2015 5 May June - New York State Grange
Transcription
2015 5 May June - New York State Grange
The Empire American Values, Hometown Roots State Empire State Granger 100 Grange Place Cortland, NY 13045 Change Service Requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Cortland, NY Permit #57 Our Vision! Initiator of Community Action Facilitator of Leadership Development Advocate for Families Trusted Conveyor of Issues to Legislators Granger ® Stephen C. Coye The Real Thing One of the greatest delights to me when visiting historic places is when the buildings and furnishings are originals, as opposed to re-creations. While recreations such as most of Williamsburg and the Plymouth Plantation are fabulous, historically accurate, and worth the visit, there is something about being in the actual places of historical significance that sets them apart from the others, at least for me. It’s because it’s the real thing, if you will. In April we were pleased to be able to be a part of the NYS Grange Motor Coach tour to the Philadelphia area, and among other things visit sites where activities crucial and instrumental to the formation of the United States of America took place. Being one that can trace ancestry to the American Revolution it was doubly inspiring to walk around Valley Forge, and visit Washington’s Headquarters – the real authentic place. More on that later. Being connected to a real thing is something for which all humans strive, and it is a lot more than just being in certain places. I would submit to you that the Grange is one of those “real things” to which a connection can be made on a lot of lev- els. As the National Grange is rapidly approaching 150 years of existence, if it were not a real thing, as crafted by gifted forward-thinking individuals, it would have never stood the test of time. Real people down through the years have accepted the mantle of leadership, thus improving their own as well as the lives of many others, individually and collectively. Even on the physical level, when one steps into a Grange Hall, or even one that is no longer Grange property and is used for other purposes, there is the feeling emanating from the walls that says good things happened in this room, and we mentally try to picture the proceedings. I could be preaching to the choir a bit here, as most of you reading this are members, and are so because we realize that it is a real thing. We must realize however, that we can’t keep this “real thing” to ourselves, or future generations will not be able to look over their lives with the smile of satisfaction that their efforts through this organization helped to make this world a better place. You are this organizations best sales person to another individual, as you are the best one to impart what the Grange means to you, why you cherish it, and why you know that it would be a real thing to them as well. Inside this Issue Secretary, Legislative, Family Activities, Pg. 2 Sports, Youth, Lecturer Pg. 3 Community Involvement, Leadership/Membership Pg. 4 Junior Grange, Contact Information Pg. 5 Chaplain, New Members, Pg. 6 Remembrance of Past Grange Leaders, Lecturer Contest Winners Pg. 7 Granges and Grangers around the state, Sesquicentennial Move Contest Pg. 8 Perhaps you are wondering what the above picture has to do with this article. Let me explain. The picture is of the staircase in Washington’s Headquarters in Valley Forge, zeroing in on the bannister, which is the “real thing” used by the General and May/June 2016 his staff while using the site. All subsequent occupants of the house, and now thousands of visitors, have had the opportunity to slide their hand along that same bannister, and like Washington, leave their fingerprints to history. Your fingerprints are also part of Grange history, in a lot more important way than just on a bannister. As it has been the responsibility of successive generations to protect and advance the legacy of the founders of our Nation, so it is also ours to do the same with the legacy handed to us initially by the Founders of the Order. Let us not shirk this responsibility. Monday, Aug 1, 2016 1:00 - 4:45 Registration1:00 – 4:45 Fellowship and free time 5:15 – 6:15 DINNER – ECC 7:00 Welcome and Grand Opening State Program : Rhode Island 8:15 pm 2 Workshops A - $ Grow Your Dough $ B – Programming Tuesday, Aug 2, 2016 7:30 - 8:30 BREAKFAST 8:45 Flag Salute, Devotions & Announcements 9:00 – State Programs : Vermont and Massachusetts 10:15 2 Workshops A - Amanda Brozana B - Copyright 11:15 State Program: New Hampshire 12:00 -- 1:00 LUNCH – ECC 1:15 2 Workshops A – Panel discussion B - Copyright 2:15 State Programs : Connecticut & New York 3:30 2 Workshops A - $ Grow Your Dough $ B - Panel discussion 4:30 SWAP-A-LOT 5:15 – 6:30 DINNER 7:00 SPIRIT NIGHT Wednesday Aug 3, 2016 7:30 - 8:30 BREAKFAST 8:45 MC - Kathy 9:00 2 Workshops A - Amanda Brozana B Identity theft 10:00 2 Workshops A - Programming B - Identity theft 11:00-2:00 CHECKOUT CAN YOU HELP US??? At the Ox Roast The countdown started last year as soon as the State Fair ended. The countdown is reaching fever pitch as we get closer to August 25th. The Great New York State Fair is only a few months away. Do you feel the excitement? We would like to introduce ourselves. We are Jim Pollard and Cindy Benson-Pollard. We are the new coordinators for the New York State Grange “Ye Olde Ox Roast” at the Great New York State Fair. In the spirit of all