December 19th, 202212/19/2022 Maplewood Grange #662 general meeting was called to order at 3:43 PM, by Master/President, Dan Keeley, on Sunday, December 18, 2022. Pledge of Allegiance - recited.
Visitation: (none) Guest: Sean Ferriss Members acting Pro-Temp: N/A ROLL CALL (Secretary): Dan Keeley, JoAnn Keeley, Roberta Elders, Vicki Pounds, Betty Chipps, Sandy Shew, Mindy Ferriss. (Members present: 7) PROPOSALS for MEMBERSHIP (Dan Keeley) The Welcome Ceremony for new member Troy Bayless (absent) was postponed. MINUTES (Secretary): There was no November meeting. JoAnn Keeley moved to approve the September 25th and October 30th Regular Meeting Minutes, Roberta Elders seconded, motion carried. COMMUNICATIONS (Secretary, Betty Chipps) – See last page COMMITTEE REPORTS HALL (Dan Keeley) – Two party rentals on the books, several cancellations. Chaps and Zumba still have long term contracts. Donation rental on Dec 9th went well. October 23, 2022, Pumpkin Party - Poor attendance as usual but valuable in other ways. Got rid of my pumpkins! HALL PROJECTS - in priority order (Dan Keeley): Camera system installation - will be in operation soon, our guest, Sean, is here to help. Rear water Faucet (in progress) Front ramp needing paint again - needs sanded, primed and paint applied. Some grading and additional gravel needed on parking areas. Repainting under eaves of hall – Contract project? Northeast side roof needs additional screws Kitchen needs exhaust hood and fan Kitchen and dining hall floors need refinished. AGRICULTURE (Dan Keeley) – No Report COMMUNITY SERVICE (JoAnn Keeley) – 75 pounds of clothing was collected for benefit to Portland Rescue Mission. JoAnn can still accept more donations if dropped at the hall. EDUCATION (Dan Keeley) – Jen Brallier is the only woman on her 14-person team of bricklayers. Brallier, 43, is an apprentice learning the ropes of bricklaying in Portland by working hands-on in the industry. She’s two months into a four-year apprenticeship program that will ultimately help her earn journey-level certification and upwards of $40 an hour doing brickwork on buildings. Apprenticeships are an in-demand option for job-seekers to make money while they earn the credentials they need to enter high-wage trades like construction. But in Oregon, the programs are dominated by white men. Women, including Brallier, make up only 9% of apprentices. The state has invested money to expand this pathway through the state’s Future Ready Oregon funding package, which includes $19 million to bolster apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Industry officials say programs need to focus on recruiting and supporting a more diverse pool of apprentices. Last year the state also enacted a plan for equal employment in apprenticeships that requires programs to try to diversify their ranks. This year, with recovery services due to wrap up by June 30, Murer said the district has shifted its focus to expanding efforts to link special education families with tutors, both online and in person, who can provide academic help before and after school, including contracting with community organizations that provide after-school care and via weekend programs. They’re also considering offering services during the last two weeks of June, she said. More EDUCATION (Dan Keeley) – Portion of Oregonian Interview with Tina Kotek: As governor, will you mandate any specific changes to how K-12 schools handle gender and sexual orientation issues, in lessons or protections for LGBTQ students? Will you set any statewide policy on how educators address racism, for example through rules on anti-bias training or what elements of U.S. history educators are allowed to teach? Kotek: “As governor and the superintendent of public instruction, my No. 1 goal will be to make sure every single child in Oregon has an opportunity to thrive at school and into adulthood. “Oregon already has plans in place to specifically support LGBTQ+ kids, who are at significantly higher risk for bullying and harassment, chronic absenteeism, and suicidal ideation, as well as statewide plans to address the historic and persistent opportunity gaps for Black, Indigenous and students of color. “As governor, I will strongly support the protections and plans already in place and speak out when extremists try to divide us and hurt children.” Oregonian article reporting on college education in Oregon: Oregon has made progress toward reaching a state goal that 80% of young people attain some kind of postsecondary credential, according to a new report from the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission. But a pandemic setback in college-going and college-completion rates could hamper that progress if they continue long-term. Despite overall gains, detailed data through 2021 shows that progress varied across racial and ethnic groups, and that some disparities have actually grown wider over time. Gaps in earnings after college, for example, have widened