July Agenda

​ 07/23/2023 Proposed July Meeting Agenda
 
OPENING/FLAG SALUTE
ROLL CALL
MINUTES
PROPOSALS FOR MEMBERSHIP
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
 
Hall Report –
 
Hall Projects (in priority order):
Front ramp needing paint again - complete
Repainting under eves of hall
Northeast side roof needs additional screws
Kitchen needs exhaust hood and fan
Kitchen and dining hall floors need refinished
Kitchen counters need refinished
 
Four party rentals on the books. Chaps, Gamers and Zumba still have long term contracts. 
 
AGRICULTURE – Bad news/Good News
Turkey’s currency has continued to devalue after upending hazelnut prices last year, which experts see as a disquieting though not necessarily disastrous omen for 2023’s harvest.
“We’ve hit rock bottom and we expect a two to three year dig-out of this hole to get back to profitable prices,” said Larry George, president of the George Packing Co., a major Oregon processor.
The lire’s value against the dollar and euro fell roughly 50% in the year preceding the 2022 hazelnut harvest, contributing to the plunge in Oregon’s initial prices to 40-53 cents per pound, from about 80-90 cents the previous  year.
JOHN DAY, Ore. — New Biochar producer.  Giant mounds of what appears to be black powdery charcoal or crushed pencil lead lie piled outside a towering industrial plant built in recent years on the Malheur Lumber property in John Day.
It is Biochar, an up and coming product.  Similar in appearance to charcoal used for cooking, but it can be added to soil to make it highly fertile for agricultural and gardening use, particularly in tropical areas with high rain fall. It can also be used as a carbon water filter to remove pollutants, such as chemicals and metals, from storm drains and old mines.
The new plant, which employs 18 people, started production of biochar made from wood waste  in April. It generated 100 tons of finished product in June and is expected to produce 500 tons this month. The hope is to ramp up production to about 10,000 tons per year and begin marketing the product to customers in 2024, Krumenauer said.
 
 
EDUCATION  - 
 
LEGISLATIVE -  The bill proposing ranked choice voting as an option in Oregon passed the Legislature and will be on the ballot in November.  If it passes in November, the state will use the system but my understanding is it is optional for local jurisdictions.
Our new Oregon Secretary of State is LaVonne Griffin-Valade,
Secretary Fagan’s resignation cast a dark shadow over the Secretary of State’s office. Oregonians rightly demanded quick action to rebuild trust in the many important programs housed in this agency. Ms Valade says she thinks you deserve to hear exactly how she plans to rebuild trust.  See bio at State of Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State - Meet the Secretary.  She has also stated she has no interest in running for the office at the end of her appointed term.  How do we attract a competent candidate that wants to actually do the job rather than as a stepping stone to governors office?  Annual salary of $77,000 plus $250/month for qualified expenses doesn’t seem likely to do the job.
COMMUNITY SERVICE –  Foster birthday parties – We reached out to the state organization.  They said “fantastic idea” and that they would get back to me.  Still no luck, will pursue when things slow down a bit.
 
COMMUNICATIONS –  Betty
 
TREASURERS REPORT  -
 
Bills –              Dan
                        Cleaning Supplies                    9.28
                        Door threshold                        120.00
                        Pizza for clean up day               29.96
                        Bolts for ramp                         17.40
                        Caulk for ramp                           9.18
                        Boards and paint for ramp     62.32
                        Paper Products                        92.30
                        Electrical straps for heat pump  2.97
                        Inspect/locate septic tank      320.00
                        Pump out tank            385.00
                        Website (no longer free)        144.00
                        Excavate septic tank               241.66
                        Pipe for lawn faucet                51.24
                        Fittings for lawn faucet           44.21
                        Heat pump conduit                 78.34
                        Heat pump conduit                   13.48
                        Drill for new grey water
                        Pipe holes in wall                    66.37
                        Pea gravel for septic tank       72.00
                        Gravel for repair of parking    38.00
                        Grey water pipe fittings          17.25
                        Pipe for new grey water         51.93
                        Toilet repair part                     19.99
                        Vacuum cleaner repair              7.98
 
Total                                                           $1894.86
 
Grey Water disposal Septic Tank project ($1095.47) was authorized by the Executive Committee as an emergency repair to avoid cancelling a rental.  Lawn water faucet ($95.45) took advantage of abandoned drain line to old septic tank to place pipe without digging a trench. Heat pump conduit ( $94.79) was not up to code and needed to be replaced before hiring an electrician to replace the electrical service. Door Threshold ($120) is rotted out and must be replaced.
 
TABLED BUSINESS - Bike rodeo idea

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 
PA system in dance hall  cost  - Scott tells me speaker rebuilding is now in progress.
2024 community dinner proposal – 150 year anniversary of Oregon State Grange is in September.   Should dinner we are planning be then, or maybe October 28 with Troys fair?
Rental waivers for October 28 and December 24
Grange hall electrical service.  Only one estimate so far, for $2100.
Pomona Grange cookie booth fund raiser needs some volunteers  yet.  Call Pamela Furlan 503-320-2245.
 
NEW BUSINESS:  
Quarterly report
 
State Fair Log Cabin in need of staff.  Call State Grange Office Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday 8-4:30 at 503-316-0106 to sign up.       
Grange display booth for county fair?
                                   
MEMBERS SICK OR IN DISTRESS:       
Ken Fessler wrote us a letter with a membership check, says doing OK now after some tribulations.  Will read at meeting
 
GOOD OF THE ORDER:  Don’t count the days, make the days count.  Muhammad Ali