Winter 2009-2010 Newsletter

Winona Grange #271 Established in 1895 Fall 2009 Newsletter      Meeting-Time Experiment       In January and February Winona Grange will have a potluck brunch at 10 am before our business meeting at 11 am.       The Grange voted to continue meeting on the Second Saturday to accommodate our working members. So we will meet on: January 9 February 13       Our attendance at Saturday meetings from September through November held steady. December attendance was down probably due to the dire weather prediction. Our working members have attended. However, we miss some of our long-time members. Some felt that 9:30 am is too early.       Most agreed that having the potluck after the meeting has not been successful. Many don't stay. Bringing a hot dish is challenging. Preparing a dish the morning of the meeting requires getting up with the chickens.       Those present voted to start with a potluck. The 10 o'clock hour means brunch. Tom Marr volunteered to fix pancakes on January 9. The Grange kitchen committee will supply butter and syrup. Bring whatever you'd like to eat with your pancakes.       We agreed that we enjoy visiting while eating our meal. However, we will try having our Lecturer's program downstairs while eating. (Note: Sam, our new Lecturer, was not present, so he may have a different plan.)       We will go upstairs for the meeting at 11 am.       This experiment is limited to two meetings. We will assess the success at the February 13 meeting. So mark your calendars for January 9 and February 13, see how you like this new schedule, and be prepared to cast your vote. Officers Elected and Installed       At the November meeting those present elected these officers: Master Dick Naven Overseer Norm Parker Lecturer Sam Keator Chaplain Monte McCutcheon Treasurer Rosa Lee Dickson Secretary Loyce Martinazzi Executive Committee Members: Rochelle Smith, Tom Marr and Monte McCutcheon       At the December meeting, Marilyn Reiher installed the officers who were present using the new Alternative Installation Ceremony that she helped write. National Master Ed Luttrell appointed Marilyn chair of a committee to write a shorter ceremony. The committee also used more modern language and focused on the duties of each office. The Alternative Installation Ceremony was approved by the delegates at the National Grange Convention in Grand Rapids, MI in November. Winona is probably the first Grange in the country to use the new ceremony.       Sam and Monte will be installed at the January meeting. 2010 Garden Seed Project       We received four large boxes of unsold and returned seed packets from Lake Valley Seeds of Boulder, Colorado. In addition to the expected beans, peas, and corn, the boxes contained lots of vegetables that were new to us. Also this year 25% of the packets are flower seeds.       After our December meeting, Ken and Rosa Lee Dickson, Norm Parker, Marilyn Reiher, and Suzanne and Dick Naven began the sorting process. When we had enough seeds sorted, Dick started creating assortments that we can send out after the first of the year.       We plan to contact the Granges that ordered from us last year. We make these assortments available to them at no cost except for shipping via the U.S. Postal Service.       This seed distribution project is something we can do to encourage others to plant community gardens and help address the problem of hunger close to home. Tualatin School House Pantry       Winona Grange donated more than 1,200 pounds of fresh produce from our community garden last summer and early fall. But the need continues!       These items are most needed: Canned tuna, fruit, and corn Hearty soups with protein Hot or cold cereal Dried beans Cooking oil Sugar Hygiene items such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo, and laundry detergent If you see these items on sale, buy up and bring them to the donation boxes at the Grange hall.       Cash donations are used to keep the Pantry's freezers running and to provide fresh milk for families. What Key?       