Michigan - Amazon Web Services · Happy Thanksgiving Merry Christmas Michigan State ... Marshall & Jackie ... same students as some of you had last year but we had some that graduated

Page 12

Another 100 year

milestone

Page 8

Junior Grange

Awards

Page 6

Lecturer’s 2015

Awards

Page 7

Grange

Happenings

Page 4

MSD Christmas

Party

Page 3

State and National

Conventions

GRANGE NEWS Michigan

www.michiganstategrange.org

Volume XXI NO. 6 USPS 345-580 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2015

BE SURE TO PULL OUT THE PROGRAM BOOK AND KEEP FOR REFERENCE

Happy Thanksgiving Merry Christmas

Michigan State Grange

6th degree team

Congratulations to MSG Master, Christopher Johnston for Being Re-elected to Gatekeeper of the National Grange

NOV. 26 HAPPY

THANKSGIVING

EVERYONE!

DEC. 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS

EVERYONE!

JAN. 1

2016 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

EVERYONE!

(USPS 345-580) Periodical postage paid at Durand, MI

Michigan Grange News is published bi-monthly for the members of the Michigan

State Grange.

Inquiries contact: Michigan State Grange 404 S. Oak Street, Durand, MI 48429

Editor & Adv. Manager: Christopher D. Johnston

Postmaster send address changes: Christopher D. Johnston, Editor 404 S. Oak Street, Durand, MI 48429

6 issues per yearr, bi-monthly 404 S. Oak Street, Durand, MI 48429

Tel: 989-288-4546 E-mail [email protected]

Prices effective June, 1997. Payable in advance, check should be made to Michigan State Grange. Please

include camera-ready copy. Copy to be received no later than the 15th of the month preceding date of insertion. Advertisements for alcohol or tobacco will not be accepted. Michigan State Grange reserves the right

to refuse copy. Discounts available on multiple insertions.

The above rates include advertising space for two months.

Whole page $150.00

1/2 page $90.00

1/4 page / business card $50.00 $40.00

2 Michigan Grange News

Happy Thanksgiving,

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year!

Kathryn Strouse, Chaplain P.O. Box 84, North Star, MI 48862

Tel: 989-875-2894 E-mail: [email protected]

Chaplain Being like Jesus

Well State Session for this year is in the past. I am not rested up yet but am sad

to think that another year has passed.

As I got to thinking about Session I thought about the fact that every day the Bi-

ble was opened on the alter. The times I opened it I always looked at what book it

was opened to. I would then open my bible later and read the scripture there. Even

the days that I did not have to open the Bible I looked to see what book it would

open to. I am sorry to say that since I have been home I have not opened my Bible

to any scripture. I wonder how many others out there do the same thing.

We talk about God in our Sessions but do we take God outside of those sessions.

I have looked at my past few days and think about how I claim to be like Jesus but

am I really. Yes, I have helped people and even gave a woman who was lost direc-

tions on how to find her way home. But am I really being “like Jesus”. 1 John 2:6

states” Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did”. We all need to walk

like Jesus did. We need to help the sick, the lame, the downtrodden even the wid-

ows. These are not just words but we need to act on them.

I do not know how many of you have seen the movie “War Room”. It is not a

war movie but a

movie about going to

war with prayer and

Christ. We all need

to find our War

Room and pray for

the whole world. We

need to fight evil and

work for the Good of

the Order. God is our

Order and we need to

bring this country

back to what it was

when the Grange was

founded.

I pray that maybe

these words have

planted a seed in

someone’s heart as

you read this. God is

a powerful source of

strength, hope and

love. He never leaves

us and even will carry

us during times of

sorrow and trouble

but we must also talk

to him, be like him

and live like him.

I pray that your

days ahead will be

blessed and full of

hope, love and caring

for not just yourself

but for others.


Christopher D. Johnston, Master 6241 Grand River Road, Bancroft, MI 48414

Tel: 989-634-9350 (H) 989-666-6648 ( C) E-mail [email protected]

Master State and National Conventions

Jeff & Nancy Swainston, 2589 144th Ave., Dorr, MI 49323


Worthy Master, Chris Johnston accepts the Distinguished Grange Certificates from National Master, Ed Luttrell for the

Michigan State Grange, Burns Grange #160, Gratiot Grange #1898 and Kinney Grange #754. Members of the three

Granges were present to receive the certificates. Chris Johnston, Sharon Popler, Peggy Johnston and Dale Moore for

Burns Grange, Luanna Swainston and Arnette Welsh for Kinney Grange, and Chris, Sharon and Peggy for Gratiot

Thank you The recent convention of the Michigan State Grange was a

huge success, thanks in part to the Granges of the host region,

Rome; Lime Creek; North Adrian; Mosherville; Adams; Ply-

mouth/Westland; and Pittsfield Union. The big thanks goes to

the host committee chairs Tim and Barb Johnston. We had a

wonderful time in your historic town and the oldest fairgrounds

in the state, THANK YOU.

Looking forward to next year when the 144th annual conven-

tion will be held in the Northern Lower of this great State. We

are looking towards having the convention at the Shanty Creek

resort in Bellaire, more information in the future editions.

