President's Ponderings

Working for Broadband Access

2011-09-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

On the third and fourth of October, the National Grange has the opportunity to partner with the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and other rural partners to sponsor a Fly-In in D.C. to advocate for broadband build out.

There is currently a lot going on in the broadband arena. Proposed mergers and changes to the Universal Service Fund are the major concerns today and both will expedite broadband in rural and non-contiguous areas, which have currently had little if any broadband choice or affordable service.

The Grange has a long history of advocating for rural infrastructure. First we worked for affordable access to railroads, then highway improvement, rural electrification, telephone access and today continue to demand high speed internet access.

The “America’s Broadband Connectivity Plan” presents a balanced approach to changing the focus from telephone to broadband in utilizing the Universal Service Fund without disrupting existing phone service. The Grange is supporting this change along with many of our partners.

Not having access to affordable broadband has dramatic impact to rural America. Small business, farms and ranches, and anyone wanting to be connected to real-time American society depends upon being able to use the internet and dial-up doesn’t meet the need.

The Grange has a history of not just advocating, but showing up and working within the system to make a difference. It is a pleasure to be working with the U.S. Cattlemen and our rural coalition on the broadband issue as our organizations share a deep love, concern, and dedication to a competitive rural America.

Constitution Day

2011-09-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

This Friday is Constitution Day. In 1787 the delegates to the Constitutional Convention gathered and signed the document that they had created. That document was then sent to the states to be ratified.

The 17th of September is truly the birth of the American government. While our nation was born in 1776, the Revolutionary War and the struggles of creating a functioning government took 11more years.

I would suggest that every person take a moment on Friday to read over the Constitution and the 26 amendments that have been made to it. This document isn’t for the rich or powerful, it is for every American to read and understand. It lays out the principle that government must be controlled by the people, not the other way around.

A number of organizations give out copies free of charge and you can download your own electronic copy on your computer and/or your smartphone.

Organizations such as the Grange owe their existence to this document. Government power is specified and limited. Our communities are not controlled by a federal government; instead local citizens have the control.

Take a moment this Friday and take another look at the founding document of our American Republic. Our nation and our Constitution are truly unique and every citizen should understand our nation’s structure.

September 11

2011-09-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday is the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. The Pentagon has been repaired, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center may be gone, but rebuilding proceeds at the site of the worst attack on American soil, and a permanent memorial to the passengers of flight 93 in Pennsylvania is already a reality.

Remembering what happened 10 years ago is important. Many of us vividly recall what we were doing when we heard of the attack. Others have vague recollections or have only seen pictures because of their age. We should remember and honor those who died, but also those who survived and have dealt with the loss of their Mom or Dad, a Son or Daughter, a Husband or Wife, or their friends.

September 11, 2001 was a day that changed the lives of many Americans. Some dealt with personal loss, others joined the military or became more involved in their community. We suddenly became aware that others in the world hated us and were willing to die in order to kill us.

For me on the West Coast, the day was a shock as we saw on TV the terror and destruction that New Yorkers experienced. I felt sadness for those there and anger toward those who had committed this atrocity. The days following 9/11 were ones that showed how badly our nation had been struck, and also the resiliency of the American people, as we dealt with the grounding of all air traffic and so much more. About the 20th of that month, I flew to Baltimore and took a shuttle into D.C. for a scheduled interview at the National Grange headquarters. As we entered the city after 11 p.m., the attacks become more personal and emotional than they had been. As we passed the White House and saw soldiers with their rifles at the ready, standing on every street corner, I felt the change our country had experienced in a much more emotional way.

This year on the 11th, I’ll be at an event that our Grange co-sponsors for the community of Boring, Ore. We will remember the importance of the day with several special activities, and celebrate the importance of community spirit in Boring.

I hope this Sunday, you will take a moment to reflect on what happened ten years ago, remember those who lost their lives or had their lives changed forever, and think about the strength it has given the people of our nation. September 11 was a horrible day for America, but is was also a moment that showed each of us the strength we have as Americans.

Labor Day

2011-09-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

Labor Day was originally proposed by members of labor unions and was designed to remind people of the important role unions have played in benefiting workers in America. While parades and picnics are sponsored by unions across the country, for most the day is the conclusion of summer activities.

The achievements of labor union members are numerous and deserve both recognition and a day of rest for them. Yet, this weekend will be spent working hard by many and they will take little time to relax.

Farmers are in the midst of harvesting many different crops and caring for their livestock. Labor day is often a day where they break for a few extra minutes and join the family for a picnic before hurrying back to work. Those who produce the food that feeds us at this weekend’s picnics, the fiber that covers the tables and clothes us, and even the fuel that allows us to drive to the park are often ignored by society. Take a few minutes and consider the labor the farmer and rancher gives to allow each of us to take a relaxing three-day weekend.

Also hard at work this weekend are thousands of volunteers. Many fairs and festivals are going on this weekend and few remember the volunteers who give their time and energy to ensure that fair goers have a great time. The number of volunteers at each fair is staggering, with those volunteers making the difference between success and failure. Grange members are manning information booths and food booths, they are aiding the youth programs, and working behind the scenes at countless fairs and festivals.

As you celebrate Labor Day this year, take a moment and thank God that so many are willing to work for all!

Do They Think We’re Stupid?

2011-08-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend Standard and Poor’s (S&P) downgraded the credit rating of our country from an AAA to an AA+. Then last night I read that a white house advisor blamed the tea party for the downgrade.

I’ve had it with politicians who are more focused on blaming the other guys than trying to fix the problems of our great nation! I have a hunch that I’m not alone.

From what I’ve observed, S&P warned us during the debt ceiling debate that we needed to reduce our deficit spending and start reducing the debt we have accumulated. The debt ceiling agreement did little immediately other than raise the debt ceiling, but did do two things later. We punted the issue from our elected officials to a “special” commission to figure things out later, and much of the advertised cuts are down the road where they may or may not actually happen.

After watching the NFL players and owners, with conflicting goals, find a workable solution that allowed the season to begin, I find the destructive antics being played by many politicians to be unbelievable.

Grange members in their personal lives and as members making decisions for their organization understand that we can’t spend more than we take in without risking our future. We understand that if you only have enough money to buy milk for your kids, you don’t buy pie instead. We understand that if you don’t have money to pay the credit card bill, you don’t use the card.

I don’t know what the repercussions of the downgrade will be, but I do know it is not going to make our situation better and it may make life harder for every American. Hearing the S&P is still warning that they may yet reduce our rating further and that other rating organizations are reviewing our status, should wake up the folks in Washington, D.C.

I wonder how many politicians are listening to us? Are we stupid to think that our elected officials should find ways to reduce spending and debt? No one thinks it will be easy, but these elected officials asked us for the opportunity to serve our country.

To each politician I say, the parties didn’t elect you, we did. If you think we’re stupid, we can fix that a year from November. At least we can balance a check book.

E-Membership Can Lead to Regular Membership

2011-07-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful experience this week. I’m not going to name the individuals, but I want to share the experience.

On Thursday evening, we had our new, reorganized, and revitalized Grange discussion held via a teamspeak conference, which is sponsored by the National Grange. The topic of the evening was the “meaning of fraternal in the Grange.”

We had a good group of members ranging from Maine to California who participated, including a brand new E-Member from Texas.

We discussed the meaning of fraternal in the dictionary and found that the origin of the word comes from the Latin for brother. The discussion then began on what it means in the Grange.

Friendship and the social aspects of fraternalism were first discussed. Then the shared experiences of the Grange were shown as a source of fraternal bonding between members. Grange leaders who give opportunities in leadership development to the members are an important part of our fraternal structure. The trait of members coming together and providing support for those who go through sad or tough times is a positive element of Grange fraternalism. Finally how the members come together to celebrate members’ milestones during life was shown to be an important ingredient of fraternalism.

The evening discussion then turned to how we can build a stronger fraternal spirit in our Community Granges. The importance of each officer doing their best during the meetings and other activities such as installation of officers and the three methods of bring new members into regular membership.

We finalized the evening with a talk about what the Master/President, Chaplain, Lecturer/Program Director, and the Graces (Ceres, Pomona, and Flora) could do to strengthen the fraternal spirit in the Grange.

At the end of the hour discussion, the new E-Member stated that he was very impressed with what we had talked about. He had also found out where the Texas State Grange and said he was going to check it out if possible.

The E-Member sent me an email this morning which stated in part, “I attended the morning session of the Texas Grange in Blanco. It was wonderful! I wish I had known about it earlier so I could have planned to spend the entire weekend, but other obligations called me away.

“I was treated as a real welcome member. Everybody was just wonderful. Master Jack Smithers had me introduced to the meeting as the “first Emember in Texas”! You should be really proud of the Texas Grange for the way they embraced the emembership program.”

The result of an hour discussion on one aspect of Grange membership was an E-Member who now is seeing what the Grange potential for members really are. The members in Texas now also have a new friend.

If you want to hear what is going on in the Grange, go to our website www.nationalgrange.org and check out the events. There are two to three meetings using teamspeak each month on a wide variety of topics. There are highlights of a lot of different programs and all you have to do is join in to reap the benefits of Grange membership. You can even join online as an E-Member or find a local Grange to join.

I invite you to become a part of the Grange!

Post Office Closures Affects Rural America

2011-07-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

I checked the list of Oregon post offices that are being “studied” to determine if they should be closed. It wasn’t a bit surprising to see mostly small rural post offices on the list, as it seems the postal service isn’t that concerned with service anymore.

The current proposal to close 3,700 post offices out of about 32,000 locations will once again disproportionally affect rural America. Last year’s proposal to discontinue Saturday service and this proposal adheres to the mind-set of a bean counter. Less business in rural America and greater distances which equals greater expenses and that means we eliminate service there, while focusing on the urban areas where we make more money.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) brags that they reach every address in America- shouldn’t they be serving every American rather than appearing to want to focus only on the populated centers of the country?

I realize that the real issue is money. When the Congress made the USPS a quasi-governmental agency with the goal of being self-sufficient, they also handed them a huge debt from the employee retirement program. It would appear that Congress set the USPS up for failure and then the USPS management was forced to choose a path of reducing service rather than innovating.

What will be the cost to continue service to these areas where the local post office is closed? What will be the cost to the citizens who need to drive to the next town to mail packages that are not standard flat rate size? Will there be a delay in mail delivery for affected rural citizens, especially when things like chicks (baby chickens not mail order brides) and critical medicine are involved? Will these factors and others actually be offset by the savings of closing these small offices?

Benjamin Franklin is credited with the concept of the postal service in America and while he may not have imagined the size and scope of our nation today, I have a hunch he would not be impressed with the attitude of reducing service that the USPS is displaying toward rural America.

S&P Ratings and the Debt

2011-07-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the Standard and Poor’s Rating agency (S&P) warned again that the credit rating of the US could be downgraded unless we resolve the credit ceiling issue and start reducing the debt. I then heard the President hold a press conference and blame the other guys for not having a fair and balanced plan.

The reality of a downgrade of the US credit rating would probably not be good. While I’m not sure what may or may not happen, common sense says that one big impact would be that borrowing money would cost more. The lower your rating, the bigger the risk to the people loaning you money and the more interest they want to assume that risk. If the government pays more, so will we the people.

In 2010, net interest outlays totaled $197 billion due to lower interest rates. The scary thing is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects (Dec, 2010) that, under current law, the combination of rising debt and rising interest rates will cause net interest payments to balloon to nearly $800 billion by 2020. If the current amount doesn’t worry you, nearing a trillion dollars in less than 10 years should. And when you consider that it seems the CBO always underestimates the cost of government over time, maybe we should be a little frightened?

Fair and balanced is a point of view. I remember a tax increase in the 1990’s where the President said we were only going to tax the rich. When my taxes went up that year, I realized that the President and I had a different view of what rich meant. While I thought I was rich in friends and family and yet had to struggle to pay my bills, the law increasing taxes on the rich caught me in the net as well.

I keep thinking that the current debt situation is because of the spending our government has been doing. All my life I’ve heard people point out stupid things that the government spends money on. When you think about the attitude of “if we don’t spend it, we won’t get it next year” it does make sense how it happens. However if we can’t find ways to cut the federal budget, oh yeah, that is another problem since Congress has not passed one in a while.

Political posturing is not the answer for the debt or economy. It only matters for elections and I'm not worried about elections next year when S&P ratings this year could harm our economy and future.

What I want is a growing economy so people can go back to work and pursue their version of the American dream. As I look around the world and back at history, I am having trouble finding a country, a company, or even a person who spent themselves into prosperity. The obvious first step to me is that our nation needs to reduce its debt. It seems only fair to me that we reduce spending first, and start now.

Dam Removal is Clean Energy Reduction

2011-07-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

The Klamath River Basin (Oregon/California) has been news for over a decade. The ongoing issues include the removal of four dams on the Klamath River Watershed to aid in fish recovery. Those four dams produce about 155 megawatts of power. I found that each megawatt provides from 400 to 900 homes with power. Assuming 500 homes per megawatt, which means those four dams, keep 77,500 homes out of the Stone Age.

Being an Oregon native, I’ve seen the importance of dams for flood control, water management, and electrical power generation. Recreational uses of the reservoirs created have also benefited local economies. I have also seen the importance of providing passage for fish both upstream and downstream from the dams.

One argument that I haven’t seen much of is the fact that when we remove a dam, we remove pollution-free electrical generating capacity. Most environmental groups oppose coal and natural gas fueled electrical generation facilities. In addition, scientists are conducting research into the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere and its impact on climate change. The release of excessive amounts of CO2 is primarily through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Regardless of your views or opinions on that issue, we need to be good stewards of the earth.

The energy consumption of our country isn’t going to be reduced - especially considering the huge energy conservation efforts we’ve made over the last couple of decades - unless of course we are willing to make major changes to our lives and eliminate things like refrigerators, air conditioners, TV’s, cell phones, and computers which all use electricity.

It seems a bit short-sighted to remove non-polluting energy sources on the chance it will help endangered fish. When nuclear, wind, solar, tidal and other non-polluting forms of energy generation are in use and providing the bulk of our energy, then let’s talk about dam removal.

I do believe that we should do our best to help endangered fish, but I’d much rather have a dam producing electricity than a coal fired plant producing power. Maybe it’s time to change the topic from dam removal to clean energy reduction.

Debt Ceiling and the Deficit

2011-07-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Listening to the news, it would seem that it is time for the President, our Senators, and our Representatives to actually find some solutions on the debt ceiling based on what we regular Americans already know.

First, we are spending far more than we take in. A trillion dollar deficit increases our national debt. Since 2008 we have added 4 trillion dollars to our national debt. The only way to stop growing the debt is to reduce the deficit spending to zero. It doesn’t seem that this concept is all that hard to figure out, at least for those of us who live out of the infamous beltway.

Will reducing the federal spending hurt? Of course it will. Some federal employees may lose their jobs, some people living off the flow of money from the federal government will lose their income, and some companies will need to find new clients. It will be similar to what many of us around the country have experienced over the past several years.

The upside is that without the federal government spending every available dollar, the economy may begin to grow which would provide new jobs and opportunity.

Second, the debt ceiling is about spending. Congress has demonstrated their ability, over the past decades, to spend whatever amount is collected in taxes and more. We must start the process to only spend what we collect in taxes and fees (revenue). To continue increasing the limit on the federal credit card without a plan to halt the growth of the debt is foolish at best. At worst, it is destructive to every American’s future.

In our lives, if we leave large debts, they are paid out of our estates when we die. That means our family has a smaller inheritance. For the federal government that means the following generations are left with more bills than opportunities.

Third, if we want to actually solve this problem, Congress needs to do their job and pass a balanced budget. Then we need to live within our means, just as families across our nation already do. Discussions on raising revenue (tax and fee increases) and eliminating tax credits should be a part of the budget discussion, not a negotiating tactic in dealing with the debt ceiling.

Americans know what happens when your personal or corporate debt grows too large, we go bankrupt. Watching Greece, Ireland and other countries that have failed to keep spending under control should serve as a warning to us. I’d suggest that the approach that regular Americans take toward debt be followed by our government.

Independence Day

2011-07-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

Monday is Independence Day and it falls on the fourth of July. I hope you see a parade, display your American flag, and spend some time with your family.

