislation to prevent school employees accused of child abuse, sexual or physical, from quietly resigning and acquiring employment at another school district in the state. This practice is has been dubbed “passing the trash.” Under Act 168, anyone who applies to work directly in or around schools must provide detailed background information from all previous employers, including contact information, to be considered for employment. In turn, previous employers must provide the inquiring school entity with all requested background information regarding a former employee, explicitly pertaining to abuse allegations. Further, the law requires explicit disclosure from the applicant during the initial application process. The applicant is now required to indicate whether or not they have ever been disciplined, discharged, non-renewed, asked to resign from employment or separated from employment while allegations of such abuse or sexual misconduct were pending or under investigation. The law applies to all public schools, private schools, nonpublic schools, intermediate units and area vocational-technical schools in the Commonwealth.

Member Profile: Ruth Peters

By Toni Kellers

I was asked to interview Ruth Peters for our newsletter. Ruth is one of the treasures of our Plumsteadville Grange. She faithfully attends every meeting and does more than her share of the work at Grange activities. When we met briefly at the grocery one day I asked if we could get together, maybe at the next meeting so I could interview her then. She agreed. But then she sent me a letter that is better than anything I could write, so with her permission, I will copy it here.

Sept 7, 2014 – My husband “Tex” Peters and I grew up on farms in Doylestown Township and met in a one room school in Castle Valley. We were married 60 years until he passed in 2010. We moved to Danboro in 1953. Our son Ross lives in the Poconos and a daughter Alice in Chalfont. One granddaughter and one great granddaughter.

We started our Wish-Wood Holstein herd in the 60’s with 4 calves plus 2 4H heifers in a chicken house. Our herd grew quickly and a barn and acreage became available in Doylestown Twp. With a herd of 50 milking and 50 young stock we shipped milk from 1968 to 1996. We showed cows at the Middle-town Grange Fair, Farm Show, and All American Shows. We sold breeding stock all over the world.

I am 87 the oldest of 7 (all still living). I have volunteered with all youth groups, cub scouts, brownie scouts, 4H, Gayman School library when Gayman opened in 1960. Active with Danboro Community Assn. I’m going slower but I still enjoy baking for the Fish Fry and the Plumstead Fire Co. Auxiliary. I love reading.

There is an addendum to her information. She reminded me at a meeting that she had worked as a dental assistant for 8 years until she had children, and worked for 32 years at the Danboro Post Office after the children were in school. And by the way, the home in Danboro and the dairy in Doylestown Township are not exactly next door to each other. She remarked that Tex spent more time with the cows than he did with her!

Our community has many wonderful residents like Ruth – and they have great stories to tell. We must get busy and get those stories into print.

PA Hunters Helping Put a Halt to Hunger

Secretary of Agriculture George Greig will kick off the 23rd Hunters Sharing the Harvest deer donation program with partners from across the state at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank on Tuesday. Greig encourages hunters to donate a deer or just part of a deer to help those in need.

Plumsteadville Grange Meeting Minutes

The minutes for the November 2014 meeting of the Plumsteadville Grange as recorded by Karen Moss, secretary, are included in their entirety. Plumstead-ville Grange #1738 met November 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm. Present: Men -5, Women – 9, Total – 14

OPENING: The Grange opening ceremony was led by President, Jane Birk, followed by the roll call of officers and committee members. Minutes of the previous meeting of October 2014 were mailed/emailed with the monthly newsletter.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Present were President Jane Birk, Overseer Donald Steeley, Lecturer Katie Graham, Assistant Steward Don Moss, Lady Assistant Darlene Quiring, Treasurer Jim Lomax, Secretary Karen Moss, Ceres Meg Lomax, Flora Lynda Kling, Musician Betty Diamond.

GUESTS: None Present

PROGRAM: There was no program this month. The time usually allotted was used to present various honors received at the State Grange meeting including: Katie Graham’s 6th Degree, Fourth place award and $25 check for our community service book (prepared by Jane Birk) and also prepared by Jane, the Bucks County Pomona book first place award and $60 check.

