| JANUARY 3, 2012 -- The mild late-fall and early winter weather has allowed nearly all Grange meetings and gatherings to go on as scheduled... of course, this could change at any time! We remind all Granges of the meeting requirements as outlined in the National Digest. All Community/Subordinate Granges are required to meet at least once a month. The Digest does not provide leeway on this issue. If you only meet once a month and that meeting is canceled, you are strongly encouraged to set a new date within that calendar month and notify your members of this meeting date. Many Granges that meet once a month have snow dates built into their meeting schedules. This may be a good way to handle this issue in your Grange. Granges that meet twice a month are less likely to have both meetings canceled, but it has been known to happen. (Remember, I’m from Winchester Grange!). Those Granges are also required to set another date during that calendar month.
In extreme situations where you’re having difficulty securing a date (either because your meeting place is not available or for some other reason), please contact me or the State Master. Keeping the lines of communication open with the State Master is always the best course when following the guidelines of the Digest becomes difficult.
We also remind all Granges that Executive Reports should have been filed by December 31, 2011 with the General Deputy (me). It will only be considered filed if it has been received by the General Deputy and not by the State Secretary. Many Granges have already filed well in advance of the deadline and we thank them. However, there are still many Granges that we have not heard from. If you are having difficulty, please let me know. The Deputy team is more than happy to offer any and all assistance we can.
The only Granges excused from this deadline are those whose books close on December 31. Those Granges are permitted to submit their reports by March 31, 2012 to the General Deputy. All Granges are still required to provide a copy of this report on the night of inspection. |