This holiday weekend should include some moments of reflection for each and every American. In 1776 the Continental Congress made the decision that England didn’t care about their future and against all conventional wisdom declared independence. A group of loosely allied colonies deciding to take on the world’s superpower seemed a long-shot to most.

History tells a different story. One in which events didn’t go as expected, one where people rose to the occasion and the result was independence after 8 hard years of war. Every American should take the time to understand the conditions that led to the Declaration of Independence. We should familiarize ourselves with who our founding fathers really were and the risk they took.

Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin each impacted the effort to gain independence in dramatic ways and their names are scattered across our nation in their honor. But many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence are unknown to most Americans. These were real people who suffered real effects from their signing that unique document. Their courage, their dedication to the cause of freedom, and their sacrifice in that cause demands that we emulate them today. When they signed that document, they knew if they failed, it likely meant their life would be forfeit.

235 years of history will have passed since that historic day of July 4, 1776. Should not each American reflect on the legacy we’ve inherited and commit ourselves to ensuring that this grand experiment in freedom continues far into the future?

I will be celebrating our Independence Day this fourth of July, not the 4th day of July. The fourth is a holiday because of what happened in Philadelphia during that hot summer in 1776. Enjoy the weekend and the celebrations and family time, but don’t forget to take that moment and reflect on what we are celebrating.

Skepticism and Faith

2011-06-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

This past week I had a member publicly express dismay and disappointment that I was skeptical of the point of view that they had. This was during the Oregon State Grange Session, where I had the opportunity to be a delegate from my Community Grange, and the body was debating a resolution.

I believe that being skeptical has its place in our lives as it forces us to evaluate information before we accept it. The ability to question allows us to look at new information and to balance it with what we already know before incorporating it into what we deem facts. It also allows us to change our mind when presented with new information.

I learned as a young person that science was the search for facts. Scientists create a theory of why something is the way it is, or what will happen and then try to prove or disprove it. I also learned that many times through history people agreed that something was fact only to learn later, when better data came along, that the fact was incorrect. The search for facts is always ongoing.

The other issue is faith. Faith is when you believe in something without absolute verifiable proof. I have faith in God, a God that gave us the ability to make choices and solve problems. I have faith or trust in the goodness of Americans, even though I know a few are not good people.

The future of our organization and even our country will require both skepticism and faith. We need to believe completely that we are doing worthwhile service to people and our community. We need to have faith that we can ride out the challenges and that we can find solutions to our problems. At the same time, we need to question every solution to find where it works and where it may fail. A healthy debate allows us to find the best solutions and should never be discouraged.

I believe that a healthy dose of skepticism on top of the foundation of faith makes for a person who can question and debate the issues. It doesn’t make us right all the time, but it will allow us to make good decisions most of the time.

Listening to others is required in being skeptical. If your position on an issue is an article of faith, then there is no discussion and there is no possibility of you learning something new.

I can’t apologize for being skeptical, but I will be doing more research this summer on the topic that was presented in that resolution.

Right To Repair

2011-06-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

I have discovered a bill in Congress that I am in strong support of, the Motor Vehicle Owner’s Right to Repair Act of 2011 or H.R.1449. This bill has bi-partisan support and deserves to move through Congress in my view.

I’ll admit that many years ago I turned wrenches for a living and still like working on my older “classics”. The newer cars are a pain in the you know where, due to the computers and special tools needed to diagnose and repair almost any problem, but I do still work on them occasionally.

The reality is that not everyone maintains their own cars and pickups. However, many people have a shop that they trust to work on their cars when they need regular service or repairs done. These are places where you know the mechanic and often the owner has as much grease under their fingernails as any of the employees.

The challenges that small independent shops face in dealing with new cars are substantial. Having the tools available to diagnose today’s complex computer systems is essential and having access to up-to-date information in order to replace many components is critical. That is all that the House bill asks for and it makes a lot of sense to me.

The dealer-only parts will still be ordered from the dealers and the aftermarket parts will still be available to the independent shop or to the guy like me that likes to save a bit of money by fixing their own vehicle.

The big change will be that information and tools that are available to the auto dealerships will be required to be available to the public. I may still need to buy a tool, which will get my wife to sigh once again, but I will not need to take the car to the dealer to be fixed.

Especially in rural America, independent shops fill a need that dealerships often cannot fill due to distance. The Motor Vehicle Owner’s Right to Repair Act of 2011 makes good sense for rural America. If you have a shop you trust, let your Representative know what you think about this bill. If you’re one of those like me, who uses a grease rag now and then, contact your Representative… and then watch the knuckles with that wrench.

Why Not Pass It?

2011-06-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was listening to the news on the radio and heard an interview with a State Representative. The Representative was being question by a well-respected and experienced reporter about a bill that was stalled in the legislature. The bill was to ban a certain chemical in the production of items such as baby bottles.

The Representative explained that the reason she was opposing the bill was that she had gone to a number of different stores and bought many of the items covered by the bill and found that market forces had already dealt with the issue. It seems that moms still have power, since most, if not all, of the products were advertising that they are free of that chemical. She added that she had a barrel full of these products in her office to demonstrate her findings.

The reporter then asked her why if there wasn’t a problem, what would it hurt to pass the bill into law?

At that point my blood pressure went up! I don’t think we elect people to just pass bills. There are enough unintended consequences to laws that we need, and I can’t see the point in making new laws just to feel good about something.

I applaud the elected officials who vote against bills that are not needed and then stand up and explain their vote. I wish more of our elected officials would publicly explain their positions and not hide their position or blame the other guy.

Our American system of government is not supposed to be about passing a bill about every issue that someone thinks is important; it is about our elected representatives dealing with the issues that affect us at the local, state or federal level.

I am still fuming a bit at that particular reporter. I think it may be time for a refresher course in civics for someone.

A Hero for this Memorial Day

2011-05-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

This is Memorial Day weekend and I met a hero today. On my way to the Metro as I headed home, I met a young man in a wheelchair taking his dog for a walk. His wheelchair said combat wounded and had the seal of his branch of service. I paused and asked if I could shake his hand. He smiled and held out his hand. I thanked him for his service and asked where he had served. “Afghanistan” was his response. I wished him the very best and with my eyes misted up continued toward the Metro station.

That young man with no legs and a big smile is my hero. I don’t know his name, but I won’t forget him. I do hope and pray that he forgets me as but one of thousands of people thanking him for what he has done for our nation and for each of us as Americans. He and all those who have given of themselves deserve our ceaseless thanks.

This should be a weekend of remembering and honoring all of those who gave what Abraham Lincoln called the “last full measure of devotion”. We need to also remember and appreciate all those who have served our nation and sacrificed of themselves both physically and mentally. Lastly, those men and women who have served our country and came home safe and sound need to hear our heartfelt thanks.

This weekend isn’t just a three-day weekend, it is a time to remember the gift we have of freedom and those who earned it for us. It is a time to honor heroes and to remember the legacy of freedom they have entrusted to us.

Enjoy the barbeques and family gatherings and take a moment to thank God and all our veterans for the rights we have. It is fitting and proper to remember all who have passed to the next life, but never forget to thank those who quietly walk with us today.

To that young hero, my Dad, my Son, and every other veteran, thank you again and may God bless you and our wonderful nation.

Connecticut FFA Experience

2011-05-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

I spent last Saturday at the State Association meeting of the Connecticut FFA. Wow! It has been a few years since I attended a FFA State Session and it was just as powerful as I remember.

When viewed through the eyes of young people like those FFA members, I have no fear for the future of our nation. They were respectful, courteous, enthusiastic, and so talented. Speakers and proficiency winners alike showed the training that these young people get and the commitment they make to excel in the areas they choose to compete in.

The leadership of Victor Salazar, the 2010-11 President and the State FFA officer team was evident throughout the day. I was especially proud as Victor is also one of our young Grange leaders in addition to his duties as an FFA leader.

I talked with at least six FFA members who came up to me and asked many questions about the Grange during the day. I saw the Connecticut State Grange table surrounded with FFA members asking questions and taking brochures and other materials. These young people were interested in our organization because we have things that they need and want.

It is great to see that the FFA has remained true to its principles of teaching young people skills critical to their future. While some of the contests are quite different from the ones I remember in the 70’s, the FFA members of today have the same drive and intensity as members did back when I was proudly wearing that blue jacket.

I’d urge every Grange to find a way to support their local FFA Chapter or to advocate for the creation of the program in their school district. These FFA members are the ones who will join your Grange and there refine the skills they’ve learned. In the process, they will improve your Grange and community!

Big Government Deciding What’s For Lunch

2011-05-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

I read an article on the new U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations on school lunches and breakfasts. USDA seems to be seeking final authority on what our children eat, or more accurately, what is put in front of them to eat.

USDA claims to want to match rules to the dietary guidelines that are recommended by the National Academies Institute of Medicine. I do support eating healthy, but I never liked being told what to eat. On top of my natural stubborn streak, I wonder if you double the servings of carrots does that translate to kids eating those servings.

I’ve seen a lot of kids eat only the things that they liked and throw away the rest. If we add more things that a lot of kids don’t eat, are we making things better or is it just waste mandated by the government?

Likely one result of these rules is that schools will receive a few extra pennies for each meal while spending dramatically more on fresh foods instead of canned or frozen foods or substituting high cost food for lower costing food.

While I wish everyone would eat healthier, I don’t believe it is my duty or that it is our government’s obligation to make sure that we take care of ourselves. Plus where is the parental responsibility or why, if this is such a critical issue, isn’t the local school board making this decision.

It seems to me that these USDA regulations are just one more case of unfunded mandates from the federal government. When you look at the financial condition of the federal and state governments, it doesn’t make sense. Plus it is one more responsibility taken from parents and local school boards and given to government bureaucrats who don’t live in our community. I think I want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and an apple for lunch, wonder how that would fit in their regulations?

-Ed Luttrell
National Grange President

Friendship and Life's Journey

2011-05-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

I am in New England to say goodbye to Tom Severance, a fellow National Grange officer and friend. Tom passed away on Sunday and his funeral is tomorrow.

It seems every time I lose a friend or family member it is a moment to reflect on the journey we each are on. No matter what we accomplish or who we know, life ends for all at some point. To me there are two essential truths in life to consider. First, what comes next and second, who we touch during our life.

First, I do believe that what comes after this life is critical. I do have faith and believe that our journey doesn’t end in the grave. The spiritual choices we make in this life will affect us in the next life as death is but the doorway. The opportunity to be around people who believe similarly is important to each person. In the Grange, the way we as individuals choose to worship is our choice, but we acknowledge that there is a supreme being as a part of our basic principles.

The people we touch throughout our lives are what our lives are made up of. Bold or quiet, soft or a bit harsh, happy or sad, each person adds something to everyone they touch during life. Friendship is one of the true treasures of life and I have learned that friendship freely given is a powerful thing. Regardless of how often you see someone, the fact that you look forward to seeing them and miss them when they are absent is a sign of true friendship.

My Grange friends are a large part of my life. I’ve been blessed with friends like Tom, people who often live in places I might never have gone without the Grange. People who I never would have met and with whom I have discovered shared interests have become friends due to the fraternal bonds of the Grange.

My life is richer because of my friends, the friends I’ve had who have crossed over into the next life, the friends I have around me today, and the promise of friends to be made in the future. With each step down life’s pathway we need to remind ourselves to treasure all who walk with us, whether for a short while or for many long years, as our journey’s value is measured not in recognition or material goods, but in the friends we make along the way.

Food Costs and Fuel Costs

2011-05-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

I am not pleased that food and fuel costs have been rising. Of course, I haven’t talked to anyone who seemed pleased to pay more for food or gas. This week we’ve seen a slight decrease in gas prices and I’ve heard from some that costs will decrease dramatically and from others that they will be heading up again if anything happens to disrupt supply. It seems everyone has an opinion and no one really knows what will happen with fuel prices. However, I haven’t heard anyone projecting food costs to decline.

Even as food prices continue to increase, USDA studies show that farmers share of revenue has been decreasing. In 2008 farmers received just 11.6 cents out of each food dollar spent which is down from 14 cents in 1993. Data has not been compiled yet for 2009 and 10, but farmers are still seeing only a small sliver of the food dollar.

Almost 90 percent of the food dollar is consumed by processing, packaging, transportation, marketing, and the profit markup taken at each point in the trip from farm to supermarket. If fuel costs go up I would assume that each point in our food’s trip would increase the costs of that food. However, history shows that the farmer gets the blame and sometimes even gets lower prices while being blamed.

Even when farmers benefit from strong market prices they are also subject to increases in fuel, fertilizer, and other costs of growing their crops or managing their livestock. Small and large farmers face the same problem of being blamed for higher food prices while receiving a small and shrinking percentage of each dollar the consumer spends.

The cost of nearly everything, including food is directly impacted by the cost of energy, especially fuel. From my point of view the policy of our nation on energy, specifically fuels, is incomprehensible.

Our nation wants energy independence, but the federal government is restricting off-shore drilling as well as prohibiting land drilling in areas of our nation. The government wants people to use alternative fuels, but there are none ready for immediate implementation. Energy independence is said to be our goal, but we also want to tax energy to discourage people from using it.

While I realize I’ve simplified things a bit, if we care about food prices, we need to stabilize fuel costs. I care about food prices because farmers are blamed unfairly for increases and the poor are affected disproportionately by food costs increases.

It is time that Congress takes a bit of responsibility and deals with the issues that prevent us from having true energy independence.

Fort Sumter was the Result

2011-04-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

Today is the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the civil war. Fort Sumter was shelled and the war began. Since the war, our culture has both deified and demonized various generals, participants, and leaders. We know that the civil war is viewed differently within our country and many today view their ancestors as hero’s, regardless of which side they served on.

I believe that people need to understand what was happening that led to hostilities between Americans. Partisan politics had reached a point where listening to the opposition had ceased and compromise was unthinkable. The debate on state rights and the role of the Federal government was loud, shrill, and demonization of your opponents was commonplace. Expansion of slavery into the west was a complex issue which had been punted down-field by different administrations and Congresses time and time again.

From my point of view, many different issues,- each a powder keg on their own - were stacked up by the politicians of that day. Many of these issues where allowed to fester through inaction and thus become even more explosive. Then on this fateful day, the match was lit and our nation was consumed for the next four years by bloodshed and destruction.

Many lessons were learned by those who survived the battlefields of our Civil War. One was that the people need places to remember what binds us together. One of the many positive results of the lessons of war was the creation of the Grange in 1867, a local organization with national scope that teaches its members that listening to opposing viewpoints is a part of developing workable solutions to real problems was a great moment.

Take the time to remember what led our ancestors to take up arms against their brothers. The issues were many and all had a role in the firing upon Fort Sumter. One of the lessons for us is to ensure that we never again create the environment where great numbers of Americans feel that they have no voice or choice. Your local Grange still remains engaged in bringing people in your community together. From educational efforts in local Granges to the National Grange Legislative Fly-In, our organization remains committed to giving voice to every individual.

Budgeting is not a Partisan Blame Game

2011-04-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Watching our elected Representatives, Senators, and the President trying to shift partisan blame to each other while the budget clock ticks down is irritating. Is a 1.5 trillion dollar deficit not enough to get their attention?

I hear the media and many in Congress asking for compromise. What I don’t remember hearing is any of them talking compromise over the past few years of accelerated budget growth. The real compromise I want to hear is both sides sitting down and discussing what will be cut or reduced. Which is worse for our economy, unrestrained growth in our debt or tightening the belt and making due with what we have?

Greece and Ireland have both needed to be bailed out of their financial crisis. There are a number of other European countries that are close to following suit due to their government overspending. If we as a nation do not stop our out-of-control spending, who will bail us out?

The partisan shouting may be loud over the budget, but I’d rather that we take the credit card away from the children who can’t stop spending and let adults who pay the bills make choices, even if those choices are hard. I hope that our elected officials will demonstrate that they are responsible adults who deserve the opportunity to serve us.

I have a hunch that there are a lot of Americans who are more worried about our future than which party “wins”.

Is Congress having trouble finding the holes in the belt?

2011-04-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

Congressional efforts to pass a budget that reduces the deficit for 2011 – the fiscal year which ends September 30 – would be humorous if you and I were not on the hook for the out-of-control spending. After watching the last Congress fail to pass a budget and the current Congress continuing to fund our nation through short-term spending bills, the big question is if anyone is willing to act like a grown up.