the renovations, changes, and upgrades that are going on at the fairgrounds right now, the Ox Roast has undergone management and menu changes. Would you like to know what has changed? Come and join us and see what is new and improved. Your Grange may have already received our letter asking for your help at the Ox Roast. This is an undertaking that we cannot do alone and hope that you will consider helping us. This is the one big fund raiser that the State Grange undertakes each year. We hope that you and your Grange will consider working a shift to help us to make this another successful fund raising year. If you haven’t helped recently, would you please consider sending and/or joining a team to work at the fair this year? The shifts run from 11 AM – 4:30 PM and 4:30 PM – 10 PM. Each shift requires 8 to 10 people. The dates of the fair are August 25th through September 5th. So we can plan our work schedule, we will need to know your preferred day/time and the number of team members on or before July 15th. To help control our costs, we will need to know the number of admission tickets that you will need. The fair has various days where different groups of people are admitted to the fair for free. We will be (Continued on page 4) Page 2 Empire State Granger Cindy Benson-Pollard Spring flowers are in full bloom. Can summer be that far behind? The warm days of summer are coming. How is your resolution writing? Have you finished one? Has it been approved by your Grange? I hope that you will consider writing at least one resolution to be considered at this State Grange session. On March 23rd, we held our first regional legislative conference. It was hosted by Cortland County at the Headquarters building. We listened to Amanda Barber from the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District and Assemblyman Gary Finch. Each had very interesting topics that they shared with us. Thank you goes out to everyone who attended that day. Now on to the next meeting, by the time you receive this issue, your Grange may have already received a letter regarding the next regional legislative conference. Plans are being finalized for the conference to be held on June 18th in Monroe County. Please watch your mail for all the details coming soon. Please be sure to mark your calendar for our annual legislative conference that will be September 24th at the Grange Headquarters in Cortland. Please watch this column for further details. I would like to take a part of this article to remind everyone the procedure that must be followed regarding submission of resolutions. All resolutions start at your local Grange. If approved, it is forwarded to your Pomona Grange for further consideration. If it is approved at that level, then it is forwarded on to State Grange. I know I hound everyone about this but it is more important than ever, that all resolutions be to me by September 1st for inclusion in the resolution packet that is forwarded to delegates prior to State Session. If you have resolution(s) that are done after the deadline, it can still be considered at State Grange. Please be sure that your delegate-at-large or designated delegate brings the resolution, with 30 copies, to me at State Grange prior to the start of the committee chair meeting on Friday at 1 PM. No resolution can be considered without being duly signed by the Master and Secretary/ Legislative Chairman for that Grange and sealed, if the Grange has one. Should you have any questions or need help, please contact me. I will be glad to help you. In my opinion….. As baby boomers are aging, the need for adequate health care is in the fore front. This is especially true when the need for long term care becomes necessary. Although we all hope that we will not need to be in a skilled nursing facility, the fact remains that many of us will require this type of care as we age. In many cultures where the elders in the family are revered, the family cares for those family members who no longer can care for themselves. No matter how much we say we want to be able to do that, the fact remains that many cannot meet that need. Many families are still raising children, busy with jobs and, sadly, self-absorbed in their own lives and do not want to be bothered with the care and comfort of their family members who require a little extra care. However, what happens when the nursing home cannot care for your loved one? What happens when the resident requires so much care that the nursing home “evicts” them because they are too difficult to care for. In an article I read recently, with nursing homes facing nursing and skilled aid shortages, many are determining that it is easier to evict your loved one than to give them the extra care that is required. In the last 10 years, the number of patients evited from nursing homes because they require too much care has been steadily increasing. This is not to say that all nursing homes are doing this. Many do not; they have the needed resources to care for all their residents. But, should a nursing home have the right to discharge/evict a patient because they are too difficult to care for by requiring extra resources that could be better used elsewhere. Brenda Noble The conference in April was a smaller group, but everyone had a good day. Carol Bailey showed many old aprons giving their history and tying in the history of the Grange with it. The winners of the contests are as follows: Woodworking: May/June 2016 1st Gary Green - Allegany Co; 2nd David Emo - Steuben Co; 3rd Clint Hall - Otsego Co; HM Sally Renwick - Chenango Co. Small Quilted Wall Hanging, Machine done: 1st Jackie Campbell - Wayne Co; 2nd Frances Hahn - Schenectady Co; 3rd Viola Horton - Steuben Co. Small Quilted Wall Hanging - Hand done: 1st Connie Whiteman - Otsego Co; 2nd Pati Spencer - Chenango Co. Bed-size Quilt, Machine done: 1st Donna Walz - Wayne Co; 2nd Eileen Johnson - Dutchess Co. Bed-size Quilt, Hand-done: 1st Frances Hahn - Schenectady Co; 2nd Anna Ritchie - Otsego Co. Regular Afghans: 1st Mary Star - Allegany Co; 2nd Mary Eddy - Jefferson Co; 3rd Sandy Hankins - Otsego Co; HM Pat VanLare - Wayne Co. Baby Afghans: 1st LeEtta Widrick Lewis Co; 2nd Arlene Lewis Otsego Co; 3rd Norma Polan(Continued on page 5) Roger Halbert With the month of June, we hasten towards the summer months and all that comes with this wonderful season. June 30 marks the end of the current membership year. At this writing, we are down 231 members since last July 1… or a little over 1 member per Grange from a net gain! Have you done your part to encourage a neighbor or friend to join your Grange… or a business or civic leader to become an Associate Member with your Grange? If my record is correct, thirty-seven Granges have taken in at least one new member since July 1… that leaves a lot of Granges that are not actively working on sustaining the Grange in their community. Fredonia Grange # 1, secured nearly 30 new Associate Members in recent months! Catch the spirit! Since the last edition of ESG, the 2015 Journal of Proceedings has been sent to Subordinate and Pomona Granges and to key State Grange leaders. Of course a copy remains in the safe at State Grange Headquarters, along with the annual Journal since the 1870’s, for research and information that is required from time to time. The Execu- tive Committee has authorized a new distribution procedure next year with Subordinate and Pomona Granges needing to return a slip for receipt of the 2016 Journal of Proceedings when they are available next spring, so Secretaries, watch out for this notice later this year. In early May, Pomona Secretaries received the official notice of the upcoming State Grange Convention to be held at the Best Western Sovereign Hotel, at 1228 Western Avenue, Albany 12203, October 21 thru October 25. Hosts this year are Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties. Delegates and interested Grangers attending the meeting are to make their reservations directly with the Best Western at 518-489-2981. Be sure to identify yourself as part of the NYS Grange that receives the special convention rate. Pomona Granges are reminded to return their completed delegate list to the State Secretary by August 15. We encourage each Pomona to distribute its delegates with as many resolution committees as possible to assure good representation from across the state. We will do our best to honor the first choice of each delegate, understanding that we may need to go to a second choice for balance of numbers in the committees, particularly with later lists received closer to or past the deadline of August15. Only Granges who have submitted its March 2016 quarterly report are eligible to serve as a delegate at the October convention, based on the rotation schedule that is administered by each Pomona Grange. Lastly, the annual IRS report, prepared by the State Secretary, was sent to the Ogden, Utah office in mid-May. Granges who returned the authorization forms sent out last December, are included in the report and no further report regarding an EIN is needed from these Subordinate or Pomona Granges. Should your Grange receive any communication that suggests your Grange is not in good standing with the IRS, you are asked to contact me immediately. DO NOT RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THE IRS. We remain hopeful that concerns from the IRS will continue in the same light as last year and that I will not hear from any of you on this subject! Lastly, elsewhere in this edition is the information and application form for the Gerald M. Eastman Award, to be presented at the annual convention in October. This is a good opportunity to recognize a Grange member for Christian values and their ability to influence others in a positive way. Deadline for submission is September 15 to the office of the State Secretary, 100 Grange Place, Cortland, New York 13045. Enjoy this wonderful season of summer… and share your Grange with those around you! Page 3 Empire State Granger May/June 2016 Carolyn (Kay) Bailey It's hard to believe it's spring when it's snowing on May 15. Who okayed that??? Must be payback for 70 degrees in December. The LEC/FAC day on April 30 was a good time. There were81 photos and 44 pieces of artwork. All very beautiful and creative. Be sure to see the winners (tough to chose) at state session. There were only 3 entries for the talent show portion, each in a different category. (See photos on page 6) There were more Juniors signed up, but like everyone else life created some conflicts for them to get there. Hope they practice more and attend next year. All the winners are listed elsewhere in the paper. June 1 8 brings the NY/PA picnic in Letchworth State Park. I hope many of you attend, it'll be a great time! The NE Lecturers conference is fast approaching. The theme this year is about visiting each state. If you have any interesting places to go or things to do let me know so they can be noted and/or used in the program. I be sending out details and info in the next few days. Be on the lookout for the year-end reports and updated info to arrive shortly. Elaine Smith Jerry Batsford Well spring has arrived and we have started our programs for the year. We have had Dart Ball on April 24th, we had three teams come and join us again this year. We crowned new champions again this year. This year’s results are a follows. 