Katie Graham gave a report on her experience at the State Grange meetings as a first timer, and presented materials she had gathered on activities we could participate in during the coming year.

It was noted that our Ruth Steeley’s first attendance at State Grange was in 1943 where she also received her 6th degree.

Jane Birk also gave a report on this year’s State Grange meeting with emphasis on the talk given about finding and keeping new members.

PROPOSALS FOR MEMBERSHIP: None this month.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

Farm Market: Meg Lomax gave a year-end report on the Farm Market. In total we had 21 vendors and took in $894 from them in fees. $225 was spent on advertising, $210 on entertainment and $340 to pay the young people who set up, make coffee and help close the market. We received three large outdoor displays tables from Helen Whitmore which worked very well for the vendors and are light enough to be moved easily.

Building and Maintenance & Grounds: Don Moss has donated an eight foot ladder which he is keeping in the basement. It was needed to replace bulbs in the upstairs meeting room. The electrician has fixed the outside lights and the flag pole light. It was mentioned that we now need to do some repairs to the basement door.

Agriculture Committee: Don Steeley reported that the harvest is almost complete. Jim Diamond reported on the new state of the art bio secure pig barn being built at Del Valley College (soon to be University), with donations from Hatfield Meats. Hatfield will hire students who are trained there.

Quilting Group: This year’s quilt was presented to the winner and Grange member Lynda Kling. The quilt brought in over $800 in raffle ticket sales.

COMMUNICATIONS: We received a request from Danboro 4H’s leader, Linda Ochoco, for permission to put a “4H Meets Here” sign in front of the building.

Jane Birk received a letter from PA State Representative Margarite Quinn congratulating her on her new office as president.

We received a note from the Bucks County Horse Bowl team thanking us for our donation.

REPORTS TO POMONA AND STATE GRANGE: Reports for the quarter ending September 30, 2014 were mailed. We reported 111 members and paid $881 in dues to State Grange for that quarter.

TREASURER REPORTS: For the month ending October 31, 2014, Jim Lomax reported income of $869, expenses of $1,675. We also paid down the mortgage by $5,000.

OLD BUSINESS: A report was given by those who attended the dedication of the new Veterans Park (in front of Plumsteadville Christian School on Route 611, Plumsteadville).

NEW BUSINESS: Meg Lomax reported that the Christmas Party planning and play rehearsal is well under way. Betsy Wertz is painting scenery, our musician is arriving from France on the 20th. The cast includes children from 8 to 18 years of age and experienced members of the Grange.

We will be collecting food to be donated to the Ottsville Food Pantry at the Christmas Party, hopefully we will be able to give them 3 to 4 boxes of food.

Meg and friends will continue to visit those Grange members who can’t attend the Christmas Party and other Grange events. If anyone knows of members who need a visit, call Meg at 214-766-9801.

January’s meeting will be a brainstorming evening on our direction for the next two years.

Respectfully submitted, Karen Moss, Secretary.

Member Concerns / Celebrations

Please remember our shut-in members – they would appreciate a card or visit.

• Darwin Gruver, a long-time member, is a resident at Saucon Manor, 1050 Main Street Hellertown, PA 18055
• Margaret Moyer (daughter Kathy is a market vendor) 200 Veteran’s Lane, Apt.514, Doylestown, PA 18901
• Doris Hellerick is at the Lutheran Home at Telford, 12 Lutheran Drive, Telford, PA 18969
  

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Wishing EVERYONE a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY and Prosperous New Year .

Plumsteadville Grange Annual Christmas Dinner Saturday 13^th December at 6.30pm

• Pot luck dinner
  
• Visit from Santa Claus with Gifts for children
  
• Entertainment by our own Grange/4-H Players: “Dick Whittington & his Cat”
  
• Carol singing
  

Ham, rolls & drinks provided by the Grange- Last names A-L bring savory side dish, M-Z bring dessert

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Remember your non-perishable food items for the Lord’s Pantry!

Plan to attend the largest agricultural event in the US. Stop by the PA Grange booth and say “hello”