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What Are You Waiting For?
Don't Wait Another Minute to
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November 14 - 19, 2006 |
Why should you attend?
This year’s convention promises to be the most exciting yet. Not only will attendees enjoy lots of fun and fellowship, but they will also have the opportunity to visit the Land of Lincoln – Springfield, Illinois.
Why should I get excited about the convention?
The convention schedule is filled with lots of workshops that will teach you how to increase membership at your Grange and how to get more recognition for your Grange. The Idea Fair will include success stories from Granges across the nation and suggestions for new programs. The Grange Store will be stocked with merchandise so you can pick up the newest Grange items and get started on your holiday shopping.
And, let’s now forget the special Grange events.
The Evening of Excellence will showcase the talents of Grange members with special presentations from Grange Youth, and it may have a few surprises for you – like last year’s Grange Store Fashion Show where Grange Delegates walked the runway, modeling Grange aprons, shirts, hats, and jackets. The Evening of Excellence is always guaranteed to provide convention attendees with lots of laughter and excitement.
The “Voice of Agriculture” Orion Samuelson will be the Celebration Banquet’s keynote speaker. Not only will attendees enjoy great food and music at the banquet, but they will also have the opportunity to hear the stories of Samuelson’s adventures in agricultural journalism. Samuelson is heard daily on more than 240 radio stations from coast to coast, but this is your chance to get up close and personal with this legend in agriculture.
What else will there be for me to do at convention?
This year’s convention will feature the Craft Corner. This new event will bring the excitement of making crafts and handmade items back to the convention. Attendees will have the opportunity to knit and crochet hats, blankets, and sweaters to donate to Stitches from the Heart, a nonprofit organization that oversees the distribution of knitted and crocheted items to local hospitals for premature babies, all while enjoying refreshments and fellowship. All the materials to produce these tiny creations will be provided by the National Grange Foundation, and at the end of the convention, National Grange Master William Steel will visit a local hospital to help distribute them. If you do not have time to visit the Craft Corner, the National Grange will accept pre-made items. Please see page --- for more information about the Craft Corner.
For the second year, the Annual National Grange Convention will display the first, second, and third place winners from the convention state’s Lecturer’s, Junior Grange, and Women’s Activities department-sponsored contests. The Best of Illinois will decoratively display an assortment of items from crocheted scarves to woodcarvings.
There will also be a host of luncheons and information sessions where you can come and learn about the issues affecting rural America, such as the production of methamphetamine and eminent domain.
Where will the convention be held?
The Hilton Springfield hotel, located in historic downtown Springfield, Illinois, is the closest hotel to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Lincoln's Home, Lincoln's Tomb, Old State Capitol, Frank Lloyd Wright's Dana-Thomas House, Governor's Mansion, and the Illinois State Museum.
Dozens of other area attractions including the Illinois State Fair and Fairgrounds, Knight's Action Park, White Oaks Mall, Route 66, and Lincoln's New Salem are easily accessible from Hilton Springfield hotel. Additionally, quaint shops, cozy bistros, and a vibrant nightlife are right outside the door and are part of what makes downtown Springfield, Illinois – “The Jewel of the City.”
The Hilton Springfield gears its amenities toward both the business and vacation travelers of Illinois. Their king and queen rooms feature high-speed Internet access, MP3 clock radio, on-demand videos, video games, in-room coffee makers, and in-room safe.
Guests visiting can also enjoy the business center, fitness center, and indoor hotel pool. On premise restaurants include a Starbucks Coffee store, the Manhattan Grill Room (serving a full buffet breakfast and lunch), and Capisce? - an award winning contemporary Italian dinner restaurant located on the 30th floor. The Hilton Springfield also has two popular bars - The Underground City Tavern and the 30th floor Jazz Central Station. Both feature live entertainment and stay open until 3am.
The Hilton Springfield offers 45,000 square-feet of meeting, banquet, and convention space, including a new state of the art conference center.
What is there to do in Springfield?
Sightseeing
Over one million visitors a year come to see Springfield’s historic Lincoln sites, which include the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, the Lincoln Home and Neighborhood, Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln’s New Salem, and more. Other attractions include the Dana-Thomas House, the Old State Capitol, the Illinois State Capitol, and the Executive Mansion.
Shopping
From charming, one-of-kind boutiques to nationally recognized, big city department stores, Springfield offers something for everyone. The city’s Westside offers White Oaks Mall, (the largest central Illinois indoor shopping facility), national discount shopping centers, home improvement stores, state-of-the-art computer and home entertainment stores, fashion boutiques, and more. The historical downtown area is brimming with specialty shops, antique stores, bakeries, art galleries, and much more.
