| November 3, 2022 -- It seemed State Session would never get here and now another has gone into the history books... well at least the Journal of Proceedings! Unlike any other Session, the 138th Annual Session featured a large number of resolutions that dealt with Grange law. This month’s column will review those resolutions that effect rules and procedures that fall under the Secretary’s office.
Quarterly Grace Period
Delegates adopted Resolution #6 which shortens the grace period for filing quarterly reports from 30 days to 14 days from the close of each quarter, regardless of the date they were mailed. For example, for the fourth quarter ending December 31, Granges will have until January 14, 2023 to file their reports without a late fee of $25 being assessed.
As always, if there is a compelling reason why a report cannot be filed within this grace period, please contact me. Communication is key!
Associate Members
Connecticut has had a provision for Associate Members in its by- laws for quite some time. However, the delegates to the 2021 Session passed a resolution asking the State Membership Committee and the Executive Committee to review Associate Membership and recommend changes to the program. They have done so, and a new Associate Membership program will be rolled out beginning with the first quarter of 2023.
Details of this program will be provided in a separate mailing to all Granges. Reporting for this program will be included in the revised Quarterly Report Form which will be distributed for use in the first quarter of 2023.
Electronic Media
Resolution #9 establishes an official policy for the use of electronic media to conduct Grange meetings. Connecticut has been operating under a general allowance made due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowing Granges to meet 100% electronically or in a hybrid format of in-person and electronic participation. Under the new policy members are permitted to attend meetings through applications like (but not limited to) Zoom. In addition, Secretaries should record these members as present in their records of the meetings. This means your count of the Grange should include all members attending in- person and electronically. The resolution permits “any means of communication by which all members participating in the meeting may simultaneously hear one another during the meeting.”
Pomona Dues
Resolution #8 has eliminated payment of Pomona Dues to the State Grange. This resolution DOES NOT eliminate the requirement of members to pay dues to their respective Pomona Granges. It just means that any dues paid by members to their Pomona Grange will remain entirely within them.
This resolution also DOES NOT eliminate Quarterly Reports for Pomona Granges. All Pomona Granges are still required to file their Quarterly Reports with the State Grange as we still need to be aware of each Pomona’s membership condition.
Community Grange Dues
Resolution #13 dealt with dues paid to the State Grange. Currently Granges pay $6.25 per quarter, per member to the State Grange. Beginning with the first quarter of 2023 this amount will increase to $7.50 per quarter, per member.
As this change does not go into effect until the quarter ending March 30, 2023, the current forms and amounts will remain in effect for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Revised forms for Pomona and Subordinate Granges will be sent out at the end of the current quarter along with summaries of all resolutions passed and the revised by-laws of the State Grange which will reflect all changes adopted at this year’s session.
Roughly 1/3 of our Granges were not represented at this year’s session. This means 2/3 of the Granges made decisions for all of the Granges in the State. As you can see from just the resolutions explained here, representation by all Granges at State Session is extremely important. As is often said about state and national elections... it’s difficult to complain if you don’t participate in the process!
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about these resolutions or any other issues regarding the Secretary’s office. I’m here to serve you!
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