That was the question most often asked by the eleven musicians who came to play bluegrass, old-time, and country tunes at the Music Jam on December 20. They couldn't help adding a few songs of the season. So they jumped from the Beverly Hillbillies theme song to Little Liza Jane to Frosty the Snowman.     More Music Jams       Music jams are proving to be popular with all ages and levels of musical experience.       January 3, and the first Sunday of each month thereafter, features Irish music. Send questions to Irishjams@winonagrange271.org.       January 17, and the third Sunday thereafter, features bluegrass, old-time, and country. If you have questions about this jam, send them to Bluegrassjams@winonagrange271.org.       Bring your acoustic instrument or your voice and join in the fun. Closet musicians are welcome. Both jams will be from 3 to 6 pm. A $1 donation    is suggested.         President's       Column             As the year now draws to a close, and we reflect back on the happenings at Winona, how will we remember 2009?       There were both gains and losses in membership; and for a time, the sadness and sorrow of each loss overshadowed the gains.       We put on a few community events, and while we may have expected larger turnouts, the people that attended had a good time. We even had a good time.       The distribution of Garden Seeds in 2009 was very successful, and the batch we have received for next year is in processing now.       The Grange Garden, thanks to all of your efforts, was again bountiful, in a slightly different way than the previous year.       What stands out to you in 2009 at Winona Grange?       To me, it was the teamwork – many different persons, many different talents and skill sets, all working together towards common goals, Grange goals. We accomplished many more things than are listed in the few short sentences above, yet very much less would have been accomplished without your teamwork.       All of your contributions to the teamwork at Winona Grange were, and are, appreciated.       Thanks for all your support in 2009; may 2010 bring more and different opportunities for us to benefit the Tualatin community and strengthen Winona’s role in it.             Dick Naven Women Who Shaped Tualatin       Winona Grange and the Tualatin Historical Society will co-sponsor a drama that features Tualatin's strong women on Sunday February 14 at 2 pm.       These women were not ordinary housewives: Maria Sweek, whose mansion still stands as Tualatin's jewel Lizzie Robinson, who built and maintained the brick store, now Robinson's Crossing Jessie Byrom, who raised funds to build the little Methodist Church, now the Heritage Center Rosie Casteel, who delivered more babies than the doctor, and who led the Ladies' Aid for 25 years Orpha Sagert, who managed the Sagert custom farm business and started the school lunch program Nellie Wesch Elwert, who caddied at the golf course and became a Tigard teacher Bea Cole Hinderman, first woman school principal Ethel Pennington, who led the community in building our Winona Grange hall Nami Sasaki, who taught the work ethic to youths in her strawberry fields Ann Martinazzi, who researched and wrote the first history of Tualatin in 1959 Peggy Gensman, whose Real Estate company helped develop Tualatin Lois Dalton, whose work on behalf of the Tualatin park re-established the Crawfish Festival Evie Andrews, who was named Oregon Teacher of the year Yvonne Addington, first city manager, who developed Tualatin's infrastructure Althea Pratt Broome, who established Willowbrook School for the Arts and the Wetlands Conservancy Sherilyn Lombos, current city manager Linda Moholt,who instigated the Tualatin Food Pantry, and is currently Tualatin's Chamber of Commerce manager       The women's stories were written by Loyce Martinazzi and Karen Lafky Nygaard. A descendant or Tualatin women will read each. The Sweet Adelines will sing songs appropriate to each woman's era.       The suggested donation is $5. Refreshments will be served after the performance.       This is a Valentine's Day treat at Winona Grange--not history, but "Herstory."

