President Joan Smith called the Zoom meeting together at 12:05 p.m. Participating were Board Chairperson Cheri Watson, Treasurer Jessie Patrick, Secretary Richard Weiss, Community Service Director Loretta Washington, Chaplin Mark Gibbons, Steward Amanda Brozana Rios, Flora Stephanie Wilkins and Legislative Director Burton Eller.
TREASURER’S REPORT
As of this date the Operating Fund balance at Truist Bank is $3,075.53
$196.38 in dues dollars will move from Pay-Pal to the Operating account.
As of this date the Kile Fund balance at PNC Bank is $71,727.06
The $2,500 check supporting the Junior and Youth programs has been sent to National.
Jessie Patrick moved $50.00 be paid from the Operating Fund for two $25.00 Amazon gift cards as Telethon prizes. Mark Gibbons seconded, and the motion passed.
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
IRS/DC Tax Project – Leroy Watson-Nothing to report at this time.
Legislative – Burton Eller
The Invest in American Railroads Act will apply new infrastructure dollars to upgrade U.S. railroads and making them safer and more environmentally efficient. National’s efforts aim at assuring railroads, which are vital to agriculture, get their fair share of infrastructure dollars.
Reconciliation package – There are several components including Medicare authority to negotiate drug prices, changes in the tax code and more. What passes and how implemented can impact agriculture positively or negatively.
Clean Water for Rural America Act – This act will give technical assistance grants to rural municipalities for maintenance or improvement of their water systems.
Continued efforts and broad band implementation and early look at 2023 Farm Bill
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
| President – Mark Gibbons Vice-President – Leroy Watson Lady Assistant Steward – Loretta Washington Chaplin – Stephanie Wilkins |
Treasurer – Jessie Patrick Secretary – Richard Weiss Flora – Stephanie Wilkins Executive Committee Chair – Cheri Watson. |
No candidates for the remaining offices received majority votes and there will be a revote for those positions
UNFINISHED/OLD BUSINESS
World Food Forum – Dick Weiss will review podcasts of meetings on food consumption and disposal and other food processing and distribution topics and give updates.
Grange Building Sale – The sale has fallen through. The building is back on the market. Potomac’s materials have been reviewed and boxed up but not yet scanned.
NAITC Conference – Our Partnership in Agricultural Literacy Award for 2022 went to New Mexico agriculture education instructor Shae Davis and her Valencia FFA chapter
NEW BUSINESS
Dictionary Distribution to DC Schools – Still targeted for the fall. Details to be worked out.
Telethon – The July 9 event was a success raising $23,000 for the National Grange Junior and Youth programs.
Potomac Material – The Potomac Grange material that is worth saving from the National Grange basement has been reviewed and boxed up. The issue now is where to put it before the building sells and how to get it scanned.
Anacostia Museum Project – At a recent visit to the DC’s Anacostia Museum Amanda Brozana viewed an exhibit depicting how food gets to the plates of Anacostia residents. While aimed at this notable DC neighborhood, several of the display pieces depicting food distribution from farm to table, food waste and other related subjects are generic enough to have impact anywhere. When this exhibit ends September 17, some pieces will be discarded. Amanda’s idea is to take them and arrange them into a shippable size exhibit that can be sent to Lecturers for use with their Granges and communities. She encouraged us to see the exhibit and discuss the idea in our September meeting.
Wonderama – This is an upcoming information booth event in Times Square. We decided to table this until there is more information.
OTHER BUSINESS
We need to estimate the cost of sending a representative to the National Convention. National no longer covers travel costs.
There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 12:13 p.m. The next Zoom meeting will be August 10 at noon. Resolutions can be considered at this meeting
Respectfully Submitted,
Richard Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1