Minutes

General Meeting  May 21, 2026     Called to Order at 6:40 p.m. after sharing a meal together.  Tom led us in an opening prayer.

    Next meeting will be on June 18th at 6 p.m.    

Roll Call – Present:  President Faith Sabatine, Vice President Bill Gaffney, Treasurer Robin Towers, Lecturer: Marama Elizabeth Barrett, Greeter/Gatekeeper Tina King ,   Exec. Committee Officers Tom Dax, and Secretary Deni Dax 

Absent: Chaplain Kirk Pharis, Executive Committee Officer Helen Strang,  Asst. Steward Jade Goodman

     Bill did a review of the agenda stating that things are moving so fast out here in the world. We have a lot of business to take care of at these meetings and the membership should be a part of it.  They just haven’t been showing up.  With one meeting a month, business needs to occur.   We could have 2 meetings a month, which we used to do, one for the leadership team to discuss more of the business side, and another for the members that would be more interesting to them.  Peter volunteered to take the lead on a committee that would figure out how to restructure the meeting for the members.

     We have numerous things to create committees for to get some of this work done.  Bill is the chair for the Building and Grounds Committee.  He’s looking at organizing it, collecting information, and reporting back to the membership.  We do need an AV committee, and Bill nominated Cathe’ to head it up.  Jason Searls will be giving us a price on what it would take to get an AV system set up here.

     We have a Presidency vacancy with Faith stepping down.  There’s some concern that in our bylaws it says we should wait 30 days and ask for nominations from the membership and then vote at the next meeting.  Tonight we voted to bypass that waiting period and nominated Peter Roloff to be our President.  There were 10 members present and all voted yes by paper ballot.  Our new President is Peter.  Bill mentioned about getting an email out to the membership to ask them what committees they feel are important to have for the Banner Grange, giving them a week to respond. Deni mentioned that the membership has been asked to respond in the past on different things and the outcome has been weak in responses.

     Peter spoke on the foundation for moving forward is to work together.  Important to focus on coming together in unity, collaboration, and integrity. CRC = Comprehension first, Reconciliation, Creation.  The first thing that needs to be addressed besides the basic maintenance of the building and grounds, we need to fill these chairs beyond full.  We must work on bringing people in.  What is it, and why have people vanished? 

We need direct communication; there’s  something that has to be shifted.  This is an ideal vocal point for community.  We need a Grange bulletin board with info. Bill mentioned that that is one of the committees needed to recreate this room to help it flow better. The groups meeting here may like to hear what the Grange offers beyond their time here.   Faith mentioned offering a food option like a monthly breakfast like the Rough & Ready Grange does.

      Put info on the Grange website, fb, etc.  Loraine mentioned having a statement on card stock to hand out.  She went on to say that we should be doing a quick presentation for the large groups that meet here, and also get it out to the clubs in the community, like the 4H groups, etc.  Cathe’ mentioned we could reach out to our neighbors.  Others mentioned breakfast or brunch on a Sunday with all local food. There was a lot more interesting conversation that cannot be addressed here, these minutes are getting long enough. There was a motion to make a committee to find the wording for the outreach card and a Sunday Brunch Committee. The motion passed.  Loraine, Lee, Deni, and Peter volunteered.  

     Robin spoke as Event Coordinator

    Treasurer Robin ordered 1 metal flea market sign and presented it to us tonight.  We approved the purchase of more at the price of $45 each.  Lee mentioned about advertising on KNCO, etc.

Treasurer Report from March 30^th to April 29^th, 2026

Beginning balance = $26,040.87       Receipts = $1,940       Expenditures = $3,343.65    Ending Balance = $24,637.22

     Art Ralli with the Foothill Lions Club, which is renting space for the meetings in the Grange, spoke on wanting to improve our sign position by moving it up higher to 8 or 10 feet.  He asked to include the Lions sign underneath also. They plan on making their home here.  There was a motion for him to improve the sign position up to 10 feet.  Approved.  The rest of the signage will be figured out later.

     Vice President Bill spoke more about the NID proposal for a rate increase.  Some of the farmers rates will be doubled. They will be done farming.  NID’s next meeting will be on May 27^th.  They talk about doing hydroelectric. They are looking at a data center possibility up here that will depend on our ground water to run it.  That in turn will dry up our reserves underground causing shortages.  Cathe’ suggested having a breakfast for farmers and NID users to come and discuss.  Bill says nothing in NID’s plan talks about Hydro use.

      Faith gave an update on the Seed and Scion event and thanked all the volunteers (a long list) who helped make it happen, and the groups that participated.   We had about 100 people attend, down from 187 last year. Next time, we might try a pop-up tent or food truck outside instead of food inside.  That would make it more accessible and not interfere with the speakers talking in the dining room.  It was mentioned that we need to recruit a media and sound person for events.     

     Lecturer Marama Elizabeth’s talk on water is postponed until the June 18^th meeting.  (Loraine made a motion to buy our lecturer a laptop computer.  A motion was made and approved.)     

    Blog – theheartsong.org

    Marama Elizabeth welcomes your email on a topic or subject you’d like to learn more about.  Her email to send to is:   theheartsong@riseup.net

     Adjourned at 8:10 p.m.  

Minutes submitted for approval from:

Deni Dax, Secretary   

 Next meeting will be Thursday, June 18^th at 6:00 p.m.  beginning with a light meal. You are invited to bring some food to share if you wish.  Come and be a part of the Banner Grange…exciting times are coming.

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Committees:

1. Building: Maintenance, Kitchen, Roof, AV Bill, Tina, Tom, Robin
2. Grounds : landscape, watering, clean up   Bill, Tina, Helen, Deni, Robin
3. Outreach Programs : Membership   
4. Grants and Media    Faith
5. AG: NRCD Cathe’
6. Communication: (Signal is secure) Loraine, Cathe’, Jennifer
7. Redecorating the Dining Room to make it more “Grange”. Bulletin board needed for announcements. Can be covered up for events.  Rug torn out, new covering on floor.

     There will be future discussions on the topic of groups being formed.  Your input is requested.

Wish List for the Banner Grange

1. 18 Outdoor Chairs
2. Outdoor Cameras
3. More member involvement
4. More members and more workers