February Minutes2/23/2025 The Maplewood Grange #662 general January/February Meeting was called to order on February 16, 2025 at 2:02pm (with upstairs stations) by Master/President, Dan Keeley with the “Opening of the Grange” ritual.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. ROLL CALL (Secretary): Members present: 9 (Mandatory – Quorum “7”) Dan Keeley, JoAnn Keeley, Roberta Elders, Vicki Pounds, Betty Chipps, Mindy Ferris, Troy Bayless, Christine Grimm and Sharon Boucher.. Visitation: none Guest(s): none : Members acting Pro-Temp: Overseer, JoAnn Keeley and Gatekeeper, Dan Keeley PROPOSALS for MEMBERSHIP (Dan Keeley) – Christine Grimm and Sharon Boucher were accepted as new members at our December 22, 2024 meeting. WELCOME CEREMONY (Dan Keeley) – All members gathered in a circle at the Altar and Master Dan Keeley gave the welcoming: “It is indeed a pleasure to welcome our new members: Christine Grimm and Sharon Boucher to the Maplewood Grange. Each received a membership packet. MINUTES (Secretary, Betty Chipps): January 26, 2025 Grange Meeting was CANCELLED as date conflicts with Oregon Square Dance Festival occurring that same weekend and our greater membership belongs to both. The December 22, 2024 Grange Meeting Minutes were emailed to members on 2/08/24. Troy Bayless moved to accept the December 22, 2024 Minutes as presented, JoAnn Keeley seconded. Master Dan Keeley asked if there was discussion, hearing none, motion carried VSO (Voting Sign of the Order). SECRETARY’S REPORT (Betty Chipps): none COMMUNICATIONS (Betty Chipps, Secretary) Provided to Master Dan Keeley: February 2025 correspondence from District 4 requests: Fill out the enclosed questionnaire, and return by February 26, 2025 Also noted: The April issue of the OSG Bulletin will feature a picture (provided) and a paragraph about each Grange in the District. 2025 Oregon State Grange Convention: June 20-26, 2025 at Corbett E.S., hosted by District #4. COMMITTEE REPORTS HALL REPORT (Dan Keeley) – 5 party rentals scheduled with a couple others expressing interest. Chaps and Zumba still have long term contracts. Vicki noted she has money on 4 party rentals - Dan advised the 5th party has money pending. HALL PROJECTS - in priority order (Dan Keeley) 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 Repainting under eaves of hall Kitchen counters need refinished - not formica Kitchen needs exhaust hood and fan Kitchen and dining hall floors need refinished AGRICULTURE (Dan Keeley) – none AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT (Betty Chipps, Mindy Ferriss and Dan Keeley) On February 11, 2025 the Audit met at Maplewood Grange to review the Columbia Bank Account from December 31, 2023 through December 31, 2024. We noted no Audit was conducted since 12/31/22, thus the 2023 year was ‘unaudited’. Master, Dan Keeley conducted a thorough review of Rental Contracts signed compared to Book rental deposits, security deposits, refunded sec.deposits and retained funds. Differences noted were in format or unidentified details - to be discussed with Treasurer. Mindy Ferris and Betty Chipps performed the monthly review of Bank transactions compared to Book Transaction journal. Each month, GL Book agreed to Bank after outstanding transactions were reconciled. Monthly, bank support detail was provided (accompanied Bank Stmts) and reviewed to answer questions. End of year Book $16,461.51 agreed to Bank Statement (12/31/2024) after outstanding items were deducted, however one check #2405 is not believed to be outstanding - to be discussed with Treasurer. Vicki Pounds, Treasurer, provided three (3) different transaction journals for the Audit:
Vicki asked if the additional Transaction journal #2 and #3 were useful? YES, very time saving! COMMUNITY SERVICE (JoAnn Keeley) National Grange Project Sustenance addresses food security and promotes personal sustainability (across rural and small-town America) by empowering grange members to contribute toward community goals to achieve resilience. Troy asked if there was any interest in food-connection drives or assisting those of low income? Troy offered the following information:
EDUCATION (Dan Keeley) U.S. House fails to reauthorize 20-year-old bipartisan bill to fund rural schools, communities Schools in 30 of Oregon’s 36 counties — and schools in other Western states — will receive less federal funding in 2025 after the U.S. House of Representatives failed to reauthorize a 24-year-old bill that typically pays up to $80 million a year for schools and roads in Oregon along with wildfire prevention and conservation work. Read more LEGISLATIVE (Dan Keeley) SB 747, put forward by a Senator Khanh Pham (D- SE Portland), would require every landowner in the state with more than 200 acres of irrigated agricultural land to register and annually report fertilizer use, with a goal of having the Oregon Department of Agriculture “identify persons who are overapplying fertilizer” and impose civil penalties for violations. Farm groups are opposing. MEMBERSHIP (Dan Keeley) – current $50/person dues paid annually may be increasing to $60.Memberships at the OSG Convention, June 20-26, 2025 hosted in Corbett. POMONA GRANGE (Dan Keeley) – District #4, which Maplewood is a part of, has asked for help in preparing and serving meals at the OSG Convention in June. Maplewood has volunteered to serve on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at Corbett Elementary School. SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE (JoAnn Keeley) – JoAnn will collect Grange Scholarships at Canby and North Marion schools after April 15th. Initially the Grange Scholarship gave preference to students pursuing Agricultural or Forestry education. Students are tested i.e. FAFSA, etc and one’s abilities (natural talents) are counseled. JoAnn discovered schools direct Scholarships to the Counselors or College career centers and thus Granges can donate to specific preferences or projects in school i.e. in-school nutrition, education or gardens, as well. Grange scholarships in Clackamas County are listed on Pomona website : https://www.grange.org/clackamasor1/home/scholarships-in-clackamas-county/ 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 Report will be ‘filed for Audit.’ UNFINISHED BUSINESS (Dan Keeley) 1. Review project estimates for dining hall floor and counters - Buffet Counter (formica with edges) $ 1,500 - Basement floor, grind and paint $10,000 Troy wondered why this project would get priority over the Kitchen hood / fan project which has importance for canning, grilling and commercial use? Dan has spent some time pursuing the hood/fan project by trying to obtain a commercial fan (i.e. via retired Restaurants) and did purchase a fan from a salvaged grange (Russellville Grange, Aug.2024), though it is not commercial size. The Grant has a due date of March, and another can be applied for in September. Thus the needed Kitchen floor materials are readily available for the March Grant, the floor dips and unevenness presents a liability risk of falling and the dirty look of the floor is unsightly to renters. OSG Matching Grant Application, due to OSG by March 1, 2025, was completed by Master, Dan Keeley, and provides the details for the above estimates. After discussion, the details were approved: Mindy moved to apply to OSG for Matching Grant Funds, Roberta seconded, motion carried VSO. . 2. Cookie Exchange Idea (for Easter or next Christmas)? Dan relayed the process to bring a dozen (or so) cookies and trade for same quantity, different cookies. Can package cookies in a zip-lock bag for Easter Baskets. Christine Grimm urged ‘no’ to Christmas exchange - too many activities around Christmas. Some recipe options could include: non-dairy, non-gluten (consider Almond flour), no sugar. real sugar, use of monk-fruit. Troy moved to plan the Cookie Exchange on Saturday, April 12th at 1:00pm, JoAnn seconded, no further discussion, motion carries VSO; Silverton advertised their cookie exchange on Grange website(s) and Facebook. Dan will arrange advertising on Grange websites and Facebook and possibly pursue Next Door. 3. Grange apparel – Shirts will be available at the State Grange Convention. Jackets not. Shirts $40, three season jackets $120, fleece $25 on sale; can be monogrammed too. Grange is offering to buy apparel for its membership (easy way to incite Grange conversation). Betty moved for the Grange to purchase shirts and/or fleece jackets, Troy seconded, none opposed, motion carries VSO. 4. Taco themed dinner? Fundraiser for? Troy moved to proceed with Taco dinner ideas (aim 1 year), Betty seconded, motion carried VSO. 5. Grange was inspected by our insurance company. Results not yet known. NEW BUSINESS (Dan Keeley)
Food (at Audit Comm. meeting) 14.98 TOTAL: $ 38.96 Mindy Ferris moved to pay-the-bills, Troy Bayless seconded, no discussion, motion carries VSO.
The process for Resolutions to reach Legislation is:
LE #___ Legislation Committee Resolution resolved: The Oregon State Grange will lobby the Legislature and ODOT to require that truck loads of friable materials such as straw, hay and paper be covered to prevent said material from settling on the road surface. Troy Bayliss suggests amending to include a fire hazard clause. Christine Grimm suggests a proposed hurdle for offenders. Dan suggests such a legislative clause would be too detailed and could halt the passing of the Resolution. Troy moved to add a fire hazard clause, Mindy seconded, motion carried VSO. Membership in favor of forwarding to Clackamas Pomona Grange, motion passed. MEMBERS SICK OR IN DISTRESS: none reported GOOD OF THE ORDER: In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. (Martin Luther King, Jr.) HEIRLOOM PROGRAM Hope is the heavenly light that gilds our labors. Were we deprived of that source of consolation, our life would indeed be dreary. (Fourth Degree, POMONA) NEXT MEETING: 4th Sunday, March 23, 2026 at 3:30 pm at Maplewood Grange. MEETING ADJOURNED at 3:27 pm, at stations, with the ‘Closing of the Grange’ ritual. Respectfully submitted, Betty Chipps, Secretary AuthorBetty Chipps, Secretary. Edited by Dan Keeley Categories |
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