| JANUARY 2010 -- Well I survived my last national session and chairing a committee wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Although I got the committee with the most resolutions but I'm glad for the opportunity to have experienced it.
Starting off the New Year will be the Schools of Instruction. Except for New Haven County Pomona, the dates and locations were listed in the last issue of the Granger and I am sure when you get this issue that information will also be available. It is important to have as many of your officers, as possible, attend the schools and I think it would be doubly advantageous for all new officers.
I will have several hand outs for Granges and I will explain the more important items that came out of the national session. I will also try to explain the new agenda we will be trying at our own annual session this October. The added benefit to your Grange is that you get 10 points on the Honor Grange report for every officer that attends and if 10 or more attend you get 200 points. Getting points is not the main purpose of the schools. Educating the officers and members as to their responsibilities and the proper conduct of the meeting is.
This is also where you get to air your complaints and ask the important questions of the State Master. I never have all the answers but those that I don't have I will get the correct one for you. The best part of all is that you get to socialize with your neighbors in a non meeting atmosphere.
On January 8, 9 and 10, I and the committee directors of the State Grange will be attending the Northeast Leaders Conference in Brattleboro, Vermont. We will meet to discuss how we as a group can best grow the Grange in our region. There will also be workshops on improving leadership skills and the trustees of the New England Grange Building will hold their annual meeting. There will be socializing with our neighbors and this is where different ideas on programs are exchanged between the different departments.
All of this pays off in a concerted effort to improve the Grange in our region and for the seven states to work together and help each other get better. Any relevant information that comes out of this conference I will pass along at the Schools of Instruction.
I hope you all survived and enjoyed the holidays and are ready to make this a great year for the Grange. Happy New Year! |