The original 2011 budget was estimated to have a $1.27 trillion deficit. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) now projects a deficit of close to 1,500,000,000,000 dollars. There are a whole lot of zeros in that number!

The House of Representatives is arguing to cut $61 billion and the president and Senate are proposing smaller cuts. It seems that our government doesn’t want to cut the budget too much, and every proposed cut or reduction has its vocal critics.

Using the CBO revised projection of a deficit of close of $1.5 trillion, we understand that every day since October 1 our national government spent a little over $4 billion more than we took in. That means the $61 billion in proposed cuts amounts to about 15 days of the deficit spending and that still leaves our government with the money we actually pay in taxes.

Few Americans haven’t tightened their own budgets in the past two years. Many of our families still have someone unemployed or only working part time. I think that this is a time to put partisan politics aside and make some hard and thoughtful choices. If we search for only programs that no one uses, we will never get the spending under control until it is far too late.

The 2008 budget had a deficit of $458.6 billion, which was a historic high. To argue that the current $1.5 trillion deficit – at about three times the 2008 high point – cannot be reduced by about 4 percent without devastating effects is absolutely ludicrous.

A growing national debt will have devastating effects on every American. I want every elected official to work to avoid the pending disaster that is not too far down the road. If you punt the issue down the field once again, I have a hunch that I will not be the only voter who remembers. I believe that the American voters will reward those who work to reduce the deficit with thoughtful choices, no matter how hard those choices are.

Just like millions of other Americans, I am working to reduce my personal debt and tightening my own belt, and we expect Congress to follow our example.

Attitude Lessons from Wyoming

2011-03-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

This week I am traveling throughout Wyoming visiting with members about the future of their Grange. I am enjoying the time traveling with my wife, seeing some country I’ve never seen before, and meeting people who are dedicated Grangers.

Attitude is what I’m noticing. A few tell of the trials and tribulations of the Grange and some state to me why they can’t be successful. But others are excited to hear that the National Grange is concerned and wants to help their Grange be successful.

Some of the most positive ones that I’ve spoken with are the ones that others said were not interested in the Grange. Once again the lesson that we cannot assume what others think has been reinforced on my mind.

Wyoming Granges have a way to go, but from the people I’ve met I have no doubt that they will achieve success in the future. Whatever they accomplish will be due to a positive attitude that they share with others as they work together.

Grange Principles

2011-03-11T05:13:00.000-08:00

In 1891, J. H. Brigham in his annual address made the following statement.

"We should not lose sight of the cardinal principles of our Order, viz., the absolute political and religious freedom of the individual. No official, not even our National body, can place restrictions upon this freedom. Officials may give expression to individual views. A majority of the members of the National Grange may endorse certain propositions involving question of political economy affecting the material interests of citizens, such as tariff or finance, but in no case is a member of our Order bound by such action or expression of opinion unless his own judgment shall approve.

"The membership of the Grange can be committed to no party, to no individual, to no religious creed, to no political theory or policy, by any act of any official, or by any resolution adopted by Subordinate, State, or National Grange. Any other position upon these propositions means disintegration and death.

"This need not hinder discussion nor expression of opinion by members acting individually or collectively. All measures which are of especial interest to farmers should be viewed from all points. Give the people the benefit of any phase of opinion and then they can draw intelligent conclusions.

"Absolute freedom of opinion, upon all public questions, is a right not restricted but rather guaranteed and protected by the fundamental law of our Order."

Brigham's statement is as true today as it was when he spoke those words to the delegates of the National Grange in Springfield, Ohio in November of 1891.

There is not a member who agrees with every policy that has been adopted by the National Grange nor with every statement made by any of the leaders of our organization. Just as in 1891, we expect each member to engage in debate on the issues of the day and through discussion find consensus for our organization while allowing each member to follow their own path.

Considering the name calling and uncivil behavior occurring in Congress and State Legislatures throughout our great nation, I'm glad the Grange has remained true to its fundamental principles and serves as a place where all good people can continue to gather and exchange their views.

Who Is Really On Your Side?

2011-03-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

I saw in the paper that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), not the folks running your local humane society, has begun efforts to put a ballot measure before the people of Washington to ensure the humane treatment of laying hens. You may wonder if this is good or bad news or is this just one of those things we hear about but don’t need to worry ourselves over?

I live in Oregon so this doesn’t impact me directly, but I am familiar with the ballot initiative process and believe that it is a great process that holds our legislatures feet to the fire occasionally. Once in a while it also gives well organized groups the chance to bring outside-the-mainstream ideas to the front of public debate.

The subject of humane treatment of laying hens does give me pause. I don’t know anyone who is opposed to treating hens, farm animals, pets, or wildlife in anything less than a humane way. However, I went on the HSUS website to see how they view this issue.

They mention factory farms, all the successful legislation they’ve supported, how they are out to protect animals, and how to donate your money to them. Now from what I’ve picked up it would appear that their idea of protecting animals includes being a vegan since in several places they promote that lifestyle. Now I have no problem with anyone who wants to live a vegan lifestyle, but most folks I know want a more traditional diet which includes some meat, dairy, and eggs.

HSUS offends me with their mention of factory farms. I grew up on a small cow calf operation where we fed out about 10 steers annually for our customers. Since that time, I’ve seen a wide variety of operations and I can’t recall every seeing a factory farm. I have seen concerned and caring people taking care of animals. That’s right, farmers taking care of livestock, not factory workers assembling widgets.

HSUS does seem to know how to raise immense amounts of money from their TV commercials and other fund-raising efforts. But from what I understand, they only spend a tiny fraction of their income on actually helping animals directly; the rest is spent on employees and efforts and causes such as the Washington ballot measure.

The HSUS representative is quoted in the Capital Press as wanting “to move to a cage-free system”. Eggs are one of the cheapest nutrient dense foods available to people in this country. What is the goal I wonder? Do we desire to reduce the amount of eggs available for purchase, thereby driving the price up? Do some want to end portions of production agriculture so that each person needs to provide for themselves or do without?

Like many small farms, the one I grew up on had a chicken house and caring for chickens for eggs and meat was part of our daily chores. Daily, I saw how many wild animals viewed those chickens as an easy meal. Would HSUS support hindering or harming the multitude of hungry predators in order to save the chickens? After viewing their website, I’d have to guess they would encourage us not to eat chicken while the coyotes were feasting on that same poultry.

We haven’t even seen the end result of California’s ballot measure 2 passed in 2008, due for implementation in 2015, and its impact on the farmers caring for the chickens laying the eggs and now HSUS wants to try it in the State of Washington?

The Grange is about giving people the facts and letting them make informed decisions. We don’t hide who we are. We support agriculture, from the smallest farmer with a few acres to the largest production farmer. We also represent the consumer who benefits from the fruits of the labor of the farmer. Maybe HSUS should consider following our example. Educate yourself on who HSUS is and do your own research on the Grange. Then decide who you want to trust more.

I don’t believe that HSUS is on our side. Definitely they are not on the side of those caring for chickens, and not on the side of the consumers of all those eggs. Our Washington friends should think twice before signing an initiative petition.

Unity and Agreement

2011-03-02T10:53:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was the annual President's Meeting which is held for the benefit of the State Grange Presidents. This morning I have been looking at Facebook posts and emails as well as thinking about the comments and a few phone calls about the weekend. I've also been dealing with a few emails from other members who are unhappy about specific things.

The partisan nature of politics and the trends in our society are counter to what Grange membership is really supposed to mean. Our organization is about bringing folks together and dealing with the big problems. We are about finding the issues where we have unity, even when we don't have complete agreement.

I can't remember ever attending a Grange meeting where everyone was in agreement. Just as this past weekend, the participants at the President's Conference disagreed with each other over many issues and even proposed a variety of solutions. Yet in spite of their disagreements, they also found unity in the goals that were set. Each was given the opportunity to propose, question, and comment regardless of their personal opinion, and at the end I believe that we found a unity of purpose.

While many groups demand agreement among their members, the Grange remains faithful to its principles that we will search for and find unity on the big issues and encourage the exchange of differing points of view among our members. I have to admit, its a bit boring when everyone agrees.

Unity and agreement are not the same to my Grange influenced point of view. It is fine to disagree and debate the issue, but unity is the result when we as a group decide on the direction.

Legislators Who Fail Us

2011-02-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

It has been frustrating reading the headlines and listening to the talking heads about the current situation in Wisconsin. Last time I checked, we elected people to represent us at different levels of government. We do not elect parties to represent us.

The actions of some legislators in Wisconsin in leaving the state to block legislation are not anything new, but it still reeks of partisanship shenanigans. Texas and Oregon have had this same situation in years past and in both cases, those politicians put their party before their duty.

I believe that we elect people to go to our state capitols and fight for their constituents and the State as a whole. Regardless of their party affiliation, we expect them to be there and be engaged in the debate and discussions on the issues of the day and then to cast a thoughtful and considered vote.

It would be a form of insanity to think that those elected officials will always agree, but to run and hide instead of participating in the democratic process is, at the least, dereliction of their duty. There is no crime in losing a vote, nor in failing to sway the opinion of the majority. The crime is in trying to win through absence. The reason for elections is to ensure the will of the people has a voice. When elected officials don’t show up for work, their constituencies are silenced.

The issues before the elected officials of Wisconsin deserve debate and discussion by all. The voters of Wisconsin do not deserve the spectacle that is currently being played out by those who are ducking their responsibilities by leaving their state.

I would suggest that any elected official who ducks their duty, no longer deserves the support of any voter. After all, if you don’t show up for work in any other job, you get fired.

Washington's Birthday

2011-02-22T07:38:00.000-08:00

I occasionally get irritated with President's Day because it takes away from Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays. George Washington was one of America's two greatest presidents in my opinion.

The reasons for my view are simple. First he never lost sight of who he was and what he wanted. He viewed himself as a farmer, every moment he was home he was working to make his farm more productive, and no matter what else happened in his life he saw himself as a farmer. That is staying true to yourself!

The second reason is that he never quit. When you read biographies of the man, you see a tremendous strength of character. No matter how bad things were going, he did not quit, he gave others courage and hope. He had faith in what he was doing at all times.

The last reason is that when it was time, he stepped down. The two big times that he stepped down, were when he left the army after achieving victory in the revolutionary war and the other was stepping down after two terms as President. I believe that this shows his character in such a positive way. When he had accomplished the tasks before him, he chose to step down rather than try to hold onto power.

Don't forget the reason we celebrate Washington's birthday is due to what he gave a young nation and the examples he set. I think the reason we have President's Day is to have a three day weekend. I'm going with Washington. Happy Birthday George!

Cooperative Export Programs on the Chopping Block

2011-02-16T09:08:00.001-08:00

I believe the next couple of years are going to see substantial efforts to reduce Federal programs. Many of these proposed cuts the Grange will support or not outwardly oppose. After all, we do understand the need to reduce spending and get our national finances under control.

However, there will be proposed cuts that we will fight against. The Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program are two of those programs on the block today. The reason we oppose cuts to these programs are that the programs are aimed at benefiting cooperative efforts from all corners of agriculture.

The Grange was the organization that introduced the Rochdale style of cooperative principles to the United States in a practical and lasting way. Our early members saw the need to band together in both buying and marketing cooperatives to benefit the farmer directly.

Today marketing cooperatives still benefit producers of many crops and MAP and FMD are Federal programs that allow these small co-ops to effectively market internationally, in competition with the giant corporate marketers and foreign governments.

The two primary reasons we oppose the elimination of these two programs are the loss of jobs and the loss of markets.

Thousands of jobs with American companies, both here and overseas are dependent upon our farmers being able to market their crops around the world. Programs like MAP and FMD are not give-a-ways, but allow cooperatives, trade associations, small business, and the USDA to share the costs of overseas marketing development. As an example, a study found that between 2000 and 2007, of every dollar invested in export promotion, generated $23 in net revenue to the farmer and returned $115 to the U.S. economy (U.S. Wheat Associates 2010).

Ending these two programs will also allow other countries to fill the vacuum that would be created and American farmers will most likely lose those markets. The cost and uncertainty of regaining those markets is a risk not worth the small savings. We should not repeat mistakes of the past by being penny wise and a pound foolish.

-Ed Luttrell
National Grange President

U.S. Wheat Associates. (2010). New Study Shows 23-to-One Return on Producer Wheat Export Promotion [Press release]. Retrieved from: http://www.uswheat.org/newsEvents/newsRelease/doc/3485BF1489ECF7E4852576BA00566D68?OpenDocument.

Lincoln's Birthday

2011-02-13T11:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Lincoln's birthday. I took a bit of time to reflect on why Lincoln was one of our great presidents. To me, greatness for a president means that they made significant and lasting changes to America while dealing with the situation that existed in their world.

Most people think of Lincoln as the president who saved the union. I tend to think of two traits that set him apart and allowed him to save the union.

First he suffered more defeats than victories. From the time of his birth in Kentucky, Lincoln seldom had it easy. He lost more elections than he won, he even doubted his own presidential re-election in 1864 until the western army achieved a major victory. The word perseverance describes Lincolns actions perfectly.

It is the way he dealt with defeat that showed his strength. He would pray and then start over the next day. During the war he kept pushing and evaluating his generals until he found the combination of leadership that gave the North the victory. No matter how bad the defeat, Lincoln believed that tomorrow would give him success and he would then work hard to achieve it.

Second he never strayed from his view of what was right. Even during the darkest days of the Civil War, he never wavered from his view that the Union must be preserved. He never compromised his principles nor forgot to keep his eyes on his goals. Even while consumed with the Civil war, he found time to advocate for other issues that he saw as critical. While Grant drove the gold spike in the transcontinental railroad, Lincoln signed the enabling legislation.

I look at the Grange and see Lincoln's spirit every day. In spite of being declared dead, weak, and not relevant many times over the past 140 years, the Grange continues to grow and serve thousands of communities across the country. The principles and goals of our organization remain the same as when our early members wrote them into our declaration of purposes and rules. While many amendments have been made to our governing documents, we've never lost sight of why we exist as an organization and what we are to be doing.

Lincoln as a man and president should inspire every American. In my view, he and Washington stand together as our greatest presidents.

ESA vs Mother Nature

2011-02-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

In 1990 Northern Spotted owls were listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Since that time we have likely spent billions, and sacrificed jobs and communities to saving the Spotted owl. We now harvest only 5% of the amount of timber in Oregon that was harvested in 1988, yet the Spotted owl continues to decline in numbers by about 3% per year.

Now there is a proposal to shoot Barred owls as biologists have realized that the aggressive Barred owl not only drives out Spotted owls, but can interbreed with them. Science indicates that the two types of owl are cousins, probably descending from the same species from around the time of the last ice age.

While species such as eagles and wolves have recovered with the help of the ESA, the Spotted owl hasn't. The impact of regulations and restrictions to protect the Spotted owl have devastated many rural communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and northern California due to job losses as the timber industry has been forced into decline.

Invasive species can be dealt with to protect native species, but the owls are both native. Which owl is more worthy of protection? Can we change the rules that nature plays by?

Maybe the ESA should take into account the normal function of "Mother Nature." Some species eat whatever seems fit to eat and others are picky eaters. Some sub-species are a bit picky about their mates, while others are not. Those that are picky about eating or mating often find that they have one strike against them. Those that end up with several strikes will lose out against other species that don't share those disadvantages.

Will a ten to twenty percent reduction of the Barred owl population be enough? How much will it cost to kill that many Barred owls? I certainly don't advocate that we hurry the Spotted owl along, but maybe we ought to consider what nature is doing about them and why it is happening.

Discussions in Grange halls across the Pacific Northwest this year will include the topic of owls, the ESA, and Mother Nature. All of our efforts haven't helped the Spotted owl yet, I hope we don't think more of the same will give us different results.

The ESA vs Mother Nature, I'm betting on Mother Nature.

Small Steps to Fiscal Responsiblity

2011-02-03T09:36:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee announced a two year moratorium on earmarks. Last week, the House passed H.R.359 which if passed in the Senate and signed by the President would end the Presidential Campaign Fund.