1st place Cortland County Pomona Grange #25 Cortland County 2nd place North Cameron 355 Steuben County 3rd place Hamptonburgh 950 Orange County. Bowling forms have been mailed and will be held on June 5th 2016 at Cort Lanes with one shift bowling again. Golf is July 10th and if you are interested contact Carl Bullock as he runs this event. If someone borrowed the score card holders from state Grange headquarters please return them. They were missing from headquarters and we use them for Dart Ball. I would like to say thanks to all who supports the sports programs. Cortland County Pomona Grange, Cortland County 1st Place Paula Turner The Spring Youth Weekend was April 1-3rd at State Grange Headquarters in Cortland. We shared Saturday morning workshops with the Juniors. (See the Junior column) In the afternoon Matthew Shoop led an “Apathy Not Allowed” workshop about how to contact our legislators by writing letters on paper, in emails or visiting in person. We then started writing letters to send to the legislators in our local areas. Topics included GMO labeling, the minimum wage controversy and others. We then watched the movie Selma. This was shown to encourage all to not take our right to vote lightly, and as a reminder to register and vote at all levels, for ones personally chosen candidates. We also went bowling and started practicing the drill for the Northeast Youth Conference. A Grange trivia quiz was given with three NYS Grange youth chosen to compete in Grange Jeopardy at NEYC. They are Ryan Orton, Dutchess County; and Heidi Henderson and Tessa Taft from Onondaga County. Congratulations to the following winners in the speech and sign-a-song contests held on April 24th at Headquarters. Prepared Speech Youth: 1st Place-Teresa Thomas, Albany County 2nd Place-Christian Taft, Onondaga County 3rd Place-Shannon Ruso, Albany County Prepared Speech Young Adult: 1st place-Emily Shoop, Albany County 2nd Place-Heidi Henderson, Onondaga County 3rd place-Matthew Horton, Steuben County Impromptu Speech Youth: 1st Place-Tessa Taft, Onondaga County 2nd Place-Shannon Ruso, Albany County 3rd Place- Teresa Thomas, Albany County Impromptu Speech Young Adult: 1st Place-Matthew Shoop, Albany County 2nd Place-Heidi Henderson, Onondaga County 3rd Place-Matthew Horton, Steuben County Sign-a-Song Hobbyist: 1st Place Tessa Taft, Onondaga County 2nd Place- Teresa Thomas, Albany County Next year we would like some entries in the Adult Category 36+ for the speech contests. Please plan NOW to enter next year. All the first place winners in these contests are eligible to compete at the Regional Conference July 8-10, 2016 @ SUNY Cobleskill College, Cobleskill, NY. Make checks payable to New York State Grange. The price which includes housing and four meals is $110. It is also possible to come for just part of the weekend to attend workshops or to support the contestants. Registrations are due to Elaine Smith by June 10th. This information has been previously distributed to the youth in person, via e-mail and Facebook. Any youth who want to be considered for the upcoming year’s Youth Ambassador, age 16-21, or Young Adult Ambassador, age 22-35, need to contact Elaine or Paula before September 1, 2016. Also, Fall Youth Weekend will be September 23-25th at Lamson Grange #588 in Onondaga County. Hamptonburgh Grange Orange County 3rd Place North Cameron Grange, Steuben County 2nd Place The Empire State Granger, Published 6 times annually by The New York State Grange, 100 Grange Place, Cortland, NY 13045 Phone (607)-756-7553 FAX (607)-756-7757, E-MAIL [email protected] Third class postage paid at Cortland,( #57). Subscription Rate a portion of member dues is paid as a subscription to the Empire State Granger. Editor Bruce M. Croucher Executive Committee: Richard Church, Chair, Stephen Coye, Master, Roger Halbert, Grange Secretary, Gerald Batsford, Overseer, Bruce Croucher, Executive Committee Secretary, Alice Grimsley, Roland Shea Sr. Postmaster: Forward address changes to 100 Grange Place, Cortland, NY 13045 Page 4 Empire State Granger Kathy E. Miller Greetings from northern Denmark….and a gloriously sunny warm Denmark it is. The Danes native to this area tell me this 70+ degree weather usually only happens in mid July and this is “crazy unusual”. My youngest, daughter, Katie, and her family permanently reside in this cozy, comfortable country and I am privileged to visit whenever I can. Denmark hosts glorious, small farms that pop up all over the rolling hills remarkably close to city limits. Danish government and their citizens love and respect their folks in agriculture and make it a prioroty all is well with them...wonder if I can bring that recipe home with me. Perhaps another lesson we can all learn from the Danes is this, get fresh air every day and walk (or bike) everywhere you can for as long as you can...believe me the senior citizens of Denmark are a healthy lot...reminded me a lot of how active our “snow