The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
     
 
 

Monthly Feature

Presidents Message

Let's Make Publicity A Priority For Every Grange

National Grange President, Ed Luttrell

I am often asked why National Grange doesn’t seem to get any publicity in the local community. My response is that usually your local paper is more concerned with local news than national news.

Grange publicity is not just the responsibility of the State and National Grange, we each have an important role to play. Publicity is a priority because our growth, community support, and reputation all hinge on how we are viewed by others. The reason for seeking publicity is that how you are viewed by others will determine if they will sup-port your activities, if they might be interested in joining, and what they say about you. If we let others speak for us, the image of the Grange will not be nearly as positive as it would be if we tell our own stories.

Over the past four years, I have been in each state that has a State Grange at least twice, and most states a number of times. I have spoken to other organizations, had numerous media inter-views, and participated in many State Grange events. I have made dozens of videos, written articles and blogs to get the Grange message out to members and potential members. Each opportunity teaches us how to do a better job of getting the Grange name and activities in front of the public.

In these four years, a lot of new PR materials have been developed and we are constantly updating and improving each item as our members comment on using them. We are currently working on a number of “Join the Grange” materials. Read more
 
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Flooding Hits Hard for Northeast Farmers
National Youth Director Charlene Espenshade’s family farm sustained seri-ous damage. This aerial photo of the farm owned by her parents, Dale and Judy Shupp, members of Oriental Grange #165, shows the house, shop and barn are just out of the water. Her uncle’s house, however, is shown under-water. The family lost their crops due to the flooding.

BY Grace Boatright
National Grange Programs Assistant | gboatright@nationalgrange.org

The East Coast is recovering from record rainfall in the last few weeks after the remnants of Hurricane Irene dumped 12 inches of water on New York and Pennsylvania, and Tropical Storm Lee added another 45 trillion gallons of water to the mix.

Over 40 deaths occurred as a result of Hurricane Irene, and an additional 14 deaths have been attributed to Lee’s aftermath, including a young boy who was swept away in the flooding in Virginia.

In Vermont, where three people were killed and over 300 roads were closed due to flooding and lost bridges, many Grangers were forced to evacuate their homes, and many even lost them entirely.

Numerous farms were destroyed and have lost their entire crop, and many dairy farms were forced to dump milk as milk trucks were unable to reach them.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture George Greig, right, a member of Hay-field Grange #800, and state FSA Ex-ecutive Director Bill Wehry examine damage to a soybean crop on a north-eastern Pennsylvania farm following flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee. The field is part of the farm of the Espenshade family, National Grange Youth Director Charlene Shupp Espe-nshade’s in-laws, who are members of Elizabethtown Grange #2076

Several Grange Halls experienced some flooding, but so far, none have been declared lost. Thankfully however, other Northeast and New England State Grange Masters have reported that, to their knowledge, their members are safe and little to no damage was done to their own Grange Halls.

In fact, a New York Grange Hall was used as a bunker for local firefighters, as their firehouse was flooded.

President Barack Obama declared states of emergency for New York and Pennsylvania, and Governor Bob McDonnell had declared a state of emergency for his home state of Virginia.

Residents dwelling near the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, an estimated 75,000, were evacuated as authorities questioned the reliability of its levees. The National Guard was also called out to assist in rescue efforts, and they can be thanked for saving 11 people trapped in the second story of a West Pittston, PA., home.

Several Grange members were affected by the storms, including our National Grange Youth Director Charlene Espenshade.

Stacy Bruker, Pennsylvania State Grange Membership Director, said that the State Grange has sent emails to state Grange members, requesting funds and volunteers to assist in the recovery.

Bruker said although several Pennsylvania Grangers and one Grange Hall were affected by the storms, they have not solicited the State Grange for help. Rather, Grangers are relying on PEMA, FEMA, themselves and their neighbors to assist them in their rebuilding efforts.

The National Grange extends its sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones in these recent disasters.

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