Neither of these actions will make a huge difference in our Federal deficit, but they are both small steps toward the goal. Up until two years ago, we were increasing spending in small steps and if Congress starts making the small steps in the other direction regularly it will be a positive move.

I've already heard Senators and Representatives talking in opposition to these actions and they need to hear from every taxpayer. Reducing the deficit will take effort, hard choices, and discipline. If we make the question one of, "Does it do good" we will never reducing Federal spending. No matter what the spending is on, someone thinks it is important. We must remember that we cannot spend money we don't have.

I congratulate both the House and Senate for taking the first of many small steps in cutting runaway spending. I also urge every citizen to keep the pressure on Congress so that we can start taking bigger steps in the future.

The actions of thousands of Granges across the county should serve as a living example of living within your means.

Growth and Plans

2011-01-21T07:13:00.000-08:00

These are exciting times. This week I've seen the plan for growth for the Alaska State Grange and the plans for the Wyoming and Florida State Granges are coming together rapidly.

I am a firm believer that growth comes to those that plan for it and then work to accomplish it. The three states that are building and implementing plans are demonstrating this principle.

This process of creating plans to create growth is critical to success. Every Grange should take some time to make plans to achieve growth. Goals need to be set and commitment to those goals must be made by members.

Goals do not need to be big or huge, but they can be. As an example, the Alaska State Grange currently has seven Community Granges and has adopted a motion to have 15 by 2015.

Those who plan for nothing generally find what they are looking for. Make plans and have goals to work for. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish when you have a plan to work on.

Agriculture Subsidies and the Farm Bill

2011-01-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

I read an op-ed piece this week that showed off the lack of understanding that many people have about the Farm Bill. Are you aware that 67% of the money spent through the 2008 Farm Bill is spent for non-farm purposes?

It also appears that it is a common belief that a great deal of money is spent subsidizing non-farm companies or individuals who own farms. From the numbers that I’ve seen, only about 5% of farms are not owned and operated by farmers. In addition a little less than 15% of the money spent through the Farm Bill is used for farm commodity support.

Agriculture is important to our Nation! It provides jobs both directly and indirectly. While some work in the fields and barns, many people work for companies that use agricultural products to produce everything from medicines to prepared foods to biodegradable products.

Agricultural production requires tremendous investment in land, equipment, seed, and more and is then subject to weather fluctuations and volatile markets. Every farmer plants his crops and nurtures his livestock not knowing if his efforts will result in a product that he can sell nor what the price for that commodity will be.

In my Address to the Delegates last November I said the following.

“Due to the financial deficits of the federal government the Grange focus in the 2012 Farm Bill will be in the following areas. We must ensure that credit is available to farmers regardless of size. Rural development issues must continue to be a priority in order to provide necessary infrastructure to get our product from field to table. Research and funding of the Extension program must be continued if we wish to ensure innovative practices and new tools beneficial to agriculture and society are available. The creation, improvement, and implementation of both primary and secondary energy sources through agriculture must remain a priority to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Crop insurance and disaster relief must be adequately funded in order to serve as the primary way of helping farmers deal with unforeseen weather and market fluctuations.”

The Grange does not insist on commodity subsidizes, but we must ensure that farms have the opportunity to remain profitable to the families living on them. If we abandon agriculture and reduce the less than 18% on non-subsidy agriculture support, our county’s citizens will pay a high price. The world’s safest, most abundant food source is the result of our agricultural base. We have fed ourselves and much of the world and there is no reason that should not continue.

If we truly support agriculture we cannot allow the media to show a few bad examples, or only share a bit of the information and then imply that their view is the total picture of agriculture. It is time for all who support their local farmers to take action and share the real picture of American agriculture.

Spending More Than You Make

2011-01-13T07:24:00.000-08:00

I’m beginning to wonder about either the sanity or intelligence of some of our politicians, at least in regards to financial matters. Our Federal Government is drowning in debt, at least 10 states are aware that bankruptcy is a possible option and what the heck is going through the minds of many of our elected officials?

Illinois raised taxes this week, a number of states have raised their taxes over the past two years and seem to be avoiding reductions in spending. On the other hand, a number of states have either already slashed spending or are proposing serious reductions in spending now.

I’ll admit that I’ve read a couple of books dealing with economics, that I’ve been managing my families finances with my wife for 30 years, and that in working in business and with a variety of non-profit groups I have a bit of experience dealing with money and budgets. Even though I’ve never dealt with billions of dollars, much less trillions, I think that I’ve learned some simple fundamentals.

Rule number one, don’t spend more than you make. I understand that you sometimes borrow money in order to purchase big ticket items, but you don’t borrow more than what you can comfortably make the principal and interest payments on. If your income goes down, you reduce spending, even if you have to give up something you like. If your income goes up, you set aside a bit for a raining day in the future before increasing spending.

Governor Martin O’Malley, MD said “This year I think all of us will come to appreciate just how important the recovery and reinvestment dollars were.” He was referring to more than 350 million from the federal stimulus that was used by Maryland to pay off its pension promises for the past two years.

To top off Maryland’s situation, their legislature is discussing raising taxes to deal with their deficit.

I think someone doesn’t understand not spending more than you make or not borrowing more than you can afford, at least in Maryland and a number of other states. When do elected officials begin to act like most Americans do when their income drops? What spending is critical, what is important, what is nice, and what is simple extravagance? Our families have to live with the realities of rule number one and make hard decisions, why do some elected officials not understanding this simple concept?

Arizona Shooting and Grief

2011-01-11T05:27:00.000-08:00

The shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords and 13 others is a terrible crime which appears to have been the doing of one mentally unstable person. Knowing Grange members, I expect that all the victims and their families are being prayed for by our members in every state.

I am disgusted with a few politicians and some political commentators for their actions. Attempts to use this tragedy to attack political opponents or to further political agendas are despicable at best. These actions are great examples of either stupidity or of cold-hearted partisanship.

In 2008, we lost one of our National Grange officers to death suddenly. While it wasn’t a violent act, it was a shock to all. I saw members gather in Granges and remember John and his service to our organization, even when they had never met him personally. There was an outpouring of grief and prayers for his family. No one suggested that we use our time for anything other than remembering John and comforting his family. We were united in that moment. Every community organization that I am familiar with responds to death and crime in the same manner.

Maybe some of those in public life should look at all the positive examples of how Americans deal with tragedy and loss. I know that I have no intention of ever voting for someone or listening to anyone who uses moments of tragedy to further their own goals and agendas. Remember that life is about the people in our life not things or an agenda.

This terrible shooting in Arizona will undoubtedly create debate about dealing with mentally ill people, gun laws, and even free speech, but those debates should be starting next week, after many of the facts have been gathered, not while the shock of the crime is still fresh and the families have only begun to realize their loss.

My prayers go out to every person who has been touched by this horrible crime.

View into Isolation

2011-01-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was one of those days where I spent it in airports and in the air. One of the treats of air travel is time to catch up on reading, since there is seldom room to use the computer.

The book that I read was one that I bought a few months ago and just hadn't had time to get to. The reason I bought it was that it is written by a distant cousin who I've never met.

"In the Wake of the Frontier" by Ruth Vincent is about her experiences in Alaska in the early 1950's. While I found the book fascinating due to both the mention of a few family members I knew and the reality of Alaska before statehood, the account of how she dealt with isolation was inspiring.

The experiences she outlined are a view into the past, more specifically the situation that was common in rural America following the civil war. Can you imagine going to town once or twice during the year? Can you imagine not seeing another person of your own gender for months?

The question that also crossed my mind was, is isolation still an issue today? Are people who spend the majority of their time on the internet, experiencing a new form of isolation? I believe that we are social by nature and I question if the internet can substitute for real person to person interaction. On the other hand are people who spurn the internet experiencing a different form of information isolation?

The role of organizations, like the Grange, that bring people together is still strong and necessary even though true isolation has become extremely rare.

When Does Childhood End?

2011-01-06T06:36:00.000-08:00

Today's society sends a lot of mixed messages to our young people. One that really confuses many is when does childhood end?

I don't believe that one day you are a child and the next you are an adult, even though legally that may be true. It seems to me that being a teenager is a time to transition from childhood into adulthood.

My teens were a time when my parents gave me steadily more responsibility and expected me to stand on my own. Picking berries, and other summer jobs gave way to a "real" job when I got my drivers license. By the time I was eighteen I considered myself independent although I did follow my parents rules at home.

I like the way the Grange treats teenagers. At age 14, we treat them as adults. If they are willing to accept responsibility, we give them authority. When they make mistakes, we help them learn and grow from them. Each individual grows and moves forward at their own speed and age doesn't matter. I know a number of young people who some might call children, but I call adults due to their maturity and actions.

As I observe people and listen to the reports of the media, I think that is is time to remember that if we treat teenagers as children, that is what most of them will act like. When we expect them to act like young adults, they will usually exceed our expectations.

Let's brag a bit and show society that treating teenagers like young adults benefits both them and us.

Planning for the New Year

2011-01-04T11:11:00.000-08:00

I hope that every Grange has made plans for 2011. This is a new year and it should be treated as a clean slate. It doesn't matter what went wrong or if there were failures last year. We learn from our experiences and then we create the future we want.

Planning is critical for all Granges. There are several steps each should take. You should have plans for the activities, events, and fund-raisers for the year. Your Grange should also consider a plan to help each member grow in leadership ability.

First the Grange should adopt an idea. Second a team or committee should be appointed to formulate all the details of a plan. Third, either the Grange should adopt the complete plan, or the team should give a complete report to the Grange. This would depend upon how the Grange adopted the idea. Fourth, implement the plan.

The last part of planning is to ensure that evaluation is done during and after the policy. After all, we need to learn from each experience if we are go grow and do better next time.

The reason that planning is so important that without plans we seldom try new things, or even improve the things we usually do. In the Grange, planning is an essential part of each year. It is never too late to start making plans!

Healthy organizations and coffee

2010-12-28T09:08:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about an email I sent this morning which was about how organizations should work together rather than trying to be the last one standing. That thought led me to thinking about the health of our organization and the little indicators we can look at. As I got my next cup of coffee the correlation struck me.

Almost every Grange I’ve been to has served coffee. The different ways it is served seem to say something about those members. Instant, drip, brewed in a percolator, decaffeinated or regular, all can be seen at a Grange meeting somewhere.

Does instant coffee mean we are looking for efficiency or do we not want to set up the coffee pot? Do we use the percolator because we like the coffee brewed that way or because that is the way we’ve always done it? Do we serve both decaf and regular or just one type?

More importantly, do we offer alternatives? I saw a study this past week that shows young people are not choosing to drink coffee nearly as much as previous generations. Are we offering tea or water or are we prepared to cater to those new members who are not coffee drinkers?

As 2010 comes to a close, I challenge every member to look at the little things, like coffee, and ensure that our Grange is a healthy organization that is meeting the needs and wants of our members and potential members. It is often the little things that make the biggest difference.

The Reason for our Grange Structure

2010-12-21T11:51:00.000-08:00

"To those who read aright, history proves that in all ages society is fragmentary, and successful results of general welfare can be secured only by general effort. Unity of action cannot be acquired without discipline, and discipline cannot be enforced without significant organization; hence we have a ceremony of initiation which binds us in mutual fraternity as with a band of iron; but although its influence is so powerful, its application is as gentle as that of the silken thread that binds a wreath of flowers."

This quote is from the Preamble of the Constitution of our Grange. In reading the rules of the Grange and the Degree work of our organization, discipline is seldom mentioned, but its presence is often taken for granted.

I find our system to be an fascinating way to enforce discipline within our organization. Each member is a volunteer and has equal voice in their Community Grange and at the Pomona (County or District) level if they choose to participate there. Those local members select the delegates to represent their Grange at the State Session and thus have a say in those proceedings. The National Grange is made up of the State Grange leadership and is constantly reminded of our purposes by the resolutions and comments that emanate from our membership.

The strength of any organization is measured by the ability to put resources and/or manpower toward the accomplishment of its goals. Since 1867 the Grange has been doing so in the local community and furthering those goals in State Capitols and in Washington, D.C. No member is bound to support those things he doesn't believe in, but each is given the opportunity to attempt to sway their fellow members during the process of setting our policies.

It is only when members forget those powerful lessons contained within our Degrees that we encounter problems that become destructive to our Grange. William Saunders wrote the preamble and must have clearly understood the importance of having a method to enforce discipline within our young organization to ensure a long and prosperous future.

Dissension and strife have been kept to a minimum by the knowledge and expectation that we will treat each other as Sisters and Brothers as we debate issues, plan for the future, and learn to work together to benefit our communities. We use the lessons of the Grange to create the discipline that empowers each member to be productive.

Fiscal Responsiblity

2010-12-15T09:01:00.000-08:00

In November, I gave my third Annual Address to the delegates of the National Grange. The following two paragraphs were from the fiscal responsibility section.

"There is no issue with greater impact on our Nation than the fiscal responsibility of our elected officials at each level of government. If we allow our elected officials to fail to exercise prudent fiscal restraint we destroy what our country has stood for over the past 234 years. Our nation and states cannot spend more than we receive over the long-term, and we cannot continue to raise taxes and fees without harming the initiative and strong work ethic of the average American.

"Our great nation has developed a serious spending problem over the last few decades. Over the past two years our federal government has accelerated this problem beyond any precedent. In the past year, 37 cents of every dollar that our federal government spent was borrowed. By having huge deficits in the budget, we are creating long-term debt that was unimaginable a decade ago."

The debate in Congress on keeping our taxes at their current level should have been held months or even years ago instead of this week. Instead of making the debate one of partisanship, it should be one of finding the best solution for American taxpayers and our economy.

From the looks of things today, a great deal of increased spending will be included with keeping our taxes at their current rate. The estate or death tax looks to be re-instituted, but at somewhat lower levels than they were in 2001. It appears that no one will be happy with the final bill, but there is hope that something will pass this week.

2011 needs to be the year that we reduce spending and Congress needs to continue hearing that message.

Cars and Choices

2010-12-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

I read an article this week that I found intriguing as I am one of those car guys. The headline screamed, “Car of the future won’t be cheap” in Monday’s USA Today.
The article stated that cars could cost thousands more than the buyers would ever save in fuel costs. Smaller and less powerful cars that cost more in order to increase fuel economy seem be the order of the day.

President Obama’s ambitious goals of 47 to 62 mpg by 2025 will change our choices of vehicles. Just as the station wagon become virtually extinct after the introduction of CAFE standards in the 1970’s, the types of vehicles available to Americans will once again be restricted if history repeats itself.

The article compared the Chevy Cruze starting at less than $20,000 with the Chevy Volt at $41,000 to demonstrate the cost differences between conventional fuel-efficient gas car and an electric car. While I am all for fuel efficiency and reducing the amount of pollution generated by motor vehicles, I believe that political agendas should not trump consumer needs and demands. We also need to consider the reality of electricity as it isn’t free and it isn’t always non-polluting as you need to take into account how that power was produced.

In addition automotive executives stated that they would like gas taxes raised to ensure $4, $5, or $6 a gallon gas prices. At that level of fuel costs they believed that these proposed high cost vehicles will be far more attractive to consumers. What a shock, obviously they believe that when gas become unaffordable, people will need alternatives. This does make for an interesting business plan.

Rural America does not need more disadvantages. Transporting our families or hauling household or farm items are common activities for everyone in rural areas. I can’t speak for everyone, but there are a lot of us who don’t want to live in town. We want to live in a rural community and we understand that there are benefits and costs associated with that choice.

I love having choices. With cars, I enjoy driving my Impala and when I pass a Smart Car, I am glad they chose it and that I have other choices. It is important that our government not take our choices away either by direct action or by indirectly forcing companies to eliminate our selections.

The car of the future must not become a luxury item that many can not afford. Living in the community of our choice must also remain a viable option. These two statements are intertwined in rural America. Having choices are necessary for all!

Community and The Grange

2010-12-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

In my Internal Report one of the sections was about the community and the importance of our organization to the community.

"The community is truly the base upon which our great nation was founded and is fundamental in why we have achieved so much. The founders of our Order knew that to improve the lot of the American farmer and their family, the community must remain the keystone of our Order. National and State efforts would only be successful when the local communities saw the strength in unity.

