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| Annual Session - Resolutions and Results |
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Resolutions are available for download in PDF form on the downloads page. |
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| 1. |
RE: STATE COMMITTEES
WHEREAS Article IX Committees of the Connecticut State Grange By-Laws states the committee requirements and lists the standing committees that are to be appointed by the State Grange Master, and
WHEREAS Section 5 through Section 11 specify the number of committee members that shall be appointed, and
WHEREAS due to changing demographics in the membership, appointment to these committees are at times a challenge to complete, and
WHEREAS the Grange has been acutely aware of the need to concentrate on our declining membership.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Article IX COMMITTEES be changed to read:
Section 6. The wording “A Committee of Women’s Activities of five, shall be appointed by the State Master” be changed to read “There shall be a Committee of Family Activities of no more than 5 members appointed by the State Master”; and
The following wording “of five members” in Section 7, Section 8, and Section 10 be changed to read “of no more than 5 members”, and
Section 11 be changed to read: “There shall be a Membership Committee consisting of no more than five members consisting of a minimum of one member from each Pomona Grange to be appointed by the State Master. The director of the Membership Committee may consist of a paid position to be appointed by the State Master every election year for the term of the State Master and that the Executive Committee along with the State Master approve any employment contract.”
Connecticut State Grange Executive Committee |
Adopted: X
Rejected: |
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| 2. |
RE: EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE POWERS
WHEREAS during the COVID-19 crisis the Emergency Powers Act was granted to the Governor for a period of six months to, in effect, run the total government, and
WHEREAS during that period the Connecticut legislature did not meet in regular or special session even though most of the surrounding legislatures and the U.S. Congress did meet, thus not providing a balance of power between those two branches of government that is provided for in the State Constitution, and
WHEREAS one of the major functions of the Legislature during that period would be adjustments to the second year of the biennial budget to reduce the expected deficit, and
WHEREAS it was thought that this act was to be used for short term emergencies.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Connecticut State Grange, through its Legislative Committee, urge the passage of legislation to modify the Emergency Powers Act to limit the length of time of the act to 3 months unless the Legislature meets again to extend the time after the 3 month period.
Riverton Grange No. 169 |
Adopted: X
Rejected: |
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| 3. |
RE: SALE OF GRANGE PROPERTY
WHEREAS the By-Laws of the National Grange, Sec. 4.11.1 (G) limits the amount a Grange may retain after the sale of property to $1,000 with the remainder to be kept in trust by the State Grange, and
WHEREAS this section has not been updated in several years and value of property has risen dramatically over those years.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the first sentence of Sec. 4.11.1(G) be changed to read:
“When a sale of real property is concluded, the selling Subordinate or Pomona Grange shall account for the net proceeds of the sale received at the time of settlement and shall remit all but the sum of $1,000 $10,000 of such net proceeds or the net proceeds whichever is less to the State Grange having jurisdiction to be held in trust for the said Subordinate or Pomona Grange.”
Riverton Grange No. 169 |
Adopted: X
Rejected: |
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| 4. |
RE: UTILITY RATE INCREASES
WHEREAS in 2019 the Connecticut General Assembly approved a utility increase for Eversource to purchase energy from Millstone Nuclear Power Plant, and
WHEREAS this rate increase has been introduced during the month of July, and
WHEREAS this increase represents up to a 90% increase in delivery charges on the Eversource billing.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Connecticut State Grange encourage the Connecticut General Assembly to never pass legislation that allows for an increase in utility charges, either for generation or delivery, that exceeds 10% of the standard cost of living for that given year, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Connecticut State Grange present informational programs educating communities it serves on its options for utilities available to them in Connecticut.
Ekonk Comm. Grange No. 89 |
Adopted: X
Rejected: |
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| 5. |
RE: DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
RESOLVED the development rights to all farm and forest lands covered by Connecticut Public Act 490, be eligible for purchase by the State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
Stafford Grange No. 1 |
Adopted: X
Rejected: |
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| 6. |
RE: QUARTERLY DUES
WHEREAS Article XIII Section 1, Division 2 of the revised October 2013 Constitution and By-Laws reads “Subordinate Granges and Community Granges shall report promptly to the Secretary of the State Grange at the beginning of each quarter using blank forms furnished by the Secretary of the State Grange and remit dues to the State Grange as follows: $5.75 (now $6.25) for each member that has been a member for the full preceding quarter”, and
WHEREAS prior to 2003 Subordinate Granges were exempt from paying this assessment on Golden Sheaf (50 year members). And paying this has been a burden on Subordinate Granges, and
WHEREAS this section further states “In the event the dues to the National Grange by vote of the delegate body, Subordinate dues to the State Grange shall increase the same amount automatically”, and
WHEREAS many Granges are having financial difficulties, and
WHEREAS the advanced age of the membership and state regulations make it harder to raise funds.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this section be revised to read “Subordinate Granges and Community Granges shall report promptly to the Secretary of the State Grange at the beginning of each quarter using blank forms furnished by the Secretary of the State Grange and remit dues to the State Grange as follows: $6.25 for each member minus golden sheaf members that have been members for the full preceding quarter”, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this section be further revised to read “In the event the dues to the National Grange by vote of the delegate body, the State Grange shall absorb the increase. These changes to take effect immediately.
Beacon Valley Grange #103 |
Adopted:
Rejected: X |
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| 7. |
RE: SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS
WHEREAS Connecticut needs local supply chains for community resilience, and
WHEREAS public money supports public health care and CT Grown, and
WHEREAS supporting farms is aligned with the mission and history of the National Grange, and
WHEREAS small farms offer local jobs and equity, can support long term soil health, offer a relatively greater variety of food and waste less than average farms, and
WHEREAS eating more whole foods and fewer processed foods improves health and reduces transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the current $2 for $1 SNAP benefit program offered at farmers’ markets be extended year-round for CT Grown products as a voluntary participation program for any vendor.
Simsbury Grange #197 |
Adopted: X
Rejected: |
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| 8. |
RE: OLD AND OLD GROWTH FORESTS
WHEREAS old-growth forest is rare (less than 0.02% of the State), carbon-dense, biodiverse, and precious, and
WHEREAS disturbing it disrupts the soil and numerous species and their connections still to be discovered, and
WHEREAS Connecticut’s older forests are carbon-dense and start to transition to old growth at 150 years.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that old growth forests and remnants on public land be strongly protected and provide a buffer, and older forests be protected to maximize their ability to store carbon and protect biodiversity and become old growth forests in the future.
Simsbury Grange #197 |
Adopted: X
Rejected: |
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| 9. |
RE: PROCESSING PLANTS
RESOLVED that the CT State Grange support the development of more meat and milk processing plants in CT and that we through our State Legislative Committee urge the State Department of Agriculture to investigate and implement this issue.
Master’s Address – CT State Grange Executive Committee |
Adopted: X
Rejected: |
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| 10. |
RE: MASTER’S ADDRESS
WHEREAS 2020 has been, and continues to be, a difficult year for every Grange and Grange member requiring the State Grange and its Master to respond to the challenges presented by COVID-19 in many ways we would never have considered before, and
WHEREAS in his annual report State Master George Russell discussed these challenges, successes and his thoughts for carrying the Connecticut State Grange forward into the future.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Connecticut State Grange thank the State Master for his service to the Connecticut State Grange during the preceding year and commend him for his fine report and leadership.
Connecticut State Grange Board of Directors |
Adopted: X
Rejected: |
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