birds” are in Florida. While spending some time at the Youth/Junior Weekend at our headquarters the smiles and energy were contagious. Great to see such young Grange enthusiasts coming up through our NYS Grange. During the Membership portion of the weekend all of us skipped and sang our way down “the yellow brick road”. At the end our journey down the road we talked about what we like about the Grange: The Juniors shared these answers: ”family, friends, learning stuff, and a place to bring my friends”. Our Youth shared with their Junior peers the meaning of the Spirit Stick and why it was presented to NYS Youth this year. Youth sharing their thoughts and enthusiasm with Juniors in their own words and with smiles on ALL faces. The Youth message was that it is “OK to have fun, smile and show enthusiasm and pride that you are a Granger.” At the conclusion of our Membership segment all Youth received a Grange Youth Membership Application and all Juniors received a Junior Grange Membership Application their assignment is to ask a friend to join them in the fun they have at their Grange meetings. The preceding paragraphs cover a wide range of age groups. Our Granges Membership endeavors should encompass a wide range of age groups. It is a known fact that we need younger folks to protect the future of our organizatio; however, let us not fail to notice that Senior Citizens have a lot to offer also. (Remember they once had a career, and certainly have a lifetime of experiences to share for the asking.) If you have friends that are more “well seasoned” give them a new purpose in life - the Grange. Recent travels, observations and experiences have lead me to believe that people of all ages can bring something to our Grange plate … and after all we do have a reputation to protect for our infamous Grange Dinners! It’s the season of spring…..time to catch the enthusiasm of our Grange Spirit and hand out those Membership Applications. A modest goal would be for all of us to ask one friend (or family) to join in all the great lessons afforded us by being Grange Members. 2016 IS A GREAT YEAR FOR MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES… ● NY/PA Picnic June 18th, 2016 - at Letchworth Park, What better way to show off the great friendly, enthusiastic camaraderie enjoyed in May/June 2016 our fraternity. A SK A FRIEND!!!!! Membership information and applications will be available at this event. (Contact Sharon Croucher for details) ● Degree Day - October 1st, 2016 - First - Fifth degrees in full form, in one day, in Bath, NY. Many members, some pretty long term, have not ever witnessed degrees in full form. How opportunistic is this to get new members voted into your Grange by October 1st and seal the deal with a fantastic day of Grange symbolic initiation. (Contact Matt Horton for details) Steuben County Grangers will be hosting a Degree Day for the 1st to 5th Degrees of the Order on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Anyone who would like to join the Grange is welcome. This event will take place at the Bath Grange #294, located on Pine Street in Bath, NY. This event will start at 10 AM. Anyone interested in taking the Degrees or helping can call Matthew Horton at 607-936-0022. Sherri Taft Student 1's thoughts: “Yes! School vacation!” One week of no school, teachers or homework!” Student 2's thought: “Here goes a week of no school, which means not much food. The only real meals I get are breakfast and lunch when I go to school.” Every school has numerous students that qualify for free or reduced meals through the Na- tional School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program. For some of these students, these are the only hot and healthy meals they have daily. So what happens when they go home in the evening or have an extended break from school? Many of these students wonder what they will eat during the weekends and vacations. Over 15 years ago the Feeding America Backpack Program was begun. This program provides nutritious and easy to prepare foods to last the weekend. School staff fill the bags each week and discreetly distribute them to the participating students each Friday. This program is entirely funded by local donations. The average cost to fill one backpack full of food is $5.56. This is a program that each Grange can support. Find a school in your area that participates in this program. Whether your Grange donates food items or gives a monetary donation, you are still helping low income students have food to eat. Students who receive food from the Backpack program tend to have better attendance, academic performance and less disciplinary actions. Supporting this program is a great community service that goes a long way! (Continued from page 1) Ox Roast glad to let you know what group is being honored that day and can enter the fair for free. Some counties have days and times that they pick out every year. Please make a first and second choice for shift preference on the Worker/Shift Information sheet included in the paper. We will do the best we can to honor your choices. If your Grange is not able to send a team of workers this year, would your Grange consider sending a monetary donation? These funds will help us to defray some of the costs that we incur for supplies and would be humbly appreciated. Should your Grange wish to make a donation, please send it to our address at 401 Charles Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13209, made payable to Cindy Pollard. Please complete the Worker/ Shift Information Sheet form and return it to us at the above address as soon as possible prior to July 15th. Should you have any questions, please contact us. We can be reached during the evenings at 315.487.2430. