Use Smart Goals To Revitalize Your Grange
By Tom Gwin
State Grange
Master/President
Oftentimes, I see Granges struggling to complete tasks. The Granges are repeating the same activities, year after year. Those activities don’t seem to attract new members and we are finding the leaders and the few remaining active members are experiencing burnout. Some of our leaders are in their position as our Granges had no one else to turn to. They assumed the office basically by default.
The leaders are ineffective in managing their organizational chapter. While the leader may be a nice person that everyone loves, they may not have the skills required to successfully lead an active Grange. A Grange that will grow and prosper with an abundance of activities for multiple generations.
One of the tools that would benefit not only the Grange leader, but the Grange itself, is the introduction of SMART Goals into our Granges.
What Are SMART Goals?
SMART is an acronym that you can use to guide your goal setting. To make sure your goals are clear and reachable, each one should be:
• Specific: (simple, sensible, significant)
• What will you achieve?
• What will you do?
• Achievable: (agreed, attainable)
• Are you sure you can do this?
• Do you have appropriate skills and resources?
• Relevant: (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based)
• Does the goal align with those of your team or organization?
• How will the results matter?
Tips for Writing SMART Goals
Granges can implement the process of writing SMART Goals, using the following tips to guide them through the process:
1. Specific
Your goal should be clear and specific, otherwise you won't be able to focus your efforts or feel truly motivated to achieve it. When drafting your goal, try to answer the five "W" questions:
• What do I want to accomplish? Why is this goal important? Who is involved? Where is it located? Which resources or limits are involved?
Example: Imagine that you are currently a marketing executive, and you'd like to become head of marketing. A specific goal could be, "I want to gain the skills and experience necessary to become head of marketing within my organization, so that I can build my career and lead a successful team."
2. Measurable
It's important to have measurable goals, so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. Assessing progress helps you to stay focused, meet your deadlines, and feel the excitement of getting closer to achieving your goal.
A measurable goal should address questions such as:
• How much?
• How many?
• How will I know when it is accomplished?
Example: You might measure your goal of acquiring the skills to become head of marketing by determining that you will have completed the necessary training courses and gained the relevant experience within five years' time.
3. Achievable
Your goal also needs to be realistic and attainable to be successful. In other words, it should stretch your abilities but still remain possible. When you set an achievable goal, you may be able to identify previously overlooked opportunities or resources that can bring you closer to it. An achievable goal will usually answer questions such as:
• How can I accomplish this goal?
• How realistic is the goal, based on other constraints, such as financial factors?
Example: You might need to ask yourself whether developing the skills required to become head of marketing is realistic, based on your existing experience and qualifications. For example, do you have the time to complete the required training effectively? Are the necessary resources available to you? Can you afford to do it? Beware of setting goals that someone else has power over. For example, "Get that promotion!" depends on who else applies, and on the recruiter's decision. But "Get the experience and training that I need to be considered for that promotion" is entirely down to you.
4. Relevant
This step is about ensuring that your goal matters to you, and that it also aligns with other relevant goals. We all need support and assistance in achieving our goals, but it's important to retain control over them. So, make sure that your plans drive everyone forward, but that you're still responsible for achieving your own goal.
A relevant goal can answer "yes" to these questions:
• Does this seem worthwhile?
• Is this the right time?
• Does this match our other efforts/needs?
• Am I the right person to reach this goal?
• Is it applicable in the current socio-economic environment?
Example: You might want to gain the skills to become head of marketing within your organization, but is it the right time to undertake the required training, or work toward additional qualifications? Are you sure that you're the right person for the head of marketing role? Have you considered your partner's goals? For example, if you want to start a family, would completing training in your free time make this more difficult?
5. Time-bound
Every goal needs a target date, so that you have a deadline to focus on and something to work toward. This part of the SMART goal criteria helps to prevent everyday tasks from taking priority over your longer-term goals.
A time-bound goal will usually answer these questions:
• When?
• What can I do six months from now?
• What can I do six weeks from now?
• What can I do today?
Example: Gaining the skills to become head of marketing may require additional training or experience, as we mentioned earlier. How long will it take you to acquire these skills? Do you need further training, so that you're eligible for certain exams or qualifications? It's important to give yourself a realistic time frame for accomplishing the smaller goals that are necessary to achieving your final objective.
The Pros and Cons of SMART Goals
SMART is an effective tool that provides the clarity, focus and motivation you need to achieve your goals. It can also improve your ability to reach them by encouraging you to define your objectives and set a completion date. SMART goals are also easy to use by anyone, anywhere, without the need for specialist tools or training.
