Montague Common Hall Newsletter
December 2015
You guys! 
It has been a great year for the Montague Common Hall! We have raised money, as well as awareness of this amazing community resource. Community involvement has grown; and we have an active Board of Directors who consistently show up for meetings (this is a major victory!). The number of rentals and other bookings is also on the rise. YOU have made this possible! And YOU can help it continue to grow. Here are 6 awesome ways to get involved:
1. Monday, 12/7/15, 5- 7:30 p.m. This month’s Hope & Olive Free Soup and Games Night
will benefit the Montague Common Hall! Come eat free soup, drink heartily, join our raffle, buy baked goods, play games, and empty your pockets for this awesome community resource! Come early, before the madness!
2. Saturday 12/12/15, 9 a.m.-2p.m. MCH’s Annual Make and Take Craft Day!
Tired of malls, and shopping till you drop? Here’s your opportunity to make all of your holiday gifts and baubles at once! You and your kids can make glass magnets, spin art, jewelry, shrinky-dinks, beeswax candles and more! Admission is free; crafts cost 1-10 tickets. Tickets are $1 each, or $20 for 25 tickets. All proceeds benefit the hall.
3. Become a sustaining member.
A stable monthly income is the best way to ensure that this beautiful building continues to be available to you. Maintenance alone is a huge chunk of cash. Once that piece is stabilized, we can begin a capital campaign to make major improvements in the areas of air-quality, energy conservation, flood-proofing, and accessibility. Even $10/month makes a huge difference. See below how the Alvah Stone will sweeten the deal if you become a sustaining member in the month of December. If you are ready click here to sign up now.
4. Volunteer your time and expertise.
Painters, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, accountants, lawyers, designers, muscians, artists, and all good hearted, creative smartypants who want to help: contact Hannah.
5. Organize a public event! Or rent the hall for a private event!
The more events we have, the more people become aware of the Common Hall, and fall in love with it! If you have an idea for an event, contact Nicole.
6. LIKE us like crazy on FACEBOOK -
Word of mouth and social media are the best way to spread the word.
NEWS!
For the Month of December, the Alvah Stone to Help Boost Our Sustaining Membership Drive - AGAIN!
The Alvah Stone has offered a one-time $25 gift certificate to anyone who signs up during the month of December for a sustaining membership of $10-25 a month; and a $50 gift certificate for sustaining memberships of $30 per month and up. Gift Certificates are good any day of the week, through the month of April. You can sign up here between NOW and December 31, or go to Soup and Games Night on 12/7, and Mik will sign you up on the spot, if you need some hand-holding :-)
Thanks Alvah Stone!
New Lighting in the Hall
As part of our ongoing effort to make the hall more sustainable, we recently took advantage of a MassSave program to install new energy efficient lighting fixtures throughout the hall. Over $3000 of work was done at a cost to us of just over $600. Most notably, the aging fluorescent box lights on the ceiling of the main hall were replaced with recessed LED fixtures that give more even and pleasing light, while using MUCH less electricity.
Next Event in the O2 Benefit Series Coming in February
Concerts? Lectures? Variety Show? Karaoke Night? Fashion Show? 80's Funky Dance Night? We are still taking suggestions for local beneficiaries, as well as what kind of events would get you out in the cold, dark of February! Contact Hannah with your awesome ideas.
DECEMBER EVENTS, Coming Right Up!
12/5/15, Gender Role Free Contra Dance, 7-10 p.m.
12/7/15, Free Soup and Games Night @ Hope and Olive in Greenfield, 5-7:30 p.m.
12/12/15 Make and Take Holiday Craft Day at the MCH, 9a.m.-2 p.m.
12/17 Family Game Night 6:30 -8:30 p.m.
On-going:
Nadya Yoga – Tuesdays at 5:30
Family Game Night – Third Thursdays at 6:30
BIG THANK YOUS!
Many, many thanks to our local, free-range Balkan band, Xopo, whose foot-stomping, roof-raising music launched the first in the O2 Benefit Series, raising $800, half of which was promptly sent to ShelterBox.org.
Thank you to Gary Turn, who had a little extra time and cleared our lawn of leaves and debris, and made us look respectable!
And thank you also to Board members, our Sustaining members, the Historical Society, and all the other good souls who volunteer time and donate goods and money to keep the Common Hall afloat.
Here is the link to the minutes from the last board meeting.
Posted: to General News on Sat, Nov 28, 2015
Updated: Fri, Dec 4, 2015