| SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 -- Last week, the National Grange announced the selection of 30 recipients of its Annual Distinguished Grange Program.
In its third year, the program seeks to promote Granges that work to make positive strides for the organization as a whole and their individual chapters.
“We are excited this year because we had a huge increase in participation,” National Grange Programs, Benefits and Sales Director Samantha Johnson said. “We are honoring seven State Granges and 23 local Granges.”
Johnson said one of the most exciting things about the program this year was seeing Sandy Valley Grange No. 19, Nev., enter and qualify.
“Sandy Valley was only organized in mid-2011, and one year later, they were proving their activities and contributions to their community and the Grange as a whole,”
Johnson said. Johnson said Maryland State Grange and New York State Grange, as well as seven local Granges – Five Mile Prairie Grange No. 905 and Humptulips Grange No. 730, both of Wash., Kuna Grange No. 59, Idaho, Redland Grange No. 796, Ore., Russelville Grange No. 91, Pa., Stanford Grange No. 808, N.Y., and Uxbridge Grange No. 200, Mass. – have qualified as a Distinguished Grange each year since the start of the program in 2010.
First-year State Granges that qualified were Idaho, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Washington.First time Distinguished Local Granges are Cape Fear Grange No. 1296 and Grantham Grange No. 968, both of N.C., Dunstable Grange No. 31, Mass., Ekonk Community Grange No. 89, Conn., Gratoit Grange No. 898, Mich., Holden Grange No. 78 and Rowley Grange No. 91, both of Mass., North Cameron Grange No. 355, N.Y., San Poil Grange No. 684 and St. Andrews Grange No. 832, Wash., and Sandy Valley.
For the second year in a row, Burns Grange No. 160, Mich., McIntosh Grange No. 1001 and Sequim Prairie Grange No. 1108, both of Wash., Mica Flats Grange No. 436, Idaho, and Prairie Grange No. 1832, Illinois have qualified. North Carolina State Grange also qualified for a second year.
“The requirements for Distinguished Grange aren’t stringent, but it takes passion to complete the necessary steps throughout the year and do the paperwork,” Johnson said. “This is something our Distinguished Granges can be very proud of.”
National Grange President Ed Luttrell said he was encouraged to see greater participation this year, and hoped the program and the number of recipients would continue to grow.
“This is a way for our Granges to be recognized for the good work they do for our organization and their communities every day,” Luttrell said. “I am so happy to take time this year at National Convention to congratulate members of these Granges and thank them personally for their dedication to our Order.” |
