| MARCH 5, 2024 -- Once again snow is falling while I write this. I have many people comment on the mildness of this winter both in temperature and paucity of snowfall as if it were a good thing. We may not like dealing with the effects of snow on our lives and routines (I am involuntarily taking a vacation day on account of it due to office closure), however, snow is in fact a good thing and quite necessary for the seasonal cycle of life. It insulates the ground to limit the depth of freezing which might damage plants and their roots. You have heard snow called “poor man’s fertilizer” because it slowly leaches nutrients into the soil during its spring melting. The cold temperatures along with snow help to reduce the population of insect pests like ticks and others that plague plants and us. Like it or not, snow is a necessity and good
The January Virtual Social Hour on the 25th hosted by Terri Fassio was thought provoking as it encouraged us to look into and set goals for the New Year and perhaps use this analysis to change our outlook on things. I would challenge that more of you take advantage of this resource and come join us. Also try attending the Membership Matters and Communications Webinars by Amanda and Phil of National Grange. Try it/them, and you might just like it! All these folks are spending time preparing these programs to help us all.
We are looking into a Pomona level Social Hour to pull officers of all three Pomona Granges (and interested members) into a round table forum on Zoom twice a year to share ideas across Pomona Granges as to what is working and what is not.
Ag Day at the Capitol will be held on Wednesday, March 20 in the Capitol in Hartford. As you might know, it is an opportunity for farmers and leaders of agriculturally interested organizations to connect with each other and their legislators. The Connecticut State Grange will be represented by Legislative Chair Noel Miller, CSG Vice President Ted Powell, Agricultural Committee Chair Kristina Donhiee and her daughters/Ag Committee members Chloe and Violet.
On another note, National Grange President Chris Hamp has announced the sale of the National Grange Building in Washington, DC to 1616 H Street NW LLC. The contract was signed January 17 by the Executive Committee and the deal closed February 6. The sale price was $10.3 million, and there will be $8.12 million left to invest after all debts are paid off. The 11th floor offices and basement storage will be moved to the first and second floors where they can stay rent free for six months, after which National Grange must vacate the building. The National Grange Executive Committee must now formulate a plan to move forward and prepare for a new home after the next six months is up.
This week, Maggie and I leave for Myrtle Beach, SC for the Grange Presidents’ Conference. The agenda looks interesting and engaging. There is even preparatory homework for some of the sessions, so I will take a break here to prepare and upon our return from the sunny south I shall report further before this goes to press…
Having now returned from Myrtle Beach, it wasn’t as sunny as it might have been though it was a bit warmer. Over three days, we had 13 seminar presentations on teambuilding, parliamentary procedure, planning and goal- setting, and transitioning Grange leaders, to name a few. We also worked on rewriting the National Grange Mission (pertains to the current) and Vision (looking into the future) Statements. All the while, we were experiencing fellowship with friends from other states. We also got a taste of how President Chris Hamp will lead the National Grange forward. It will be a bit different from the past by utilizing teams and committees to do the work instead of single department directors. Instead of being held in North Carolina as was planned, the 2025 National Convention will be an eight day cruise out of Miami into the Caribbean. Stay tuned for more on changes to be made…
As I finish writing, I just received news from our Chaplain Charles Dimmick that Gordon Gibson, past Legislative Director Emeritus has passed away. Rest in peace, Brother.
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