Fall 2009 Newsletter

Winona Grange #271 Established in 1895 Fall 2009 Newsletter     Fall Harvest Festival Our next community potluck will be October 31. This Fall Harvest Festival will be followed by square dancing to live music. The Grange will provide the main dish, so bring your favorite salad, dessert, or side dish. And bring a friend or neighbor – or two! We will be collecting donations for Bill Martin (aka King Bubba), who has multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Thanks to a stem cell transplant, Bill is alive and home from the hospital although he probably won't be able to join us because his immune system can't handle our germs. King Bubba lost his health insurance and needs our help to pay his medical bills. King Bubba has made a major contribution to old time music in the Portland area. For more information, see www.bubbaguitar.com. Square dancing will be the entertainment. But we'll do some two-stepping and other dances when the caller takes a break. Saturday Meeting Experiment The Grange voted to try meeting on the Second Saturday of each month to accommodate our working members. This trial is from September to December. In September four members (all ladies) joined us who would not have been able to come on Monday afternoons. If you want to see Saturday meetings continue, you need to be there on October 10, November 14, and December 12. Meetings start at 9:30 am. Our usual delectable potluck lunch follows the meeting.   Crawfish Festival Parade Winona Grange had an attractive and theme-appropriate entry in this year's parade, even if the judges didn't recognize us. Ken Dickson drove his John Deere tractor and pulled a hay wagon supplied by Lee Farms. Members gathered the day before to decorate the wagon with old pots, pans, lanterns, and farm implements that early settlers of the “wild wild west” used. We think the judges missed our music. Loyce Martinazzi on her guitar and non-member Bob Soper on his fiddle accompanied those who sang period songs. Everyone riding on the float was suitably dressed for the theme: Sam Keator, Rosa Lee Dickson,  Norm Parker and his granddaughter Cora McKay (who celebrated her 7th birthday that day), Tom Marr, Rochelle Smith, Tammy Rudy, Megan Rudy, Taylor Rudy, and Marilyn Reiher. Carol Cummings and Anne Doherty walked along side, providing armed protection for our entry. Work Continues... On August 22 Winona Grange members met to spruce up our hall. Dick Naven, Norman Parker, Tom Marr, and Dick's assistant, Joe Wells, replaced more window panes, scraped, and primed the frames. Inside, Carol Cummings, Suzanne Naven, and Marilyn Reiher scrubbed the cabinets while Rochelle Smith, Loyce Martinazzi, and Marilyn Reiher mopped the floor. After lunch workers were treated to wonderful fiddle music provided by Joe Wells. Welcome, New Members Tom Marr joined at the July meeting. Tom has worked in the garden, rode on the Crawfish Festival float, and help with the work party.  Marilyn Reiher became an affiliate member at the July meeting. Marilyn is a 50-year and life member of North Bayside Grange, which is a 4-hour drive from here. She joined to be part of the Winona Grange community. In June 2010 the National Grange will observe the 50th anniversary of its building in Washington, DC. As part of the celebration, 100 Grange youth, young adults, and Juniors from across the country will be selected to tour Washington and learn how our government works during the week of June 24-27, 2010.               Music Jams The Grange hall will again be filled with the sounds of music. On the first and third Sunday afternoons musicians of all ages and all levels of experience will gather to jam. Closet musicians are welcome. Both jams will be from 3 to 6 pm. October 4, and the first Sunday of each month thereafter, features Irish music. If you have questions, send them to Irishjams@winonagrange271.org. October 18, and the third Sunday thereafter, features bluegrass, old-time, and country music. If you have questions about this jam, send them to Bluegrassjams@winonagrange271.org. Bring your acoustic instrument or your voice and join in the fun. A $1 donation at the door will cover utility costs. Music has been important to Winona Grange throughout its history. In the late 1890s into the 1900s the Grange had an orchestra that played for 4th of July and community events. In the 1940s and 50s, the youth group had boys' and girls' quartets and an orchestra.   Grange Garden Project The community garden provided lots of corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, beans, and greens for the Tualatin Food Pantry. On September 19 Rochelle Smith and Loyce Martinazzi gathered remaining produce and set up an attractive booth at the Historical Society. Marilyn Reiher, Vicci Martinazzi, and Margie Larsen came to buy. Proceeds were donated to the Tualatin Food Pantry.  