ROLL CALL

President Mark Gibbons called the meeting to order at 12:01 p.m. Participating were Vice-President Leroy Watson, Pomona and Board Member Cheri Watson, Treasurer Jessie Patrick, Secretary Ricard Weiss, Board Member Joan Smith and members Theressa Kenney and Dave Roberts.

President Gibbons open the meeting with a prayer and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEES

Legislative 

• No Report

TREASURER’S REPORT

Current Operating Fund balance at Truist Bank                                 $2,952.92

Current Kile Fund balance at PNC Bank                                           $72,628.90

A $60.00 dues payment has been received from Nona Bear.

OLD BUSINESS

Leaders’ Conference – Mark recently attended the Grange Northeast Leaders’ Conference for state Grange officers. He found the conference to be informative and helpful in planning the focus and direction of our Grange.  A good idea from the conference is the use of a “consent calendar” which groups together  non-controversial issues in one place on the meeting agenda to be voted upon as a whole with little or no discussion.

National Agriculture in the Classroom conference in Dallas, Texas -This conference was very helpful in that Mark learned some approaches to dealing with urban schools from the New York City contingent attending the conference. There will be a major meeting at the end of June at which National Grange presents an award.  The Grange Foundation will determine who will attend and for how long. While Mark feels attending would be helpful, there are constraints on his time. Joan Smith suggested he attend the Monday, June 26, meeting of the State Contacts as that is the State Contacts Annual Meeting to elect officers, approve proposed budget, organizational/bylaw changes.  The Grange Foundation will decide/find a Grangers who is attending the Conference to present the “Partnership in Ag Literacy” award on Thursday.

NEW BUSINESS

The IRS tax IDs for both Potomac Grange and the Kile Fund expired some time ago and need to be retrieved or replaced.  Joan Smith moved that we explore hiring outside council to help Leroy resolve this problem. Cheri Watson seconded the motion. The motion passed.

President Gibbons directed that Stephanie Wilkins, Jessie Patrick and Richard Weiss get Potomac Grange’s dues payment system into compliance with new National Grange guide lines.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

National Grange has thanked Potomac Grange for its financial support of the second class of the Shipmates program.  President Gibbons stated the Kile Fund can fund Shipmates for one more year and then the program should become self-sufficient.  He suggested participating states as sources of funding.

Joan Smith informed us that National will have a podcast on estate planning at 8:30 this evening.

There was no further business and President Gibbons adjourned the meeting at 12:36 p.m.

NEXT MEETING

Next meeting: May 8, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. via Zoom