Various interpretations of SMART have meant that it can lose its effectiveness or be misunderstood. Some people believe that SMART doesn't work well for long-term goals because it lacks flexibility, while others suggest that it might stifle creativity.
Conclusions
I encourage Grange members to utilize the SMART Goal process to assist in revitalizing their Granges. This process will engage your current members by moving our Granges forward in a positive direction. SMART Goals will allow us to remain consistent in our programs and activities and to provide direction for new leaders step forward to assume the reigns of our great organization. We have all gained so much from our involvement in the Grange. We now have the opportunity to ensure the future as we build on our historied past to create a bright future for generations to come.
Legislative News & Election Calendar
By Jesse Taylor
Legislative Lobbyist
Growing up I had a seasonal springtime job working at a Nursery in Sumner, WA. The hustle and bustle of the greenhouses, watering lines, laughing kids and eager shoppers always told me it was a time of change. Springtime is the season of hope for agriculturists and rural dwellers alike. This year will be a good one as an early spring has resulted in robust growth all over the PNW. With Mother’s Day approaching I want to wish all the Mother’s out there a very special day and state that I believe Mothers deserve the entire month; but this year on May 12th I hope all of your hearts are full and your fingernails are dirty.
Drought
The Department of Ecology issued a drought emergency declaration on April 16th after metrics were realized to trigger the declaration. In Washington, drought is declared when there is less than 75% of normal water supply and there is the risk of undue hardship. Declaring a drought emergency allows Ecology to distribute drought response grants and to process emergency water right permits. Another advantage of declaring the emergency is it makes up to $4.5 million available in drought response grants to public entities for drought condition mitigation. As of this writing, no restrictions have been put into place by Ecology or the Governor’s office. Areas guided by water management plans have been excluded from the new drought declaration including the Seattle, Tacoma and Everett corridor. The 2024 drought declaration is seen by Ecology as a continuation of the 2023 declaration. The 2023 drought declaration was scheduled to end June 30 this year. The new, statewide declaration will continue into next year as the previous year’s did. All up-to-date information about the declaration is being publicly updated at this link: www.drought.gov/states/washington
Japanese Beetle
Japanese beetle treatments began in April around parts of central Washington. The WSDA is conducting Japanese beetle treatments in part of the Yakima Valley including Mabton, Sunnyside, Wapato, Prosser, Grandview, and Pasco as part of a multiyear eradication effort. Applications on public properties began in early April followed by property owners who have land in the treatment area being encouraged to provide consent as soon as possible. WSDA is hoping to treat over 10,000 parcels in southeastern Washington. A certified pesticide applicator contractor is conducting the treatments on behalf of WSDA. The treatment is an insecticide called Acelepryn, which is a low-harm pesticide that offers low risk to humans pets and wildlife.
Greenhouse Bill SB 5508 - Promoting local agriculture through greenhouses
After a long journey through the 2023 and 2024 session this Greenhouse permit bill ultimately made it across the finish line and was signed into law by Governor Inslee in April. The law will take effect on June 6th, 2024. The new law states that the State Building Code does not apply to any temporary growing structures used solely for the production of horticultural plants and goes further to establish that a temporary growing structure is NOT considered a permitted structure under the State Building Code. The effect of the bill reads as follow: State Building Code does not apply to temporary growing structures used solely for the production of horticultural plants, rather than the commercial production of horticultural plants. A temporary growing structure is not considered a structure under the State Building Code. Temporary growing structure is defined as a structure that has the roof covered, rather than the sides and the roof, with polyethylene, polyvinyl, or a similar flexible synthetic material, and is used to provide plants with either frost protection or increased heat retention.
Election Year
Being a presidential election year, this summer and fall will be full of primary and general election dates and events. Please see the upcoming election calendar below.
Primary Election
• July 19 - Start of 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out and Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available at voting centers.
• July 29 - Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day.
• August 6 - Deadline for Washington State voter registration or updates (in person only).
• August 6 - Primary - Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
General Election
• October 18 - Start of 18-day voting period (through Election Day). Ballots are mailed out.
• October 28 - Online and mail registrations must be received 8 days before Election Day.
• November 5 - Deadline for Washington State voter registration or updates (in person only).
• November 5 - General Election - Deposit your ballot in an official drop box.