Winona Hosted Pomona Washington-Yamhill Pomona Grange met at our hall July 25. Rochelle Smith, Loyce Martinazzi, Rosa Lee Dickson, and Marilyn Reiher served lunch to 16 members from other Granges in the two counties. Yes or No?      (Winona's President, Dick Naven, is out-of-town, so we found a substitute.) Yes, No, these two words can be the most powerful tools you as a Grange member have. They will affect your Community Grange by having an impact on the relationships between members, and determining how your Grange interacts with the community. Consider the power of your answer when a member presents a new idea. Do you look at all the problems that could be associated with that idea? Or do you look at all the opportunities that may present themselves if you go with that idea? Do you think of the reaction of the member if their idea is shot down? More importantly, do you think of the other members who are watching what happens to someone else’s proposal? If you want to empower your fellow members, yes is the answer that you need to be searching for. Find ways to avoid no and find a yes. Members will become vested owners when their ideas are incorporated into the Grange. We don’t always have to do exactly what they suggest, we just need to find ways to make their ideas part of what we are doing.  When we say yes, it empowers both the ones we say yes to and ourselves by saying yes. We aid others to grow as members, we expand their horizons, we open doors to the future when we say yes. Saying yes also helps us by developing others who can aid us, take our place, and if we are lucky, exceed our potential. The bigger and better our team becomes, the more success our Grange will have.  When we say “yes” to others who wish to learn and grow, it pays us back in so many positive ways. Each person that we assist in becoming a leader helps to build a stronger Grange. Why else be a Grange leader than to bring members into the leadership circle and build something that will outlast each of us? Outside the Grange, people are watching what your Grange does in their community. When your Grange says “yes” to a project, what is the reaction of the people affected? What happens when the Grange says “no” to a project? We need people to see that the Grange is relevant to them and to their community; otherwise they will not be inclined to think about joining. Think about why people would want to join your Grange. Is it because you say “yes” or is it because you say “no” to them? No should only be used when members go outside the broad framework of our rules. When you can’t say “yes”, there is one word that can take its place: Maybe. Maybe later, maybe some other way, maybe we can get someone to help us. Try to avoid no and find an answer that gives hope for that idea. Think about how you answer the ideas, comments, and questions of your fellow members. Yes is the most powerful team building word you can use. The challenge is finding ways to use “yes” when “no” is the easiest answer to give. Ed Luttrell National President

Summer 2009 Newsletter

Winona Grange #271 Established in 1895 Summer 2009 Newsletter      Lions Club Breakfast at the Grange Hall      Our next community event: a joint-venture with the Tualatin Lions Club, a pancake breakfast on July 18. Proceeds to benefit the Tualatin Lions Club Youth programs. 7:30-11:00 am.      Lions will provide all food and service, Grange will provide use of dishes, silverware, coffee pots.      Please come to support this worthy cause. Cost is $5, and $15 for a family. Dolores Crossway Scholarship      Sam Keator and Rochelle Martinazzi Smith stand on either side of Tigard High School senior Keri Jenson, winner of Winona Grange's $2,500 Dolores Crossway Scholarship. Keri plans to study veterinary medicine at Gonzaga University. Welcome, new members      ChristineTunstall, member of the long time Tualatin Nyberg family, joined at the April potluck.      Mona Knapp, member of the Irish dance group, joined in May. Winona Grange hosts Chamber of Commerce Friday, July 17 at 7:30 am      Come help show the businesses in Tualatin that the Grange is still a viable organization in the community.      Members of the Chamber meet weekly at various business locations for networking and promotion.  July 17 is the Grange's turn.      