Attn: Secretaries

Please review your Grange mail carefully. You should receive the annual Deaf and Community Service Appeal this month.

Some folks have suggested that we send the Appeal directly to the D&CS Chairperson. The challenge here is that not every Grange has a D&CS Chair but every Grange does have a Secretary.

Remember that all the monies we receive from Granges (Subordinate and Pomona and Junior) go to support Operation Shoebox (for our Troops) and other vital causes that you, as members bring to our attention.

Attn: D&CS Chairs

See above.

Be diligent in your efforts to get your members to financially support programs and projects that improve the lives of Pennsylvanians in a variety of ways.

That’s what we’re here for.

Check out...

There is a website, www.soles4souls.org if you have shoes that are still in very good shape taking up space in your closet that you no longer wear.

This group sends the shoes on to people who are very much in need of them.

Amazing what you can find on the web.

The Legacy Project

Another interesting website is www.legacyproject.org  sponsored by the nonprofit Parenting Coalition and Generations United in Washington, DC.

The online kit has activities, crafts and games that children, parents and grandparents can work on together.

Families will learn about each other in a fun way.

Genealogy 101 Update

Several Grangers have asked how my ‘people search’ is going since last year's Family Festival when I gave some pointers on how to find your roots.

I so enjoy the challenge of finding the leaves on my family tree.

The one line I follow with the most relatives now has just over 9350 descendants, fourteen generations!

What’s Your Passion?

I have donated genealogy research time to different fund raising events.

Did you every consider a Time and Talent Auction at your Grange?

You donate a specific number of hours of your time to do what you enjoy doing such as yard work, piano lessons, genealogy research, etc. or your specific talent. Offer to make a cake, a night of child care, create some hand-made cards and put them all up for auction to raise money for a general or specific cause.

Grange D&CS Reports

Have you started thinking about putting your report together? The deadline will come quicker than you think.

The report form is sent with the appeal or you can download it from the Grange web page.

Make some notes about what your members have done and take a picture or two if you care to.

The reports are to help other Granges come up with new and effective ways to improve their local communities.

We do award plaques and a check for the top reports. What’s even more important is how many people at Session will see the work your members have done and be inspired to do the same when they return home.

A Community Service Idea from "Building the Grange Across America - Coast to Coast Real Success Stories Vol.2"

WWII Hero Flight Weissert Community Grange #419 Nebraska

Contact Address: Shannon Cooksley, 44995 Lone Tree Cemetery Rd., Berwyn, NE 68814.

Directions to event: Washington, D.C.

Describe Event: Fund-raising and planning for a free three day trip to Washington, D.C. for WWII Veterans and their spouse or escort to see the WWII Memorial.

Why Event is Done: WWII Memorial was not completed until 60 years after the ending of WWII. Many veterans have not had an opportunity to see the memorial that was constructed to honor their service and sacrifice. WWII veterans are dying rapidly.

Who is served by event: 50 Custer County, Nebraska veterans and their escorts.
Number of Members in Grange: 37

Number of members involved in planning and running event: 3 plus donation money.

Public response to the event: This project exceeded our expectations. Response was wonderful. We raised more money than needed. We had a great "send off" celebration in the city square.

How many non-members are involved in planning or running the event: 50 plus.

How many non-members show up to support or participate: Hundreds

What your members like about doing this event: Custer County was the first in Nebraska to do this project. It was a one-time event in our area, but the idea is shared with other communities. This project brought all of the communities in our county together for a common goal.

What a nice idea to honor our WWII veterans. A bus trip to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. would only need to be a day trip from most areas in Pennsylvania. What an idea...

That’s it from my desk.
 

Lois