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Monthly Feature

Presidents Message

What Can One Person Do?

What can we do about economic uncertainty, the oil spill in the gulf, runaway government spending, and all the other challenges that face us in America? How do we deal with the immense flow of information that seems to overwhelm us on a daily basis?

Family, friends, and community are the answer.

As individuals, we often seem to be powerless against the huge challenges that are before us. One person can’t fix the economy, the actions of one individual will not stop the oil from escaping from the sea floor, and one lone voice will not slow the spending of our government. However, when people start to seek common ground and work together they can, and will, make their community a better place to live. Once that happens communities can start to band together and solve state-level problems and the process continues onward to our national government.

Organizations like ours are the real community organizers. Unlike other groups, the Grange doesn’t depend on the government for funding and we don’t presume to speak for our members until they have had the opportunity to be a part of the discussion.

Since 1867, Granges have been organized in tens of thousands of communities. Fire departments, FFA, co-ops, credit unions, ambulance services, fairs, 4-H, and so much more have been started because people found they had power together through the Grange. Schools have been supported, parks and other recreational opportunities have been started, and cemeteries maintained due to the muscle of people coming together through the Grange.

That process continues to this very day. We are an old organization that is constantly renewed and kept young by people who add their ideas and voices to their community as members.I’ve seen a lot of new Granges formed over the past few years. From New Hampshire to Alaska to Arkansas, people are seeing
that there is power when you belong to a grassroots organization that allows the local members to determine the direction of our organization.

So what can one person do about the huge issues of the day? They can join the Grange, get involved as their time allows, and make a difference in their community.

Membership is not about money as ours is an inexpensive organization to join. Most of the budget of a local Grange comes from fundraising rather than the voluntary dues paid by members. This is due to a focus on the family and the knowledge that we must be affordable to the entire family.

Grange membership is not about everyone agreeing, it is about different ideas and perspectives being discussed in a friendly civil fashion and each member learning during that debate. It is about the search for common issues and solutions, not about total agreement. The only issue we are in agreement on is that our debates and actions must be that of honorable, moral people.

Many times over the past 143 years, our organization has rallied the forces of our American communities to change our nation. History teaches us that individual Americans can make a difference; it is just that we must work together through organizations like the Grange to do it.

What can one person do? The real question is what can stop a group of people, a Grange, from accomplishing anything?


Ed Luttrell
National President
 
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Trademark Protection is
National Issue with Local Impact


By Laura Auerbach, Communications Director

Since 1867, the Grange has stood for the rights of rural communities throughout America. It has provided farmers and non-farmers alike with the services and support they have needed to build strong businesses and feed their families. Our organization has provided educational opportunities for senior citizens, youth and juniors, and small but growing families. Community service projects have been initiated and completed by every Grange for the benefit of all citizens. We have advocated for legislation that provided mail service to small rural America and continue to fight for access to broadband for every American today. We are an organization built from the ground up, whose mission speaks volumes because they’re backed by strong actions rather than just strong rhetoric. And throughout it all, one thing that has remained the same is the name by which we stand: GRANGE.

Since 2007, our name, GRANGE, has been under attack in the trademark arena. Many companies are trying to take advantage of the strength of our image and brand by using our name to sell products and services. Having our trusted name associated with safe, locally produced, wholesome community based food has made us an attractive target for those who would use our name for commercial profit. But our name does not define products. It defines people and these people can not be bought and sold! Each of us as Grange members should be proud to stand by our name. It represents all the efforts of our current members as well as the achievements of those who came before us.

This attack on our name is not new to our organization. It is the scale of this challenge that is new to us. To allow people to step in and use our brand whenever it suits their needs undermines the very values we stand for. Values like hard work, loyalty, and strength. To allow others to own a piece of our name damages the freedom of our Community Granges to serve their community. We must not let this happen.

The Facts of the Matter

Here is what we know. Since the beginning of 2008, we have had 53 name protection related issues that we have had to address, with 24 of these being significant or major. The good news is that we are down to the last 5 significant challenges. We have spent almost $750,000 on fighting these issues over the last three years and even with the 15% courtesy discount provided by our lawyer, Mr. James L. Bikoff, we are still anticipating that it will cost a little more than $150,000 over the next 18 months before we can begin to normalize our annual budget.

To deal with this enormous expenditure, we have cut or reduced every expense of the National Grange without cutting services or benefits that we provide to our members and Granges. We’ve held meetings to develop new revenue-generating ideas. Some have worked…a little. Some show promise, and some haven’t been feasible. Still, we find ourselves anxious that the National Grange may be forced to choose between protecting or serving our Granges because of this issue. Our reserves are tapped and it is an absolute necessity that we generate new revenue to deal with this problem. Our aggressive costcontainment strategies and estimated legal costs for trademark protection are projected to be the largest single monthly expenditures for the National Grange, outside of payroll and building maintenance, for the remainder of this year.

We need you, our Grange members, to understand that it is primarily your Granges that use the Grange trademarks in a commercial manner. And with this name you are able to raise money to support your halls, community service projects, educational efforts, and legislative programs. This is not a request to help the National Grange office. It’s a reminder that our organization is national in scope, but local in its impact. Members need to pool their resources, use their talents, and put their heads together to develop financial strategies that will help us finish this fight. This is a fight the National Grange is pursuing on your behalf but it is a fight that, if lost, will affect how your Grange impacts the lives of all those you touch.

How can YOU help?

State Granges:
If every community, pomona, and state Grange held a fundraiser for this purpose, or donated at least $100 to help during this difficult time we would be able to cover our costs and have enough money to cover costs as well as any unforeseen issues associated with this problem. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. Without your help, we stand no chance of success.
Individuals:
If you are an individual please consider giving an extra years’ worth of dues directly to the National Grange. This fraternity knows from experience that the greatest success comes from grassroots efforts. If everyone plays their part we will, no doubt, be successful in our goal!

Please send a check to:

National Grange
ATTN: Amber Casey
1616 H St., NW
Washington, DC 20006

*Please indicate on the check that this money is for trademark protection
NATIONAL GRANGE OF THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY
1616 H Street NW • Washington, DC 20006
(888) 4-GRANGE • (202) 628-3507 • Fax: (202) 347-1091
Contact National Grange • Contact Webmaster • Trademark Information