Pastries, coffee, juice and fruit will be served in the downstairs area, after which chamber members will gather in the upstairs main room for introductions. Our president Dick Naven will begin with a brief explanation of the Grange's activities. We will be donating a basket of local produce and preserves as a door prize. All Grange members are urged to attend if possible. Grange garden project      Dick Naven tilled the garden plot at Rochelle Smith's Century Farm, and Ken Dickson donated an abundance of organic fertilizer. Radishes, lettuce, beets, zucchini, chard and cilantro have been delivered to the Tualatin School House Food pantry. Corn is knee high, beans are blooming, and squash and carrots growing. To help with weeding and watering, call Rochelle at 503-692-3243. Tool shed Project      Garage sales are good outlets for old but usable garden tools, which are being gathered to donate to the gleaners. Bring them to the Grange hall on meeting days, or deliver to Rochelle's farm. Crawfish Festival Parade Saturday August 8      Ken and Rosa Lee Dickson will provide a truck, trailer or boat for our parade entry. Our participation in the parade will prove we are still active. Did you know that our Grange was helpful in organizing the first festival in 1951? More info at the July meeting.  Winona to host Pomona in July      On Saturday, July 25, at 10:00am Washington - Yamhill County Pomona Grange meets at our hall.      Rochelle Smith and Loyce Martinazzi will serve lunch. All Winona members are invited to attend.      Katherine Luttrell, Pomona master, will chair the meeting. Clean-Up Continues....      On June 13 Winona Grange members met to spruce up our hall. Dick Naven, Sam Keator, and Monte McCutcheon worked on the upper story windows, replacing panes, and scraping and priming the frames. They were assisted by some of Sam's friends in the Irish Dance community.      Inside, Dawn McCutcheon, Carol Cummings, Suzanne Weldon, Rochelle Smith , Carin Lyons, Marilyn Reiher and Loyce Martinazzi cleaned behind benches, wiped down the walls upstairs, dusted , scrubbed , and washed drapes. Another work day will be scheduled to finish the window project.      New shades have been installed in the downstairs, and the valances have been washed and re-hung.      Monte McCutcheon, pastor of the Abundant Life Family Church, which rents our hall, has installed new paper towel dispensers in both rest rooms.      Dick Naven is preparing to add new hand railings to the front porch. Lookin' good!  Senior Center Service      Our Grange helps serve and clean up lunch at the Juanita Pohl Senior Center the second Friday of each month. If you would like to help, contact president Dick Naven. Juanita and her husband Leonard were active members of both Winona Grange and the Tualatin-Durham Senior Center until their deaths. Remembering the old days:      Dishy David Reichel sits on his can. His bean can. Grangers Leo and Ann Reichel and their children Gaynell, David and "Butchie" raised bush beans at their farm off Herman Road. Many of the Youth Group picked there. Photo courtesy of the late Dolores Crossway. Winona Grange Community Potluck      On April 25th, over 75 friends of the community , including members of the the weekly Irish dance class, and the Tualatin Historic Society met for a community pot luck at our Grange hall. We collected 170 pounds of food items for the Tualatin Food Bank, which our Overseer Norm Parker delivered to the Tualatin School House Food Pantry.      Doing our part to save the ecology, tables were set with the Grange's real linen cloths, real plates, silverware and glasses. Only paper napkins went into the garbage. Grange members supplied several delicious homemade deserts, bread ,butter and beverages, and the community brought the remainder of a scrumptious meal. Spring flowers and candles graced the tables.   Ken Dickson and daughter Darla          After the meal, everyone pitched in to help clean up. Upstairs we enjoyed live music. Ken Dickson and daughter Darla sang harmony to “Red River Valley”, and Sam Keater led an Irish Round Dance. Goodbye, dear friends In June our charter was draped in loving memory of Larry Heisler Husband of June, father of Wendy, Vicki, Peggy and Doug. Larry joined Winona in 1949 and was part of the youth group. and Lillian Smith Mother of Lenore and Ken. She was preceded in death by husband Edward and son Wayne. Lillian and Edward joined the Grange in 1948.   President's Column:      Has anyone recently asked you, “Isn’t the Grange old-fashioned?”      I am frequently asked if the Grange isn’t old-fashioned, with the implication being the person already thinks so. I usually answer by way of stating “if we are old-fashioned because we open our meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, then I guess we are old-fashioned. But what is it about the Grange that you think is old-fashioned?”      