Dining
From Springfield’s infamous, one-of-kind “horseshoe” sandwich to the ever-popular Cozy Dog – you will find a delicious selection of dining opportunities. Along with neighborhood fare, you will also find four-star restaurants, quaint cafés, fast food, and more.
Entertainment
Springfield has several hot spots for late night entertainment. Check out the city’s great selection of restaurants, dance clubs, comedy clubs, taverns, and sports bars. Whether you prefer a good laugh, an excellent place to watch a game, or dancing through the night, you can find it in Springfield!
Family Attractions
In Springfield, there are lots for families to do – amusement parks, arcade centers, bowling, skating, miniature golf, drive-in movie theaters, driving ranges, and farm attractions. Visit www.springfieldillinois.com to learn more.
Still not convinced that you should attend the convention, consider this:
The Annual National Grange Convention provides you with a once-a-year opportunity to see your Grange friends from across the nation and make new ones. It also gives you a first-hand look at how the Grange’s legislative agenda is determined for the year, as well as lets you experience the rituals of the Order.
At the convention, the resources never end. Whether you want to learn more about Grange’s history, service, membership, programs, benefits, or join in the vision of Grange’s more than 300,000 members, the place to be is at the convention. Join the thousands of other Grange members from around the country who, like you, are dedicated to legislative action, community service, and fellowship.
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 Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Why come to Springfield in November?
(Check all that apply.)
 We’ve not met there since the
28th annual convention in 1894,
and the Illinois State Grange has
everything prepared for a great
party.
Celebrate the successes of
2006, see some fine exhibits, pick
up some ideas for programs and
projects for my Grange, and check
up on old friends.
Watch the National Grange
Officers open the convention on
November 14, 2006 and conduct
business for the next three days.
Listen as policy decisions are
made that will affect internal and
external programs and efforts.
Hear nationally known speakers
and participate in workshop opportunities.
Take the Sixth Degree put on
by the Illinois State Grange, and/or
the Seventh Degree conferred by
the Assembly of Demeter officers.
In 1894, there were 226 candidates
for the Seventh Degree.
Check out historic Springfield
sites and Lincoln Museums.
 ALL OF THE ABOVE!
This is my personal invitation for
you to come and share the excitement
of the 140th Annual National
Grange Convention! See you in
Springfield!
Fraternally Yours,
William A. Steel, Master
National Grange
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| Meet Roxie L. Johnson - Executive Assistant/Meeting Planner |
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 Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but
raised in Mullins, South Carolina, I
spent a lot of time on my family’s
farm. While my sisters would make
money over the summer in the tobacco
and cotton fields, I would sit
at home in the air conditioner. I got
teased a lot for not being the kid
who wanted to get her little hands
dirty and became known as the “little
city-country girl.” Not much has
change since my childhood days.
I moved to the Washington, D.C.
Metropolitan area in 1998, and
whenever I go home (SC), everyone
still thinks I act like a city girl. I
guess I was destined to be here.
I graduated in 1998 with a degree
in Business Administration (minor
in Accounting) from Francis Marion
University in Florence, SC. My
plans were to move to Hawaii with
my mom and brother, but I ended
up taking some summer courses
so that I could graduate early.
Upon graduation, I knew my
dreams were broader than staying
in the little town of Mullins, so
I packed my bags for the big city.
I worked as an assistant bookkeeper
at two grocery stores during
college. I continued my career
as a bookkeeper once I moved to
D.C., working at the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation in Bethesda, MD. After
balancing books and consolidating
financial statements for over
five years, I decided to start a new
career and ventured into the management
arena.
I began working at Hauck & Associates,
Inc. in March 2000. At Hauck,
I learned all about non-profit associations
and specialty societies
management. While working there,
I mastered the techniques of creating
meeting brochures; contracting
speakers, exhibitors and hotels;
arranging annual, board, and committee
meetings; and managing client
financial reports and budgets.
I finally felt like I had found my
area of expertise. It was interesting
to “go behind the scene” and really
learn the process of arranging
meetings, meeting members, and
attendees.
I maintained various job titles at
Hauck. I started out as an executive
assistant to the chief operating
officer and maintained that position
for four years. I also served as a
meeting planner, account executive,
and executive director for several
of our association clients.
In January 2006, Hauck experienced
some company/contract
downsizing. This resulted in the
cancellation of my position. It was
a bittersweet moment having to
leave Hauck. This had become my
home away from home for the last
six years. Then I began to realize
that the experience I had acquired
at Hauck would help me succeed
in my next career move.
When I came to the Grange it reminded me of my childhood days
on the farm. As my mom stated, “The city girl has finally found her
way back to the country.” I am
interested in learning about the
membership structure and all the
key factors that have prolonged
the Grange for 139 years. I look
forward to working with the staff
and members of the Grange.