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this endeavor. See Contact list for Cindy Benson Pollard 150th Anniversary coming soon Page 5 Empire State Granger Stephen C. Coye, Master 518-499-1028 100 Grange Place [email protected] Cortland, NY 13045 Gene Ormsby 607-756-7553 NYS Fair E-Mail [email protected] Grange Building Superintendent Roger Halbert, Secretary 376 Canisteo Street State Secretary Hornell NY 14843 83 Spring Street, PO Box 321 585-808-1043 Gilbertsville, NY 13776 [email protected] 607-783-2691 Emily and Matt Shoop [email protected] Camp Directors Carolyn (Kay) Bailey, Lecturer 40 Parkwood St. Apt. B1 168 Canal Street Albany, NY Lyons, NY 14489 [email protected] 315-573-6408 [email protected] Cindy Benson Pollard Legislative Director 401 Charles Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13209 315-487-2430 Cbenson [email protected] Virginia L. Conner, Chaplain 918 Bartnick Road Genoa, NY 13071 315-364-5516 [email protected] Brenda Noble, Family Activities 7973 Telephone Road LeRoy, NY 14482 585-768-6632 Kathy Miller Leadership Membership 2600 Route 20A, Lot 1 Varysburg NY 14167-9798 (585) 356-9113 [email protected] Sherri Taft Community Involvement 12544 Ira Station Road Cato, NY 13033 [email protected] Elaine Smith, Paula Turner CoYouth Directors Elaine 220 Oakley Road Stamford, NY 12167 607-652-2180 Elaine S Smith <[email protected]> Paula 6730 Velie Road Savona, NY 14879 607-776-9730 [email protected] Gerald Batsford, Sports 1199 Church Street Cortland, NY 13045 607-835-6127 [email protected] Carol Bailey, Historian 3033 Middle Sodus Road (Continued from page 2) Family Activities owski - Allegany Co; HM Sharon Burdick - Jefferson Co. Crocheted Doilies: 1st Helen Horth - Chautauqua Co; 2nd Melodee Ireland - Otsego Co; 3rd Pat VanLare - Wayne Co; HM Julia Bassette - Lewis Co. Plastic Canvas: 1st Nancy Tuttle - Steuben Co; 2nd Sandra Rock - Otsego Co; 3rd Ruth Curtis - Dutchess Co; HM Rose Clark - Onondaga Co. Knitting: 1st LeEtta Widrick - Lewis Co; 2nd Shirley Hewlett - Dutchess Co; 3rd Maryann Eastman Otsego Co; HM Charlotte Brennon - Jefferson Co. Embroidery: 1st Cathy Stark Dutchess Co; 2nd Karen Wilcox - Jefferson Co; 3rd Teresa Lawton - Chenango Co; HM Paul Pilc, Jr - Wyoming Co. Latch Hook: 1st Marlene Utter - Chenango Co. The items to go to the Big E: Afghan: Mary Starr - Albany Co; Doilies: Helen Horth Chautauqua Co; Embroidery: Karen Wilcox - Jefferson Co; 3 -piece Baby Set - LeEtta Widrick - Lewis Co; Plastic Canvas - Nancy Tuttle Steuben Co; Counted CrossStitch: Cathy Stark - Dutchess Co; Adult Garment: Shirley Hewlett - Dutchess Co; Latch Hook: Marlene Utter - Chenango Co; Quilted Wall Hanging: Connie Whiteman - Otsego Co. Stuffed Toy: Marlene Utter - Chenango Co. Baby Afghan LeEtta Widrick - Lewis Co. I will take any homemade items for the Big E. They help support the building and contests. Items can include scrubbies, crocheted dish towels, hats, mittens, baby sets. They need to be sent to me by August 25th. Thank you to all who have helped. May/June 2016 What a wonderful time and lots of fun and learning was had by Juniors, Youth, JG Leaders and parents at the Leadership weekend April 1-3. This combined Junior/Youth weekend is becoming an anticipated yearly activity at our Grange Headquarters. Saturday morning as more people were arriving, they were able to sample coffee cakes and fresh fruit and snacks. There were workstations for working on and receiving information on Host state – Washington D.C., merit badges with manuals one and two available, crafts for 2016, National Creative Art and Creative writing. All present were welcomed by State Director Gail Chamberlain and State Master Steve Coye. Grange Camp information and applications were given out by camp director, Matt Schoop. Emily Ormsby presentated an excellent workshop on making a Grange display with everyone planning and making a display. Shannon Russo, National Youth Ambassador and Matt Horton NYS Young Adult Youth Ambassador had everyone moving with Team Building. Membership Director Kathy Miller had all present shaking and moving with her workshop. After lunch, the Youth broke away for their activities as the Juniors practiced ritual. Team tic-tac-toe was played using past Super JG questions. Each member received a jump rope and went outside to practice and play jump rope games learning about the National Jump for Health program sponsored by National JG program. Juniors then were able to learn and make 2017 state crafts of a lantern (using a recycled plastic peanut butter container) and Stained glass art. This is also a great time for all present to share ideas, learn about new programs and to ask questions they may have. With changes in the Regional States conferences, the Junior competitions will be held each spring for the Junior Public Speaking and Sign -a song contests. State winners will have the chance to compete at the National Grange session in November. Junior members should plan on this for next year. The good weather brings ideas to help others with cleaning, gardening, just helping others. Keep planning community activities and helping each other. Support