| February 2, 2020 -- It’s been a while since I’ve written a message for the Granger... When there’s so much material to include in issues I can’t, in good conscience, leave out an article or two to make space for my own!
Since State Session it’s been all about getting the Pomona Incorporations moving forward. By now the Pomona Granges are considering the preliminary steps to get their new By-Laws adopted. In the meantime I will be working with our lawyer to get the first reports filed with the State of Connecticut. Just after State Session we mailed the annual Bonding letter to all Granges. It was months ahead of schedule this time around. Unfortunately, the response from Granges has been about the same. There’s still a good number of Granges that haven’t sent in their payments for 2020. If your Grange is one, please send it in as soon as possible.
Granges that don’t respond will be renewed at the basic level and will be billed for the cost. Per the National Digest, all Granges are required to have Bonding insurance.
I still have a number of Granges who haven’t paid for their Dues Receipts (billed in September). Again, if your Grange is in this category, please send in your payment as soon as possible.
There are also a number of Granges that are behind in their Quarterly Reports. The Annual Word cannot be communicated to your Grange unless its dues are paid through the end of the fourth quarter of 2019 (Dec. 31). Granges that are still outstanding as of Jan. 30 will receive a late fee of $25.
Now that I’ve said all of this, I would like to thank all of the Granges and Secretaries, in particular, who are so prompt at filing reports and making their necessary payments to the State Grange. It is truly appreciated by me and the Executive Committee.
In the coming weeks I will be sending out a large mailing to each Grange that will contain the following items:
1 2019 Journal of Proceedings
2 2020 Legislative Policy Handbook
3 Filing receipt for the 2020 990N EPostcard
4 The State Directory Officer & Committee Form
The Journal and the Policy Handbooks are to be shared with all members of your Granges. Additional copies are available from the State Office, while supplies last. The 990 receipt should be kept on file as it is, essentially, the tax return for your Grange.
The Officer and Committee Form should be held until your Grange holds its elections in May or June. If your Grange does not for errors and note any changes necessary. The State Directory will be printed as soon as possible after State Session, due to elections.
We have had questions from Granges regarding insurance. There seems to be a misconception that the State Grange has insurance coverage that covers all Granges in the state. This is simply not true. The National Grange offers bonding insurance and the State Grange coordinates that on the State level, but we DO NOT maintain insurance for Community, Pomona and Junior Granges. It is the responsibility of EACH INDIVIDUAL Grange to purchase their own insurance at a level that it appropriate to their own particular needs. There are agencies in the State that have more experience than others in handling Grange insurance and we, as a State Grange, are happy to provide you with contacts but it is your Grange’s responsibility to handle this.
In this issue, Faith Quinlan has included information about the Special Membership Workshop on April 18. There is a sign-up form on page 2. If you are interested in attending, please fill out the form and return it to the State Grange as soon as you can. It’s important for us to be able to gauge the interest in these events and knowing what number of people to expect will help Sister Faith and her committee plan the event.
Until next time... Stay Warm!
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