"There are only a handful of organizations with more local units than the Grange and there are fewer still that give the local unit as much authority as our Order gives the Community Grange. Since early in our history we have opened wide the doors of Grange membership to the entire family. For over a century we have welcomed those who were not farmers and today welcome all of good character. The importance of starting new Granges to benefit communities cannot be understated. It is my belief that we are on the brink of expanding into several new states and our goal must continue to be that we have a State Grange in every State in our great nation.

"Looking back at the history of our Order, we should feel proud that we’ve also had a profound influence throughout the world. Meeting in September with the participants and children of participants of the Germany/USA Friendship program demonstrated to me the power that the simple exchange of opening our arms and hearts to others can have. The Germany/USA program existed for about six years and yet 60 years later the participants still gather to share memories and update each other about their lives. For those participants one year of exchange became a lifetime of friendship and family.

"Looking around the world at the problems of fear, poverty, and even survival facing so many nations, it is time that our members once again consider opening their doors and hearts to share our hopes and optimism with others. I would suggest that when opportunities to share the unique dynamics of our organization and our members are presented, we take the challenge and show others around the world that Americans want to help them find lasting solutions."

The Grange has served American communities for the past 143 years and we will continue to serve and benefit them far into the future. If you want to know more about how a Grange can help your community, go to www.NationalGrange.org and learn how easy it is to start a Grange in your community.

USPS Elimination of Saturday Service

2010-11-30T14:03:00.000-08:00

In my Annual Address to the Delegates of the 144th Annual National Grange Session I said the following

"The U.S. Postal Service has proposed to Congress that they be allowed to reduce service to their customers, the American public. While their request notes that they wish to eliminate Saturday service, the proposed changes will allow possible future reductions in service without congressional or administrative action.

"The National Grange has taken a strong stand in opposition to this proposed reduction in services in accordance with our policies that have been adopted over the course of many years. We have testified to postal regulatory officials how rural America will suffer disproportionately from the elimination of Saturday service. A 17% reduction in services for a 6% savings does not make sense at this time.

"Due to the gap between rural and urban America in access to broadband service, rural citizens and businesses still depend heavily upon service from their local post office. Essential products such as medicine and parts, civic participation through mailed ballots, and agriculture products such as chicks depend upon delivery by our Postal Service.

"We understand the challenges faced by the Postal Service and their financial condition. We encourage the Postal Service to explore all cost saving opportunities, but reduction of services is not an option we can support. We also call upon Congress to deal with the retirement early pay-out issue which has devastated the US Postal Service financially and forced it to entertain issues such as a reduction in services to customers."

The Postal Regulatory Commissions has said by year’s end they expect to issue their Advisory Opinion in Docket N2010-1 evaluating the Postal Service’s proposal to eliminate Saturday mail service to homes and businesses nationwide.

Once Congress gets the Commissions recommendation, we will keep our members informed on this important issue.

The Meaning of Leadership

2010-11-18T06:48:00.000-08:00

National Grange Session is over and my local Grange had officer elections this week. I've had a little time to reflect on what being elected Master/President really means to most people.

Being elected to the highest ranking position in your Grange should be considered an honor as it means your fellow members believe you can do the job of leading. Leading doesn't mean doing it all, it means building a team to accomplish the Grange goals.

I have found that running the meeting is one of the easier parts of the job. If you commit to learning the basics of parliamentary procedure and our opening and closing ceremonies, you will have no problem with this part of leading.

A harder part is building teams and then educating those teams in how to function together successfully. When you understand that the success of your Grange depends upon teamwork, you have achieved a great beginning.

The hardest part of being elected "the leader" is that you must lead. Most leaders are not chosen for their good looks, their superior intellect, or their charismatic personality. Ask yourself why you were chosen to lead your Grange.

Leading is a balance of listening and guiding. It is not remaking or substantially changing the organization, it is building within the framework that exists. It is about showing your members the path that they want to go down. Leading is showing the members that it is fine to try something new or different.

Politicians tend to be poor examples of leadership as they often get caught up in believing their own press. Listen and learn from those you lead and you will achieve great things during your term as leader.

When your time is up, then be a leader and step back and support those who take the reins of leadership in your Grange. The satisfaction of a job well done and the appreciation of your peers is a wonderful reward for your gift of time and effort as a leader.

Paying For Tax Cuts

2010-09-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

It has always irritated me when a news reporter or politician talks about paying for tax cuts and today I read an article where once again they were talking about the taxpayer paying for a federal tax cut.

Last time I checked, when you balance a budget, you adjust your spending to fit the income you have. From my point of view, the same principle would seem to apply to the government. If they raise your taxes they don’t credit anything in the budget, so why if they were to lower, or in this case not raise, your taxes where would anyone be paying for them?

For most of us, we don’t set our wages and we do not set the amount that will be taken in taxes, but we do choose how, and on what, we will spend our money. When income goes down, we stop spending on certain items or reduce spending on several. When income goes up, we choose to either spend a bit more or maybe even save a little for the future.

However, the Federal Government sets the tax rates on income and they set the deductions and credits, which means they choose how much to collect from each of us for earning each of our respective livings. They control the income side provided that they keep a balance between people being able to invest and make a dollar and trying to keep it safe from taxes by not investing it. So the income side of this equation is that it is our money that the government uses.

Yet the Federal Government is also in charge of spending all of our tax dollars. A balanced budget would be one that didn’t spend more than it took in, and think about that last time that happened in Washington, D.C. The answer to that question will date you if you remember being there.

The current situation where we are spending far more than we take in (deficit), means that our children and grandchildren are going to have to pay back sometime in the future the money we’ve borrowed and spent (debt).

I remember when President Bush proposed tax cuts and after Congress passed them and the President signed it into law, I had a decrease in the taxes I paid. And just for the record, I’ve never been rich in my life, at least as far as money goes. Now some of these reporters and politicians are saying if they don’t take more of my money we’ll have to pay for it. Did I miss something or are we trying to spin math now?

Now I do believe that all Americans should help contribute financially to support our country. An open debate on how much we should pay through our taxes is proper. From my perspective our government has a spending problem and the only way it is an income problem is if we are determined to spend freely and then try to raise taxes to match.

It is time to call things what they are and quit trying to spin words and facts to confuse people or to further muddy the issue. It is our money that our government takes through taxes and it is our money that they spend to operate our nation. At the moment it is also the money that is being spent that our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are going to be earning in the future.

Regardless of whether the politicians want to raise, lower, or keep taxes at the current level, at least don’t tell us that we have to pay for a tax cut.

Alaska and New Frontiers

2010-08-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

I spent the past Weekend in Alaska and it was memorable for a number of reasons.

The next to last "conversation with Grange members" meeting was held in Palmer and eleven members were present. As normal, there were many questions and comments from the members as they participated in the meeting. The duties of the officers, state of the National Grange, and the update on our name protection efforts were all new information to many of the Alaska members. They were pleased to see how National Grange has worked to help them and keep them informed about issues that affect all Granges.

The sixth degree was then conferred that evening to eleven Alaska members following the Fifth Degree obligation ceremony. It was truly a positive and inspiring way to conclude the day's activities.

We had 17 individuals on the team from 9 different states. The team did an outstanding job, with all team members having memorized their parts and they appeared to have worked together for years rather than just having had one practice that afternoon.

Errol Briggs, Master of the team, presented a gavel to the Alaska State Grange as a remembrance to the event. John Porrier, State Master, accepted the gavel and spoke how it was the first piece of history that the State Grange owns. It will now travel through the state until it has visited each of the seven Granges.

Brother Lester Gibbs, Chaplain of the team, presented each new sixth degree member with a pin from the Vermont State Grange. Also I presented brother Porrier with a set of sixth degree manuals so that in the future the Alaska State Grange could properly open and confer the degree themselves.

I am so proud of the fact that our members chose to come to Alaska to be a part of this first ever conferral. The team consisted of M-Errol Briggs, VT; O-Bob White, OH; L-Celia Luttrell, OR; S-Don Johnson, ID; AS-Mark Noah, OR; LAS-Susan Noah, OR; Ch-Lester Gibbs, VT; T-Gaye Hunt, AK; Sec-Mary Reinke, WI; GK-Norm Keller, IL; C-Joan While, OH; P-Betsy Huber, PA; F-Henrietta Keller, IL; Executive Committee-Alan Arner, WI; Barbara Chambers, VT; Clara Scott, MT; and Pianist-Mary Johnson, ID. If you want to get a detailed report as one of these members for their opinion of the day's activities.

Alaska is still viewed by some as a frontier and as far as our organization goes they will not be the last frontier. We are working to start Granges in Missouri, Nevada, and Arkansas at this time. Each new Grange, both Community and State, creates a new frontier for our members. New projects, new activities, and most importantly, new members are created with each new Grange.

The benefit of a new frontier is that they bring new energy and ideas into the existing Granges many of which are over a hundred years old. This blend of new and old invigorates our organization and ensures our continued growth.

I hope your memories of this past weekend are as good as those who went to Alaska and experienced a new frontier.

Talking

2010-08-24T04:41:00.000-07:00

This has been an interesting month. It seems that I've been dealing with a number of problems that originate with people not talking to each other.

It is crucial that people talk to each other, especially when one party has some authority. It is never healthy for people or for organizations not to communicate.

It appears that when many people decide that when they are not going to talk to someone else, they also stop listening to them. At that point how do we think we are going to solve the problem?

The next step often is that one or both start complaining or even making accusations to others without talking to the person they need to be talking to. Fairly quickly it becomes a "whose side are you on" situation.

I've seen Granges, churches, and even entire communities divided over issues that started because someone quit talking to someone else. Who wins in these cases? Usually no one wins. Someone may drop a membership or even choose to move out of the area, but did anyone actually win? The sad thing is in these extreme cases, often both feuding parties actually want similar things and they just let things get carried away by not communicating.

People in the Grange have an obligation to help each other. If two people quit talking to each other, others should counsel them to clear the air and find a solution. Those who care about the cause or organization need to show their leadership or they risk losing the things they care about because others are not talking.

It is my experience that as long as people are willing to talk, there is a chance of finding solutions to whatever challenge is facing us. It is when we stop talking and listening that we start to lose.

Let each of us remind ourselves now and again, that we need to talk to others and listen to what they have to say.

This Past Week

2010-07-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

What a week I've had. Interviews for a new Legislative Director, staff meetings, problems in a couple of states, issues that included what we are going to do about the Postal Service proposal to reduce service, and an interesting idea to help farmers and rural people in another part of our world.

The one thing most people don't realize is that I spend at least half my time team building. Working with, training, encouraging, and supporting the members of all the different teams the National Grange has, is one of the chief duties of the Master of the National Grange. Success or failure is often based on how well that single portion of this job is done.

While I am not a "city" person, the time I spend with the staff is not only valuable, but enjoyable. I have trust and faith that your staff is not only dedicated to our organization, but committed to being a part of growing it.

Leroy Watson is going to be leaving his post in a week and a half and I will miss him greatly. He brought a keen mind and 11 years of experience as the Director to the staff and it has benefited every Master he worked under and the organization as a whole. I am also sure that he will continue to contribute in many ways to the future of our Grange, now just as an active member.

The team of staff will change this month and we have already begun to fit new people into the team. The process is the same for new employees as for new members in your own Grange. We need to make them feel welcome, make sure that they understand what we do and why, and listen to their questions and comments. We have the opportunity to learn about ourselves by listening to a new set of eyes.

Sitting at the airport, reflecting on this past week, is a pleasant moment this week. We have strengthened our staff team, we are seeking solutions to some problems challenging some of our State Master team members, and we accomplished a great deal.

Success or failure is the result of team building efforts. This week was another success for the National Grange and our organization as a whole. Hope your week was as wonderful!

Basic Economics

2010-07-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

I just don’t quite get why so many politicians seem to be missing the common sense boat when we talk about the economy. It would be truly discouraging if it required a degree in economics to see some of the solutions.

I’ve had a checking account since I was about 16 and at an early point in life, I knew that if a person writes a check or charges a debit for more money than they have in the account, the check bounces, the debit is declined and the bank punishes you with a hefty overdraft fee. When you don’t pay a bill, someone is going to ask some tough questions. If you constantly spend more than you make, you will go bankrupt.

It is seems obvious to me that when you increase taxes, there is less money being spent to hire people by businesses. Undoubtedly there is a tax rate that will generate the maximum revenue for the government with the least negative impact on the economy and while I am not sure what it is exactly, I just have a hunch it is somewhat lower than the total bill we have today.

The bottom line is that the government as a whole doesn’t create wealth and wealth is what increases our standard of living. Without wealth generation, the ideas, services, food, fiber, and widgets that are produced, the economy just can’t grow.
It is also painfully obvious that when you increase taxes on the rich, that many people find themselves being classed as rich who really are not. Most importantly, if the amount of taxes I pay as a percentage of my income goes up, it is a tax increase. The more of my money that the government takes, the less that I can use for the things I think are important. Now don’t think that I oppose paying taxes, I just want a civil discussion on how much I should pay.

It would seem to me that there are some simple solutions to help stimulate the economy.

First stop spending more than is received in revenue. I realize that means making choices, but that is what people normally do when they run out of money.

Second stop raising taxes, especially the ones aimed at business. All they seem to do is discourage hiring. While we’re on this subject, maybe just following a bit of Grange policy and make the tax system simpler would aid the economy. If farmers, businesspeople, and the rest of the taxpayers knew the tax system was consistent and predictable it would be a lot easier to make investments that would lead to new jobs.

Third quit using taxes as a partisan position and as a wedge between voters and start talking about our nation’s financial health. After all, we are all citizens of this great nation.

I have a hunch that just these three basic ideas would keep Congress busy for a couple of years while the rest of us keep working and building the secure financial future we want for our families.

Defining Who We Are

2010-07-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

Just two weeks ago I was in Washington, D.C. with my wife, son, and about 500 of my friends. While I was working, my wife and son Jacob visited many of the monuments and memorials and took in the sights around Washington. One of their stops was Mt. Vernon where they spent a good share of one day.

Jacob has always been interested in history and the world in general and is a well informed young man. He commented that he learned that George Washington defined himself as a farmer and he observed that histories don't mention his love of agriculture.

Washington may have been the general that kept alive the dream of independence and he may have been the first President and in the process created a working nation. But when he defined who he was, he said a farmer.

How do you define a farmer? Is he or she a person who takes risks, but is educated and experienced enough to find success? Is it a person who is willing and tough enough to work long hours when necessary.

I believe that we should embrace the picture of Washington as the proto-type of the American farmer. Someone who puts his heart, mind, and soul into growing crops, raising livestock, and today also growing fuel. Highly educated and willing to get dirty, committed to a lifestyle, their family and the community they are blessed to live in. Someone who answers the call to duty when their country needs them, and seldom is far from God.

While Washington thought of himself as a farmer, history often ignores that central part of his life in favor of the more attractive general or President. But why is his own definition of himself so often overlooked? Why are farmers in general overlooked or even ignored so often?

It is possible that American farmers are so good at their chosen occupation and so quiet about it that their silence is taken by the public as proof it isn't so tough. Maybe it is just that they are not vocal about it.

Agriculture faces many challenges today, from government regulation to attacks from anti-agriculture groups. One small things we can do is to take time to look at the initiation ceremonies of the Grange and how we use these powerful lessons to teach the critical role of agriculture and the importance of farmers.

All of us who do not make our livings via farming need to join with that small segment of our nation's population who are farmers. Together we must make sure that we define what a farmer is, not others who have no idea of what is involved in being a farmer.

The Grange is an agricultural organization and as such, continues to educate and teach what it means to be a farmer in today's America. Our membership is not made up of just farmers, but those with an interest in agriculture.

George Washington would be happy to see organizations that remember the high position that agriculture occupies and the importance of the American farmer. Would he be as happy about how many Americans define farmers?

Let's all continue working together to ensure that the we define what a farmer is!

What a Reason to Celebrate

2010-06-28T05:23:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the National Grange took the day to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the dedication of our building at 1616 H Street, NW in Washington D.C. This building was built and paid for by Grange members across the country and the day was dedicated to them.

Around 500 members and visitors attended the re-dedication ceremony or visited the building on June 26. From my perspective, it seemed more like a family reunion than anything else. So far this morning, I've found a note from Alex, and a business card from Chris and I'm sure I'll find traces of other members in the office.