Grange Lyons, NY 14489 315-946-4379 Gail Chamberlain 3627 Co. Rte. 21 Whitehall, NY 12887 Youth Support Junior Grange Page 6 Empire State Granger Virginia L. Conner “TALENTS” Have you ever been told: “you have a lot of talent. You should do this or go there and use your talent”? What does this mean? It means that someone has recognized that you are good at something and you should use what God has given you. Sometimes our talent or ability to do something is not awakened till we are exposed to an experience such as giving someone dance lessons, voice lessons, a chance to play a musical instrument, an invitation to attend a writing class or a knitting, crocheting or sewing class etc. etc. Grange has a wonderful platform of opportunities on which anyone can discover their talents. Have you recognized a talent in someone in your Grange? Have you encouraged them to enter a contest? I believe God has blessed each of you with talent(s). So glorify Him by using your talent and not hide it like the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. I extend sympathy to the families of Vincent Vail, Dutchess Co and Shirley Hughes, Oneida Co. Sister Hughes was secretary of Floyd Grange #665 for 76 years – well done, thou good and faithful servant. Pomona Chaplains: Please send to me names of your deceased members for recognition at State Session Memorial Service. Chautauqua Co. Ross #305 Lois Woodams Cortland Co. Albright #440 Brian K. Guy Cuyler #449 James Richardson Dutchess Co. Freedom Plains #857 Robert Baxter Sally Buell David Palmquirt Fulton Co. Mayfield #683 Domanic Alfini Vincent Alfini Oswego Co. Ricard #993 Darlene Raymo Otsego Co. Pierstown #793 Richard Pokorny Putnam Co. Putnam Valley #841 Micheele Alvarez-Moray Saratoga Co. Corinth #823 Alex King Shannon King Karol Woodcock Sullivan Co. Monticillo #1357 Donald Desno Wayne Co. Eureka #46 Nick DiSanto Wyoming Co. Warsaw #1088 Terrance Snyder Curriers Co. #1273 Bonnie Bremiller Joanne Prial May/June 2016 Page 7 Empire State Granger Virginia Marlyn Chamberlain, 86, of East River Rd. passed away Sunday morning May 22, 2016 as the birds sang after the church bells rang. Born August 14, 1929 in Saratoga Springs she was the daughter of William H. Deuell and Margaret Elizabeth Piehaczek Deuell. On July 15, 1951 she married Wendell Chamberlain and made their home in Belfast on the Family Dairy Farm. She taught 3rd Grade at Cuba Elementary School for 19 years before her retirement. Virginia was a member of Belfast Grange, Allegany County Pomona Grange, NYS Grange, The National Grange. She was First Lady of the New York State Grange from 1975-1977. Virginia is survived by her six children Carl (Heidi) Chamberlain of Amsterdam NY; Sharon (Joe) Hartzold of Danvers IL; Gerald (Beth) Chamberlain of Stillwater NY; Ellen (Jim) Woolley, Brian Chamberlain, Steven (Vicki) Chamberlain of Belfast NY; Brother William H. Deuell (Nancy) Arnold CA; 20 Grandchildren and 12 Great Grandchil- dren. May/June 2016 Robert M. Payne born in Coeymans Hollow to the late Otto and Sarah Malkonian Cook Payne on November 13, 1927, passed away May 20, 2016, after a long illness. He graduated from Ravena High School in 1945 and went right into the Navy. He served on the Samuel N. Moore (DD747) in the South Pacific from 1945 to 1947. He joined the Ravena Grange on April 4, 1944, and held many offices: master and treasurer; at the present time is master of Ravena Grange. He belongs to the County Pomona, State and National Granges. He was 40 years treasurer, 1957 to 1997, of the New York State Grange and also held many offices in the Pomona Grange, including master. He's always been active with the Altamont Fair for 50 years and was president and treasurer of the Tri Co. Fair Assoc. and helped in managing the Grange building. He ran the State Grange Bowling Tournament for 25 years. He worked many years on the Board of Elections, and was an inspector in the Town of Coeymans. In 2013 he was chairman of the NYS Grange Convention Committee in Albany. He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Ismay Rupert Payne; daughter, Nancy J. Payne; sons, Robert B. and Steven G. Payne; and granddaughter, Jessica L. Payne of North Carolina. 2nd : Talent Show Winners Vocal Solo : J omni Tar bell, age 13, Genesee Co. Sang "In Own Little Corner" Instrumental Solo: Colton Tarbell, age 10, Genesee Co. Piano solo "Fiddler On The Roof" 2nd: 2nd: BEST OF SHOW Variety Act: Ryan Orton, Dutchess Co. Stephan Fazio, Albany Co. Shannon Ruso, Albany Co. Matthew Shoop, Albany Co. Emily Shoop, Albany Co. Teresa Thomas, Albany Co. Musical selection "Fight Song" 2nd: 1st ; 2nd: Page 8 Empire State Granger Photo at right: Jared Woolley was honored for his 58 years as a member of the Forestville Fire Department. He received the “Lifetime Achievement Award”. 