Press Release - PA State Grange Names Granger/Grange Family of the Year

PA STATE GRANGE

Press Release

Date: October 21, 2009

Contact: Carl Meiss

Public Relations Director

publicrelations@pagragne.org

Release: Immediate

RE: PA State Grange Names Granger and Grange Family of the Year

Johnstown, PA - At the 137th Annual PA State Grange Session All Granger Banquet held Saturday in Johnstown, PA, the "Granger of the Year" and the "Grange Family of the Year" were both named by PA State Grange President Betsy Huber.

Each year, the PA State Grange names individual Grange members and/or Grange families who have exemplified themselves with their Community, Pomona (County) or State Grange through Grange actions and activities, as well as through non-Grange activities.

This year's "Granger of the Year" is Margaret Storm of Patton, PA. Margaret has been a member of Pleasant Hill Grange #1861 in Cambria County for 25 years, where she has served as their Master (President) for the past 18 years. "She does many community service projects in her Grange and throughout her community," President Huber said. "She gets applicants for their Grange scholarships, more than anyone else. Her number one project is the 'Military Mail Project.' She has influenced the lives of two generations of 4-H members as a leader in cooking and babysitting classes. She works for the American Legion Auxiliary and sends many cards to shut-ins in her community. She's the instigator of the educational display at the Cambria County Fair. She is truly a great credit to the Grange and the community and she uses her talents well for the benefit of others in the area."

The Anstadt Family from Lycoming County was named as the "Grange Family of the Year." All 13 members of the Anstadt family belong to Allegheny Grange #1843 in Lycoming County. Elizabeth Anstadt has been their Secretary for 25 years. Paul Burkhart, President of Allegheny Grange stated, "The Anstadts can trace their family history back to the founding fathers of Allegheny Grange; the land on which the Grange stands was donated by the Anstadt family." PA State Grange President Betsy Huber said, "All of the family members have been active in many community organizations and church activities, to include the local senior center, Meals on Wheels, 4-H, County Health Improvement Coalition, County Extension Board, and the Grange, at all levels including State and National." "They all assist their Grange with their annual ATV Educational Expo as well as their annual Festival/Health Fair," Huber said. Elizabeth Anstadt stated, "I would hope that through our examples of service in the Grange community, we can set an example of community service toward other people and organizations." The family includes Elizabeth, George, Jeanne, Lewis and Marilyn Anstadt; Elizabeth, Bernie, Susan, Keith, Cameron and Ashley Downey; and Heather and Ernie Orton.

Press Release - PA State Grange Concludes 137th Annual Session

PA STATE GRANGE

Press Release

Date: October 21, 2010

Contact: Carl Meiss

Public relations Director

publicrelations@pagrange.org

Release: Immediate

RE: PA State Grange Concludes 137th Annual Session

JOHNSTOWN. PA - The PA State Grange concluded its 137th Annual Session on Monday, October 19, 2009. The Conference was held at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in Johnstown, PA. and was hosted by Community Granges from Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Indiana and Somerset Counties.

A total of 212 delegates were registered, representing 77 Community and 40 Pomona Granges from around the Commonwealth. The delegates dealt with 60 resolutions to set the organizational and legislative policy of the PA State Grange for the coming year. Resolutions were introduced which dealt with agricultural, environmental, family, governmental and organizational issues.

Session was officially opened Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. by PA State Grange President Betsy Huber. Special guests included Joe and Tammy Fryman from Nebraska. Joe, the National Grange Treasurer, along with his wife Tammy, were the National Grange Representatives. Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding spoke to the delegates telling them, "We need you," in the afternoon. Session was closed for the day by the PA State Grange Youth. The "All Granger Banquet" was held Saturday evening and saw the announcement of the "Granger of the Year," Margaret Storm from Cambria County and the "Grange Family of the Year," the Anstadt Family from Lycoming County. The evening closed with a PA State Grange Youth Party.

No Session "business" was conducted Sunday but that didn't mean a day of rest. PA State Grange Chaplain Judy Pressler led a church and memorial service held at the Johnstown First United Methodist Church. After church, the PA Junior Grange held their meeting and degree work in the morning while Community and Pomona Grange Masters (Presidents) participated in a workshop on "Conducting Efficient and Fun Meetings." The PA State Grange Youth held their annual luncheon and honored PA State Grange Public Relations/Membership Director Carl Meiss, with their "Friend of the Youth" award.

The afternoon saw the Sign-A-Song, Public Speaking and Talent contests held for members of all ages. This year's winners of "Best in Show" were Ashley Mohn from Berks County for Junior Talent and Jenny Taylor from Butler County in the Adult Talent contest. The PA State Grange conferrfal of the 6th Degree (State Level) was held Sunday evening with 28 members receiving the 6th Degree. The Degree conferral was held in the conference center and was immediately followed by a reception.

