April Meeting Minutes

The Maplewood Grange #662 general April Meeting was called to order on April 27, 2025 downstairs at 3:35pm by Master/President, Dan Keeley.
 
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
 
ROLL CALL  (Secretary):  Members present:  5                     (Mandatory – Quorum  “7”)
Dan Keeley, JoAnn Keeley, Roberta Elders, Vicki Pounds and Betty Chipps. 
.
Visitation:  none                 Guest(s):  none  :                            Members acting Pro-Temp: 
 
PROPOSALS for MEMBERSHIP  (Dan Keeley) – Dan reported that Christine Grimm elected to drop her membership.
 
WELCOME CEREMONY (Dan Keeley) – none
 
MINUTES  (Secretary, Betty Chipps): 
March 23, 2025 Grange Meeting Minutes were emailed to members on Sunday, April  27. 


SECRETARY’S REPORT  (Betty Chipps): 


The 2025 1st Quarter (dues) Report ended MARCH 31, 2025 reflects a total payable, due OSG, of $237.50 (change in premium from 18 members 2024-Q4 to 19 members in 2025-Q1; represents member deletion of Sheri Chandra and adds 2 new members Christine Grimm and Sharon Boucher).   NOTE: Christine Grimm later withdrew -Loss will be reflected  in Q2 Report..


The Q1-2025 Quarterly (Dues) Report - status below: 
NOTE:  Eff. 1/1/24, individual Membership Dues increased from $45 to $50 annually, Grange remits quarterly to OSG an amount of $12.50/per member.

• Dues for 19 total members equates to $237.50, payable to OSG

• Two (2) Regular meetings were held in the 1st Quarter 2025
  (Membership attendance, each meeting:  JAN - canc’d, FEB 16 = 9, MARCH 23 = 8).

• Date Report approved:  04/27/2025
• Has your Grange performed an Audit for the year 2024?   YES
• Will your Grange have Representation at the State Session in Corbett this year?  YES
  
  

Maplewood subordinate Grange Q1-2025 report to be signed by Secretary and Master, Dan Keeley and disbursed to OSG, no later than April 30, 2025. 
 
COMMUNICATIONS  (Betty Chipps, Secretary)  –  see last page
 
POMONA  MEETING  (Dan Keeley)  – Convention is the big subject.  Planning in high gear now.  I have agreed that Maplewood will assist serving dinner on Tuesday June 24 at Corbett Elementary School..  Betty and Roberta are helping,  One more volunteer would be good for backup.  I have also agreed to provide dessert for that dinner - I am thinking of strawberry shortcake.  Would anyone like to assist with that?
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 so could use a bit of help there as well.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
HALL REPORT  (Dan Keeley) – 6 party rentals scheduled. Zero calls lately.  Chaps and Zumba still have long term contracts.  The wet spots on the benches upstairs (discovered at C&P 4/18 dance were clean spots where Dan removed glue.


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.


HALL PROJECTS - in priority order  (Dan Keeley)
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 eaves of hall
Kitchen and dining hall floors need refinished – grant application submitted


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.
 
AGRICULTURE  (Dan Keeley) – 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.
For more than a century county level extension agents have supported farmers, ranchers and communities in general across America.  Those agents and programs are funded by federal, state, county and private groups combining forces to foster practical research and bring the benefits of the latest knowledge and practices to the people that raise our food and fiber, educate our children and take care of our families.  This creates much of the prosperity we have enjoyed over the last century.  That prosperity and the system that helped create it is now in danger.  Federal budgets are now being cut and programs discarded without regard for the long term consequences.  Please write your representatives.  Wheat or soybean subsidies we could afford to lose, we can’t afford to lose our land grant universities and the extension system they operate.
COMMUNITY SERVICE (JoAnn Keeley):  IOOF Cemetery cleanup day will be May 15th.
Grange clothing was delivered to POMONA meeting on  4/26.
Dan Keeley received a thank you letter, from Jenny Gengry, North Carolina State Grange, for our donation to the Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund.
Project Sustenance - National Grange established to help the community address food security.
Maplewood Grange has an interest in supporting the ‘Buddy Bags’ project benefiting community.
Backpack Buddies (a/k/a:  Buddy Bags):  North Marion School and Christ Lutheran Church (CLC in Aurora) put together 73 backpacks equipped with foods that youth can fix at home on weekends  Milk is something we can help provide to the community, in the summer, with our donation (cost is $.88/sml.carton x 73 backpacks = $64 x 6 wks = $384).

Vicki moved to donate $384 to the Buddy Bag project, JoAnn seconded (with phone call to Sandy Shew, Exec. Committee voted), motion passed.
 
