Due to the tumultuous times that led to the creation of the Grange in 1867, our by-laws dictate that our organization abstain from supporting candidates along the very lines that divided the country and led to the succession of the confederate states. The divisions in our country created by this war, as well as union divisions, took years to heal and we strongly believe that national policy must be established through debate, but in collaboration and unity.

There are currently Granges operating in 35 states; representing more than 100,000 members throughout rural America. Grange Halls are the pillars of rural communities, dedicated to preserving vibrant and competitive hometowns where their citizens have access to the same quality education, health care and technologies as their urban counterparts.

Our policies at the State and National Grange are born from the local Granges across the country. Legislative proposals, called resolutions, are brought forth by members and debated by State Granges. Those that pass at the state level are brought before the National Grange Convention and debated, with passing resolutions becoming National Grange Policy, available in our Journal of Proceedings and Legislative Policy Books. Policy at the State and National Grange is developed by membership and implemented in a truly grassroots fashion.

The Grange is committed to an issue-based grassroots mechanism which allows us to support civic leaders based on policy rather than local politics. Although we do not support individual candidates, we strongly encourage our membership to engage in local politics and elections that can better the communities they serve. We open our Grange Halls for candidate debates, issue forums and other civic meetings and strongly believe that voting and participation in our governing systems is a civic responsibility.

The Washington State Grange held their Annual Legislative Day on February 20. More than thirty Grangers gathered at the State Grange Office in Olympia for orientation, a legislative briefing and preparation for their legislative meetings.

Grangers then made the trek to the State Capitol Building for tours, legislative meetings, and sat in on committee hearings. The State Grange made appointments for each attendee to meet with their State Representatives and Senator. Time between appointments was filled with attending hearings of the Senate and House Committees.

Grange members made their way back to the State Grange headquarters for lunch and were able to listen to various speakers. This years’ speakers included Diana Carlen from the Washington Association of Wheat Growers who discussed the issues regarding the Columbia and Snake River Dams, Kathleen Collins of the Washington Water Policy Alliance discussed with the group about water issues important to agriculture and Mark Streuli from the Washington Cattlemen’s Association discussed bills of concern.

Following lunch and additional meetings, State Grange Master Tom Gwin led a smaller group discussion on the resolution writing process and the grassroots development of Grange policy. Resolutions for consideration at this year’s State Grange Convention are due by May 24 to the State Grange Office. All policies can be found in the Washington State Grange Legislative Policy Handbook, available on the Washington State Grange website.

It was a great day for the Grange and agriculture in the State of Washington!

Leadership Conferences Completed; a Newly Organized Grange on the Horizon

Thank you to the multitude of Grange members who took time out of their busy schedules to attend one of our Grange Leadership Conferences. With a theme of “Cultivating Connections”, the conferences were an opportunity for myself and the State Grange Leadership Team to present you with new and creative resources to utilize at the local level. We hope you will take those resources back to your Granges and to use them to diversity your Grange projects and activities, thus attracting new members who may not have considered becoming a Grange member in the past.

We also took the time at these conferences to listen to your concerns and to provide answers to your questions regarding the activities of the State Grange. We will continue to listen to our members and to respond by creating inventive projects and activities that you can continue to build your Grange.

Thank you to our Grange hosts of the leadership conference series: Fords’ Prairie, East Oakville, Catlin, Hazel Dell, Moses Lake, Buena, Centerville, Prospect Point, Oroville, Addy, Five Mile Prairie, Laurel, Quimper, Kellogg Marsh, Steele Lake Highline, and Whitman County Pomona. Your hospitality was wonderful and greatly appreciated.

On the last weekend in March, we will hold our annual Grange Deputy, State Officers, and Pomona Masters Conference in Olympia. Thank you to Brighton Park and South Union Granges for the use of their hall and for hosting this conference. On Friday, March 27, we will exemplify the first four degrees of the order. All Grange members are invited to join us to observe this important part of our Grange ritual and history and the lessons of agriculture in those degrees. We will start the exemplification at 7 p.m. at the Brighton Park Grange Hall in Tumwater.