This usually elicits a thoughtful response, rather than coming across as my being overly defensive. It also allows people to address whatever they think is an issue, from their perspective.      Typical issues raised in this manner might include our historically exclusive agricultural focus, children and families, and our community service projects.      I like to point out that the Grange has always given equal, voting status to women, from the Grange’s earliest beginnings in 1867. Women finally gained the right to vote in 1912 in Oregon, by the initiative process, and by Constitutional Amendment nation-wide, in 1920. Women may hold any office in the Grange. If that is old-fashioned, then we must be old-fashioned.      Isn’t membership in the Grange limited to farmers? And, aren’t the Grange programs just for the benefit of farmers? Not today. The Grange is keeping up with the changing times by drawing membership from the whole community, and aiming their programs at the whole community, because today’s community includes many who aren’t farmers. This is an area where we definitely aren’t old-fashioned.      The Grange is inherently family-oriented; any young person 14 years old or older can become a full member, and has every membership privilege, including that of voting. The Grange takes all members’ ideas seriously; if a young     person has a proposal for a community service program, everyone will listen and thoughtfully consider what is said. This is wonderfully old-fashioned.      Be sure and take advantage of the next opportunity you have to tell someone how old-fashioned we are, or aren’t. -- Dick Naven  Buddy Poppies      In honor of Memorial Day, at the May meeting Mary Ann Hulquist read a speech telling how the Buddy Poppy project began. She also read it at the Memorial Day ceremony at Winona Cemetery. "In Flanders Field the poppies grow...."       60 year Grange membership seals will be awarded to Darrell Dickson Kathleen Milan and Larry Heisler (posthumous) at the July 27 meeting Well done, good and faithful servants Visit our website at www.winonagrange271.org

Spring 2009 Newsletter

Winona Grange #271 Established in 1895 Spring 2009 Newsletter    President's Message:       Spring is coming. Every season has something to offer us, yet we think of Spring as the time of new beginnings. That's as good a place to start as any.       This year, we will have many opportunities to positively impact the Tualatin community. The National Grange has decreed that every local Grange shall have a "Grange Food Event" on April 25th. Although originally conceived as a rebuttal to Tyson Foods' challenge to the exclusive use of the word Grange, having such an event gives us a timely incentive to re-establish seasonal Grange events at Winona. After all, April is Grange Month.       I am a bit apprehensive about being your new Grange leader, as I have always shunned the top office in any organization in which I have been involved. My preference is to work behind the scenes, as "support personnel." I guess I will just have to adjust, and I look forward to working with each of you.       Some basics for the April 25th Community Potluck have already been established, and more details will be worked out at our March 23rd meeting.      I hope to see all of you there. --Dick Naven ~In Remembrance~   Dolores Milan Crossway       Winona Grange's charter was draped in January to honor Master Dolores Crossway who passed away recently. Dolores grew up in Tualatin, and graduated from Tualatin Elementary School and Tigard High School.      She joined Winona Grange in 1948 and was active in the youth degree team, Rosebud drill team, many plays and musicals, and sang in the top Barbershop Quartet at State Grange in 1951.       Dolores is survived by her sister Kathleen Milan, a Winona member, husband Willie Crossway, son Glen, daughter Tracey and many grandchildren.       Memorial services were held at Newberg United Methodist church where she was an active member, and internment was at Newberg Cemetery.   ~~~ Marie Stone Flabetich      Marie Flabetich passed away peacefully at her home in Tualatin, just 6 months away from her 100th birthday.  She and her husband Reg Stone and their children, along with other family members came to Tualatin from South Dakota in 1941.  She joined Winona Grange in 1947 and recently was awarded her 60 year seal of membership.  She married John Flabetich several years after Reg passed away.      She is survived by daughter June and son Dale, sister Lillian Smith, all Winona members, and many grand and great grandchildren.       