This unit of the organization
is built around the community. Men, women and youth are admitted on
equal terms. Those who are 14 years of age are eligible for full membership. Each member has one vote. The local Grange elects
its own officers and controls its own affairs in community matters. It confers the first four ritualistic Degrees. Although
regular Grange business meetings are for members only, the educational and literary programs are frequently open to the public.
All Grange activities are for the purpose of developing leadership, improving community life and expanding opportunities for
all people. Over 350,000 people are members of the Grange in 4,000 communities nationwide. Many Subordinate Granges own their
own Grange halls. More than 100,000 regular meetings are held every year.
State Grange
The State Grange is
a delegate body representing Subordinate and Pomona Granges and is composed of both men and women. With annual conventions
lasting several days, State Granges consider many important matters relating to legislation and public policy, with particular
reference to agriculture, other matters of concern to rural America and the general welfare of the state as a whole. Inasmuch
as State Grange policies originate in the Subordinate and Pomona units of the Order and are conveyed through their delegates,
this branch is in a special sense expressive of Grange thought and sentiment throughout the entire state. Voting authority
is vested in the delegate body, which in most instances is composed of the Masters of Subordinate and Pomona Granges and their
spouses, each having one vote. The Sixth Degree of the Order is conferred at these conventions.
National Grange
This is the parent branch of the Order which speaks with authority
and understanding for the major branches of agriculture and America. All business sessions of the National Grange are open
to any Subordinate Grange member in good standing. As spectators, they have no vote in the deliberations, but they do have
ample opportunity to appear before committees and to testify. As the supreme legislative body of the Order, policies are developed
through the channels of Subordinate, Pomona and State units and consequently embody the seasoned judgement of the membership.
At the annual convention of the National Grange, one day is devoted to the conferral of the Seventh Degree, the highest degree
of the Order. Degree candidates and members gather from all parts of the nation for this annual ritualistic event that competent
critics claim cannot be surpassed in modern ritualism
Junior Grange
Believing that the
future of a nation depends upon the training of its children the Grange structure includes the Junior Grange, open to children
between the ages of 5 and 14. It is a distinct unit in itself. Junior Granges conduct an educational hour at their meetings,
provide wholesome social activities and undertake community projects -- all under the direction of an adult selected by the
Subordinate Grange, which has jurisdiction over the Juniors. Thousands of children are members of Junior Granges and most
of them "graduate" into the parent Grange when they reach the age of 14 years.
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Political Policies of the Grange
A wise man once said, "Politics is not something we need to avoid, to abolish, or destroy. It is something
to live with, to influence, and to control if you can. We must master its ways, or we shall be mastered by those who do."
Grange is non-partisan - we support and advocate issues. In that context, we recognize
the efforts of those in political power who support our views and work to enact those measures we support. Likewise, we will
point out those who oppose our goals, asking their constituents to help us convince a legislator to support our cause. That
is Grange political action!
As we start the New Year, we must redouble our efforts on the local front for we must first gain recognition
in our local communities if we are to be recognized as a force for the good, not only from Grange members, but all people.
Thus we can establish ourselves as a group that others will want to support and join. It is through this avenue that as our
numbers swell through membership growth, we can become a force to be reckoned with and listened to at the county, state and
national levels.
Remember that one hundred years ago, through numbers and organization, the Grange was the most powerful political
body in the country. It should be our objective to regain that position so that we may again have the influence to restore
the values our country seems to have lost in recent years...values such as honor, integrity, and family.
It is our intent to continue to work with the Western Region Granges in promoting legislative and regulative
solutions to common problems. Included in this effort is:
- Protection of Property Rights,
- Reform the Endangered Species Act,
- Local control of public land management,
- Changes in environmental regulations,
- International treaty concerns,
- Transportation.
We have established a Western Regional Grange Legislative Committee,
which is charged with establishing an agenda to prioritize our legislative efforts and insure that we address the issues of
the greatest importance to our members, statewide, and the Western Region as a whole.
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