May Minutes

05/24/2026  May Meeting MiNUTES
 
The Maplewood Grange #662 May general meeting was called to order on May 24, 2026,  downstairs at approx.3:35pm by Master/President, Dan Keeley with the Opening of the Grange’s reading.
 
ROLL CALL:            Members present: __7__ (Mandatory – Quorum “7”)
Dan Keeley, JoAnn Keeley, Vicki Pounds, Roberta Elders, Sandy Shew,Tiffany Pounds and Betty Chipps
 
MINUTES:  The April 26, 2026 Minutes were emailed to members on May 19th.  Appreciation was expressed to JoAnn Keeley (Secretary pro tem) for preparing the minutes.  Dan Keeley asked for comments, hearing none, Vicki Pounds moved to approve the April Minutes, JoAnn seconded, motion carried.
 
Visitation: none                   Guest(s): none :
Members acting Pro-Tem: Overseer:  Betty Chipps; Chaplain:  JoAnn Keeley; Gatekeeper:  Sandy Shew.
PROPOSALS for MEMBERSHIP:   (Dan Keeley) – none
 
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
 
HALL REPORT – Hall Projects (in priority order):
Bathroom exhaust fans   (ordered and available for install)
Insulate crawl space under bathrooms (1/2 done)
Northeast side roof needs additional screws
Kitchen counters need refinished
Kitchen needs exhaust hood and fan – Have 2, now need installed
Repainting or siding replacement needed.  NE and NW sides and under eves of hall
 
SIX paid rentals scheduled (one not yet paid).  Chaps, Zumba, Sarah Henry (art classes)  and Bridge City Soccer have long term contracts.
 
Worked up an area of the lawn to be replanted this fall.  We don’t have enough water to make it grow now.
 
EDUCATION  -  Nothing beats polarization like civics education.  So says an essay from the New York Times by Dr. Danielle Allen who argues that teaching civics in the schools makes our whole system of government work better.  Her coalition of civics education organizations CivXNow has been promoting civics education in both public and private schools since 2018.  They tout a survey of Americans finding that 10 years ago one in four people could name the three branches of government but today 7 in 10 were able to.  Maybe hope for us after all.
 
LEGISLATIVE –  Most of the Republicans President Trump targeted for defeat went down in the primaries, including Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a very partisan Republican who nevertheless put country and constitution before party in voting no on the SAVE act restricting voting, particularly voting by mail, and opposing partisan redistricting.
 
AGRICULTURE –  Del Monte Foods bankruptcy last year is still reverberating through agriculture, particularly in California.  Thousands of cannery fruit trees are being removed. Farmer Johnnie Silznoff asks that we look for the label Grown in the USA and Made in USA.  “We all survive with each other” as he puts it.
 
DEAF AND BLIND - Roberta
 
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE – JoAnn    Have asked student tor College information for presentation of $2,000 check.
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE – JoAnn -  There were 4 Grange members and one Chaps member who helped with cleaning up the IOOF Cemetery on May 13th for a total of 19 hours.  I returned afterward to mow the area again and to put the American flags on the graves of those who served in the military.
 
The last Backpack Buddy lunch prep day will be May 27th at the Christ Lutheran Church in Aurora at 9am.
 
If anyone has clothing or supplies to donate to the Portland Rescue Mission or Veteran’s Village, we will be going through Portland on May 30th.  You can bring your items to Maplewood and put them in the Museum area.
 
COMMUNICATIONS –  Betty 
 Eight (8) Maplewood members attended the Sandy Grange Auction.
 
POMONA REPORT  -  Cookie booth dough making set for Tuesday June 16 at Clarkes Grange from 9-5 or when finished.  Sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0448AAAF28A7F9CF8-62894851-cookie  Click on this link or call Dan at 503-508-7807.
Dan noted:  Warner Grange (20-Qt) equipment will be stored at Maplewood.
 
OREGON STATE GRANGE REPORT – Convention preparations in full swing.  There will be a Zoom broadcast if you would like to tune in to some of the debates and meetings.  Anyone wanting to enter a craft, canning or baking project in one of the contests can let me know.  I would be happy to take it to Baker for you.
            Keeley leave Friday and return Tuesday
Do we want to sponsor a goodie basket supporting the youth?  I bought a pet centered one at the Sandy fund raiser for $57 if we want to use it.   
Betty moved to support the Goodie Basket Raffle, Sandy Shew seconded, motion passed.  
NOTE: Your Secretary failed to follow through with the sale of Raffle tickets.  Dan, Roberta, Betty and Terry Halley each purchased $5 in tickets for $20 collected - which did NOT get to the Convention.  It is a worthy cause, we could still donate the funds - how should we proceed?

TREASURERS REPORT  - Vicki
The report was emailed May 21st.  Opening balance as of April 24 was $10,481.51 and ending balance May 21 was $11, 155.46.
 
BILLS
– Dan:  Supplies (Mower parts, bulbs, gloves)               $  25.57
– JoAnn  Milk for Backpack Buddies                                $219.39         
________________
                        Total               $244.96                                                    
JoAnn moved to pay, Vicki seconded, motioned carried.
 
UNFINSHED BUSINESS: 
Hubbard Hop Festival is July 17-18.  Any interest in a promotional table?  Cost is $25 and would require around 4 volunteers.          Betty and Terry will volunteer.
Also, there is an opportunity for promotion at the county fair if anyone is interested in spending some time explaining Grange to fair goers in Horner Hall.
 
Grange display at Fair (Theme:  PIGS, PIES and PATRIOTISM) – ideas?
- Some ideas shared:
            place Miss Piggy in a corner (or) a pig in each corner, maybe some Flying Pigs
            Pies could have a lattice top - with 250 years celebrated
            Vicki suggested one-large PIE with dangling pigs …(nice)
                                   
 
NEW BUSINESS:
Corporation Fee is due:  $50
 
 
Oregon State Grange (OSG) CONVENTION:  June 19 - 25, 2026 in Baker City, OR
The Keeleys leave Friday, June 19 and return Tuesday, June 23 from the OSG Convention.
 
OSG ” Veterans of the Year” will be honored and an Award will be presented in each Grange District.  Maplewood Grange has submitted Sandy Shew as our Nominee for this honor.  Her Marine Corp history and Community Service bio/application was submitted.
 
MEMBERS SICK OR IN DISTRESS: 
 
GOOD OF THE ORDER:   Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.  Mahatma Gandhi
 
NEXT MEETING 
Regular time – 3:30 June 28,.   (INFO:  Betty at CA family wedding - Secretary needed)
 
CLOSING:  Meeting adjourned at 4:19 PM.
 
HEIRLOOM PROGRAM:  ​