The charter was draped in Marie's honor at the February meeting.  Her memorial service was held at Norwood Bible Church where she was a member, and she is laid to rest in Tualatin's Winona Cemetery.    Well done, good and faithful servants   Dates to remember:   Monday, March 23 at 1 pm Winona Grange meeting Potluck lunch at noon   Saturday, April 25 at 6 pm Community potluck supper, 6 pm Winona Grange Hall Grange will provide table service, beverages and dessert   Monday, April 27 at 1 pm Winona Grange meeting Potluck lunch at noon   Monday, May 25 at 11am Memorial Service at Winona Cemetery Sponsored by Tualatin VFW and Winona Cemetery Association   Monday, May 25 at 1 pm Winona Grange meeting Potluck lunch at noon   Many of Winona Grange charter members are buried at Winona Cemetery including: Master B. R. Henry, Overseer J.R.C. Thompson Chaplain Edward Byrom, Treasurer William Jurgens Secretary W. R. Day, Gate Keeper Rawlinson Potts Asst. Steward William Sedlak, Lady Assistant Steward Dora Cummins Other members: John L. Smith, Elizabeth Byrom Martha Thompson, Orrin Thompson, Louis Jurgens   Dolores Crossway College Scholarship        Winona Grange voted to name our college scholarship in honor of the late Dolores Crossway.  Dolores was passionate about the scholarship project, and dealt with the schools and students for several years, appearing at the school awards assembly to present our certificate.      A new application, which includes categories for agricultural studies, including  Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, Fisheries, Parks, and Ecological Engineering, was delivered to both Tigard and Tualatin High School Councilors.  The $2,500 scholarship application has a deadline of April 15.  Notices have been sent to the local newspapers and is posted on the Grange website as well as being distributed to  Tualatin and Tigard high School Seniors.     The scholarship fund has been enhanced by generous donations from members of Dolores' family. Scholarship committee-Sam Keator, Rochelle Smith and Norm Parker.       Memories from Winona Grange Youth Group   Uncle Toms' Cabin, a musical performance by Winona Grange Youth Group in 1950, and staged at the old (then new) Tualatin Grade School. Left to right-Jeanne Hogan (Zuver), Dolores Milan (Crossway), Homer Zuver, Ken Dickson as Uncle Tom, June Husky (Halliday) as Little Eva, Jack Long as Simon Legree, Ritchie Bacon as Topsy, and Kathleen Milan as Harriet Beecher Stowe.  Everyone sang, except Kathleen who recently admitted she was too shy to sing her part, so she spoke it.    Tualatin Chamber of Commerce        New member Kate Desommes made up a gift basket for the Chamber's fund raising auction.  In it were certificates for Yoga lessons from Kate, certificates for Irish Dance lessons from Sam Keator, jam, syrup and honey from Lee Farms, and a Grange membership brochure. Remember the hungry! So far, 2 full boxes have been delivered to our local food pantry

Fall 2008 Newsletter

Winona Grange #271 Established in Tualatin in 1895 Fall 2008 Newsletter   Message From the Master             What a beautiful fall! This is one of my favorite times of the year!             Be sure to take note of our great new signs on the outside of the building. They look so nice-and thank you to Dick and Sam for spear-heading this project. Well done!             Our building is really beginning to look pretty spiffy—the new roof, new signs, and the cleaning and organizing have been on-going.             For quite some time we have held our meetings in the downstairs. I would like to start having the meetings upstairs. We have such a nice hall, and we need to enjoy all of it. So we may start doing that soon.             It was over three years ago that a number of us “old timers” started attending meetings after many years of inactivity. It's been a great re-connection with some old friends and we certainly did get involved. Looking back, we can feel good about what we've accomplished—building on what went before. Now—what new ideas can we put into action? -Dolores Crossway, Master November officer elections             Please be sure to attend the November 27 meeting, as according to Grange rules, election of officers is to be held on the first monthly meeting of each Subordinate Grange. Some of Winona's officers have served for many years, and it may be time for other members to step forward and take the responsibility of an office. We traditionally elect a Master, Overseer, Lecturer, Treasurer and Secretary. Following are guidelines sent out by Oregon State Grange:             Each Grange is encouraged to select its officers and committees very carefully. All members should have an opportunity to serve as an Officer or on a committee. Good leadership is essential to the progress of each Grange. The fundamentals of Grange Officer elections are: Nominations are never closed, which allows members to vote for whomever they desire.  