| July 1, 2020 -- As the Fourth of July approaches, the State of Connecticut is just starting to open up more businesses. Churches have opened but are only allowing 50 parishioners in the church. Governor Lamont has increased the social gatherings to 25 inside and 100 outside. I have heard that some of our smaller Granges are looking to meet in person because they are unable to meet on Zoom. With the 25 inside increase, I think it is time that our Grangers can get back to meet in person but we have to take the precautions and keep social distance at least 6 feet between, wear masks and have hand sanitizer, sanitize countertops and so forth. I suggest for the time being we do not serve refreshments because we have to be as safe as we can. I would encourage the Granges that wish to continue to use Zoom to continue using it. The Connecticut State Grange has two Zoom accounts so just call or email Faith, our Membership Director, and she will set you up. Phone: 518- 698-2785 or Email: Membership@ CTStateGrange.org.
As I am writing this article we are planning the 2020 Annual State Session. We are looking at having a one day session. It has yet to be determined if there will be an in-person event or a virtual one. Many factors will go into making this decision and we have to wait to see what our limitations are in October. A committee of State Secretary Todd Gelineau, Chairman Jeff Barnes and myself are working on the format that can be either used in person or virtual. We are also working on a date and a facility to hold an in-person State Session. We will not be going to the Holiday Inn in Norwich this year. This is where we need our Grangers input. We need you to select your two delegates as soon as possible and submit the delegate form to the State Secretary. We need you to answer the two questions and return them by August 1.
If your Grange has any resolutions to submit, we would like to have them by September 15. We will try to keep you informed as there is a lot of work for this committee to do between now and October. So please get your information in as soon as possible.
I am planning to have a State Officer, Executive Committee, Deputy and Committee Chairman Zoom meeting on Sunday, July 12 at 7:00 P.M. We will discuss the State Session and use your input. The State Secretary will be sending out the Zoom information by email. As I end my monthly President’s Report, let’s keep our fingers crossed that we can have an in-person, one day session. It is hard to plan since we don’t know if there will be a second round of this virus in the fall. Let’s hope not so we can persevere, good and faithful Patrons.
And remember, we’re all in this together and we will get through it like good Grangers.
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