For more stories in this issue Subscribe Today for a FREE Copy!
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| Granger In the Spotlight |
| Travis Gibson Leaves the Dry World Behind |
 The feelings are unexplainable.
You float. You glide. You
become free. You escape the
bonds of gravity and move into
your own world where nothing
is pulling you down.
All the chaotic sounds of the
world are deafened by the flow
of the water. All of your beads of
perspiration are quickly washed
away. All of your bubbles of joy,
determination, frustration, disappointment,
and victory break
the surface and allow those
above to capture your emotions.
All of your limbs and your
muscles work in harmony to
move faster, faster, and faster.
No one can talk to you. You are
alone with your thoughts. It’s
only you against yourself.
These are the vivid pictures
that Travis Gibson paints when
he talks about swimming. The
18 year-old Ranger Grange
#1160-member has been swimming
since he was a small child
living outside of Portland, Oregon,
but it was in Murphy, North
Carolina where he cashed in on
all of his lessons, determination,
and hard work.
In 2006, Travis broke the North
Carolina state swim record in
the 100-yard butterfly, completing the event in 53.30 seconds. “It was pretty neat,” Travis said. “It’s nice to know that all of my
hard work paid off.”
Travis’s hard work also helped
him make the state championships
as a freshman at Murphy
High School. As a junior, he
placed fifth in the state 100-yard
backstroke and the 100-yard
butterfly events. As a senior,
Travis’ swimming accomplishments
landed him a full scholarship
to Gardner-Webb University
in Boiling Springs, North
Carolina. In fact, he was the first
person recruited to the newly
created male swim team that
will compete in its first competitive
event in 2007.
The school is known throughout
the NCAA for having a spirited
female team filled with recordbreaking
swimmers. Travis
hopes to take the energy his
female counterparts exude
and set his own records in the
NCAA. “I would like to win a
NCAA championship and compete
at the Olympic trials.”
Working toward these goals
means a lot of practice and sacrifice.
During the summer, Travis
left the house at 5 a.m. every
morning and drove 2 hours
to Gainesville, Georgia to train
with respected swim coach Jim
Young. His 7-hour regime included
swimming 10,000 yards
and weight training. Travis, who
suffers with an immune deficiency
disorder, improved his skill
and strength under Young. With
school and Grange events, the
tread to Gainesville eventually
became impossible. Yet, Travis
still manages to rise early and
practice at a local swimming pool.
“To be a great swimmer,
you have to practice all year
around,” Travis said. “It doesn’t
matter whether its 50 degrees
outside or 90, you have to find a
place to practice and improve.”
Despite his immune deficiency
disorder, which he admits
makes him sicker more than
the average person, no one will
ever see him out of the pool for more than one week.
“I credit my parents with teaching
me the value of hard work,”
Travis said. “My parents encourage
me, and I thank them
for that. My dad drives me at
least 45 minutes to all of my
meets, and he’s never missed
one. I thank him for being there
for me.”
The only other place people will
see Travis more than in the pool
is in the Grange Hall. Travis has
been a member of the Grange
since the 4th grade, when he
attended his first Grange camp.
In 2005, he was the North
Carolina State Grange Youth
Gatekeeper and the National
Grange Youth Gatekeeper, as
well as the recipient of the 2005 Grange Leadership Award.
“To me there’s no greater organization
than the Grange,” Travis
said. “In Murphy, NC, where the
only thing a teenager can do on
a Friday night is hang out at the
local Walmart, where else can
you meet people from all over
the United States, get involved
in cool community service projects,
have fun with other people
your age, and gain leadership skills. I love the Grange.”
Travis’s Grange roots expand all
the way back to his great-grand
parents. Today, both he and
his parents, David and Cindy,
enjoy as many Grange events
as possible, and although Travis
hopes that his swimming
or a degree in Biology will lead
him out of Murphy –population
1,555 – he says that he will always
be a Grange member and
so will his children, grandchildren, and great-grand children. “I am a Granger for life!”
“Murphy is a nice place to raise
a family,” Travis said. “But, I
miss the big city. I miss being
able to walk everywhere and experience all that the big city
has to offer. Besides, I want a
career in reconstructive surgery
after swimming, and I can’t do
that in Murphy.”
In the meantime, Travis continues
to swim and hang out with
his friends, playing pool and listening
to music. In September,
he will step foot on the campus
of Gardner-Webb University, where he hopes to learn and
lead. In the future, Travis hopes
that the Grange will have its first
gold medal Olympic swimmer
as a member.
“And the gold medal goes to
Travis Gibson… That’s the
goal. Now, I just have to make
it happen.”
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