TREASURER’S REPORT

4/12 Operating Fund balance at Truist Bank                              $3,272.93

4/12 Kile Fund balance at PNC Bank                                        $71,674.41

A March deposit of $3,391.00 was made to the Kile Fund account,

March checks on the Kile Fund were:

• DC Experience participants travel expenses
• DC Experience trolley tour
• Joan’s DC Experience expenses
• Grange Youth scholars’ travel expenses.
• Bonding
• Zoom operating system renewal

Jessie showed a review of Kile Fund spending for the last four years.  She feels there are ample funds to cover similar future commitments.

2023 GRANGE GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM SCHOLARSHIPS

The National Grange Junior and Youth departments have requested two $400.00 Grassroots Activism scholarships from Potomac Grange. The funds would go towards Washington DC Experience travel expenses. While there was consensus to grant the scholarships, there is concern over the youth programs’ dependence on and expectation of Potomac Grange financial support, especially after the 2021 Grange convention delegates’ dismissal of Potomac’s resolution asking for a one-dollar dues increase to help finance Youth and Junior programs.

After discussion, we decided to have youths receiving our financial support submit written reports or in person via our Zoom meetings.

UNFINISHED/OLD BUSINESS

World Food Forum – Dick Weiss is on the Forum’s mailing list. An upcoming forum will promote “healthy eating” to reduce air pollution by lessening animal farming.  Weiss stated that this may be contrary to Grange position on animal farming. Accordingly, he recommended we not get involved with this organization at this time. He will get input from Burton Eller.

NEW BUSINESS

Dictionary Distribution to DC Schools – In the Fall Potomac Grange will deliver free dictionaries to DC 3^rd graders. We soon need a quantity estimate so Joan can order in time for Fall delivery.

Telethon – Saturday, July 9^th is the telethon to raise money for the Youth and Junior programs. At our next meeting, we must decide Potomac’s contribution amount.

NAITC Annual Conference – Ag in The Classroom will hold its annual conference in Saratoga, NY June 26 to July1. Joan estimates the cost for her to attend would be $2,255. Alternatives would be to participate via Zoom if available or have a representative from a New York or Maine Grange present our annual award. Joan will investigate these alternatives.

OTHER

Jessie expressed concern about the lack of participation in our Zoom meetings and feels Grange staff should participate more often.

There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

Richard Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1

TREASURER’S REPORT

Balance as of 3/9/2022 of Kile Fund at PNC Bank                $70,035.46

Current balance of Operating Fund at Truist Bank                  $3,389.93.

The PayPal balance was $138.96. These funds will be transferred to the Operating account.

Bonding insurance coverage for 2022 was discussed. A motion was made by Jessie and seconded by Mark to purchase bonding coverage. An amendment to set the coverage amount to $100K was made by Jessie and seconded by Mark. The motion passed. Checks are due by March 31st. Amanda reminded the group that bonding coverage for 2023 will be due at the end of December 2022.

UNFINISHED/OLD BUSINESS

Washington DC Experience – Joan Smith will be conducting 4 workshops during the event, including a lunch and learning opportunity with a lesson on agriculture related to pizza ingredients, one on wheat, a workshop on fiber (wool with a bracelet) and a fiber activity on cotton. Jefferson Grange will provide up to $100 worth of supplies including beverages. Funds will still be needed for ingredients. Mark Gibbons made a motion to support supply costs for the Ag in the Classroom workshops and Jessie Patrick seconded. Motion passed to reimburse up to $200 from the Kile Fund.

Sale of Grange Building – the building sale was discussed. The sale is not on the open market yet. Current offers include dates to vacate the building in August or November. Joan has been cleaning and organizing at the building. Scanning of historical records is also underway.

Presidents’ Conference – Joan reported the event was well attended and a great time was had. The tour was informative and centered on Saunders. There was an hour-long session on the IRS and taxes. Discussed was the need to have the order of business for all meetings feature Grange ritual, regalia and follow the official order of the meeting. Also discussed were the differences between 501c-3, -5, -8, and -10 statuses involving options like labor, horticulture, fraternal, lodge system.

