Betsy Huber, State Master

 

From the Master's Desk

 

 

Wow, the beginning of another year already! Last year was very exciting and I’m sure 2008 will be full of challenges and successes also. Let’s make it the best one ever for the PA State Grange! It will be my final year as State Master, so please reward me by each of you getting a new member for your Grange.

National Grange
Big things have happened since I wrote my Nov.-Dec. column for The Advocate. We had a very successful National Grange Convention in Sparks, Nevada. You read in the last issue that Ed Luttrell of Oregon was elected National Master. Seven brand new officers were elected, three people changed offices, and also two new officers in the Assembly of Demeter were chosen (see list below). Such an air of excitement and anticipation filled the hall after the election! Immediately after his installation, the new National Master called all the delegates together and asked for our input, concerns and suggestions as he begins his administration. What a great time of sharing, and a great start for a new era for National Grange!

I was very surprised and extremely honored to be elected chair of the National Grange Executive Committee. I am looking forward to working with the “new guys” this year. My one fear was that Master Ed would steal our PR/Membership Director Carl to replace Ed on the National level. Fortunately for me, (maybe unfortunately for Carl), that did not happen and he will stay with PA for now.
The dues increase resolution did pass at National. This means that our dues to National Grange (which are included in your annual dues) will increase to $10 per year in 2008 and $12 per year in 2010. Delegates at the PA State Grange session did not approve passing this $2 increase on to our members in 2008, so our state budget will be short about $25,000 since we have to “eat” the increase.

Be prepared at the 2008 State Session to vote on a dues increase for 2009 and 2010. The alternative is to increase our membership by at least 50 percent; then we won’t have to increase dues to meet the budget.

Pennsylvania’s resolutions fared well this year. Two were adopted: Resolution #12 - Medicare Payments, urging Congress to refrain from reducing payments to physicians and providers; and Resolution #32 - Interstate Highway System Tolls, opposing state efforts to toll expanses of Interstates.

“Grange Degree Ritual” was adopted as amended to specify that a committee comprised of the National Master, 2 members of the National Executive Committee, and 2 members of the Assembly of Demeter will investigate the feasibility of filming the first 4 Degrees on DVD and report back to the 2008 National Session.

Resolution #27 – Pension Plan for Congressional Cons, requiring all political office holders convicted of bribery, extortion, perjury, or molestation to forfeit their taxpayer funded pension, was adopted as combined with similar resolutions. Four of our resolutions were present policy or included in the policy statement, and two were withdrawn.

I served as secretary of the Grange Law Committee again this year, and Beth Downey, our second delegate, served as chairman of the Citizenship and Public Affairs Committee. Great job, Beth! She takes the responsibility very seriously and represents you well at National Grange.

I traveled to Reno a day early so I could do some sightseeing before my duties began. Delaware’s Master Chip and Barb Narvel and New Jersey’s Master Pete Pompper went out on the same plane and we rented a car to drive to Lake Tahoe on Saturday. I’ll quote here a portion of Pete’s report of our travels because he relates it better than I can.

“We ventured southwest toward Lake Tahoe and Lester Gibbs (VT) joined us on our adventure. We had 3 maps and all of them had differences on them, which made navigation interesting and Lester nervous. We made a U-turn 4 times at one intersection and that was 10 minutes into the trip. As we went higher in elevation we started to see traces of snow and a sign about tire chains and snow tires; Lester was getting more nervous and still counting U-turns. But as we crested the top of the mountain and Lake Tahoe was in front of us, it has to be one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Of course we had to do a U-turn to go back to the scenic overlook on a road without guardrails and a 2000’ drop. It was worth it because words cannot describe the beauty.”

State Sessions
Less than two weeks after we arrived home from National, I visited New Jersey’s State Session and enjoyed their business meeting, banquet, and Sixth Degree conferral. Then the next weekend it was off to Delaware for their State Session business meeting and banquet. Both Sessions were very enjoyable and instructional. Thank you to New Jersey and Delaware for their fine hospitality. I was delighted to be able to attend both this year, as they are usually held on the exact same dates.

Farm Show
When you receive this edition the Farm Show will be underway. Stop in and visit us at the Grange booth; maybe spend a couple hours talking to people about Grange. People from all over PA and many other states attend, so this may be a good place to recruit members for your Grange, and we can use your help!

Regional Meetings
Yes, we are already scheduling the spring regional meetings! We hope to have the new National Master Ed Luttrell participate in all or most of them, so put them on your calendar now to be sure to attend. See the list as an addendum on the Grange Calendar.

Family Picnics
As I mentioned in my Master’s Address, I would like to plan 3 or 4 Grange family picnics next summer in different areas of the state. If your Grange has a picnic grove or nice spacious grounds for a picnic, please contact me as soon as possible. I would like to have these scheduled by the next Advocate so you can get them on your calendars too.

Other Activities
Carl Meiss convened the first meeting of the Penn State Grange with 7 members present. Jennifer Nauss of Valley Grange #1360 is the student organizer, and Scott Barbara, member of Logan Grange #109, is the staff advisor. The second meeting will be held after the semester break. This new Grange is open to students and adults in the community, so contact me if you are interested.
Don’t let the cold and bad weather stop you from Grange activities. Some people get very depressed after the holidays and need a night out with a group of friendly people. Grange can fill this need if you just make a phone call and invite them to your meetings.

NATIONAL GRANGE OFFICERS

  • Master – Ed Luttrell, OR
  • Overseer – Jimmy Gentry, NC
  • Lecturer – Judy Sherrod, TN
  • Steward – Jay Pfeiffer, TX
  • Asst. Steward – Roger Bostwick, KS
  • LAS – Beth Merrill, NH
  • Chaplain – John West, NH
  • Treasurer – Joe Fryman, NE
  • Secretary – Henrietta Keller, IL
  • Gatekeeper – Chip Narvel, DE
  • Ceres – Nancy Swainston, MI
  • Pomona – Judy McCann, OK
  • Flora – Linda Chase, MA
  • Executive Commmittee
    • Betsy Huber, PA - chair
    • Marty Bilquist, MT
    • Phil Prelli, CT
    • Pete Pompper, NJ
  • High Priest of Demeter – John Valentine, IN
  • Priest Archon – Dan Bascom, NH
  • Priest Annalist – Bruce Croucher, NY


GOLD STAR GRANGES
The following Granges received Gold Star Certificates at State Session for completing the Gold Star Grange application form received in a mailing to secretaries last summer.

COOKBOOKS
If you or your Grange has any 1972 white cookbooks on hand and you would be willing to sell them back to State Grange, please call Gerry at the State Office, 800-552-3865.