E-Newsletter March 7, 2013

New Lecturer’s Program launched, ties with Women’s History Month in first of series

The National Grange is happy to announce the first of the Patriot’s Program – WWII series Lecturer’s resource CDs is available.

The Patriot’s Program, adopted by delegate action at the 2012 National Convention, encourages each Grange to take time during the coming year to thank WWII veterans for their service and those who served on the home front, buying bonds, planting victory gardens or entering the workforce for the first time.

The program, sponsored by Potomac Grange #1, Washington, D.C., provides material to lecturers that they can use during meetings to inform members and the public about the different aspects of the war, the Grange, culture and changes therein, and the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Patriot Program also encourages each Grange to honor veterans of their community, as well as those who contributed at home to the war effort.

Granges may request free certificates to honor members of the Greatest Generation in your community, as well as other information to help you create unique programs for your hometown.

Granges are also encouraged to look into their record books to see how they contributed to the war effort.

National Grange Lecturer Pete Pompper said Granges may find some very interesting things.

“Some might find that their halls were used for specific war-related purposes. Others will see how their Grange supported the war by buying war bonds or that they worked to assist farms in their area while workers were at war,” Pompper said. “Overall, the Grange’s involvement on the home front during and after the war is amazing.”

The initial installment of the Lecturer’s program, just in time for Women’s History Month, focuses on the often overlooked women’s contribution to the war effort as part of the military services.

The Programs and Communications departments have put together a CD that includes a PowerPoint, slide presentation notes and information on the Patriots Program for the whole year. The CD focuses on “Women and the War Effort” and it contains 45 different slides on various subjects, such as women in the military, Government Girls, non-military jobs for women and many more. The last two slides of the project are dedicated to Grange women involved in WWII. This is a great tool for lecturers to use whether it is creating a program encompassing the whole power point or just certain areas.

This past week a mailing went out to all State Masters and State Lecturers that include this CD. Please take the time to help get the message out to all of our Granges that we have this program available for their use.

We expect to honor veterans of the Korean, Vietnam, Persian Gulf and more recent conflicts, as well as those who contributed to war efforts at home, in the coming years.

We encourage each Grange to use the information provided on this first CD to learn about these extraordinary women and to honor and remember them for deeds that were left mostly unrecognized until now. Please don’t forget to celebrate the women in your Grange and your life not only during Women’s History Month, but throughout the year.

Be on the lookout for other PowerPoints focusing on World War II this year. If you, or your members, have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Sales, Benefits and Programs Director Samantha Johnson by email at sj******@************ge.org or 888-447-2643 ext. 109.

Legislative Director gives testimony on bill about Biosimilars

The National Grange Legislative Director, Grace Boatright, recently testified in front of a Maryland Senate committee on behalf of rural Americans, advocating for a bill that would regulate how pharmacies could provide substitutes for biologics.

Biologics, medicines or treatments developed through research and clinical trials by an original company, that other companies can intentionally copy to create cheaper medicines called biosimilars.

Boatright was the only one present to testify on behalf of rural America in favor of MD Senate Bill 781. All other attendees were representing pharmaceutical companies.

Boatright said, this bill could save the lives of rural Americans because biosimilars can never be exact copies of biologics due to the complexity and living nature of medicine. However, some are close enough to the original that the FDA approves them.

Without this bill, patients may not know that their medicine has been replaced by a biosimilar. Since biosimilars are not exact copies there are risks and side effects that can be discovered up to a year after switching the drug.

Rural Americans don’t always have nearby hospitals or time to wait for an ambulance in a dire situation, Boatright said. She said other issues the Grange stands for are also highlighted in this fight. For example, about 18 million rural Americans still lack high speed Internet access and can’t check the Internet for home remedies in the event of dangerous side effects.

The bill would ensure doctors and their patients would be notified before any treatments were switched to an interchangeable biosimilar. Furthermore, the decision on whether to use the biosimilar would be in the hands of the doctor and the patient, not the pharmaceutical companies.

Similar bills are also in State legislatures across the nation, such as Colorado, Oregon and Utah. Colorado State Grange President David McCord recently testified in favor of that bill.

Cape Fear Grange spread the love at local Elementary School on Valentine’s Day

By Haley Tonner | in****@************ge.org
National Grange Intern

This Valentine’s Day the Cape Fear Grange produced a mini-project to remind the students of Ferguson Easley Elementary that they are loved. Every member of the Grange got together to tie heart-shaped lollipops to Valentine’s Day themed pencils and they even included a handwritten note for each Valentine.

North Carolina State Grange Legislative Director Allison Fowler said, “While many of the ladies were accustomed to crafts, even the men jumped in to help tie ribbons and attach the notes.”

Cape Fear Grange has become a continuous supporter of Ferguson Easley Elementary School. The school serves 349 students, PK-5^th grade, and is 91 percent free and reduced lunch. In the past Cape Fear Grange supported the school by donating hygiene kits, winter coats and much needed school supplies. Their Grange once donated six gallons of crayons!

Fowler said, “It’s been very meaningful for us to support Ferguson Easley Elementary because we have seen the positive effect it has had on the children. This project was a way for us to give them a bit of brightness and cheer during the love-filled holiday.”

Keystone Grange #2, PA, takes part in MLK Day of Service

Keystone Grange #2 in Trappe, Pennsylvania is on their way towards getting their kitchen certified with the help of local Perkiomen Valley High School students. The students volunteered to help clean up and paint the Grange’s kitchen.

Gene Zvarick, Lecturer and Executive Committee chairperson, said, “As a nonprofit we are always looking for ways to save money in our hall repairs.” “The volunteers did a great job and I made sure to recognize them at our February meeting.”

The volunteers received certificates and were told to contact Zvarick if they wanted to rent the Grange for free any time. “They were forever intertwined with the 141 year history of Keystone Grange,” said Zvarick.

Zvarick said, “The next step is to get the health department to certify our kitchen.” This project is a great example of a Grange using community resources to help better their Grange.

Keystone Grange has taken in more than a dozen new members in the past few months and continues to grow, Zvarick said, thanks to visible programs like this.

Creamy Chicken Pie (recipe over 100 years old)