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PA State Grange State Session Goes to Mercer County |
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For information contact: Carl Meiss, Public Relations Director Ph: (717)-234-5001 or (800)-552-3865 Email: publicrelations@pagrange.org |
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October 14, 2005 |
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The PA State Grange Annual State Session is scheduled for Saturday,
October 22nd through Monday, October 24, 2005 in West Middlesex,
Mercer County. The host hotel is the Radisson Hotel Sharon, West
Middlesex, PA. This year's hosting Grange Pomonas (counties) are
Crawford, Mercer and Venango. Next year's Session is scheduled to
be held in Reading, Berks County.
Prior to the official opening of this year's Session, the PA State
Grange will host a "2007 Farm Bill Listening Session," coordinated
through U.S.D.A. Secretary Mike Johanns' office and the PA State
Grange. This session is open to the public and will begin at 6:30 in
the Radisson Hotel Sharon.
The official Opening of the 133rd Annual PA State Grange Session will
take place at 1:00 p.m. Saturday in the Grand Ballroom of the
Radisson. The day's session will be closed at 4:15 p.m. by the PA
State Grange Youth Officers. This year's National Grange
representative is Henrietta Keller and her husband Norm. Henrietta is
the National Grange Secretary and is from Illinois.
New for this year, Session will run from Saturday through Monday,
shortening the total number of days that Local Grange Delegates must
attend by one, from previous years. The highlight of the weekend will
be on Sunday afternoon when the annual PA State Grange Talent Contest
will be held at the West Middlesex High School at 3:00 p.m. Following
the contest, Grangers will gather back at the Radisson at 6:30 p.m.
for the annual "All Granger Banquet." During the banquet, numerous
prizes and awards will be presented to various citizens and Grange
members, including the PA State "Granger of the Year."
Monday morning will see the Official Session open at 8:30 a.m. This
year there is one State Grange Officer's position open, Executive
Committee Member, and elections will be held for that office at 11:45
a.m. The remainder of the day's Session will be taken up by delegates
voting on more than 80 "Resolutions" presented from some of the more
than 310 Local Granges throughout the Commonwealth. Closing of the
2005 State Session is scheduled for approximately 5:00 p.m.
The Grange is a family fraternal organization dedicated to the betterment of the American quality of life 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 16,000 Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth. It is the oldest agricultural and rural organization of its kind in the United States. The National Grange (Patrons of Husbandry), representing about 300,000 members, began in 1867 and the PA State Grange was chartered in 1873. PENNSYLVANIA STATE GRANGE 133rd ANNUAL SESSION WEST MIDDLESEX, MERCER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA HEADQUARTERS: Radisson Hotel Sharon, West Middlesex, PA HOSTS: Crawford, Mercer, and Venango Counties Friday, October 21, 2005 State Officers, Departmental Committees arrive 2:00-5:00 Registration - Radisson 2:00 Exhibit Rooms set-up - Sheffield, Devonshire, Essex 2:30 Executive Committee meeting - room 103 5:00 Host Banquet 6:30 2007 Farm Bill Listening Session 9:00 State Officer Rehearsal - Grand Ballroom 10:00 Youth Officer Rehearsal - Grand Ballroom Saturday, October 22, 2005 8-12 Receive Exhibits 8-12 Committee meetings at call of Chair 8-5:30 Registration of delegates/guests Radisson 8:30 Youth Officer Closing Rehearsal Grand Ballroom 8:00-12:00 Sixth Degree Practice High School 10:00 Credit Union Annual Meeting/Brunch Pool Area 11-1:00 Junior Jamboree Registration 1:00 Official Opening of 133rd Annual Session - Grand Ballroom Presentation of Honored Guests National Representatives Henrietta & Norman Keller, National Grange Secretary Welcome - Host Committee Partial Report of Credentials Committee Master's Address Officer Reports - Secretary, Treasurer Committee Reports on Resolutions 2:00 Judging of Exhibits begins 4:00 Suggestions for Office and Introduction of Candidates 4:15 Closing of Saturday's session by Youth Officers 5:30-7:00 Registration of delegates/guests West Middlesex High School 6:30 Sixth Degree by State Officers West Middlesex High School 9:00 Reception hosted by State Officers & Youth Party 9:00-10:30 Exhibits Open Sunday, October 23, 2005 7:00 Service Corp Annual Meeting/Breakfast Pool Area 8:30 Worship Service Lebanon Presbyterian Church 9:45 Junior Grange Meeting & Degree Grand Ballroom 10:00 Masters' Meeting - Radisson 10:45 Service Corp Workshop: - Radisson "Americare Home Care Services" 10:00 Exhibits Open 10-6:00 Registration West Middlesex High School 11:30 Youth Luncheon Radisson 1:30 Committees meet at call of Chair 1:30 Sign A Song, Public Speaking Contest West Middlesex High School D & CS and Youth Directors 1:30 Workshop - Chesapeake Financial Services Grand Ballroom 3:00 Talent Contest West Middlesex High School Juniors & Adults 6:30 All Granger Banquet Grand Ballroom 9-10:30 Exhibits Open Monday, October 24, 2005 7:00 Family Activities Breakfast - Radisson Director Ginny Mangel 8:00 Exhibits Open 8-12 Registration - Radisson 8:30 Opening of Monday's Session Grand Ballroom
10:00 Exhibits close for pack-up 11:45 Election of Officer Executive Committee Member 12:00 Past Officers' Luncheon Radisson 2:00 Session reconvenes Past Officers' Recognition Reports of Committees on Resolutions 3:00 Exhibits ready for pick-up 4:00 Installation of Officer Recognition of Host Committee Invitation to 134th Session Closing of 133rd Annual Session
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