2016 GRANGER OF THE YEAR ELAINE SMITH Photo on Right: This year’s honoree is a fourth generation Granger, a significant attribute that few here today can claim. Her Grange journey started in Ross Grange # 305, Chautauqua County, where the Sprague family were proud Grangers and still are in 2016. She met her husband while attending Junior Grange Camp, a testament that Grange plays an important part in her life’s story. She began dating her husband, Ken, following a New York State Grange Youth weekend many years later. Yes, Elaine Sprague Smith, Colonel Harper Grange, is our 2016 Granger of the Year. Elaine has held offices of Lady Assistant Steward, Lecturer and the Graces and wherever needed at several Grange meetings. Last year, she accepted the position of Chaplain of Otsego County Pomona Grange. In 1983 she was the New York State Grange female Youth Ambassador, later serving as New York State Grange Flora in 2008 and 2009. The past two years, Elaine is inspiring our younger members as the New York State Grange Co-Youth Director. Being involved with Grange youth, she transports many to youth weekends with one com- May/June 2016 Photo at right: Nate Lull a member of Butternut Valley Grange in Gilbertsville will be participated in the London Marathon for the American Institute for Cancer Research onApril 24. The Grange presented Nate with $1,000 with funds resulting from sales of t-shirts with the logo “Grange… for the Long Run” and the collection during the last several months of “L” series dollar bills by the members for the designated “Lull in London” project. ing up next week. She will be overseeing their competitions of talent, sign-a-song, speech and radio spots. The Northeast Youth Conference is being hosted in New York this year at SUNY Cobleskill July 8 – 10, so she has reached out to Otsego County Pomona for assistance… and we will be there to help Elaine carry out the hosting duties. Locally, Elaine helps in many different ways with the activities at Colonel Harper, one of them being coordinating the dining room of their annual beef barbecue in July when they serve several hundred hungry customers. Grange is not her only community involvement…from 1985 to 2012, the Smith family were active in the Stamford Methodist Church where she was a Sunday School teacher for many grade levels. Elaine and Ken now attend Jefferson Baptist Church where she continues to be a Sunday School Director and teacher along with Vacation Bible School Director. The Grange 150th Anniversary Four-Minute-Movie Contest! Get out your cameras or even your phones and put together your own amazing four-minute-movie celebrating Grange! And here's the best part: The prizes sponsored by the National Grange Foundation! The top three finalist will receive up-to a $200 travel stipend, Friday and Saturday night accommodations at the 150th Annual Session of the National Grange in Washington DC, and two tickets to the Celebration banquet where the winning movies will be shown and first, second, and third place awards announced! 1st: $1000 Cash Prize! 2nd: $500 Cash Prize! 3rd: $250 Cash Prize! All entries will be judged on content, quality, and creativity. The top seven videos will be part of a social media popularity vote September 1 - September 15, 2016, with the top three favorites moving on to the finalist round at National Session in Washington, DC on November 19, 2016. There are no limits to the themes of your four minute movie as long as it showcases Grange! Suggestions to get your wheels turning include--but are not limited to: How Grange has impacted my life, The Grange Story: Our history and heritage, Why I love Grange!, Grange accomplishments, wins, and successes, Why I joined the Grange, why I stay DEADLINES: July 1, 2016: SUBMISSIONS OPEN, August 15, 2016: SUBMISSIONS CLOSE, midnight PST Check the National Grange Website www.nationalgrange.org for additional information about the rules and proceedures. Photo at right Steve Coye New York State Grange president presents a 75yr membership award to Myron Breadsley , his son Mark was also present, Thursday evening APRIL 28 at a dinner at Interlaken Grange. Photo at right Wide Awake Grange hosted the foreign Exchange Student from Midlakes High School. This year the student was from Indonesia. The photo shows Stacey Adams (left) wearing the traditional festival outfit. On the right is the exchange student with her normal attire. Wide Awake Grange is also known for their Roast Beef Dinner fundraisers. They have been holding these for many years. Following is a poem written by Charlotte Howard a long time member in remembrance of the dinners. Roast Beef Dinner At Wide Awake Grange 1.What's going on at the Grange tonight? A roast beef dinner, you guessed it right. 2.It takes many hands to prepare for this meal, There's cabbage to grind and potatoes to peel. 3. Diane's left the cows, that's hard to believe, But Stacy’s there, she can relieve. 4. Kay's at the dishpan, how smooth her hands look, Ken's at the stove, his veggies to cook. 5 Dining room's decorated for the Spring season, Centerpieces by Carol would be the reason. 8.The clock is saying a quarter to four, Would you believe there are folks at the door? The cashier is seated, her box holds the change, You want a good meal? Come to the Grange. 8.The pourers are here, the coffee is ready, Be careful, and try to hold those pots steady. 9. Jim's at the table to dole out the meat, It's really amazing, what people can eat. 10. The take-outs are ready, and so is the meat, The clock says 5, it's now time to eat. 11. They're coming in now with big appetites, I haven't seen any, who want to eat light. 12.Pies have been cut, we have many kinds, They find it hard making up their minds. 13. It's time for the workers to sit down and eat, Enjoy the good food, get off their feet. 14. But don't stay too long for clean-up must start, This isn't any ones favorite part. Another dinner is over at last, We have a month now, but time will go fast. 16.The doors are all locked there isn't even align: Thanks to all who made this a good night. 15.