Love Inc. (in the name of Christ) is the center of distribution (for North Marion, Newberg and Canby areas) and responds to community needs  (For donation details, see March Minutes.)

Bring your item(s)  for donation to the Portland Rescue Mission (PRM) to May Grange meeting.
 
EDUCATION (Dan Keeley) – 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 over the last thirty years or so, 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 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  (Dan Keeley) – 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 (i.e. hardy planks) 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
MEMBERSHIP (Betty Chipps) – Dues, reminders sent, also check from S. Bernert was received, (provide to Treasurer). Checks can be mailed to Vicki Pounds, PO Box 61, Canby, OR   97013
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE  (JoAnn Keeley) – Two Agriculture/Forestry applications were turned in (two other applicants wanted Fire Protection at Chemeketa).  North Marion recipient, Rylie Patzer (female) was chosen and a $2,000 award suggested (as last year had no applicant(s) - thus no distributions) - funds are distributed to the College attended.
 
TREASURER’S REPORT  (Vicki Pounds)
The Treasurer’s Report for the February 16, 2025 Maplewood Grange meeting was emailed 2/13/2025.   The opening balance, as of 12/20/2024 was $15,819.48 and the ending balance on February 13, 2025 was $17,000.10  
The Treasurer’s Report for the March 23, 2025 Maplewood Grange meeting was emailed 3/22/25, reflected an opening balance as of February 14 of $17.300.10  (Jovita’s Nov. sec. refund Ck#2423 of $200, the bank would not cash, Dan reimbursed the woman with cash 12/19; another $100 difference occurred between periods) the ending balance on March 22 was $17,926.74.  
The Treasurer’s Report for the April 27, 2025 Maplewood Grange meeting was emailed April 24, reflected an opening balance of $17,926.84 (PGE auto disbursement reconciled at $186.10 instead of $186.20) and the ending balance on April 24 was $17,280.33.
 
UNFINISHED BUSINESS  (Dan Keeley)
 
Basement floor:  grind and paint.  $5,000 GRANT was received.

Cookie Exchange - Several members brought extra cookies or didn’t take any home which generated several dozen left over cookies.  Veterans 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 – was distributed today.  Shipping wasn’t that bad so we could order again if needed.
 
Taco themed dinner?  Tabled - pending more members need be present to decide.
 
NEW BUSINESS   (Dan Keeley):  Dan spoke with Don Sether who advised, expense reimbursements are permitted and use of Exec. Comm. for urgent decisions.
 

1. BILLS presented to Treasurer – Reimbursement to Dan Keeley:  

March Bills                                                                April Bills
Timer for rear fan (Stage area)      27.98              Bathroom supplies      7.99
Parts for rear fan (Stage area)         3.99              3 Light Bulbs              40.72
Parts for rear fan (Stage area)         9.69              Trash bags                    9.99
            Toilet paper                                      62.87              Lunch for work day      8.99  not reim’d
2 Rolls Painters Tape (for signs)   16.98              Grange apparel        158.70
                                                TOTAL:       $121.51                                    TOTAL:         $226.39  =$347.90
As it  is OK to approve reimbursements (w/o quorum):
            Betty moved to pay-the-bills to Dan, Roberta seconded, motion passed.
 

1. Meal at Oregon State Convention on June 24: Betty and Roberta have volunteered.
   Could use a couple more volunteers to help with food prep and serving at Corbett Elementary School on Tuesday, June 24, likely Noon - 2:00 pm.
   Maplewood providing Strawberry Shortcake.  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 - can anyone help with this? 

 

1. 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:  none reported
 
GOOD OF THE ORDER:  We may encounter many defeats, but we must never be defeated.  (Maya Angelou, Poet)
 
HEIRLOOM PROGRAM   (picture:  A female medical tech.bends knees and comforts a young girl, to eye level, by holding a hand)
OF ALL THE SWEETENERS OF HUMAN TOIL, OF ALL THE MOTIVE POWERS THAT GIVE ALACRITY TO THE HAND OR FOOT,  READINESS TO THE WILL, AND INTELLIGENCE TO THE MIND AND PURPOSE, THE QUICKEST AND MOST ENDURING IN RESULTS IS THE KIND WORD SPOKEN IN SEASON. (Installation of Vice Pres., SpringYear  D.2)



NEXT MEETING:  4th Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 3:30 pm at Maplewood Grange.
 
MEETING ADJOURNED at 5:23 pm.
 
                                                            Respectfully submitted,     
 
Betty Chipps, Secretary
 
 
 
Secretary COMMUNICATION   (Betty Chipps)                    APRIL 27, 2025  Maplewood Gr. Mtg 
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