Potomac Grange tax documents/ Form 990 has not been filed since 2012 although Bank of America files documents with the IRS for the Kile Fund. Leroy is working to determine with legal guidance what our next steps are.

NAITC Leaders’ Conference – March 28-30, Kansas City, MO – Joan to attend at the WDC Contact with reimbursement of expenses up to $500 for travel, meals, lodging.

NEW BUSINESS

• The Grange Foundation TELETHON sponsorship was briefly discussed, related to whether or not past programs supported by Potomac Grange throughout the All members were asked to provide a testimony of Grange memories, provide a personal donation/sponsorship.
• Discussion was held on financial support and desire to plan ahead and determine where we should expect funding requests from or what annual appeals are received. Jessie will review expenditures from the Kile Fund and put together a plan for supporting future projects. April was identified as an ideal month to field funding requests as it would be prior to when the Youth and Junior programs publish their annual programs and contests, including sponsorships.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

• Amanda will present a lesson from the Heirloom Program. “History proves that where agriculture has been fostered, that nation has prospered and reached a high degree of perfection, but where it has been neglected, degeneracy began” A discussion was held about the merits of this statement.

There was no further business. 

Jessie Patrick, Treasurer
Potomac Grange #1

TREASURER’S REPORT

Current balance of Operating Fund at Trust Bank                             $3,435.43

This total reflects an additional dues deposit of $30.00 in the last month. Despite direct outreach by Joan Smith and a general 2022 dues request mailing by Dick Weiss in early January, no additional dues have come in. Leroy recommended that we let potential renewals know they can participate in Potomac meetings virtually.  This may appeal to those who cannot attend live meetings at noon.

Current balance of Kile Fund at PNC Bank                                       $70, 441.16

OLD BUSINESS

• World Food Forum- Dick Weiss will monitor the organization through its mailing list.
• IRS Tax Status- The circumstances leading to a Washington State Grange’s loss of tax-free status will be on the Presidents Meeting agenda for discussion as to how they may relate to Potomac and other Granges.

NEW BUSINESS

• Joan will attend the Presidents Conference February 17-20 in Myrtle Beach, SC.
• Burton Eller will be tracking and working on the Postal Services Reform Bill which just passed the House on a bipartisan vote. He will push for it in the Senate.
• A Words for Thirds dictionary distribution is planned for April, Grange Month. Twenty-four dictionaries cost $99.00. Amanda suggested we consider a distribution at the start of school in the Fall.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

• Welcome to our new member Rev. David Moshier.
• Amanda will present Lesson A1of the new five-year Heirloom Program. It will be about overcoming difficulties.

There were no members in distress. Leroy recommended that we include upcoming events at the end of future agendas. 

There was no further business. The meeting adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

Richard B. Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1

TREASURER’S REPORT

Current balance of Operating Fund at Trust Bank                             $3,405.43
Current balance of Kile Fund at PNC Bank                                       $70,843.16
Deposits to Kile Fund this quarter                                                      $1,610.00 & $3,135,75

OLD BUSINESS

• World Food Forum – Dick Weiss has been studying the sponsor organization Global Youth. He has not been able to clarify the organization’s position on issues such as GMOs and recommends he just continues to monitor through their mailing list.
• Grange Month – It was decided not to set an April date for a tenants’ breakfast given the uptick in Corona virus and the building’s sale status. Leroy reiterated that as Potomac Grange we should not communicate information on the building’s sale status. It was noted, the purpose is to publicize the Grange. Betsy will be invited to attend and answer any questions that arise.
• IRS Status – Leroy continues to work on this with outside council and will keep us up to date.
• Roster/Member Update – Joan is working with Dick, Jessie and Stephanie on updating Potomac’s roster of officers as well as our membership list. Activities Director position is still open, and several candidates are being considered. Mark has been appointed Chaplain.
• WDC Experience Review – We have been informed that in addition to the $1,600.00 Potomac Grange volunteered to pay for the Educational Trolley Ride at this event, an additional commitment has been made to pay for two $800.00 scholarships. A check of past meeting minutes shows no such commitment. Given that the scholarship commitment had been published in material about the WDC Experience, a multi-amended motion passed to cover the scholarships with the caveat that this is a one-time payment for 2022 only.

