Winona met in person in our hall in June, July, November, and December. The other eight meetings were via Zoom.
- Garden Seed Project: Our signature project keeps growing.
- In the spring we distributed 72 boxes of assorted vegetable, herb, and flower seeds to community gardens, Granges, and gardening groups in Oregon.
- In October Bi-Mart contacted us to pick up 100+ grocery bags of Ferry-Morse packets from their Eugene warehouse. We also contacted Wilco, who gave us a pallet-sized box of Livingston packets. Our members sorted them while watching TV. Then 34 volunteers worked two-hour shifts to pack 73 shipping boxes and their own bags or pockets. On December 27, six members packed 27 more boxes that have already ordered. Our total distribution will be a record 102 boxes!
- Portland Puzzle Exchange: We debated for many months whether Winona Grange should take over hosting the exchange when Dick Naven and his wife moved to Idaho. Fortunately, Dick recruited Dan and Judy Vaughan to do it. They are doing a great job and have become Winona members.
- Trees: A fungus on one of our Big Leaf Maples and a couple of low limbs caused us to consult many arborists. In December we got the trees trimmed; most now believe those trees will outlast many of our members.
- Finances: Thanks to investments made by 26 current and former members, Winona Grange did not owe dues to the State Grange for two quarters.
- Water Heater: When our hot water heater stopped heating, we assumed that we’d had it since the flood of 1996. In fact, it was installed in 1988. Hope its replacement lasts as long.
- Winona Cemetery Clean Up: StandUp students at Tualatin High School helped us clean the cemetery prior to Memorial Day. They also taped our seed boxes.
- Scholarships: Members donated money for two scholarships. We awarded $2,500 to a highly motivated Tualatin High School graduate with a financial need who is studying computer engineering at Oregon State University. We gave $1,000 to a Sherwood High School graduate who is studying pre-veterinary medicine at Montana State University.
- Hall Contents Inventory: To reduce our insurance premium, we counted chairs, coffee cups, and other contents. We learned that our piano is an Eilers Upright Grand made in Portland before 1930. The two large oil paintings were donated by Grace Robinson’s heirs in 1950. They were painted by Manuel Valencia (1856-1935), after whom Valencia Street in San Francisco is named. Each is worth over $4,000.
- 125th anniversary: We again postponed a celebration due to covid.
- New renters: We miss the Abundant Life Family Church that closed after renting for 16 years. But many groups were looking for a new venue; we’ve added Valley View Riders, Encore Vocal Ensemble, Faith Lutheran Church, Quilting at the Grange, and Wilsonville Stage.
- New Members: We have nine new voting members and one business member.
As you can see, Winona Grange is continuing to fulfill our mission. We hope you’ll continue to support our efforts! We welcome your suggestions.