February Minutes

The Maplewood Grange #662 opened Sunday on 02/25/18 with potluck at 3:30pm.  Master (Pro-Tem),
Don Sether, called the meeting to order at 4:40pm with the "Opening of the Grange" ritual.   

• Gavel information (for new officers):  1 rap = opened, 2 raps = Officers rise, 3 raps = all rise

 
Members acting Pro-Tem:  Master, Don Sether; Overseer, Vicki Pounds; Steward, Don Sether; Assistant Steward, Felipe Gonzalez
 
The following Guest(s) present:  (none)         Visitation:  (none)     
 
Roll Call (Secretary):  ”*” indicates NOT in attendance.      ** Absentee Members                                                 Master:      Dan Keeley *                                             Steward:    Felipe Gonzalez
Overseer:  Don Sether                                                Asst. Steward:   Mike Ellis  *                                       Lecturer:   Sandy Shew              *                                            Lady Asst. Steward:  Katie Gonzalez
Chaplain:   Kathie Femrite                                          Gatekeeper:  JoAnn Keeley *
Secretary:  Betty Chipps                                             Pomona:  Sandy Shew * 
Treasurer:  Vicki Pounds                                           Ceres:      Judi Aus   *                         
Member:  Laura Ellis *                                                            Flora:       (vacant)
Member:  John Keeley  *                                             Executive Committee
Members:  Jack and Priscilla Weaver  (Canby )          **        #1  Felipe Gonzalez
Member:  Joyce           (Olivier) Urnaut  (Sandy) **              #2  JoAnn Keeley *
Member:  Jo Ann Lee  (OR City) **                             #3  Sandy Shew *
Member:  Adin Hester (California)  **                                               
Member:  Stacie Bernert  (OR City)  **                                  
                                                                                                ***** Roll call has been taken =============================================================================
***** Members present:  6,   Guests:  0,   Youth:  0                       *****  (Mandatory – Quorum  “7”)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
PROPOSALS for MEMBERSHIP:    (none)
 
MINUTES  (Secretary):  01/28/18 Minutes - not available...Highlights read
 
 
COMMUNICATIONS  (Secretary)
 
Clackamas Pomona #1  - 02/24/18 POMONA "5th Degree Ceremony" hosted at Maplewood Grange

1. Suzy Ramm, OSG Editor:  Clackamas/Pomona FACEBOOK Flyer...web-page is "ACTIVE"

 
Oregon State Grange (OSG):    FEB/MAR 2018 Bulletin - mailed directly to membership.

• Correspondence from Susan Noah, OSG Master

            1.  2018 OSG - Grange "101" Conferences :  will discuss Grange aspects all members should be aware of.
 
Don Sether - Grange-Up 2017 update:  800 members were gained in 2017.
(INFO:  Don has been a Grange State Officer for 22 years)

SECRETARY Report:   No (additional) report



TREASURER Report  (Vicki Pounds): 
- Members present at the January 2018 meeting elected "Active Members" would pay their own 2018 Dues.
- Checking account beginning balance:  $9,053.38, ending balance:  $8,814.01


OLD BUSINESS  (Betty Chipps)
 
Grange-Up 2018:  Idea presented at January 28th meeting: 

• INVITE:  Veterans in the community to Maplewood Grange  i.e. Aurora VFW & Canby VFW

-  Share 3:30 potluck and share stories/"happenings."
 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS  (Don Sether)

1.  Building Siding:  Betty to email Dan Keeley and confirm OSG Matching Grant application for Siding and  Insulation has been mailed (deadline:  May EOM?).
2.  Ballroom:  Floor oil application is a warmer/summer weather project.  
3.  Roof Repair - (replacing short screws with longer ones) project still pending.


COMMITTEE REPORTS

AGRICULTURE  (Dan Keeley - absent):  Don Sether reported:

• Christmas Tree lots were out-of-business in 2016, in 2017 sales were up:  1-1/2 times greater than 2016.
• Filbert price may drop to under $1 for "merchandisable nuts."

 
COMMUNITY SERVICE (JoAnn Keeley - absent):  Betty Chipps reported it's not too late to donate to the Blanket and Clothing Drive.
 
EDUCATION  (Dan Keeley- absent):  Don Sether reported the Future Farmers of America (FFA) started in the Grange - though under a different name.
Grange Worker's Activities (GWA):  (vacant)

HALL - Rentals (Dan Keeley - absent):   see "New Business"
LEGISLATIVE  (Dan Keeley- absent):  Don Sether reported the Legislative Session is meeting in Salem.  They are strategizing ways to bring in more income:  i.e. increasing gas tax and vehicle registration fees.

LECTURER (Sandy Shew - absent ):  Felipe and Katie Gonzalez enjoyed the interactive Plant Display (from a couple meetings ago).  Both JoAnn Keeley and Felipe are interested in Gardening.

MEMBERSHIP (Betty Chipps):   On February 11th, Betty attended Clarkes Grange Breakfast and the " Membership Recruiting/Team-Building" seminar, taught by Ed Luttrell.  Highlights included:
- The "comfort-zone" of your Grange should be "welcoming."
- Let the memberships' positive spirits "build a fire."  Find a way to let them run with their ideas.
- INVITE (outsiders), ASK "what are their interests, and LISTEN (find commonness in what they say).
VETERANS (Sandy Shew-absent):  Betty Chipps indicated at the Astoria State Meeting  a "free" tour to Veterans of the Air Museum (US Coast Guard) is offered on June 23rd (leaving Clatsop County Fairgrounds) at 12:30pm.  Contact the Veterans Committee - James Clute in advance for reservations.
YOUTH (Betty Chipps):  No report
 
NEW BUSINESS
Treasurer - Bills/Receipts:  none submitted


HALL - Rental:
1.  Betty Chipps presented Dan Keeley's email of February 12th: 
Claudia Zamora, Maplewood renter, will hold a Zumba class two days/week.  She has only 4-5 students enrolled, so far - which is a slow start.  Dan would like to offer Claudia the first month of classes at no-charge (aids in getting started), then charge $150/beginning the 2nd month - working into higher rent if she is successful. 
Claudia has also expressed interest in being a member.

Vicki Pounds broke down the proposal:  2-days/week = minimum hall use of 8 days/month, and compared the proposed $150 rental to Chaps and Petticoats Square Dancers monthly rent of $120 for the hall used 2-days/month ... equates to quite a break in daily use costs.   After further discussion, we encouraged the contract reference an agreed-upon increase beginning 3rd month.
Betty Chipps moved to offer Claudia Zamora, Zumba Instructor, one-month rent-free, $150/2nd month rent and contract review upon 3rd month - Don Sether seconded, motion carried, voting sign-of-the order.
 
 
GOOD to the ORDER:  (none)



Next Meeting:  (tentatively SUNDAY, 3/25/17- 3:30pm Potluck, 4:30pm Meeting)
 
Meeting Adjourned:  With "Closing of the Grange" ritual at 5:15pm.


                                                                                    Respectfully Submitted,


                                                                                   
                                                                                    Betty Chipps
                                                                                    Secretary
 
 
 
P.S.  The March 25, 2017, Meeting was cancelled.
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