January 16, 2018 Meeting Minutes

President Joan Smith called the meeting to order via telephone from the National Grange building in Washington, DC at 12:05 p.m. EST. Others on the line from the Grange Building were Lady Assistant Stewart Jessie Cope, Flora Stephanie Wilkins and National Grange Sales, Benefits and Program Director Loretta Washington. On the line from New Hampshire were Overseer Leroy Watson and Executive Committee member Sheri Watson and from DC, Secretary Richard Weiss.

The October 17, 2017 minutes were approved as read by Secretary Richard Weiss. It was also pointed out that at our December 12, 2017 holiday gathering, we voted to send one representative to the April 16 to 18, 2018 National Ag in the Classroom meeting in Chicago.

TREASURER’S REPORT

As of December 30, 2017:
Kile Fund balance – $46,803.07
Operating fund balance- $823.00

OLD BUSINESS

  • Cost to ship the National Ag in the Classroom display from the National Convention site in Portland, Oregon to the University of Utah by UPS was $67.55. Jessie Cope moved and Stephanie Wilkins seconded that the bill be paid from the Kile Fund. Motion passed.
  • President Joan Smith has received a copy of the National Grange’s promissory note to Grange Advocacy for the loan toward replacement of the Grange Building cooler. Joan will edit it to reflect Potomac Grange’s $25,000.00 loan for the same purpose. She will be the signer and the loan will then be processed from the Kile Fund.
  • The Potomac Grange E-membership resolution was approved at the 2017 National Convention in Portland, Oregon and will be represented at the 2018 convention in Stowe, Vermont. (See October 17, 2017 minutes for resolution details.)
  • Potomac Grange #1 will be recognized by the National Grange for its $500.00 “Friends” membership to the 150th Anniversary Gala. Thanks to Jessie Cope, Potomac also provided close to $700.00 worth of items for the silent auction.

NEW BUSINESS

  • The National Grange, through the Grange Foundation, will present a $3,500.00 National Ag in the Classroom Advocacy Award to the person or persons best promoting agriculture during 2017. It will be presented at the National Ag in the Classroom June 2018 convention in the state of Maine. There was consensus that Joan be our representative at the convention and that rather than splitting her expenses with the Grange Foundation, Potomac Grange cover all her expenses from the Kile Fund. Leroy Watson so moved and Jessie Cope seconded. The motion passed. Because USDA covers most of the hotel and meal expenses and Joan plans to drive to Maine, expenses should only be between $500 and $800.
  • It was moved seconded and passed to pay the 2018 $300.00 National Ag in the Classroom annual dues from the Kile Fund.
  • Amanda Brozana-Rios and Joan Smith are preparing Potomac Grange’s WDC annual report to the National Ag in the Classroom headquarters in Tampa, Florida. Our report will be compiled with those of other states and presented to the USDA.
  • Jessie Cope moved and Leroy Watson seconded that Potomac Grange send Joan Smith to the National Grange Masters Conference in Clackamas, Oregon March 2 to 4, 2018. Estimated cost is $950.00 to be paid out of the Kile Fund. By attending she will also be able to participate in the Grange Foundation Board meeting of which she is a member.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

Amanda Brozana-Rios is home ill.  She managed to get The Patrons Chain out before succumbing, and the 180 page “Good Day”.

There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m. EST.

The next meeting will be February 20th at noon.

The annual “good weather” holiday party will be March 20, the first day of Spring.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Richard B Weiss

Secretary, Potomac Grange #1