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

President Joan Smith called the virtual meeting to order at 12:04 ET.  Also participating were Steward Amanda Brozana Rios, Treasurer Jessie Cope, Board member Cheri Watson, Secretary Richard Weiss, members Samantha Wilkins, Mark Gibbons, and Kennedy Gwin, and joining later Overseer Leroy Watson.

The March 10, 2021 meeting minutes were approved as read.

TREASURER’S REPORT

 
All Kile Fund checks have cleared. Last deposit was $3,135.75 on 3/26. Net income for the Mid-Atlantic Leaders Conference was $615.78. Total expenses were $1,850.73 with the remainder covered by the Kile Fund.

OLD BUSINESS

 
Kile Fund IRS Status-Leroy Watson: Leroy is getting paperwork together before hiring outside help which he feels will be necessary.
 
NEW BUSINESS

 
Joan will attend virtually for a $50.00 registration fee. Amanda will be traveling close to Des Moines on National Grange business and can hop into the conference to make our annual teacher award. Ag in the Classroom wants a $435.00 conference registration fee for her to do so. Joan has never paid a registration fee to attend the conference because we are a $3,700.00 a year sponsor. It was decided to have Joan deal with NAITC staff regarding the registration fee. Jessie then moved to support Amanda’s cost to make the presentation at no more than $600.00. After some clarification of Potomac’s potential costs, Jessie amended her motion to reduce the coverage to $50.00 for meals and essentials. Weiss seconded and the motion passed. Cheri suggested Joan also question her $50.00 fee.
 
Grange Foundation TELETHON-Saturday, June 5-12noon to 8:00pm:
 
The Telethon goal is to raise $50,000 for the National Grange Junior and Youth function which is approximately $20,000 short of covering its expenses due to lack of member contributions. Telethon contribution levels with corresponding recognition go as high as $25,000. Leroy advised that the Agate level of $5,000 would conform with Kile Fund guidelines. Amanda moved and Jessie seconded that Potomac make a $5,000 contribution to the Junior and Youth foundation. The motion passed.
 
Leroy moved that Potomac also make a $1,000 contribution from the Kile Fund to the National Grange Endowment fund in memory of former member Harry Massey. Amanda seconded and the motion passed. Amanda also suggested that Potomac consider sponsoring two pages in Good Day magazine.
 
Youth:
 
Rachael recently achieved her career best in the long jump and hurdles. In the Fall she will attend Hofstra University in Hempstead New York.
 
There were no “Good of the Order” issues and no members sick or in distress.
 
The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:16 p.m. Next meeting is June 9 at 12noon.
 
Respectfully Submitted,

Richard B. Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1

President Joan Smith called the Zoom meeting to order at 12:10 p.m. ET.  Also participating were Overseer Leroy Watson, Executive Committee member Cheri Watson, Treasurer Jessica Cope, Secretary Richard Weiss, Steward Amanda Brozana Rios and member Mark Gibbons.

TREASURER’S REPORT

BB&T Operating Account: 2,584.83

There are two membership payments pending. Also, Mid-Atlantic Leaders Conference registration payments will be transferred from the $617.69 PayPal account to the Operating Account from which Conference expenses will be paid.

Kile Fund: $65,821.83

It appears that Potomac Grange and possibly the Kile Fund have lost 501(c)3 tax exemption status for failing to submit annual filings to the IRS and the DC Government.  There is some confusion as to whether there are two separate EIN accounts or only one covering both entities.

Rectifying the situation may involve outside legal and financial assistance at some cost.  Leroy will oversee the effort.  He made it clear that any costs related to the Kile Fund can legally be paid out of the fund.

Jessie Cope moved to seek professional guidance regarding our tax status and pay and reasonable and customary fees for such assistance from the Kile Fund.  Leroy Watson seconded the motion and the motion passed.

OLD BUSINESS

The virtual Mid-Atlantic Leaders’ Conference takes place March 19 and 20. Sixty-four people have registered so far. Jessie has distributed 51 boxes with bingo cards and daubers, craft materials, community service project items, snacks and a recipe. National Grange Lecturer Chris Hamp may pre-record her presentation because she is administering COVID-19 vaccination shots in upper Washington State.

The 2021 Grange Revival is scheduled for July 20 -25 at the Days End Campground in Sturgis, South Dakota.  Amanda reports that folks are still planning to participate.  Potomac Grange has been asked to again sponsor the Olympics event.  Joan pointed out that this event requires a lot of equipment that must be shipped ahead of time.  She suggested we volunteer to sponsor Bingo Night(s).  Amanda could lug that equipment in her car.

Ag in the Classroom-Joan: In January we filed our annual report to National Agriculture in the Classroom.  Our annual dues to NAITC of $300 was paid and the fee to maintain our DC Website was paid by Jessie.

NEW BUSINESS

Virtual Ag Day Event sponsored by USDA has invited Grangers to participate on March 22.

National Grange Virtual Fly-in is scheduled for April 7.  As there will be no travel involved, Potomac Grange has not been asked for financial support.

National Grange Youth Fund is approximately $3,000.00 short in covering their expenses due to low participation of donations in the Grange Foundation. The program is appealing for support.  There was discussion about contributing to the Youth Foundation from the Kile Fund. While no final decision was made, Jessie recommended that any contribution be direct toward something specific, not just flat-out.

National Grange Month is April.  Due to remaining Covid risks and restrictions, it was decided not to have our annual tenant breakfast.

The Ag in the Classroom Website-Potomac Grange has recently paid for our DC Ag- in-the- Classroom Website.  We can post our materials at no further cost and recently posted and article on farm workers. The site is maintained by the University of Utah.

Membership-There appears to be several prospective new members.  Weiss will send a 2021 dues notice to Kennedy Gwin.

There were no “Good of the Order” issues and there were no members sick or in distress.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Richard B. Weiss, Secretary
Potomac Grange #1