President Mark Gibbons called the meeting to order at 12:06 p.m. EST.  Also participating were Vice-President Leroy Watson, Treasurer Jessie Patrick, Chaplin Stephanie Wilkins, Secretary Richard Weiss, Pomona/ Executive Committee Member Cheri Watson, Ceres Loretta Washington, and National Grange Legislative Assistant Sean O’Neil.

Chaplin Wilkins gave a prayer and led us in the Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.

 MINUTES

President Gibbons called for any additions or corrections to the March 9 m9nutes.. Hearing none, he called for a motion to approve. Cheri Watson  so moved. Lorretta Washington seconded. The motion passed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEES

Legislative 

• Sean recapped the April 26 Virtual Fly-In. It included presentations from Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Republican Congressman Glen Thompson of Pennsylvania and a USDA presentation.
• The Legislative Department is currently engaged with the upcoming Farm Bill, Broad Band rural roll-out and rural health issues, including mental health and access to care.
• Burton and Sean met with the Nurse Practitioners Associates to discuss the extent of care nurse practitioners are allowed to extend to rural patients.
• The National Grange has received a grant from the FCC to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a program which helps people afford broadband connections. The National Grange will use this money to promote ACP at local granges and grange events, such as the Big E in New England or the Center County Grange fair. The first event will be at Goodwill Grange in Virginia.
• National also received a grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to disseminate its comparative findings to help rural patients and caregivers make informed treatment decisions.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Operating Account balance in Truist Bank as of 5/9                          $2,815.51
An additional $233.52 will be added from the PayPal account.
The PNC Kile Fund account balance as of 5/9 is                               $81,706.11
This includes Dictionary Project payments.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

President Gibbons encouraged us to view Samantha Wilkins’   “Thank You” letter  and video for Potomac Grange’s financial support of three Grange Youths’ participation in the DC Experience.  CLICK HERE TO WATCH

There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 12:25.  

NEXT MEETING

Next Zoom meeting is June 14 at Noon.