April 26th, 2025

 
 04/27/2025 Proposed April Meeting Agenda
 
OPENING/FLAG SALUTE
ROLL CALL
MINUTES
DRAPING OF THE CHARTER
PROPOSALS FOR MEMBERSHIP 
WELCOME CEREMONY
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
 
Hall Report – Hall Projects (in priority order):
Yard light
Lighting in storage area behind stage - done
Couple of dining room benches getting wobbly
Remove old meter base and patch roof
Insulate crawl space under bathrooms (1/2 done)
Northeast side roof needs additional screws
Kitchen counters need refinished
Kitchen needs exhaust hood and fan
Repainting needed under eves of hall
Kitchen and dining hall floors need refinished – grant application submitted
 
No other insurance companies I contacted were willing to insure Maplewood.  One said yes and then withdrew their offer.  We (executive committee) increased deductible to $5000 which dropped the cost to $3,250/year.
 
7 party rentals scheduled.  Zero calls lately.  Chaps and Zumba still have long term contracts.
 
The exhaust fan switch next to the stage light switches has been replaced with a timer switch.  The fan is above the stage in the attic inside a duct.  It has old school babbit bearings and needs oiling periodically.  I am putting the oiling on my list of things to do quarterly.  It went a long time without oil and got hot when left on after a party last month.
 
EDUCATION  -
Two current issues threatening education.

1.  Current federal administration has been attacking universities, particularly private ones, attempting to destroy their finances by reneging on research contracts and attempting to cancel their tax exempt status.  Claim is the universities are guilty of reverse discrimination and anti semitism, among other sins.  While so called diversity programs have in fact admitted some students from some minority groups over similarly or more academically qualified students, it is also true that said minority groups were severely disadvantaged for several hundred years and recovery takes time.  Those reverse discrimination policies do have to end sometime, the question is whether now is that time.  A good discussion to have.  The anti semitism arguments, however, seem to me to be purely political.  Protesting racial policies in Israel is not the same as discriminating against people of the Jewish faith.  In any case universities have been and continue to be America’s golden goose, precisely because they attract the best minds from overseas, are free to discuss unpopular ideas and innovate in areas not economically feasible for the private sector.  Killing the golden goose is a very bad idea.
2. Vouchers for primary and secondary education is the second big issue.  This is different than private universities because the schools are supported by taxpayers and there is a constitutional requirement to provide free public education available to all students.  Efforts to simply provide a set amount of money to parents of all eligible students ducks the government responsibility to provide quality education to all students.  How are students without well-off parents supposed to compete for the best private schools?  And who will care if the vouchers are not big enough to cover costs at the those schools?  Some argue that public schools are failing.  In some cases they are correct.  The solution is to improve public education.  That is hard, but possible.  One tool that has fallen out of favor is the charter school.  Some of the advantages of private schools without sacrificing the advantages of public schools.  Long term results (over a couple decades) have shown them to have much better results than going private with vouchers.

 
 
LEGISLATIVE –  
SB 678 with amendments has passed the Oregon Senate and is now up for debate in the House.  As discussed last month, it aims to eliminate building code provisions requiring fire resistive construction, in part by banning wild fire risk maps developed by the state.  Saner politicians tell me that wildfire risk maps are now so politically toxic that the bill will pass easily.  Supporters say the carrots (aka subsidies) for fire resistive building in the bill will be more effective than the building code requirements would have been.  Also more expensive.  See bill on OLIS at:   https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB678
 
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is a prime target for retaliatory tariffs by countries that buy our ag products.  If no “deals” are reached soon major agricultural markets will be lost, maybe for a very long time.  Trump administration says not to worry, subsidies will be increased to keep farmers afloat.  That may be true (although expensive ) for big crops (corn, soy beans, wheat, beef and etc.) but will likely not be available for minor crops like hazelnuts.  There is also concern that Department of Agriculture no longer has the personnel to effectively administer a new or expanded program.
 
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE – JoAnn
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE – JoAnn
 
COMMUNICATIONS –  Betty
 
TREASURERS REPORT  -

March Bills –  Dan
Timer for rear fan       27.98
Parts for rear fan          3.99
Parts for rear fan          9.69
Toilet paper                 62.87
Tape for signs              16.98
                                  121.51
April Bills – Dan
Bathroom supplies         7.99
3 Light Bulbs                  40.72
Trash bags                      9.99
Lunch for work day         8.99
Grange apparel           158.70
Total                            226.39

 
UNFINSHED BUSINESS: 
 
Basement floor  grind and paint   - Grant application was timely submitted, waiting for results.
 
Cookie Exchange -  Several members brought extra cookies or didn’t take any home which generated several dozen left over cookies.  Veteran’s village says thanks.  The concept worked  and didn’t cost the grange much, but only members attended, so no impact on the surrounding community.  Should we try again before Christmas?  Maybe as part of a game night or Bingo event?
 
Grange apparel – Some shirts available for distribution.  Shipping wasn’t that bad so we could order again if needed.
 
Taco themed dinner? 
 
NEW BUSINESS:  
 
Meal at State Convention on June 24.  Could use a couple more volunteers to help with prep and serving.  Also, Willamette Hazelnut has donated a box of nuts to use in the “goodie bags” and salad bar.  Nuts will need to be roasted and packaged a few days before the convention.
 
Two Zumba women have been leaving their cars in the parking lot during the week.  They run a cleaning business and have committed to cleaning the benches downstairs.  I will try to schedule that before next meeting.
 
MEMBERS SICK OR IN DISTRESS: 
 
GOOD OF THE ORDER:   
 
We may encounter many defeats, but we must never be defeated.  Maya Angelou, Poet
 
HEIRLOOM PROGRAM:  
 
 

NEXT MEETING
CLOSING
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