The Family Activity Committee hosted their annual Breakfast first thing Monday morning and presented awards for Pomona Chairperson of the Year to Virginia Mangel of Butler County and Community Chairperson of the Year to Caroline Reilly of Blair County. Session opened at 8:30 a.m. and delegates immediately got down to work on the remaining resolutions. Election of one member to the Executive Committee was held and Barbara Gross from Venango County was re-elected and installed. Session was officially closed at 4:00 p.m. with an invitation to the 138th Annual PA State Grange Session to be held in Sharon, PA, Mercer County.

Following the close of Session, PA State Grange President Betsy Huber and Chaplain Judy Pressler took the PA State Grange floral Memorial Cross across Napolean Avenue and placed it at the Cambrian County Veteran's Memorial. [Photo attached]

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Day 3 137th Annual PA State Grange Session

Day 3, the final day of this year's 137th Annual PA State Grange Session, held in Johnston, PA saw the completion of the remaining resolutions (60+ total).

After two votes, Barbara Gross from Venango County was re-elected to the PA State Grange Executive Committee and installed by Susan Tau of Crawford County.

The Host Committee of "Grange in the Valley" was thanked and the new Host Committee for the 138th Session in 2010 invited everyone to Sharon, PA in Mercer County.

Following the completion of the Session, PA State Grange President Betsy Huber and Chaplain Judy Pressler took the Memorial floral Cross across the street and placed it under the Veterans' Memorial in Johnstown.

Day 2 - 137th Annual PA Statge Grange Session

PA State Grange P.R. Director Carl Meiss was awarded the "Friend of the Youth" award at the Youth luncheon.

Ashley Mohn won "Best of Show" in the Junior Grange Talent Contest.

Jenny Taylor won "Best of Show" in the PA State Grange Talent Contest.

137th Annual PA State Grange Session

PRESS RELEASE

PA STATE GRANGE

Date: October 7, 2009

Contact: Carl Meiss

Public Relations Director

Release: Immediate

RE: Johnstown to Host 137th Annual PA State Grange Session

Johnstown, PA - The 137th Annual PA State Grange Session will be held October 17-19, 2009 at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center, 301 Napoleon Street, Johnstown, PA.

The Host Counties include Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Indiana and Somerset. Community Grange members from the six counties have been working nearly a year to plan for this year's convention dubbed "Grange in the Valley."

PA State Grange Master/President Betsy Huber of Chester County will conduct the Official Opening of the 137th Annual Session, which will take place in Ballrooms A & B of the Pasquerilla Center at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning, October 17. This year's representatives from the National Grange will be Joe (photo above) and Tammy Fryman from Nebraska. Joe is the National Grange Treasurer as well as the Nebraska Grange Master/President. Tammy is the immediate past National Grange Flora.

All 270 Community Granges in the Commonwealth in good standing as of the third quarter are eligible to send at least two delegates to the Annual Session. (The number of delegates is dependent on the total number of members in a local Grange). Delegates set the legislative policies of the State Grange for the following year by voting on "Resolutions" previously submitted by local Community Grange members to the State Grange office. This year there were 59 resolutions submitted by the September 14, 2009 deadline. The resolutions are categorized as follows: Agriculture & Environmental; Family Issues; Government Issues, and; Good of the Order.

Saturday's Session will be officially closed at 4:15 p.m. by the PA State Grange Youth Officer Team. The annual All Granger Banquet will be held from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the conference center and will be emceed this year by Chester Tau of Crawford County, PA State Grange Overseer/Vice-President. The PA State Grange Youth and Juniors will hold their own parties in the evening at the Holiday Inn, the host hotel.

After the church service Sunday morning, the PA State Juniors will hold their annual meeting and degree, followed by a Master's Workshop prior to lunch. The PA State Grange Youth luncheon will be held in the hotel at 11:00 a.m. At 1:00 p.m. the Public Speaking, Sign-A-Song and Talent competitions will be held in the conference center ballrooms. Sunday evening will see the Sixth Degree Conferral of the PA State Grange held at 6:30 followed by a 9:00 reception.

Monday will wrap up the official business of the Grange after a 7:00 a.m. Family Activities breakfast. Session will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude with the installation of a newly elected Executive Committee Officer, Recognition of the 137th Host Committee and an invitation to the 138th Annual Session in Sharon, PA.

The Grange is a family fraternal organization dedicated to the betterment of rural life through community service, education, legislation and fellowship. The Grange is the oldest agricultural and rural advocacy organization in the country, founded nationally in 1867 and in Pennsylvania in 1873. The Grange includes the entire family through its Junior, Youth and Community Granges.