Members vote by paper ballot to preserve their right to a secret ballot. An officer is elected if he/she receives 50% plus one of the total votes cast.  No nominating speeches are allowed, which includes campaigning for office. Members may attend any meeting, but should never state whom any member should vote for nor make any disparaging statement about any candidate.  Any member may decline an office for which they have been nominated.  Nominations will be called for by the Master for the first office in rank. However, a Grange may choose to amend their By-laws or by motion elect officers in any order.  Members may hold office only in the Grange in which they hold membership. Affiliate members may not hold the same office in two Subordinate/ Communtiy Granges at the same time. New signs improve Grange image             Thanks to Sam Keator and Dick Naven, the old tacky signs on the exterior of our building have been replaced by bright, clean new Grange signs. Since our hall is located in the heart of the Tualatin City Commons, it is fitting that we project a good image, and show that our Grange is still a force in the community. Welcome new members!             Three new members have joined Winona Grange. Suzanne Naven, Carrie Roshak and Tony Whitmore. Interior clean up             The interior of our building has been tidied up too, presenting a cleaner and more uncluttered appearance, and making it easier for each rental group to store their “stuff”. Thanks to Monte McCutcheon, Dolores Crossway, Kathleen Milan, Mary Ann Hulquist, Rosa Lee Dickson, Vicci Martinazzi and Dick Naven. It is not always easy to keep our old building organized when so many groups use it. Community Service             Please remember to write down your good deeds when Mary Ann Hulquist passes around the record sheets. It is important! Memorial Service             Michael Kilbourne's stepfather recently passed away and his memorial service was held in our hall. This is a very good use of our building. We are happy the space was available for the family. Garden news             Our community garden has produced hundreds of pounds of wonderful produce that has been given to the Tualatin Food Bank Pantry and the Tualatin Senior Center. Though the corn didn't make it, there were many, many large baskets of tomatoes, radishes, onions, lettuce, kohlrabi, swiss chard, grean and wax beans, carrots, and zucchini, oh yes, lots and lots of beautiful zucchini. Originally the idea of Dick Naven, the garden is located on Rochelle Smith's Century Farm, and many happy hours were spent by Winona members planting, weeding, watering and harvesting the bountiful crop. On Saturday, October 18, we met at the farm to put the Grange garden to bed for the winter. The last of the produce was picked, plants and weeds pulled up and piled, and the area generally cleaned up and readied for winter. Helping were Suzanne Weldon, Sam Keator and his son Ben, Dick Naven, Rochelle Smith, Norm Parker and Loyce Martinazzi. Vicci Martinazzi brought the fixin's for a great lunch. Lots of fun and good fellowship. Garden Seed distribution project update             We have previously sorted and inventoried all the seed packets, thanks to the group that met at the Grange and spent a morning separating all the various kinds into groups and boxes. Our next step is to make up some assortments. We have decided to make two different sizes of assortments available, and have calculated the mix accordingly. We will try to set a date for making assortments at the next Grange meeting. Please bring your calendars. An article has been prepared for the November issue of the Oregon Grange Bulletin, to introduce the distribution of garden seeds for local Grange programs, and as a way to promote “Thinking Outside the Box” in other Granges. We are working to make a database of all Oregon Granges, Masters & Secretaries, to accommodate a mailing before the end of the year. We should have assortments made up by then, as we want to be able to begin shipping in January (notice that the mail-order seed catalogs begin to appear in your mailbox right after New Years).  -Dick Naven, garden seed project coordinator Next Winona Grange meeting is Monday October 27. Potluck lunch at noon, meeting at 1 pm. Question: Why did the chicken cross the road? Answer: To show the opossum it could be done.