March Agenda

​03/23/2025 Proposed March Meeting Agenda
 
OPENING/FLAG SALUTE
ROLL CALL
MINUTES
DRAPING OF THE CHARTER
 
PROPOSALS FOR MEMBERSHIP  -  Introduce Bernard Wehage
 
WELCOME CEREMONY
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
 
Hall Report – Hall Projects (in priority order):
 
Yard light
Lighting in storage area behind stage 
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 under eves of hall
Kitchen and dining hall floors need refinished – grant application submitted
 
7 party rentals scheduled with a couple others expressing interest. Chaps and Zumba still have long term contracts.  
 
EDUCATION  -
 
Trump administration issues executive order attempting to abolish federal Education Department.  Departments main functions have included research into effective education strategies and grants, particularly benefitting disabled and ESL speakers.  Also administering student aid programs such as Pell grants and administering the FASFA application.
 
LEGISLATIVE –  
 
A selected bill out of the 2000 or so being proposed.  SB 678 with amendments aims to eliminate building code provisions requiring fire resistive construction in areas of high wild fire risk ( think Santiam canyon).  It aims to do this in part by banning wild fire risk maps developed by the state.  The maps have been controversial, in part due to false claims that insurance companies use them to raise rates.  Insurance companies have their own maps and of course have been taking huge losses due to the wildfires in the recent past, which has in fact caused massive rate increases.  In some states (California for one) it has also caused insurance companies to withdraw from the market all together.  See bill on OLIS at:   https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB678
 
AGRICULTURE
 
Federal Department of Agriculture has lost many employees to the current federal budget chaos.  Several local research projects benefitting various crops (blue berries, hazelnuts, wheat and etc.) have been shuttered and will be difficult and expensive to restart, if the current administration even wants to continue them.  Crop insurance and food stamps may also be on the chopping block.  Ag groups are also concerned about retaliatory tariffs in our foreign markets and loss of long time employees to deportation.  On the other hand, labor and environmental regulations are being deleted, making farm administration easier, assuming court rulings don’t reverse the process.
 
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE – JoAnn
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE – JoAnn
 
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
 
COMMUNICATIONS –  Betty
 
TREASURERS REPORT  -
 
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
 
UNFINSHED BUSINESS: 
 
Buffet counter – formica w/ edges  $1,500, new paint maybe $100
 
Basement floor  grind and paint      Grant application was timely submitted.
 
Cookie Exchange April 12 from 1-3.  Need flyers hung and posted.  Already advertised on next door, Oregon State Grange calendar, Maplewood website and facebook page and my personal facebook page.
 
Grange apparel – T shirts will be available at state convention.  Designs will be presented when available.  6 maplewood members have requested button up shirts or jackets per our last meeting.  I am planning to order them shortly.  Anyone else wanting one please check with Dan after the meeting.
 
Taco themed dinner? 
 
NEW BUSINESS:  
 
Insurance policy – almost $4,000!
 
Meal at State Convention on June 24.  Need a few volunteers to help with prep and serving.
 
Resolutions?  Any burning issues we want to address?
 
MEMBERS SICK OR IN DISTRESS: 
 
GOOD OF THE ORDER:   
 
No matter what ideology you turn to, no matter how utopian it is, it does not solve the problem of hypocrites, frauds and charlatans.  Tony Tulathimutte, American writer.