| September 1, 2020 -- Another year of Grange work is rapidly drawing to a close although it seems like it is ending before it even got started! Unfortunately, we have a long way to go with COVID-19 but we will get through this together.
Planning for State Session never ends, especially this year. Please read my article on page one explaining the changes to State Session adopted at the August Board of Directors meeting. We have agonized over how to safely conduct a statewide meeting while still accomplishing the work necessary to operate our organization.
We remind all Granges the deadline for submission of resolustions will be here on September 15. Any resolutions received after that date will be returned to Granges for re-submission next year. Session committee resolutions will continue to be accepted at Session. Please read the State Master’s letter. All Granges should be meeting in-person or virtually. It is extremely important that we reconnect with our members and keep our Granges moving forward.
With that said, meetings should still be a safe as possible observing social distancing and sanitation guidelines.
QUARTERLY REPORTS
It has been a battle over the last year to get all of our Granges filing quarterly reports on time. At one point this summer there were over a dozen Granges that owed at least one quarter and there were many that were two or more quarters behind even with constant reminders from yours truly.
I thank all of you for catching up. As of this writing we have 100% of our Granges current with their reports. Unfortunately, the next quarter closes at the end of this month.
Going forward all late Granges will receive a notice and $25 late fee invoice on the 31st day following the close of the quarter. I have tried to be lenient with the late fee but there are just too many Granges reporting late.
The State Grange is required to file its own report within 60 days of the close of the quarter forwarding on the lion’s share of the dues collected from our Community Granges during the quarter to National Grange. I am forced to use the most recent report filed by a Grange to complete my report to National when reports are missing. This usually results in overpayments. Multiplying these overpayments by the number of Granges failing to report in any quarter results in a substantial amount of money needlessly lost.
DUES RECEIPTS
Due to State Session planning, we are a little off schedule with the Dues Receipts. I hope to have these out to all Granges by the end of the month. I apologize for any inconvenience.
ELECTIONS
Ballots will soon be going out to each registered delegate to State Session. Please follow the directions carefully. Only original ballots (printed on security paper) and mailed in pre-addressed and stamped envelopes will be accepted as valid ballots. Please do not submit photocopied ballots or submit your votes in any other form than the ballot we provide. Ballots will be accepted up until just before the Session in October. However, with postal service delays always a possibility, please mail them as soon after receiving them as you can.
To ensure ballots are secret, the return envelopes are addressed to the election chairperson Maureen Prelli who will coordinate tabulation of the vote for the day of State Session. Please do not mail ballots to the State Grange Office as they will not be counted. As with many things this year, we are trying to make the best out of a very difficult situation for all of us. Until next time, stay safe and stay well. |