NEW BUSINESS

• PA Farm Show – Joan passed on volunteering to work in the milk shake booth due to the recent spike in Covid.
• Presidents Conference – Joan will attend February 17-20 in Myrtle Beach, SC.
• Ag In The Classroom Conference – None of us has volunteered to attend this March event in Chicago due to Covid. Jessie, who attended in the past, said it is a worthwhile event and will hopefully include virtual participation. Joan will attend either in person or virtual.
• Words for Thirds – We will distribute dictionaries to DC schools’ third graders during April Grange Month.

There was no further business, no Good of the Order issues, no members sick or in distress and so the meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m

Richard B. Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1

TREASURER’S REPORT

Operating fund current balance at Trust Bank                                   $3,405.43
Kile Fund current balance at PNC Band                                            $68,766.40
Latest receipt from the trust                                                               $1,610.00    
Pending payment to Jefferson Grange for Special Olympics             $100.00

OLD BUSINESS

• Our resolutions adding a Youth to the Executive Committee and adding $1.00 to dues to fund Youth and Juniors’ Activities were defeated in committee. The Membership Director will develop a plan for the proposed expansion of Junior membership to 0 to 4 years old.
• World Food Forum-Weiss reported that the Chicago World Food Forum next June is the Wall Street Journal forum, not the Global Youth Forum. He will pursue the possibility of a Grange member participating in the WSJ program and assess the value of joining the Global Youth organization.
• Grange Month tenants’ event-We decided to wait on setting a date and format for the tenants’ event until more is known about the building sale.
• The 501c3 status of both Potomac Grange #1 and the Kile Fund has expired. Potomac Grange received a notice from the DC government stating that we a delinquent filing our Sales and Use Tax” report for some years. Jessie said we can just file stating “no taxable income.” Meanwhile Leroy is looking into options of putting both entities under one 501c3 and reincorporating outside DC.

NEW BUSINESS

• Presidents Conference-Weiss moved we allot approximately $500.00 from the Kile Fund to cover travel, food, and lodging expenses for this February 17-20 Myrtle Beach event.
• Mid-Atlantic Leaders’ Conference will combine with the Southern States conference and move to June. National Grange staff will participate in each region.
• AITC-Jane has obtained names of DC teachers and will contact them directly regarding Ag In The Classroom programs. She may need approximately $1,000.00 from the Kile Fund for AITC materials.
• Words for Thirds-Potomac Grange will distribute twenty-four dictionaries to students in two NE and SE DC schools. Estimated cost for twenty-four dictionaries is $96.00.  This is not the total donation to the program.
• Joan, Stephanie Wilkins, and Dick Weiss will update the Potomac Grange roster and membership list for submittal to the National Grange.

There were no items for the Good of the Order and no members sick or in distress. The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m

Richard B. Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1

TREASURER’S REPORT

Current Operating Fund at Truist Bank $3,453.43
Current Kile Fund at PNC Bank $67,260.40
Recent Deposit $3,135.75
Recent check for Joan’s Survival expenses $599.43
Pending payment $100.00

OLD BUSINESS

• Joan called for a decision whether to resubmit two Potomac Grange resolutions that did not pass at last year’s annual meeting. One called for adding a Youth member to the Executive committee and the other to implement a $1.00 addition to member dues to fund Youth activities. Cheri Watson agreed to resubmit provided there is no change in the wording. There is no change. There was consensus to resubmit.
• Kile Fund 2020 annual report: The fund received $2,958 a quarter plus an extra $6,000 payment in November for total 2020 receipt to $17,832.

