On March 16, 1875, Oriental Grange #165 was
officially organized and chartered by the PA State Grange and the
National Grange. There were 23 charter members at that time and the
first elected Grange Master (President) of Oriental Grange was John
Lee of McKeene's Station. Oriental Grange #165 was located in Falls
Township, Wyoming County.
Unfortunately, on November 16, 2004, PA
State Grange President Betsy Huber was forced to revoke the charter
of Oriental Grange #165 for failure to pay dues owed to the
Pennsylvania State Grange for more than one year. The Grange had
been meeting at the Lake Winola Fire Hall.
On Wednesday, June 7, 2006, PA State
Grange President Betsy Huber, along with National Grange Membership
Director Ed Luttrell and PA State Grange Membership Director Carl
Meiss, will be conducting a re-organizational meeting at 7:00 p.m.
at the PA Dept. of Agriculture Region III Field Office on Rt. 92
South, Tunkhannock, in an effort to re-charter Oriental Grange #165.
Prior to Wednesday's meeting, the State
and National Grange representatives will be talking to community
leaders and interested individuals from the Tunkhannock/Winola Falls
areas in an attempt to find out what community problems or needs are
in this area and how the Grange could be of assistance in resolving
these problems and needs. Beginning on Monday, June 5, Carl Meiss
will be available Monday and Tuesday evenings at the Shadowbrook Inn &
Resort from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to discuss the Grange with
interested citizens from the area. He can be contacted at
717-991-3939.
Wednesday's meeting is open to the public
and everyone is invited to attend. Concerned citizens can learn more
about re-organizing the Grange in the area and becoming involved in
the organization to better their quality of life.
The Grange is the oldest organization of
its kind in the United States. Formed nationally in 1867 and
chartered in Pennsylvania in 1873, the Grange was originally an
advocacy
group for agriculture. Today, the
Grange is a family fraternal
organization dedicated to the betterment of rural America through
community service, education, legislation and
fellowship. The Grange includes members of all ages from their
Junior Grangers (ages 5-14), Youth Members (ages 14-24), Young
Adults (ages 21-35) and Regular Community (Local) members (age 14
and up). The Grange represents approximately 15,000 Pennsylvanians
across the Commonwealth.
The PA State
Grange office coordinates legislative policies presented by the nearly
310 community Granges throughout the Commonwealth and contracts with a
full-time lobbying group, Wolff Strategies, to present these Grange
policies to the Representatives and Senators in Harrisburg. Today,
the Grange promotes not only agriculture, but also family issues,
government issues, as well as transportation and utility issues.
Please attend Wednesday's meeting at the
PA Dept. of Ag. Region III Field Office to find out how YOU can become
involved in this 134 year-old organization's work to better your
community!
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