The State Grange Convention will be here before we know it! The Convention Kick Off Meeting was held in January and included a tour of the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds. Following the tour, we travelled to the Prospect Point Grange Hall and were treated to a baked potato bar luncheon by the host committee. State Officers and Directors met with local committee chairs to start the planning for this year’s convention. The host committee is moving right along in their preparations. Thank you to the Columbia County Pomona Grange for hosting this meeting.

Now for the great news…..We received a call in the State Grange Office from an individual desiring to reorganize Birdsview Grange. Sophia Keller and I made the trek to Concrete in Skagit County to meet with this group. By the end of the meeting, we had a charter application completed and membership applications and dues for 17 new Grange members. We have submitted their charter application to the National Grange. On March 2, I will be going back to Concrete to obligate the new members. I have asked Lacey Rude, Skagit Pomona Master, to obligate the new members. She has agreed to the task. Watch next month for pictures and more information on this new Grange.

We will work to provide resources that can be used by the Subordinate Granges to promote their Grange and increase membership. We will also work to increase opportunities for more fellowship amongst our members. Stay tuned next month to learn our next step as we continue cultivating the connections that will increase the visibility of our Granges in every community across the state!

 

Legislative Session in the Final Weeks

By Heather Hansen

Legislative Lobbyist

As of this writing, a little more than two weeks remain in the legislative session. We have passed three cutoff dates and many bills have died. Draft budgets have been proposed. Creative legislators introduced new bills even after cutoff dates. It’s more difficult to get a bill passed that way, but in the legislative process, all rules can be suspended if enough legislators want it to happen.

GUN CONTROL

Let’s take a look at the current status of gun control bills. The Attorney General’s proposed bills to ban high capacity magazines are dead, but after cutoff, a group of Democratic Representatives introduced a new bill limiting magazines to fifteen rounds. The new bill has a title nearly two pages long. Titles are supposed to be limited to one subject. The extremely long title is a gimmick to limit amendments. House Republicans killed the original bill by proposing 120 floor amendments. Amendments must fit under the title of the bill. The new version includes a buyback program that would allow the Washington State Patrol to pay people who turn in up to five large magazines. It is unlikely the new proposal will make it through the process.

Bills that would have required training to get a concealed pistol license also died.

A bill (SB 5434) prohibiting firearms and other weapons, including certain types of knives, on the premises of childcare centers is still moving. It is already illegal to possess such weapons on school premises, with exceptions for law enforcement and a few other scenarios. This bill would add childcare centers to the existing prohibition for schools.

Another gun related bill that is moving is HB 2467 which would centralize gun-purchase background checks under the Washington State Patrol. The National Rifle Association and the Alliance for Gun Responsibility both support the bill.

BEEF

Numerous bills related to meat labeling and marketing were introduced this year. One that is still moving is SB 6382 which directs the Washington State Department of Agriculture to work with USDA to develop a state meat inspection program and help farmers interested in selling meat directly to consumers by retail cut rather than in large quantities. It is an effort to help smaller livestock operations with more flexible options for marketing.

STATE BUDGET

The legislature received good news with the recent budget forecast. The strong economy is expected to increase tax revenue. Total revenue for the current biennium (July 2019 – June 2021) is projected to be more than $52.3 billion. That’s an increase of 13.6% over the 2017-19 biennium. Revenue collections for the 2021-23 budget are projected at $55.7 billion, and revenues for the 2023-25 budget are projected to be $59.2 billion. This additional revenue allows budget writers to increase funding in areas such as housing, early learning and mental health. Other legislators have proposed returning some of the money back to citizens through property tax relief. That is unlikely to happen in the Democratically controlled legislature.

GRANGE LEGISLATIVE DAY

A big thank-you to all who participated in the Washington State Grange Legislative Day here in Olympia. It was exciting to see another great turnout. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts and appreciate hearing your views and concerns. Please let me know how we can make it even better next year.