NEW BUSINESS

• World Food Forum. It was suggested that Potomac consider supporting a National Grange youth’s participation in next year’s World Food Forum. Sheri opined that if we do so that person would need to follow up their participation with presentations to at least national and regional meetings communicating what they learned and how it benefits the Grange. (In a subsequent conference call Betsy, Joan and Dick decided Dick will find out more about the World Food Forum and subsequently recommend how to proceed.)
• Amanda recommended that Potomac submit to the Annual Convention a resolution adding 0to4 year olds to the count of Family memberships. We will vote by email.

OTHER

• No meeting in November.
• We will plan to resume our tenants’ party in April 2022 with our April meeting to follow the party.

There was no further business and Joan adjourned the meeting at 12:50 p.m.

Richard B. Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1

The June 9, 2021, minutes were approved as read.

TREASURER’S REPORT

No Report.

OLD BUSINESS

NAITC Conference

Amanda presented Potomac Grange’s annual Teacher of the Year” award to Serita Blankenship from Kansas at this conference in Des Moines, Iowa. Amanda noted that many of the attendees were not ag teachers but simply teachers looking for interesting material for their classrooms.  Conference topics included virtual farm tours.

Membership and Dues

Secretary Weiss has sent out dues notices to members in arrears.  For those behind just a year or two, the notices asked for past dues.  Some plain renewal requests also went out.  We will see results in the next Treasurer’s report.

Kile Fund IRS Status

No update at this time.

Grange Revival

To date, 142 Grangers have signed up to participate.  This is double last year’s total participation.  The week’s schedule is rather open as people may want to do their own thing after a year of being couped up. On Friday of the week, there will be a trip to Mount Rushmore. Grangers who are veterans will be stand among other veterans being honored during the traditional lighting ceremony.  An unrestricted $500.00 grant from the Colorado State Grange will likely help cover food costs.

Telethon Results

The Telethon raised $23,470.00 for the National Grange Junior and Youth programs.

National Session

Due to lack of a quorum, votes on two resolutions and Potomac Grange’s delegate to the Session will carry over to the September 8^th meeting.  Secretary Weiss commented on our need to increase meeting participation.

There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at approximately 12:45 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Richard B. Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1

President Joan Smith called the Zoom meeting to order at 12:08 p.m. ET. Also participating were Overseer Leroy Watson, Executive Committee member Cheri Watson, Treasurer Jessie Cope and Secretary Richard Weiss.

The May 12, 2021, Meeting Minutes were approved as read.

TREASURER’S REPORT

This is only $2.00 lower than last month and represents a monthly fee.  Jessie does have outstanding checks that will be reflected in next month’s statement.

OLD BUSINESS

Kile Fund and the IRS

Leroy is still dealing with paperwork.

Grange Revival

To date there are 121 participants. Joan will need to purchase enough additional daubers and bingo cards to cover an estimated 20 games played over 7 days.
Richard Weiss moved, and Leroy Watson seconded that $200.00 be spent from the Operating Fund to purchase twenty Amazon $10.00 gift cards for game winners. Because the meeting lacked a quorum, this vote will be turned over to the Potomac Grange #1 Executive Committee.

Harry Massey Contribution to Grange Foundation

This $1,000.00 contribution in Harry’s name is on of the Kile pending payments. Leroy reports that Harry’s family is very appreciative.

PG#1 Membership and Dues

In reviewing his records, Weiss determined he had not kept members up to date on their dues. A document sent to Joan, Jessie and Stephanie revealed that. After some discussion, it was decided that Weiss will contact arrears members individually and ask them to pay past years as well as current and future years.

NEW BUSINESS

There were no “Good of the Order” issues nor members sick or in distress and the meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.

Next meeting July 14 at noon. No meeting in August. September meeting the 8^th at noon.

Respectfully Submitted,

Richard B. Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1