| March 5, 2022 -- March 8: The Wild Rover, Potluck Supper at 6 P.M., Meeting at 7:00.
March 22: CWA Program, Country Store. Ref. Ramona Fassio
Apr. 12: Welcome Spring, Ref. Peter & Mary Lou Keefe
Apr. 26: Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Ref. Betty & Bill Ahrens.
We begin this month’s column with a remembrance of an 80 year member of Winchester Grange. Arline (Beecher) Cote passed away on Feb. 9 at the age of 95. Arline is a sister of Kingsley and Ellsworth (Bud) Beecher, Barbara English and Joan DellaValle. Many of you may recall that Arline’s sister Barbara served as State Pianist during Bud Beecher’s term as State Master.
Arline was a talented pianist as well and served as Winchester’s pianist for many, many years for programs and degrees throughout the years. Her march of choice was always “The Connecticut March” which I can always hear in the back of my mind when the Assistants rise to escort the flag at the beginning of meetings. Our sympathies go out to the entire Beecher family.
Winchester Grange welcomed State Master George Russell and State Treasurer Jody Cameron and Past Voting Delegate Jodi Ann Cameron to our first meeting in February. This was our first in- person meeting of the year after spending the month of January on Zoom due to the spike in COVID cases statewide.
Members had requested the State Master attend this meeting to answer questions regarding the recent sale of Camp Berger. There were a number of false rumors regarding this sale which had been floating around the community which were dispelled. The largest incorrect rumors were a $1,250,000 offer on the property that never existed and incorrect terms of the sale. The property sold for $500,000 with a 4% mortgage (with a down payment and balloon payment at the end), financed by the State Grange. This will enable the State Grange to not only receive the sale price, but also all interest on the mortgage, which will bring the total proceeds from the sale just under $700,000.
We thank the State Master, Treasurer and Sister Cameron for taking the time to attend this meeting.
Our second Feb. meeting was on Feb. 22 and featured facts about Presidents and President’s Day.
Our next meeting will be on March 8 and will feature a Potluck Supper beginning at 6 P.M. Zoom is also available for the meeting (unfortunately we haven’t figured out how to Zoom the meal to you!). Please contact me or Secretary Sue Addison for the Zoom credentials. Either way, we would love to see all members and guests in-person or virtually. |