between some demographic groups in the last several years. “That’s an important finding,” Amy Cox, research and data director for the commission, said about earnings data at a commission meeting Thursday. “What it says is that the benefits of postsecondary education and training continued to not be evenly or equitably experienced across all groups.” Cox’s report to the commission covered several measures the state agency tracks across the K-12 and higher education spectrum, including the college-going rate, postsecondary completion rate and post-college earnings. The measures are an indication of the state’s progress toward its so-called 40-40-20 goal for 40% of students to attain a bachelor’s degree or higher, 40% to obtain a college certificate or associate degree and 20% to obtain at least a high school diploma. After several years of somewhat stagnant outcomes, the 2021 data show a slight improvement in bachelor’s degree attainment. Some 38% of 25- to 34 -year-olds in Oregon had earned a bachelor’s degree in 2021, Cox’s data showed, compared to 36% the year before. “I think there is some good news in the story here,” Cox said. MEMBERSHIP REPORT (Betty Chipps) – No Report LEGISLATIVE (Dan Keeley) – The Issue: With the midterm elections having been completed, Congress returns to Washington for a final month of legislative action before the conclusion of this term. Must-pass legislation including government funding and the National Defense Authorization Act are dominating the congressional agenda and headlines, but many other important pieces of legislation must be acted on before the end of the year or else fizzle without passing this term. Some pieces of legislation of interest to the National Grange which still require Congressional action include the Growing Climate Solutions Act, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, the Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act, multiple bills dealing with issues in cattle markets, bills to do with Medicare coverage of vaccines and cancer screening and promotion of telehealth. If you want to get involved and work to pass these important bills before they expire, one useful action you can take is to reach out to your member of Congress (if you are not sure who that is, use this website: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative). Sandy Shew asked about Measure 114 (gun bill) status? Dan Keeley advised the bill to address Second Amendment gun rights and was still in court. POMONA REPORT (Dan Keeley) – Maplewood hosts POMONA meeting February 25. Here is the Zoom link for National Grange staff member Amanda’s “Membership Matters” for December 13 at 5:30. An open session geared toward answering any questions and sharing what works. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89212525472?pwd=UU1VMGk0RGYwVU5QdmxidHlQOTJaQT09 SECRETARY REPORT (Betty Chipps) – no report. TREASURER’S REPORT (Vicki Pounds): The DECEMBER Treasurer’s Report (emailed 12/15/22) had an opening balance of $9,811.65 on October 28 and on December18 reflected an ending balance of $10,916.61. Dan asked for questions/comments regarding the report? Hearing none, the report was ‘filed for Audit.’ Vicki noted Wilco filled the Diesel tank with oil (Info: tank holds 250 gallons and backs up the heat pump), . YOUTH REPORT (Mindy Ferriss) – no report. TABLED BUSINESS – Bike rodeo idea – scouts troop not available. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (Dan Keeley) – Operation of Video System - Sean is here to lend a helping hand on installation. NEW BUSINESS
Paper Products $ 49.75 Misc. supplies 9.00 Furnace filter 6.59 (Filter 2” thick versus 1”) Furnace repair misc. 29.77 (to reseal Filter) Camera System material: 21.12 Key 1.99 Toilet _ 24.00 Keeley Total: $142.22 Reimbursement to Vicki Pounds: Postage (book of 20) $ 23.20 Reimbursement to Roberta Elders: Napkins $3.98 + Creamer $4.99 8.97 Yuban Coffee – Winco 6.98 Roberta Total: $ 15.95 JoAnn Keeley moved to pay the bills, Betty Chipps seconded, motion carries, VSO.
HEIRLOOM PROGRAM – WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE BROAD PRINCIPLE THAT DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IS NO CRIME, AND HOLD THAT “PROGRESS TOWARD TRUTH IS MADE BY DIFFERENCES OF OPINION,” WHILE “THE FAULT LIES IN BITTERNESS OF CONTROVERSY.”: IT IS IN THE HOME THAT WE ENJOY THE FRUITS OF OUR LABORS IN THE FIELDS OF THE FARM AND THE FIELDS OF LIFE. MEMBERS SICK or IN DISTRESS (Dan Keeley) – None reported. GOOD OF THE ORDER (Dan Keeley) “Education should not be intended to make people comfortable, it is meant to make them think.” (University of Chicago President, Hanna Holborn Gray) NEXT Meeting: January 22, 2023 at 3:30 PM CLOSED: Meeting was adjourned, by Dan Keeley, at 4:27 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Betty Chipps Secretary Comments are closed.
AuthorBetty Chipps, Secretary. Edited by Dan Keeley Categories |
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