National
Grange Master Delivers
Key Note Address to Open 138th Session  ROCHESTER,
NEW YORK, November 9, 2004 - Just a week before the National Grange's 138th Annual
Convention got underway in Rochester, New York, the country was the scene of a
vigorous and hard fought presidential and congressional election that further
widened the political and philosophical divide of our great nation. In his first
address as the National Master of the Grange, William "Bill" Steel urged the Grange
to find ways to repair the divide. "Let's all get back to talking to our neighbors
about issues that concern us and find ways to mend our common fences so that we
can again be 'one nation under God'."
Steel
went on to say that the Grange looks forward to working with President Bush's
Administration in 2005 and beyond. In 2004, the Grange advocated for a variety
of issues on a national level - Medicare reform, amendments to the Endangers Species
Act and the reorganization of the Universal Service Fund. At
this convention, Grange members will discuss the political agenda for 2005. Some
issues up for discussion are same sex marriage, Medicaid reform, stem cell research
and tort reform. All committees - Grange growth and development; conservation
and natural resources; citizenship and public affairs; agriculture; education
and health; taxation and transportation; and, labor and judiciary - are expected
to submit resolutions to the delegate body. If the resolutions are voted into
action, the National Grange's legislative department will begin advocating for
them. Steel
also praised the Grange for its accomplishments, but also said that the "Grange
should use this moment to set more ambitious goals to reach out to our local communities
and to help foster cooperation and dialogue, especially across partisan and philosophical
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