JUNE
2004
Record
Breaking National Grange Fly In 2004 is a Huge Success! This
year, the National Grange Legislative Department has been very successful in implementing
their programs, the most recent being the 2004 Legislative Fly-In, which took
place May 16th - 18th in Washington DC. For each of the past seven years, the
National Grange has hosted the Legislative Fly-In, a program where Grange members
can take advantage of educational workshops, enjoy cultural activities in their
nation's capital and meet their Congressional and Senate leaders. This year's
program had 75 participants, the largest attendance ever. Greetings
and introductions kicked off the program in the Goss Conference room of the National
Grange building in Washington DC on Sunday May 16h. National Master William Steel
welcomed the group. Afterwards, Legislative Director Leroy Watson, assisted by
National Grange Legislative Assistant John Beazley and National Grange Research
Analyst Chil-Sook Hwang, gave an overview of the National Grange Legislative Program
for 2004, an exciting program "Celebrating the responsibilities of citizenship",
and gave a special presentation, "Politics by the Numbers: The Grange in Red and
Blue America." "Leroy's workshop was very thought-provoking about the future of
Grange legislative efforts and its position in the political arena," commented
Pennsylvania State Grange President. The evening of May 16th concluded with dinner
at Gadsby's Tavern, which featured an 18th century style entertainer and historic
atmosphere. On May 17th, the formal workshop schedule began and the meeting location shifted
next door from the National Grange building to the historic Decatur House Conference
Center, a state-of-the-art conference facility that is managed by the non-profit
National Trust for Historic Preservation. The first workshop was a Panel Discussion
on the "Trade implications of Mad Cow disease on US farmers and ranchers". Speakers
for this panel included Karen Stuck, Assistant Administrator Food Safety & Inspection
Service; Tadashi Sato, Agriculture Attaché for the Embassy of Japan; and Arturo
Calderon, Agriculture Attaché, Embassy of Mexico.
Following
that was a presentation by Mr. Alan Daley, Director of Security and Infrastructure
issues, Verizon Inc. about Telecommunications issues facing rural America. Ms.
Julie Goon, Director of Medicare outreach and senior advisor to the Secretary,
finished out the morning's presentations by giving an informative update on the
new Medicare prescription drug benefit program. After hearing from Ms. Goon, Fly-In
attendees enjoyed a buffet lunch while Mr. Forest Harper, Vice President Share
Card for Living Program, Pfizer Inc., discussed new efforts to provide reduced
cost prescription drugs to America's senior farmers and rural seniors by encouraging
qualified Medicare beneficiaries to learn more about the Pfizer U Share Card prescription
benefit program. The Pfizer U Share Card enables qualified low-income Medicare
beneficiaries to obtain up to 30-day supplies of most Pfizer prescription medicines
for a flat fee of $15 per prescription. In addition, Share Card members have access
to a 24-hour call center with live operators to learn about other health services
and benefits and to request free, easy-to-read health education materials on 16
common medical conditions. Following lunch, Mr. Mark Palmer with the National Biodiesel Board gave a presentation
addressing the issues affecting biodiesel. Next Mr. Adam Sharp, Acting Counselor
to the Administrator for Agricultural Issues at the US Environmental Protection
Agency discussed issues affecting US agriculture and the environment. Mr. David
Senter, Director for the American Agriculture Wind Coalition, made the final presentation
on prospects for wind energy on our nation's farms. "Wind Energy was well presented
and certainly something that should be given careful consideration, " said New
Jersey State Grange Legislative Director L. Claire Grissett. The second day's
program concluded with a "Grange Fair" reception featuring information on exciting
Grange member benefits and services and a banquet with an address by National
Grange President William Steel.
The
final day of the Legislative Fly-In 2003 was devoted to visits between attendees
and their US Representatives and US Senators. " We were able to meet with our
Congressman (Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Dennis Hastert) and voice
our concerns," Illinois Grange members Dennis and Anna Hayes said. Grange members
attended more than 60 individual Capitol Hill meetings during Fly In 2004. A buffet
style lunch was held in the Longworth House Office Building where some members
of Congress or their staff dropped in to dine with Grange members, Also on the
agenda was attendance at a live taping of the CNN political debate TV show "Crossfire",
where co-host and Washington syndicated political columnist Robert Novak personally
welcomed the Grange members attending the broadcast. The final event that evening
was an informal farewell dinner at TGI Friday's. Overall, Fly In 2004 participants rated this year's event as a very positive experience. "When I returned home we sent press releases to our media outlets across Michigan,"
said Jeff Swainston, Michigan State Master. "I am already looking forward to next
year", Swainston added. "My work title is 'Program Development Specialist', so
I know how much work and planning can go into getting such a program as you offer
us each year up and running. You did it again! The whole event was outstanding!"
commented New Jersey State Grange Legislative Director L. Claire Grissett. Grange
members Dennis and Anna Hayes from Illinois wrote: "We were at the Capitol Building
when President Bush spoke to families of fallen police officers. On return to
Rock River Grange #1924 and reporting on the Fly In, they were very enthusiastic
about someone going next year."
One
reason for the high level of satisfaction with the 2004 Legislative Fly In was
the growing list of sponsors, who contributed, either financially or in kind,
to help make the Fly In 2004 a success. The National Grange would like to thank
the following sponsors for their generous financial and/or in kind support of
The National Grange Legislative Fly In 2004: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
of America, Verizon Communications, Inc., BellSouth Communications, Inc., TracFone,
Inc., Pfizer, Inc., National Biodiesel Board, Capitol Alliances, Inc., National
Petroleum Refiners Association, Kimmit, Senter, Coates, & Weinfurter, American
Agricultural Wind Coalition, Potomac Grange #1, Issue Dynamics Inc., Dittus Communications,
Inc., Decatur House Museum, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Food
Safety and Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services, US Department Health and Human Services, Office
of Rep. Eliot Engel, Office of Rep. Richard Pombo, Embassy of Japan, Embassy of
Mexico, and Crossfire Television show.
More
Information: The
Fly In Conference Summary
2004
Fly-In Photo
Gallery
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