Prospectors Break Camp at Grange Convention

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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, October 14, 2007 ---   Not unlike prospectors of long ago, with a spirit of adventure and seeking fortunes, 154 delegates representing 87 California Granges from near and far converged on the Sacramento Holiday Inn North for the 135th annual State Grange Convention, held the second week of October.

“Panning For Success” was the Convention theme, celebrating the State’s rich gold rush history.  Picks & shovels strewn about the entrance of an old mine shaft, rustic lanterns, bundles of red dynamite sticks and shinny sprinkles of “gold” nuggets adorned the conference rooms.

By all accounts, the “diggin’s” were good.  The impressive five day schedule of workshops, ceremonies, celebrities, entertainment, elections and resolutions pleased all but the sourest of sourdoughs.

Randall Lewis was unanimously elected to a new two year term as President of the California State Grange.

Elections were held Thursday October 11 and Friday October 12.  Elected Officers include: Randall Lewis, President; Martha Stefanoni, Overseer; Buzz Chernoff, Lecturer; Executive Committee Members Inger Bevans and Johnny Squire; Joseph Stefanoni, Steward; Jeremy Heckman, Assistant Steward; Stephanie Knigge, Lady Assistant Steward; Ron Trombley, Chaplin; Marian Nichols, Treasurer; Katie Squire, Secretary; Jack Eyler, Gatekeeper; Morgana Bevans, Flora; Nancy Alvarez, Ceres; Marta Kroger, Pomona; Lindy Wright, Musician.

The membership also voted on future Conventions sites, re-visiting Sacramento in 2008, journeying to Fresno for 2009, and Bakersfield in 2010.

On the first day of the Convention, workshops were presented for first-time delegates, lecturers, treasurers, musicians, secretaries, Masters, and on membership and legislative affairs.

Twenty-eight resolutions were adopted by the delegation.  A group of resolutions focused on conservation interests, including global warming, wind power, solar and renewable energy and called for the establishment of a Grange Energy Conservation Committee to be appointed by the State Master.

An adopted resolution will require newly elected Subordinate Masters to complete a training module.  Another resolution will promote a change to the National Digest of Laws that would allow affiliate members to hold any office, with the exception of Master, Treasurer or Secretary, in more than one Subordinate or Pomona Grange at the same time.

A complete list of resolutions adopted at the 2007 California State Grange Convention may be viewed at:  ttp://www.csgpressroom.org/releases.htm/2007resolutions.html

A motion passed by the delegation defined the purpose of the Good of the Order Committee as a committee that will work to resolve disputes within subordinate Granges.  The motion may be viewed at: http://www.csgpressroom.org/releases.htm/goodoftheorder.html

Guest speakers during the Convention included syndicated political columnist Dan Walters and Huell Howser, host of the highly successful PBS program, “California’s Gold”.

Walters spoke of an overburdened California legislature and described a successful legislative campaign as a “three legged stool”, requiring political contributions, a worthy cause, and broad grass roots support.

With his trade-mark charm, Huell Howser endeared himself to the membership, sharing anecdotes from his twenty-two years of producing a travel loge.  Huell joined members for the Youth Barbecue held at Orangevale Grange, graciously posing with Grangers anxious to have their photo taken with him.

The National Ceres, Nancy Swainston and husband Jeff, Minnesota State Grange Master, were honored guests.

A Motherlode of fantastic entertainment was presented.  The Friday night Lecturer’s Showcase of Talent and Saturday night’s State Grange Talent Contest were presented to enthusiastic audiences and featured everything from bag pipe music to animal calls.

Led by State Musician Lindy Wright, musicians spontaneously assembled as the “Grange But True” band and throughout the Convention offered a variety of folksy, contemporary and rousing musical selections including John Lennon’s “Imagine”, the ever-popular “Home Grown Tomatoes” and “I Been Workin’ Resolutions” (to the tune of “I’ve Been Workin’ On the Railroad”).

There were 621 entries representing 94 exhibitors displayed for the Grange Exposition.  The entries chosen as “Best of Show” will be represented in November at the National Convention in Reno.

The Grange Women’s Activities (GWA) were ever-present with their gift baskets, breakfast and march.  The GWA presented Master Lewis and his wife Linda with a beautiful quilt and well wishes.

Grange Youth played an important role, introducing officers, and sponsoring both a breakfast and barbeque hosted at nearby Orangevale Grange.

A welcome surprise came when the Aptos Grange presented a donation of $100,000 to the Wisteria Hall project, in memory of Sharon Brumet, Past Master of the Soquel Grange.  Wisteria Hall will open as the new home of the California State Grange offices in November.