I want to thank Clackamas County Pomona Grange for the re-dedication plaque; Kermit and Margaret Richardson, Pete Pommper, and Grange Insurance Association for the artwork they each donated; and Grange Mutual Insurance of Oklahoma and all the Granges and members who donated to aid us in the re-painting of the Goss conference room and our offices on the 11th and 10th floors. The list of donors were in the program and each are so appreciated.

Your National Grange staff deserves your appreciation for their hard work to ensure that the day went smoothly. The officers of the National Grange did a great job throughout the day and then served as ushers as we prepared for the ceremony. A special thank you goes to Ed and Darlene Andersen, Bob and Delores Barrow, and Kermit and Margaret Richardson for taking the time to attend and be part of this day of celebration. As three of our past National Grange Masters it was an honor to recognize them for their contributions to our organization.

The youth who served as building ambassadors made my day. They were so enthused and ready to help everyone. The stream of people showed in a real way what the Grange is. We had kids in strollers, elementary students looking at exhibits, teenagers giving tours, parents were meeting and sharing experiences with each other, and the grandparents were showing their families and friends bits of our history. Saturday was a family affair and the showcase for the Grange was the building.

It is important to occasionally take a moment to celebrate some of the milestones of life. The Grange observed the 50th anniversary of our building, but the real commemoration was recognition of the members who made the dream of a building a reality and those who keep the dream alive.

Today as I reflect upon Saturday, I feel great! It is now time to get back to the exciting task of growing the Grange, I am refreshed and re-energized by being a part of our members celebrating one of the big milestones of the Grange.

Activism

2010-06-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

Some people claim to be activists while most of us would hesitate to even suggest that we were such. I wonder if today's media and our lexicon should try to differentiate between activists and protesters.

I've seen a lot of TV coverage of protests over the years. From our headquarters building you can often see groups of protesters in Lafayette Park as they march and chant in front of the White House. In reflecting upon all the protests I've seen over the years, only a few seemed to have any strong mainstream American connection. Most seem to be angry people upset over a single issue. Only rarely does a protest seem to draw in people from all walks of life. In fact, many protests are rather small events in terms of people participating.

Of course, most of us who never go to protests have jobs, families, and responsibilities and have little time to go and wave signs and participate in chanting the slogan of that days protest.

Activists on the other hand, are all about getting something done. Being in a group of thousands may influence politicians, but starting a project that makes people's lives better begins with people sharing their concerns. America's traditional civic organizations seldom gather to protest, but they regularly meet and discuss what they can do to help others. These are the real activist organizations.

Just like the Grange, the civic organizations in each community tend to attract activists, those who what to get some action started. These organizations normally work together on bigger projects and they give each member the opportunity to influence which projects or activities the group will choose to work on.

Every American should find ways to become an activist within their community. Community action is how we change both our state and our nation and the more healthy community activist organizations we have, the stronger our communities. Our local civic organizations are the real deal when you want to talk about activist organizations. They are not huge checkbook organizations, they are real people working together to aid others.

Regardless of if you are a small business owner, work for a large corporation, work 9 to 5, or are retired, check out your local Grange to find out how you can be an activist in your community. Your community is counting on you.

Discussion of Big Issues Including Global Warming

2010-06-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

The Grange is an organization that encourages our members to discuss, debate, and even to disagree on issues in order to find common ground and solutions to real problems. Policies of the Community, State, and National Grange are the result of our grassroots based concept of setting the official view of our organization through a democratic, collective decision making process. The end result is that the issues that we set policy on are not always the same. A Community Grange policy may differ from their State Grange's policy on the same topic. Any State may have an opposing view from the National Grange's policies.

In reality the only members who are required to publicly support any of the policies of the Grange are the leaders at each level that has policy on that issue. Our support comes from the discussion of our membership during the adoption progress.

Issues such as global warming or climate change, are huge issues that have the potential to divide any group. I am aware of many members of our organization that believe strongly that we are the sole cause of this problem, while many others question just how much change is happening and do not believe that mankind has the power to change climate.

Many groups have taken "politically correct" positions so that they don't have to take the heat. Some groups have ignored the issue and a few have taken the opportunity to have open discussion. On the issue of global warming, all possible positions have danger, at least in a political sense.

Our stand is that each member must follow their own conscience on each issue. Where they disagree with official policy, they should advocate for its change internally and work for their point of view outside the organization. Calling names or implying that leaders are wrong for carrying out the policies of the Grange at that level are not actions based upon the high standards of Grange principles.

The Grange position on global warming is rather brief. We are opposed to the current various incarnations of the "Cap and Trade" bill as they are more about revenue generation than impacting any global warming. We are also opposed to increasing legislation or regulation to restrict greenhouse gasses as governmental intervention seldom solves the problem.

We have a long history of 142 years, during which we have consistently advocated for good stewardship of our land and environment. We don't always agree with particular pieces of legislation or specific rules from agencies, but we do believe that good stewardship must be part of our lifestyle, regardless of whether we live in a rural area or an urban environment. During our traditional initiation process each new member is left with the goal that we should leave the world a better place than we found it.

The Grange remains one of the few organizations where open discussion of the big issues is not only possible, but encouraged. Tempers may occasionally flare, passions may erupt, but the end goal is a civil discussion where all learn something and we search together for common ground.

The Grange Declaration of Purposes, written by the Founders of the Grange and still part of the Constitution of the National Grange, anticipated that there would be conflicts of opinion and philosophy as part of the Grange policy development process. Through the Declaration of Purposes, the Founders teach us that as Grange members, we collectively believe that "....difference of opinion is not a crime...." I would also add that neither is difference of opinion per se evidence of a failure of process or procedure in either developing our policy or implementing that policy. The Founders also teach us in the same section of the Declaration of Purposes that ....the fault lies in the bitterness of the controversy", meaning that disagreements on issues are only problems when we can not accept that our Brother and Sister Grange members, of good faith and honest character can have opinions or perspectives other than those we are comfortable with, including opinions that challenge our core values and ideas of who WE are as individual Grange members and what OUR Grange "stands for."

None of the big issues facing our society will be solved with "bumper sticker" solutions. We understand that complex problems often require solutions that require patience, time, and the ability to change and adapt as we learn. I am confident that Grange policies will continue to change and adapt without losing the fundamental principles that our organization has. The principle of open discussion of the big issues of the day is alive and well.

"Healthy" Communities

2010-05-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

It is interesting listening to the talking heads on TV and radio, reading the "experts" opinions on the web and in newspapers, and chatting with people around the country about the current state of America. I believe the current state of America is tied to the health of our local communities.

What is a healthy community and what are its characteristics? To me there are several important factors. Good jobs being available and a good school system to ensure education are two big factors. Many communities are struggling right now with these, especially the jobs issue.

Churches, support for the arts, and recreational opportunities also add much needed requirements for healthy communities. Support for the spiritual and emotional needs of a community are crucial for a healthy community.

One crucial aspect often neglected is the need for a place where people can come together and discuss, debate, and search for common ground as a community. In today's highly charged partisan atmosphere, it has become difficult to find organizations that will tackle the big issues in a non-partisan fashion. Many groups have taken the position that they just will not discuss issues that may create disagreements.

We need more places in every community where we can expose people to different ideas and give them the opportunity to share their passions with others. While the Grange has been doing just this for 142 years, others need to join us in meeting this crucial need of every community. The search for common ground within each community is critical to the long-term health of each. Without any common ground, our communities can easily tear themselves apart.

The strength and healthy of our American communities has many components, but one is that we must have places where we can search together for mutual benefits.

Why be discouraged?

2010-03-28T05:51:00.000-07:00

I am in New Jersey today. I've been in Texas in January. SC, TN, NC, VA, WV, OH, MD, and DE so far this month and tomorrow will head to PA to finish the month of March.

What I am seeing from the members who are coming out to the meetings that are held in each state is an incredible amount of energy. While the presentation tries to give a balanced picture, one containing the good and bad, the members are optimistic and excited about the future of their Grange.

I've done a lot of of conferences and meetings over the years, some were tough and others we couldn't have asked for better results. However, this series of meetings are the best I've ever had the pleasure of participating in. I am leaving each meeting more excited and more energized than I ever imagined I could be.

If you're discouraged, find out when and where the meeting or meetings will be held in your State. Show up and find out what the membership is doing. The entire focus is on two main points, what is happening at the National level and what you can do at the Community Grange level.

If you don't lose your discouragement, I'd be shocked.

Weather, disasters, and other challenges

2010-02-08T11:18:00.000-08:00

This year has started out strong with many challenges. Haiti had an earthquake that devastated the island country. Much of the East Coast around Washington, D.C. is shut down because of a snow storm that reached blizzard conditions in places. California has been in the news as they have had serious mudslides due to heavy rains.

Grange members have contacted me about some of these events and asked what they could do. I would suggest that we work together with other organizations to bring relief where it is needed. Our members may choose to help Haiti or they may want to aid their fellow citizens, it is their choice.

As we look to the future, each Grange should consider creating a plan in case of disaster or extreme weather. Can your Grange hall be an refuge for people if something happens in your community? Can you arrange for power, heat, and water at your hall if the lines go down?

How can your Grange members share information to ensure that as many needs are met as possible? Who is going to check in on members who don't have family in the community?

These questions and more are important if you want to develop a plan to help your community. Talk with your local fire department and law enforcement agency. Make sure to consider what they have to say about emergency planning.

Grange members have a history of pitching in and helping during times of extreme weather or natural disasters. In this day and age, it only makes sense to create a plan so that everyone in your Grange knows what to do and who to check with. After all, it is our community.

National Cattlemen

2010-01-28T04:43:00.000-08:00

I am attending the National Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the Cattleman's Beef Board, the BCBA Trade Show, the American National Cattlewomen, the National Cattlemen's Foundation, and CattleFax all have meetings this week.

I am very pleased that the leaders of these organizations are all speaking of unity. Not just within the beef industry but within agriculture. Just as the Grange has been speaking of unity within agriculture for many years, it is great to hear other organizations articulating the goal of working together.

Lucinda Williams, Chairman, Cattlemen's Beef Board spoke about the three challenges she sees facing the beef industry and agriculture.

First, the reality of the knowledge of our customers must be faced. The average American is 3 generations removed from the farm according to Williams. Our challenge is to educate them about the realities of farm life, practices, and our positive interaction with the environment.

Second, our opposition has abundant resources. The huge amounts of money that many organizations raise creates a challenge for all in the Ag and Natural Resource community as we can not compete on a dollar for dollar basis.

Third, we are working with a media that is friendly towards anti-meat and anti-Ag organizations.

These three points of Williams are points that the Grange agrees with and many rural and farm based organizations have been speaking about.

It is a pleasure to see the energy level of the members of the Beef organization as high as ever. My experiences with them goes back to when I was the President of the Oregon State Grange and worked closely with the Oregon Cattlemen's Assoc. They earned my respect then and the current leadership at the National level continues that tradition.

I am looking forward to the next two days, meeting new friends, and making connections that will help both the beef industry, their organizations and members, and the Grange and our membership. In fact, I encourage all Grange members that are in the beef industry to check these folks out and consider joining them.

The Grange is not a competitor with these organizations, we are allies and the more members we share, and the more we talk the greater the unity we will create. In today's world, unity is strength. I will end with an invitation to the families that make their living in the beef industry, check out the Grange and find out what we will add to your life when you become part of our organization.

Hiding Taxes

2010-01-14T09:23:00.000-08:00

I found a new tax in Washington DC. When I bought my lunch the person running the cash register asked me if I wanted a bag. It seemed like a silly question to me as I had a sandwich, a bag of chips, and a drink and it was to go, so I said yes. As I paid my bill, I saw a posted sign that notified me that bags now cost 5 cents due to a new District of Columbia law that became effective January 1.

I have now done some research and found that DC now requires all businesses that sell food or alcohol to charge five cents for a plastic bag. Not only does it require payment, but the bag must be made from #2 or #4 polyethylene and the bags must be printed with a phrase that encourages recycling (such as “Please recycle this bag.”) Paper bags must contain a minimum of 40 percent post-consumer recycled content and have the printed message also.

The business gets to keep 1 cent unless they offer a rebate for customers providing their own bag and then they get to keep 2 cents.

The 3 to 4 cents left of this new tax will go to the new Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Fund which will be administered by the District Department of the Environment (DDOE). They have announced that they plan to use it to clean and protect the Anacostia and other local waterways, conduct public education campaigns about the impact of trash on the District’s environmental health, and continue to provide reusable carryout bags to District residents.

Of course as with most government mandated programs, there are some bags that will be banned and other bags from certain businesses that are exempt from this tax.

The real question is not how this impacts the District of Columbia, but why is this a standard way of raising revenue for many cities, counties, and states? Hiding taxes for causes in fees that people don't perceive of as taxes doesn't promote support. The Grange believes in good stewardship of our environment. We would support many efforts to clean up rivers, reduce trash and litter, or even to educate people about their options. However, government often forgets that there are multiple ways to get the message out and to create effective solutions.

Especially in tough economic times, just charging more for taxes and letting a government agency address the topic doesn't seem prudent. Did the city really evaluate their priorities and find nothing of less importance to discontinue? Did they really find that this issue was of such critical importance that a new tax needed to be created?

I know it is only a nickel. If you buy one bag a week it is only $2.60 of which the government will get about $2.00 of. The question I have for those who ask, "why complain about a nickel?" How many nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars are already being used for worthwhile causes with taxes that are hidden? When I pay my income tax I know how much it is. When I pay my property tax bill, I know who gets every part of it. When I buy an item and there is a sales tax, it is there for me to see. The problem is that government officials realize that people don't want to pay more taxes so they are hiding them in plain sight as user fees, bag fees, or have them included within the price of something we purchase.

This D.C. five-cent bag fee will have no impact on most Grange members. The question for each member is how much money do you spend each year without realizing it is a tax from your government and which is often dedicated for some specific purpose? Do you feel that you are paying your fair share? Is your money being spent wisely and for important services? Are you going to bring even one issue to your Grange this year?

Conference in Vermont

2010-01-11T09:16:00.000-08:00

I sat through the meetings at the Northeast Leaders conference in Vermont this past weekend. The unofficial theme of the day appears to be youth and growth. Why would a group of Grange leaders be talking about young people and Grange growth?

It is because these two topics are intertwined and work on either issue often leads to improvement in the other. Youth are at the point in life where they are learning and growing every day. They absorb new information like a sponge and most are open to trying almost anything that looks like an opportunity. These traits that young people possess are the same traits that we are teaching members to use so that they can attract new members and to grow their Grange.

Young people are looking for opportunities to learn new skills. They want to know how to run a meeting, how to shepherd an issue through the process to create a change, or how to influence others. Building a team to accomplish big tasks, setting large goals, or picking a project that impacts communities is daunting for all age groups, but youth don’t know what they can’t do and often jump at that opportunity.
In addition, most young people want to be thought of as adults. They want to be taken seriously by the older folks and be considered equals. In our organization we give 14-year old members the right to be adults and we give them responsibility and authority as members.

This group is an important part of the Grange as they bring energy and enthusiasm to our organization. As part of a Grange team they add an important ingredient to the mix of experience and knowledge that our long-time members bring.

That brings us right to the topic of Grange growth. Our members are searching for tools that will teach them how to attract new members to join and how to get members to step up as new leaders. State Grange leaders are looking for communities that need a Grange either with a new Grange or with a reorganized former Grange. All of these create growth in our Grange.

The way we are going to be successful is by working together and forming teams to accomplish the goals and tasks that face us. The more young people that we get involved on our teams, the more diverse and talent the teams will become. Success is a direct result of members working together and not worrying about who gets the credit. We need to reinforce the understanding that that credit is shared by all and success is the real reward.

I am so energized by what I am hearing from the members of the Northeast region. It appears that members and leaders are all focused on the same basic premise of involving youth and creating Grange growth. While each state has its own identity and methods, they have unity of focus and purpose.

Conferences and meetings give each member the chance to pick up some new energy and excitement while they learn a few new ideas that involve young people in their Grange and how to create Grange growth in their own Community Grange.

I hope you get the opportunity to attend an exciting Grange conference in your area. Focus on young people and Grange growth and 2010 will be a great year!

2010-01-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday I did an installation of officers at my Grange. Listening to the comments and looking at the turn out, it is apparent to me that many members have forgotten why we do an installation.

