The 134th Annual Session of the
Pennsylvania State Grange is now history. Reading,
Berks County was the site of this year's Session and the
12 Community Granges from Berks County coordinated to
host the conference at the Inn at Reading from Friday,
October 20th through Monday, October 23rd.
Friday afternoon and evening saw
various committees meet to prepare for the Session as
well as the Host Committee dinner for State Grange
Officers and invited guests.
The Official Opening of this 134th
Annual Session was held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday.
Following a welcome by the Berks Pomona (County) Host
Committee, PA State Grange President Betsy Huber
introduced Jimmy and Anita Gentry, this year's National
Grange Representatives to PA. Jimmy is a member of the
National Grange Executive Committee and is also the
President of the North Carolina State Grange. Both
Jimmy and his lovely wife Anita gave brief words of
welcome to the more than 200 delegates in attendance.
Mrs. Huber then presented her
Master's (President's) Annual Report of major
accomplishments of the PA State Grange since last
October's 133rd Session. The highlight of her report
was the announcement that two new PA Granges were
opened: Hamburg Grange #2103, In Hamburg, Berks
County; and Cumberland Valley Grange #2104, in
Shippensburg, Cumberland County.
The remainder of Saturday's Session
saw reports from various State Grange Officers as well
as Standing Committee Reports on Resolutions.
The Grange is a true Grass Roots"
organization due to the fact that one of the major items
on the Annual Agenda is the review of Resolutions to set
the following year's legislative policies for the State
Grange. Individual members from the 298 Community
Granges throughout the Commonwealth are encouraged to
write resolutions dealing with problems identified by
Grange members that are of importance and may require
various legislative lobbying efforts in Harrisburg.
These include issues that fall under the Standing
Committees: Agricultural and Environmental Issues;
Family Issues; Governmental Issues, and; Good of the
Order.
This year's Session saw PA State
Grange delegates voting on 62 different resolutions
submitted by members. Those resolutions which are
supported by a majority of the delegates and deal with
Pennsylvania problems, set the following year's
Legislative Policies for the PA State Grange.
Resolutions which are passed and deal with National
problems will be taken by PA State Grange delegates,
Betsy Huber and Beth Downey, to next month's National
Grange Convention in Illinois for action.
"Official Business" is suspended for
Sunday but Grange members are not idle. Additional
meetings and breakfasts/luncheons are held but the
highlights of the day are the Sign-A-Song and Public
Speaking competitions followed by the always popular
Grange Talent Contest. This year's competitions were
held in the afternoon at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in
Reading. The winners of these varied contests win the
right to continue on to compete and perform at the
National Grange Convention. The "Best of Show" winners
of the talent competition were Ed and Carole Horne from
Buffalo Grange #1523 in Washington County.
The PA State Junior Grangers also
hold their annual meeting and Degree conferral on Sunday
followed by the State Grange Youth holding a luncheon
and awarding their annual "Friend of the Youth Grange"
award. This year's recipient was Jeff Wetzel from Berks
County.
The "All Granger Banquet" was held
Sunday evening at the Inn. Dinner was enjoyed after a
brief welcome by PA State Grange Vice-President Brian
Ebersole and the Invocation presented by PA State Grange
Chaplain Judy Pressler.
President Huber then introduced the
many honored guests which included county commissioners,
State Representatives and Senators, representatives from
other agricultural organizations, New Jersey State
Grange President Franklin "Pete" Pompper, PA Rural
Letter Carriers Joseph & RoseAnn Duschl, and PA Dairy
Princess Sarah Caldwell.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture
Dennis Wolff then greeted the more than 400 attendees,
followed by remarks from the Republican candidate for PA
Governor, Lynn Swann. The keynote speaker, who amazed
everyone in attendance, was Reverand Victor Kroninger, a
"Senior Citizen," motorcycle riding Pastor full of
enthusiasm and adventure!
Retiring State Representative Sheila
Miller from Berks County was awarded the PA State Grange
"Friend of the Grange" award for her many years of
support for the Grange in the legislature.
Various awards were presented
following the banquet which closed with the announcement
of the "PA Grange Family of the Year." The Keith Family
from Lincoln Grange #914 in Huntingdon County won this
year's honor. The family includes grandmother
Joan, John and Cindy (father and mother), and children
Jodi, Andrew and Stacie (Andrew was unable to attend
because someone had to remain at home to milk the
cows).
Monday morning saw the official work
of the Grange continue with remaining resolutions being
discussed and voted upon, before the Democratic
candidate for Governor, Gov. Ed Rendell, took the time
to stop by and address the members.
Following the Governor's speech,
election of PA State Grange officers took place.
Re-elected to two-year terms were:
-
Betsy Huber - President (Master)
-
Brian Ebersole - Vice-President (Overseer)
-
Sharon Kimmel - Program Director (Lecturer)
-
Chester Tau - Steward
-
Kelly VanOrd - Lady Assistant Steward
-
Judy Pressler - Chaplain
-
Henry Seidel - Treasurer
-
Sandy Witmer - Secretary
-
Richard Mangel - Greeter (Gatekeeper)
-
Tammy Schaeffer - Ceres
-
Sara Shank - Pomona
Elected to their first two-year term
in office were:
Christie Straub - Flora
Nettie
Kauffman - Executive Committee
After the officers were officially
installed, Beth Downey invited everyone to next year's
135th Annual PA State Grange Session in Williamsport,
Lycoming County. The 134th Session of the PA State
Grange was then closed.
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 14-23), Young Adults (ages 21-35) and
Regular Community (local) members (age 14 and up).
The Grange represents approximately 15,000
Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth. It is the
oldest agricultural and rural advocacy 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.