You can register to vote by going to www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/voter-registration/register-vote-washington-state
By Grange News Staff
The Washington State Grange, assisted by the members of the Yakima Valley Pomona Grange #11, hosted the Western Regional Grange Leaders Conference on April 25-28 at the Terrace Heights Grange Hall in Yakima. Nearly 170 Grange members from California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington attended all or a portion of the conference.
Special guests for the weekend included Nation Grange Membership Director Amanda Brozana Rios of Pennsylvania and National Grange Youth Ambassador Garrett Phelps of New York.
Participants gathered on Thursday, April 25 at the Grange Hall to begin the conference with a get acquainted session. Jonny and Brittiney Pittman and Heather Ferguson led the group through a series of exercises intended to learn about each other and our Grange experiences.
Friday morning began with a workshop, “Preserving Your Granges Archives,” presented by Heather Ferguson, WA State Junior Grange Director. She discussed appropriate methods of preserving Grange documents, relaying information from her years as a museum curator and education director.
The group broke into two groups for the remainder of the day. One group stayed at the Grange Hall to learn about making sourdough bread, homemade butter, and strawberry freezer jam. These activities were led by Scott Nicholson, Lecturer of the Montana State Grange, and Christine Hamp, National Grange President.
The second group boarded buses for a tour of the Treveri Cellars and the Bale Breaker Brewery. The two facilities utilize locally grown grapes and hops, two major agricultural industries in the Yakima Valley.
Finding their way back to the Grange Hall, participants had two additional workshops to complete their busy day. Amanda Brozana Rios presented a workshop on “Finding the Gaps: How to Conduct and Create and Community Needs Assessment.” Following dinner, Kent Hojem, retired CEO of the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, gave an interesting presentation on “Generational Differences,” relaying information from his 50 plus years of Grange membership and his experience in the fair industry.
Participants again boarded buses on Saturday morning for the Agriculture Tour. The buses headed down through the Yakima Valley to the Kinsey Family Farm. Owner Greg Kinsey met us and discussed his asparagus farm. The group was then led out to the asparagus fields to observe asparagus harvesters. After explaining the harvest process, everyone then had the opportunity to pick asparagus for their own use. We were then taken through the asparagus processing plant. Grange members truly enjoyed learning about growing, harvesting, and processing the labor-intensive crop.
It was then off to the Central Washington Agriculture Museum, where we enjoyed a tour. We were also greeted at the Grange Library. Past Grange Deputy Liz Wade welcomed us to the library, which had been spruced up for our arrival. Wade was one of the founding members of the Grange Library.
Afternoon workshops included “Creating Sponsorship Opportunities for Your Subordinate Grange” by Jesse Taylor, Executive Director of the WA FFA Foundation; “Agricultural Careers – Your Future is Great” by Jamie Sackman, a member of Moses Lake Grange and instructor at Big Bend Community College; “Effective Communication Styles in a Digital World” by the National Grange Communications Fellows (Katie Squire of CA, Jim Dumolt of OR, Carolyn Chamlee of NV, and Lexie Suing of OR); and a Youth Fairs Program Panel Discussion by Joe Stefenoni (CA State President), Tom Gwin (WA State Grange President), and Brittney Pittman and Rick Ferguson (both WA State Grange Executive Committee).
Following a delicious dinner, the WA State Grange Youth Department conducted an Impromptu Speaking Contest. A live auction was held to support the Western Regional Fund for Hosting the National Grange Convention. The evening ended with Yakima’s Broadway Grange members demonstrating contra dancing and group participation by all present.
State Grange Chaplain Carolyn Hojem presented a worship service on Sunday morning, followed by the final workshop of the weekend, “Making the Grange Legislative Process Work for You” with Jesse Taylor, the Legislative Lobbyist for the WA State Grange. The conference closed with thank yous and announcements.
The members of the Yakima Valley Pomona Grange #11 are to be commended for their excellent work in preparing and conducting activities for the conference. Pomona members coordinated all the food for the weekend, including a wonderful hospitality area. They made arrangements for the tours and lined up event sponsors. They collected items for the goody bags and items for the silent auction. A huge thank you to them and the four members of their host steering committee: Tom Cullen, Pam Bright, Connie Hauver, and Glenda Tjarnberg. Their work in coordinating the efforts of more than 70 Grange members in Yakima County is appreciated by Grange members across the western region.
The five State Presidents in the Western Regional met to discuss the 2025 conference. The conference will be held May 15-18, 2025, and will be hosted by the Montana State Grange.