First and foremost, installation is to remind the officers of the importance of the position they have been elected to serve in. For a new officer it gives them the opportunity to hear what the formal duties of their office are. For someone who has been re-elected a number of times, it is a reminder of what that officer needs to be doing.

There are several other reasons that may be easy to overlook, but are truly important.

While each officer is installed as an individual, the ceremony is for the entire group of officers. It is a team event, no officer is too important to have their own ceremony, no officer is so unimportant that we skip them. It is a reminder that as Grange members and officers we are interdependent and if we are going to achieve success, it is done together. A Grange that treats certain officers as important and ignores others, does so at their own peril. We elect an officer team to share the burdens and challenges of leadership among a group of members.

The installation ceremony is a public ceremony and we should be inviting non-members to come and witness the pride we have for the organization and for those we elect as our leaders. It is an opportunity to share some of our history, our principles and values, and the spirit of fraternity. For us it is a reminder of these things that we may take for granted.

The members should view the ceremony as an opportunity to get together and celebrate. That celebration should be one of achievement for those officers who have the chance to welcome in their successors. It should be a celebration for new officers as they get to to grow, learn, and become better leaders as they lead the Grange forward. Most importantly, those members who are not officers can join in celebrating a new Grange year as marked by new officers.

We now have two installation ceremonies that can be used. Regardless of which you choose, perform the installation with pride and have fun doing it. The officers will appreciate a smile from the installing officer and the serious duties of each office will not be diminished by all enjoying the brief presentation when done to the best of our abilities.

Don't worry about perfection, worry about the meaning of the words. Review the ceremony in the Manual and reflect on the opportunities it offers you Grange. Use the Installation of Officers ceremony as a positive opportunity to renew your excitement and energy for the Grange and your commitment to being part of the Grange team.

New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-31T08:41:00.000-08:00

I've never been one for making a lot of resolutions on New Years. One view is that most of us don't keep them long enough to see any change and if you need to change something why wait until the start of a new year? The other side of the coin is that if you never decide to change something that is bothering you, you most likely will never change it.

Last year, I put in an article that it was important to set goals and one of mine was that I was going to paint a car. As the last day of the year is ticking down, I know that I was only able to make about a day and a half of progress on that project. This is one case of circumstances stopping that goal from being fully achieved. I will say that I am closer to finishing than when I set the goal.

If you're going to set forth some resolutions for yourself, ask yourself what do you want? What would be the desired result from a resolution?

I know that I want 2010 to end with a number of results. I want to spend quality time with my family during the year. It would be great to have a carshow ready classic car at the end of the year. I want to see our Grange team achieve great success this year. In looking forward, there are many things that can be placed on this list, but these three are the most important to me.

Family and the classic car thing are personal to me and in this post I'll talk about our Grange team achieving great success. Grange success is not just a personal issue, it is an issue for thousands of other Grange members.

In 2010 the National Grange team will continue to improve our communication with our members. We will offer new opportunities to learn how to be successful as well as continue our tried and true methods. We will add new people to our team at the National Grange level. Teamwork will be one of our major focuses this year.

I view success as new people becoming part of the Community Grange and getting involved. They will become new leaders within our organization and as they grow as leaders, they will bring new leadership to the Pomona and State level. Not only will new members join in, but our existing members will be experiencing new energy and excitement as Grange members.

We will build upon each success just as you build a stone wall, rock by rock from the bottom. The wonderful thing about great success, is that it isn't anything new in our Grange. We have had great successes, we still are achieving great things, and to expect tremendous things in the future is not that much of a reach.

Our challenge is to let existing members, who haven't had the opportunity to experience success, to feel the emotions that success brings. We also are going to share with new members what it feels like to achieve their goals though the Grange.

I hope each member will join me in setting a resolution for 2010 that their Grange will achieve success. It is when we work together as a team that we will achieve our goals!

May each member have a safe and happy New Year celebration and a prosperous 2010!

What does Brotherhood and Sisterhood mean?

2009-12-30T13:17:00.000-08:00

I was recently asked what Brotherhood and Sisterhood means in the Grange?

It means many things to different people, but in essence it is the desire to become family with a group of people we want to associate with. We have common ties or bonds that bring us together in spite of other differences. These ties also keep us together when we have disagreements and give us strength in times of trial or trouble.

To be a Brother or Sister in the Grange means our Grange family gives us the authority to express our opinions and to advocate for issues that we are passionate about. We are not bound within the Grange to one viewpoint on political ideas, religious beliefs, or current event issues. Instead we are given the opportunity to work with others to come to a group consensus on issues. We thus gain strength by working together with others to advocate for the issues we share in common without sacrificing friendship over issues we don't agree on.

We become Brothers and Sisters through the Grange initiation ceremony which promotes the highest moral principles through lessons drawn from the farm, the field, and the farm home. This shared experience gives each member a common thread to draw upon. When we differ on topics within the Grange we remember the lessons of friendship, and after the vote is taken we remain true friends and family. Thus each remains true to themselves and yet finds comfort, companionship, and safety in the company of Grange family.

No matter what the passions of your life may be, the Grange allows you freedom to grow as you see fit. As family, each is encouraged to become the person they wish to be. We share a set of moral values that give us a bond that promotes and treasures friendships that can last a lifetime.

There is so much more that Brotherhood and Sisterhood mean to the members of the Grange, but to me it is all about being part of a great family.

Leading from where you are

2009-12-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

I've had a lot of dealings with lawyers over the past two years. Name protection, Grange property disputes, members filing charges against others, and a few other issues have all taken some of my time. The internal issues that led to attorneys getting involved almost always involve leaders who either didn't do their jobs, or leaders who didn't believe that the rules applied to them.

Grange leaders are not just the officers, much less the Master/President. I've seen many Granges were the leader was not one of the "major" officers. It is important that Grange officers, especially the Master take the time to check out the rules before doing things as they are are elected leaders.

The National Digest is available free of charge on the website and is also available for purchase through the Grange Store. Each State Grange has the responsibility to make their By-Laws available to each member who asks for it. The positive thing about our system of rules is that if you have a question you ask the Master at the level you are at. If you think that they are right, great. If not, you can appeal (ask the next level)to get the ruling of the next level. Subordinate/Community and Pomona Grange to State to National.

When we don't follow the rules or when we choose to interpret the rules to fit our desires, it often creates a situation where no one wins and our organization loses. Yesterday, I was made aware of a situation where a Community Grange wants to do something that is clearly against the rules. The State Master and I had a long conversation about options that the State Grange has to deal with this problem. I reminded that Master that ignoring the issue is not an option. We are the leaders and must do the right thing, even when it is difficult or unpopular.

Leaders who choose to disregard rules for their own goals open themselves up to a lot of risk. Our rules allow one member to file charges against another for improper or illegal actions. Our rules allow the Master, and/or Executive Committee, with jurisdiction to remove the offending officer which puts them into a Grange trial just as any member filing charges does. If legal actions were to be taken, there can be some legal liability to the officers or members for knowingly doing illegal actions.

Our judicial code, chapter 12 in the Digest, sets forth the due process that happens when members or leaders break the rules. I would hope that we would seldom need to use this chapter as we should be able to solve problems and disagreements without resorting to this avenue.

It is much worse for our Grange when members go outside our Order and file lawsuits in civil court or force the State Grange to file the suit to correct an illegal action. The moment that lawyers get involved we lose some control of our destiny and the lawyers and judges gain some control.

The big issue is always financial. The more we spend on legal fees, the less we have for member services, training, and new materials to help the Community Grange. But there is another cost. Lawsuits tend to create divides within Granges and within Communities. Sometimes those divides can endure for decades after the lawsuit is settled.

While there will be occasional situations that require a lawyer, every member can often be a part of a solution that does not include lawyers. Become a Grange leader, regardless of your position, and speak up. Ask questions, learn the rules, and encourage all members to participate in our process. I've seen cases where if a group of members had loudly said no to their peer, no lawsuit would ever have been filed. When you expect the State or National Grange to be the "bad guy" you in effect give permission to the member to break the rules. Remember that we are all a part of the State and National Grange!

We should expect the highest standards from our leaders at all levels of the Grange. They need to do the right thing for our organization as a whole. In spite of the new information I received, I am seeing our membership getting more involved and viewing themselves as part of a great national organization. As each member grows as a Grange leader the future gets brighter. This is a great step to involving lawyers and judges less and less in our internal affairs.

State Masters Pledges

2009-12-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

This week in Washington, D.C. has been a whirlwind and I still have two days to go in the office. Today I reviewed the pledges that each State Master made at the Session for their State. There are four areas in which they were challenged to make pledges in. Every State is represented expect South Carolina due to Brother Hammett's illness.

The first area is in new organizations. Out of 35 State Granges pledging, 36 new Granges were promised. Six States pledged two new Granges while five didn't set any goals. 1962 was the last year that 36 or more Granges were organized in one year. Considering that organizing one or two Granges is feasible for any State, this goal is achievable. We all know that it will not necessarily be easy, but we can do this.

The second area is in reorganizations of Granges that have either had their Charter revoked or have disbanded. 29 Granges were promised by the State Masters. Kansas led the group by pledging three and five others have pledged two in their State. Reorganizing at least 29 Granges was also last achieved in 1962. The task of reorganizing is often easier than organizing because sometimes we have assets that are being held for that Grange.

The third area is in revitalizing existing Granges. The State Masters have promised to conduct programs and follow up the successes in 100 Granges. California leads the pledges with the promise to aid 20 of their Community Granges. 18 other states have pledged from two to eight Granges revitalized within their borders. California led the nation last year in successful revitalization efforts and is determined to continue their efforts.

The fourth area is in starting Junior Granges, either new or reorganizations. 38 were promised at National Session. Eleven States pledge two Junior Granges. 1982 is the last year that at least 38 Junior Granges were started. This goal may actually be the easiest to accomplish. I have never seen an effort to start a Junior Grange fail because of the interest of the kids.

These pledges that your State Masters have made are only going to be achieved by teams of members working together. I ask that you volunteer to be a part of a team as we need every member with a passion for the Grange to give what time they can afford. This task will be accomplished by many members giving a bit rather than a few giving a lot. Each member is important to our goals.

I can not put into words the feeling that you get when you are part of a team that organizes or reorganizes a Community Grange. I can verbalize the emotions that seeing a Grange that was failing becoming a vital force within their community. The pride in seeing a new Junior Grange starting out is unbelievable. Those members who have accomplished these things know exactly what I am saying. I want more members to feel all the great things that happen when we achieve success.

Remember that success comes one day at a time, one step followed by another, and one Grange at a time. 2010 is our time for success! Together we will achieve our goals!

Reflections on National Grange Session

2009-11-27T08:29:00.000-08:00

The 143rd National Session is over and as I sit in my office and reflect on it, I am pleased with what was accomplished.

The Special Session on Sunday the 15th went well and the session overview had a lot of great questions asked.

Monday's activities started with the delegate tour and was a time for renewing friendships and making new ones. That afternoon, the committees began their work until it was time for the host banquet.

Tuesday we tried something new and committees met until noon. We had the honor of having eight dedicated Grangers present to be recognized as Heroes of the Grange. I felt it was an honor just to share the head table with them. That afternoon we opened the Session and started working.

Wednesday opened with the Ag Breakfast and our speaker told us about the efforts to improve agriculture in Afghanistan by the National Guard. This is one project that shows the local people that Americans care about them and want to help. The Delegates worked a number of resolutions and made great progress during the day. That evening we had a lengthy and passionate discussion our policy on industrial hemp as well as introductions of each State's delegation.

Thursday brought elections and we continued to make progress in getting the work of the Session finished. That evening we tried another new thing. The spouses of the National officers, or someone selected by the officer if not married, closed the National Grange. The officers stated that this was to show our love and respect for those who enable us to serve the Grange as officers. The business meeting of the Assembly of Demeter was held that evening. Brother Valentine announced that he was stepping down as High Priest and the Assembly elected officers with a new High Priest.

Friday finished the final working day of the Session. We continued to have spirited debate and discussion on the issues of the day. We finished the election of the two officers not completed on Thursday and installation was held at 2:30 p.m. Brother Valentine did an outstanding job as the installing officer. Session closed prior to the scheduled time as our work was done.

Saturday saw the 6th and 7th Degrees conferred and we closed the week with our celebration banquet.

We packed a lot into the week of Session and while we were all tired at the end, the sense of accomplishment, pride, and fellowship was strong throughout the entire week. We made a lot of positive changes in the Rules of the order, added to the ritualistic work, updated our policy in many areas, and recognized many members and Granges for outstanding work.

I am feeling so much pride in our organization. We have so much to be thankful for and our future is so bright. Next year, you need to be in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a Session that promises to be even better!

Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

I hope every person in our country takes a moment to reflect on the gift that our veterans have given us.

We have a country where we change our leaders by the ballot, not by the bullet. We have the right to gather and discuss the successes and the failings of our government. We have the right to publicly disagree with anyone. We have the right to be right or wrong as long was we don't harm others. We can associate with whom ever we choose and we can be as unique as we want. We can read anything, share our opinions, and live the lifestyle we desire because of our veterans.

Our military veterans and those currently in the service are the ones that changed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States into functioning documents. The beautiful words that express the desires of men and women to be free would have little meaning if citizens had not answered the call to service and fought to earn the freedoms outlined in those documents. Our founding documents carry such great weight around the world because our brave citizens chose to back up those words with their actions as Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen.

It is fitting that the armistice of the first world war be a time to reflect on the gifts that our veteran's have given us and the sacrifices that they have made on our behalf.

My respect and thanks go to each veteran from those brave men who volunteered to fight in the American Revolution to our courageous men and women who today continue the fight against terrorists who seek to destroy our country and force innocents around the world to adopt their beliefs.

We must never forget the deaths, the changed lives, or the bravery of each veteran regardless of when they served. Peacetime or war, the members of the American military have always stood for the principles of our great nation. Each American family joins today in remembering the sacrifices that have been made to ensure our countries freedoms.

Join with me today in thanking God for so many citizens who answered the call to serve our country. Take the time to thank a veteran and also the ones who serve today.

Farm Animal Welfare

2009-11-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

Agriculture, especially animal husbandry, is under attack by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). This past year California voters passed a proposition that may end the egg industry in that state as well as impact many other areas of livestock production. The voters in California have joined with voters in Florida and Arizona to regulate specifics of raising and caring for livestock through the ballot.

Ohio has taken a different path in this Novembers election. The voters passed issue 2 by a 64 to 36 percent margin. Issue 2 establishes a thirteen member Livestock Care Standards Board. No more than seven members on the board may be of the same political party. The Ohio General Assembly would have the power to set the terms of office for the Board members and determine any conditions for the Board members' service. The proposal states that the Board would consist of:

The director of the department of agriculture, who would serve as chair of the Board;
Ten members appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, which must include: one family farm representative, one member knowledgeable about food safety in Ohio; two members representing statewide farmer organizations; one veterinarian licensed in Ohio; the State Veterinarian; the dean of an Ohio college or university’s agriculture department; two members of the public representing Ohio consumers; one member representing a county humane society; One family farmer appointed by the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives; and One family farmer appointed by the President of the Ohio Senate.

In addition the Department of Agriculture will be vested with the enforcement authority.

Instead of depending upon voters making decisions based upon campaign ads or bumper stickers, which may not be accurate, Ohio farmers will have the advantage of science, best practices, and thoughtful consideration being a part of the process to create the rules that they must live and operate under.

The HSUS has a reputation of being an extremist animal rights organization with tremendous amounts of money to spend to accomplish their goals. From my perspective, after visiting their website, they care more for animals than for the people who's livelihood depends upon the care of those animals.

I would challenge every Grange member to research issue 2 from Ohio and to consider what the possibilities of this issue are in your state. Isn't it better to create an opportunity for farmers and others to work together in creating livestock management practices based on good science rather than face a ballot based upon an emotional argument that might harm a portion of our agricultural economy?

Grange Values and Principles

2009-10-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

A member recently forwarded me a website that claims the Grange is, in essence, a satanic organization. Of course it also claims that about all other fraternal orders are also in the same category. All I’ve got to say to such claims is, Bull!

To those who have questions about Grange values and beliefs, I am happy to respond.

