Successful
Actions of Upper Applegate Grange - OR
A
Force in the Community
Upper
Applegate Grange, one of the Granges highlighted in the April Successful Actions
Teleconference, sits in southwest Oregon just north of the California border. "We have mostly retired people living here because young people can't afford to
buy a home here," says Audrey Merz, who serves as Lecturer. Colista
Bailey credits Audrey and her husband Warren with a lot of Upper Applegate Grange's
growth. "When we asked Warren to be the Master of the Grange, he said he would
- if he could make some changes. He did, and it's been great!" Warren
operates with guidelines he learned in the corporate world. "For an organization
to work in today's world," he says, "it has to be meaningful, nimble and fast,
visible, and do measurable things." One
of the meaningful services that Upper Applegate Grange delivered to the community
was when two serious forest fires struck in the area in two successive years.
In August, 2001, 9,000 acres were destroyed, and the following July, during the
Squire's Peak fire, another 3,200 acres were destroyed. The Grange answering machine
was updated twice a day, and the Grange Hall became a meeting place where firefighters
held nightly meetings to update residents of the fire's status. It became a temporary
home to firefighters as well, with Grange members providing food, shelter, and
appreciation. Upper
Applegate Grange held a special "Thank You Party" for firefighters - many who
traveled far distances. "One fire chief told us that with all the fires he'd been
involved with, no one had ever thrown a thank you for the firefighters before,"
Warren says. "That was meaningful!" Ten
days after the Squire's Peak fire subsided, Upper Applegate Grange hosted the
Governor to talk about the fire's cause and to listen to residents about what
could and should be done to prevent other fires. This meeting and their experiences
with the firefighters led Upper Applegate Grange to get involved in fire prevention
activities. "We held seminars on Senate Bill #360 which says that if a fire starts
on your property you could be liable. So landowners have a responsibility to thin
their woodlots and reduce the opportunities for devastating fires. It's a stewardship
issue," says Warren. "We even invited contractors - ones we knew were reputable
and qualified - so that people could talk to guys they could hire to help them
control their land. That became a real service to our rural community." At
their twice monthly meetings, Upper Applegate Grange has offered programs on other
serious topics. "Last month it was about methamphetamines and our young people.
Another time it was about crime prevention. We had a seminar on long-term care
insurance and how to decide if that's a good investment. We invite people in the
community to our programs - and they're coming. A lot of them don't want to join
and pay dues, but we're still getting them involved," says Warren. One
of their current projects involves a partnership with the McKee Bridge Historical
Society. "This is a great old covered bridge, but it's got some serious maintenance
and structural issues. It's been closed now, but it needs to be renovated. The
Historical Society isn't up to the job alone, so we're working with them. Together
we made a unit for our town's Victorian Christmas parade. They made a float that
looked like the bridge, and Grangers and Brownies and Girl Scouts from the troop
that we sponsor dressed up like Victorian farm folks and accompanied the float
throughout the parade route. And now we're planning an auction to raise money
to work on the bridge. We've got a county commissioner lined up to be the auctioneer."
"A lot of our
activity has dealt with serious issues, but we're trying to include fun too,"
says Warren. The Grange sponsors a Girl Scout Troop, has created an award belt-buckle
for young people who raise sheep, and runs a water booth at the county fair. "It's
tough because a lot of the people who live here are retired and travel a lot.
We try to involve folks who've lived here a long time and also the new arrivals,
but not all of them really want to get involved in the community." Even with that, Upper Applegate Grange has gained in membership. "We have about
70 members who pay dues," says Colista, Secretary. "And we have more who will
show up to help but who don't seem to want to join." Warren is quick to add, "But
we're happy to take their help!" Audrey would like to take more help than is currently available. "There's a core
of about fifteen people who seem to do most of the work. People will show up to
help, but not to plan." Warren adds, "The agricultural community here is really
challenged. People who live here - the ones who aren't rich and retired - are
working two and three jobs. We used to have eleven lumber mills in the county,
now we're down to one. And we have a big geographic area without a lot of population."
But with all
the challenges, it seems clear that Upper Applegate Grangers are committed to
community activity. "We just held a plant sale and spaghetti lunch. A lot of the
plants came out of my yard! Left-over plants will went to the farm supply store
where they'll sell them to raise money for childhood arthritis," Audrey says. "Other Granges
in Jackson County are starting to pay attention. They've got to get involved in
the community," Warren adds. "We've really become much more of a force in the
community and it makes a difference." |
