| National
Grange Applauds the Efforts of the Long Tom Grange Washington,
May 25, 2004 - The National Grange released a statement today applauding the
Long Tom Grange's success in raising more than $250,000 for their local public
school system with their humorous 2004 calendar. The calendar features the men
of the Long Tom Grange, located in Junction City, Oregon. A new calendar will
be released in 2005. National
Grange President William Steel said: "The
Long Tom Grange is just one of more than 3,000 local Granges finding interesting
ways to serve their local communities. From giving dictionaries to third graders
in local schools to fundraising for people battling serious illness without health
insurance to providing life-saving equipment to fire and police departments, Grange
leaders across the nation are advocating for the community values that have made
rural America a great place to live and raise a family."
There
are approximately 3,000 local Granges throughout 39 states in the U.S. with nearly
300,000 individual members. Founded
in 1867, the Grange activities today include and serve farm and non-farm, rural
families and communities on a wide variety of economic, educational, legislative
and family issues. | 