Does the Grange promote or oppose religion? The Grange was created and remains non-sectarian in rules and basic principles as outlined in the declaration of purposes. The Grange encourages its members to worship the Supreme Being in the way their conscience dictates. Our ritualistic work contains many direct quotations from the Bible and God is mentioned often. We have one officer called the Chaplain whose duties include prayers during the opening and closing of the Grange. One requirement for a Grange to have a legal meeting is to have a Bible open during the meeting. Our rules clearly state that denominational religious matters are not allowed to be discussed within the Grange meeting. The Grange is designed to be a place with high moral values, members are encouraged to be active in the church of their choice, and the meetings are to be neutral ground for all beliefs.

Is the Grange a secret organization? If having a password or membership card is your definition, then maybe. However, if any member can know everything about an organization then I would think that there are no secrets. In 35 years of active membership with leadership positions at all levels of the Grange, I still haven’t found any secrets. I do know many things that only members are supposed to know, which sounds like just about every other organization I am aware of. That is what most people refer to as a privilege of membership. Even this member only information is often readily available to the public if they really want it. If you don’t believe me, just check out ebay.

Does the Grange promote worship or reverence toward Greek goddesses? No. We do have three officers Ceres, Pomona, and Flora whose titles do come from Greek mythology. These three officers get their titles to show our respect for women and our regard for agriculture. These three names do carry direct connection to agriculture and the officers emblems are also tied to that connection. Ceres emblem is the sheaf of wheat, Pomona has fruit, and Flora has flowers. They remind us that women have a critical role in society and that they bring refinement and improvement to our lives. Our organization does not believe that organizations for men or women alone are as strong as one that requires both as equals.

Are there any rites or rituals in the Grange? What the Grange has is our formal ritualistic initiation ceremony for each of the seven degrees. The first four are done by the Community Grange, and the Pomona, State, and National Granges each confer one. The degrees are designed to follow one after the other. The first four are based upon the seasons of the year and the stages of life. The three that follow emphasize specific lessons that all people should live by. Grange work is demonstrated by the use of symbolism. Symbolism is an ancient form of teaching that is effective and often inspiring. As an example, the symbolism of the first degree is drawn from a farm in springtime, childhood, and the seed. The point of the degrees is to give lessons that each can use in their daily lives and to give each member the bond of friendship and fellowship as Brothers and Sisters in the Grange.

I would suggest that we don’t argue with people who are not interested in what we’ve got to say. When people have their mind made up and just want to make accusations, it is futile to try and argue. I do want our members to talk with those who have questions. We should answer questions and where we don’t know the answer, we need to find out what our rules are on that issue. After all, as our Order teaches, we need to continually learn and to strive to improve ourselves.

Planning National Session

2009-10-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

This morning was spent meeting with the National Grange staff on primarily National Session. It doesn't seem possible that in about 20 days, we'll be in Grand Rapids. It is always interesting to be involved in planning the Session, it is never boring.

The reality is that the broad planning stage is long over. We are down to nuts and bolts planning and dealing with the surprises that seem to pop up every day. Jessie, our convention planner, is sweating out planning an event that she has never seen, but is doing great.

The lessons of planning are that: first you need the broad plan that serves as a road map. Second you break out the pieces and develop more detailed plans that are specific to each piece. Third, you adapt and change as things come together, or don't. Lastly, you implement your plan.

While it often seems difficult to have fun during this stage, you should also plan to have a bit of fun. Insert little things that will show your humor or allow others to share theirs. Never do everything the same way you did last year. Always seek some way of improving things.

Let everyone on your team be a part of the planning. Don't just work them, let them be a creative part of the planning, either specific pieces or in the broad planning. The bigger your team the more success you can achieve.

While there are still a hundred things to do, I am confident that our staff, officers, and hosts will put on an excellent National Session. We have a great team and you will have a fun, educational, and productive Session when you arrive.

There Really is Bad Publicity

2009-10-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

This morning I received notice that another Grange in Oregon has an article in a large newspaper talking about the decline of the Grange. Why do members who are experiencing success in their Grange speak of their Grange in a positive light but members who are giving up speak of the "Grange" as being in decline?

I get frustrated at myself, the State Grange leadership, the Pomona Grange leadership, and our long-time dedicated members when those long-time members talk to reporters and tell them all the negative things that they see. Then I remind myself that these members have given up and see no hope or future for their Grange. They must be assuming that because they haven't had success, no one else has either. Most importantly, they are not looking or listening to what is happening around the country.

The problem as I see it, is that much of our membership never looks at the big picture. Their view of the Grange organization is of the local Grange. Pomona, State, and National are viewed as almost different organizations having little relevance to them. Do they get regular communication from other Granges or the Pomona? Does the State Grange send them information or is the perception that they just want the quarterly report? Do any members of that local Grange read the communications, check the websites, or just ask for help from the State or National Granges?

I understand that National Grange can not visit each Grange, nor can we do more than provide communication through our publications, website, and many training sessions. While we have expanded our communication tool box dramatically over the past couple of years, it is still dependent upon our members to chose to open the paper or email, click on the website, view the video or blog, listen to the podcast, or show up at a meeting.

How does an organization with over 2,500 units teach their members that there is bad publicity? When a member is quoted that the Grange is dying, declining, or failing who does it hurt? It hurts all of us. Remember no one wants to join a dying organization, and the reality is that we're not dying!

There are potential members in every community. Each person has a different awareness of the Grange, some have barely heard of the Grange while others have a perception of the Grange. While their perception may not be accurate, that is the starting point for your Grange if you want to recruit them.

Newspaper stories can open doors to potential members or they can close doors. What our members say about their Grange to reporters will influence what they write in the paper or say on the radio and TV. I'd settle for a balanced story. We have some Granges failing, but we also have new Granges, and many Granges experiencing success. However, it is our job to tell the media about the good as well.

Publicity is important to your Grange. Bad publicity will hurt you, good publicity will help you. I challenge each member to share their ideas on how we can teach the members of each Grange about the importance of publicity. I ask because each member has the opportunity to contribute to the health of the Grange and this issue is critical.

Now that I've expressed my frustration with bad newspaper stories, I want to state, in my 35 years as an active Grange member, I have never seen such optimism and excitement among our members as I am seeing today. I know that it is tough for a State Master to deal with a Grange that has never asked for help and now wants to close. However, many states are building revitalization teams to aid these Granges and are achieving remarkable successes.

Don't dwell on the negatives, focus on the good things you can do. Vent when you see a negative story, but find a way to build a positive future. Listen to what others are saying, but create the future you and your members want. That is what Grange members do!

The Grange is not the Meeting

2009-10-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

I hear far too often that the meeting is the focus of a Grange. We worry about having a quorum to hold a meeting, we worry about the length of the meeting, and we worry about why members are not at the meeting. Maybe you're worrying about the wrong things?

Meetings are necessary and important, but not for themselves. The Grange is the reason for the meeting. The meeting is a tool to allow members to create action, to learn, and to socialize. The meeting isn't the important thing, it is the tool to do the important things.

The Grange is people, not a building and certainly not just a meeting. Our meetings and meeting structure are time-tested and generally the more you deviate from our normal process, the more time you use doing less.

Instead of worrying about a quorum, try worrying about why people would want to come to your meeting. Do you have fun at your meetings, do you laugh or smile a lot? Does a member who attends usually learn something new? Do your members go out of their way to make a new member or visitor feel welcome and part of your Grange?

Instead of worrying about the length of the meeting, how about worrying about the content of the meeting. Does the leadership of your Grange check to see if committees are going to have reports? Does your Grange have any unfinished or new business that has the members doing something? Remember business is where we create the action that will interest people. Are you skipping some of the orders of business to save time? If so, consider the possibility that someone is looking for that order of business.

Try worrying about the members who do attend before worrying about those who didn't show up. If those who come to the meeting get to leave the meeting with new information, a sense of accomplishment, and some good times they will share with others. The things that they will share will help create the public perception that Grange meetings are worthwhile, fun, and everyone is invited.

Take the time to look at the order of business and the meeting set up structure. You will find that it is one of the best ways to hold a meeting. Members looking at each other and with a clear plan to accomplish the variety of things that a grass-roots organization needs to do.

Remember that the meeting is not the reason for your Grange. The meeting is the tool that allows your Grange to do things. Make what you start at meetings and what you accomplish at meetings the focus of your Grange.

Our Best Days

2009-10-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the phrase, Those were the best days? I've heard people say it about themselves and about our Grange. I don't get it. No matter how bad a day, week, or even month I may have, I always have hope that the future holds new and exciting opportunities.

If your best is behind you, then what is there to look forward to? I know a man who just celebrated his ninetieth birthday. Every time I talk to Gil he wants my opinion on current events and what each may hold for the future. If he can look forward to the future with such hope and anticipation, why can't many younger people?

Our role may change in life, but the opportunities keep coming. I always believed one of the most important things we choose to do is bring children into this world and then raise them to be good productive citizens. That phase of my life is over as my kids are grown and out in the world, but I've discovered the next phase. Grandchildren! I see that my role has changed, but the importance of what I do has not. New things, new experiences, new opportunities.

I look at the history of the Grange and see a chunk of American history. Good times, tough times, and a few ugly times. But each problem and challenge is followed by a period of renewal and growth. We just keep setting the bar higher and higher, we keep growing and improving. So with the Grange. We've been written off a number of times, and we keep coming back stronger than ever.

I believe that our best days are yet in front of us. I'm headed to Homer, Alaska to present a charter to a new Grange this week. Just try and convince those folks that our best days are behind us. The opportunities are ours for the taking, provided that we are willing to work for them. Hope and persevere, what a concept!

Book Report 2

2009-09-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

It seems that I read more books while flying than when I'm on the ground. Not sure if that means I fly too much, or if I need to find time to read more. Regardless, I did read a book titled "Who Killed Change?" by Ken Blanchard, John Britt, Judd Hoekstra, and Pat Zigarmi. Like most books on leadership it is designed for business, but is quite applicable to the Grange.

It is a quick read and offers simple clear ideas of who can aid change to become permanent and how they can support the change process. It is written like an old mystery and will give you something to reflect on.

If you've never read anything by Ken Blanchard, this would be a good one to start with. It is well written and gets to the point quickly and keeps it simple. This is a great book to start your leadership library or to add a basic principle styled book to your existing collection.

If you wish to improve your leadership skills, grab a book like "Who Killed Change?" from the business or self help section of your friendly bookstore and start turning pages!

Publicity

2009-09-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

This morning when I check my email, I saw a notification of a story about the Grange in the State of Oregon. After going to the newspaper's website and reading the story, I want to share my thoughts on publicity.

It is critical that when our members speak to their local media that they be positive. Gloom, doom, and pessimism is gladly reported by the media in most cases. They may even slant stories to create controversy or excitement in a story. They seldom will focus on the positive side of things. We must not give them the opportunity to present a negative view of our organization.

There is no harm in telling the media about the good things in our Grange, but there can be great harm in telling them them about our problems. Most reporters will take the attitude of the people they interview and bring it into the story.

When you deal with the media honesty is the only policy. However, you don't need to bring up the negative things. If they ask, answer with a positive take on the problem. Remember you don't have control over what they print, but you do have control how you present the facts and your attitude.

Let's not take the negative side of things to the media. Local newspapers, radio stations, and even TV stations do not go looking to harm organizations within their communities, but they will report when members say negative things. Remember that the media wants to hear about people and action.

We create public perception of our Grange, let's make sure that perception is positive and encouraging to potential members who may wish to join.

Book Report

2009-09-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

Read a great book on the plane home Wednesday evening. "How the Mighty Fall" by Jim Collins.

Collins studies businesses as they can be tracked and analyzed in a number of ways. However, much of his analysis is applicable to non-profit organizations such as the Grange.

He found five steps in the process of decline. He found that the time in each step could vary immensely and that decline could be reversed in the first four steps of decline. He defined the steps as: #1, Hubris born of success; #2, Undisciplined pursuit of more; #3, Denial of risk and peril; #4, Grasping for salvation; and #5, Capitulation to irrelevance or death.

In reflecting on what he wrote, I realize I've heard from all levels of the Grange some of the symptoms of some of the steps. I will say I've never heard indicators of Step 5 from the National level or from my home state. I have heard it from a number of Community and Pomona Granges and maybe one or two states.

After reading the book, I am even more enthused by what is happening at National Grange and many State and Community Granges. We are on the way back to being one of America's leading organizations. Unlike business, we can rescue some of our Granges that have reached step 5. All it takes is new blood and a desire to share our organization with others.

Read this book and share your perceptions of it with your fellow members.

Volunteering Part Two

2009-09-13T06:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at Cox's Chapel Grange, VA, one of the members talked about volunteering and what the definition was. When he asked for a definition, I challenged him to find one that is appropriate for his Grange. However, after reflecting on his questions I decided to add to my first post on volunteering.

Grange membership is a volunteer action. We choose to affiliate with a others of like mind and within a structure that gives rules and rights to each member. No member is required to be a member, we choose to pay our dues.

Each member volunteers how much time they will give to the Grange cause. Attending meetings, participating in community service projects, fund-raising efforts, and other activities are choices each member make. Membership in the Grange can never be based, nor dues set, by which or how many of these things we do as volunteers.

Volunteering is an action in which no one pays you to do something. If you're being paid, you are not a volunteer in the strict sense of the word.

So why do people volunteer?

Volunteering gives people the opportunity to learn leadership skills that can benefit them in other parts of their life. What we do in the Grange often gives us lessons that aid us throughout life.

Volunteering gives people personal satisfaction. We make friends and are with our friends at Grange and our various activities. We get a sense of achievement by being a part of a team that accomplishes a project. We get to feel the pride that comes from seeing a personal goal achieved by the Grange. Much of the reward of volunteer comes from the feelings we get from being part of a team that does things an individual may not be able to do.

Volunteering is about giving back to others. We can do this in many ways, but Grange is one effective way to share our blessings with others. Why do you volunteer?

Volunteering

2009-09-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I was watching the news and saw a story on people volunteering, and of course the President of the United States was featured painting a wall in his dress shirt and slacks. I love seeing stories like this as involving people in community service, educational activities, and legislative efforts is positive and empowering for each individual.

Grangers have been volunteering to help people, strengthen their community, and improve society in general since the birth of our organization in 1867. As an organization that is made up of volunteers, we understand the importance of giving back to our communities. No member is forced to do anything, we choose how we are going to participate, we choose when, we choose what we are willing to do.

The difference between volunteers for many organizations and the Grange is that in our Order, each member is empowered to suggest what, when, where, who, and how we are going to do as a group. Each member has the opportunity to suggest projects or activities, the chance to suggest and implement changes to the program, and the choice of whether to participate or not. Our members own the community service projects and the educational and legislative efforts.

We already have important people volunteering within and through our organization. Just because the news doesn't cover our efforts do not change the fact that we are impacting people in a positive manner. Grange members are also looking for those who feel a desire to give back to their community and want the opportunity to be a part of the decision or leadership process.

Grange members are regular people who understand that working together as a team empowers each member and that the satisfaction from volunteering can not be bought.

Staff

2009-09-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

When I think of the National Grange staff, I think of a talented group of people who give 100% to being part of a team whose purpose is helping to create growth in the Grange. Having been a member for over 35 years, I've had the opportunity to work with various National Staff members and on occasion been impressed and at other times disappointed by different people. Over the past two years, I've seen each of our current staff members grow as people, Grange leaders, and as friends.

The credit should always go to the team that achieves the goals. I do not believe that the leader ever does as much as the team, even though they often get much of the credit. I know that my staff team definitely makes me look good, often in spite of what I am doing. Each member of this National Grange staff team does great work, exceeds my expectations and adds value to our efforts. They understand that they are working for the local Grange members.

Each staff member brings different skills and abilities to their various tasks. They are willing to wear different hats and help each other as needed. I am proud to be given the opportunity to lead this talented team and truly look forward to each day that we work together on behalf of the Grange.

No matter what their title or job, your National Grange staff has earned my appreciation and I hope our members will appreciate what they do for our organization. I challenge any member who has a pleasant experience when dealing with one of our staff to send them an email, with a cc to me, thanking them for their effort. It is a human trait to gripe when we are dissatisfied, are you willing to brag when you're pleased?

Ed