National Grange The 149th annual session of the National Grange is definitely

one for the history books. Not only is this the 149th time dele-

gates have come together to deliberate on the policies of the Na-

tional Grange but this is the first time the delegates have elected a

woman to the position of National Master. Betsy Huber (PA) has

been elected Master we wish her all the best during her stay in

office.

Also the Michigan State Grange was represented very well at the

session by Emily Kurburski who served as the John Trimble Leg-

islative Youth Experience member. During the convention Emily

had the opportunity to

serve as a voting mem-

ber of the Citizenship

committee, as well as

being seated among the other delegates on

the floor of the session.

Michigan was also

proud to have Katie

Kurburski attend the

National Convention

and open the session

on Friday as the Secre-

tary of the Youth Offi-

cer Team.

Luke Kurburski did

an amazing job with

his speech in the Jun-

ior activities of the convention. Thank

you to Anne Kurbuski

for making the effort

to get the kids there

and to keep them interested and active in the Grange, they are

our future leaders.

The future of the Mich igan State

Grange is looking

good.

Until next time…..

Katie & Emily Kurburski

Luke

Kurburski

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!


Luanna Swainston, Director 965-108th Street, SW Byron Center, MI 49315


DEAF AWARENESS MSD CHRISTMAS PARTY

DEAF AWARENESS CONTEST WINNERS

POSTER CONTEST — AGES 6 & UNDER

1st Cora Zsigray Gratiot #1898

POSTER CONTEST — 9-11 YR OLDS

1st Cory Johnston Burns JG #325

2nd Marc Johnston Burns JG #325

3rd Eowyn Sheffer Burns JG #325

ESSAY CONTEST — SUBORDINATE MEMBER

1st Jackie Bishop Home #129

2nd Peggy Johnston Burns #160

3rd Sharon Popler Burns #160

DEAF AWARENESS FUND—2015

Burns #160, Pittsfield Union #882, Community #1675,

Mosherville #1351, Studley #1174, Barnard #689,

Oceana Center #1047, Plymouth/Westland #389, Lucy

Sandeen, Torch Lake #1840, Janet Dillivan (from alu-

minum), Judy Bowers (from aluminum), Luanna

Swainston (convention collection), Kinney #754, Car-

lisle #812, Gratiot #1898

DEAF AWARENESS ANNUAL REPORTS

Plymouth/Westland #389, Gratiot #1898, Rome #293,

Burns #160, Oceana Center #1047, Home #129, Bar-

nard #689, Kinney #754, Community #1675, North

Adrian #721, Mosherville #1351, Studley #1174,

Burr Oak #1350, Fern #803, Carlisle #812, West

Oshtemo #1630, Adams #286., Mid Michigan

Pomona #61, Kent/Ottawa/Oceana Pomona #18.

MSD ADOPT-A-CHILD PROGRAM

Fredonia #1713, Gratiot #1898, North Adrian #721,

Plymouth/Westland #389, Mosherville #1351, Stud-

ley #1174, Oceana Center #1047, Claudia Libbey

Family, Burr Oak #1350, Barnard #689, Burns #160,

Rome #293, Kinney #754, Carlisle #812, Mid

Michigan Pomona #61, St. Jos/Cass/Kal. Pomona

#4, West Oshtemo #1630, Peggy Johnston, Dale

Moore, Sharon Popler, Phil and Luanna Swainston,

Marshall & Jackie Bishop, Burns Grange #160,

Kent/Ottawa/Oceana Pomona #18, Michigan State

Grange, Carlisle #812.

The following is an essay that Peggy Johnston entered in the Deaf Awareness Contest a few years ago but it probably got the

program started. Thanks Peggy for letting me use it.

The Adopt-a-Child Program

What a warm feeling it gives a person to be able to help children that have a hearing problem. I have been involved with

the Grange and the students at Michigan School for the Deaf for many years. Approximately twenty- five years ago, I contacted Michigan School for the Deaf to see if there was something that maybe our Burns Grange could do for them to help them out at

Christmas time. I was given the names of a couple of students that were in need of clothing, coats, hats, mittens, shoes and other

things. We decided to do what we could for these two students. My youngest son, Chris, who was 4 or 5 years old at that time and I

shopped for both of them.

Then one day we made our trip to the school and were taken to a room with just these two boys. We gave them their

wrapped gifts and oh what a special time that was. Chris and I both were so excited for them and just couldn’t get over the way they

kept thanking us for their gifts. It was a very special time for both of us. We became good friends with both of these boys and every

time we were at the school and we saw them they were always happy to see us.

That next year, the Michigan State Grange Deaf Activities Director, Marie Thelen contacted the school and got a list of

names of children that were in need of clothing and special attention. Thus, began the Adopt-a-Child program with the Michigan

School for the Deaf.

You just can’t imagine the thrill, unless you have been there and witnessed the excitement. What a great project!!! *****************

At the State Session many of you contacted me about sponsoring a student again. If some of you who didn’t contact me

there or weren’t there to contact me, please do so now. As of now I have 3 families that want to participate so if you want to do that,

that if fine too. Please call me at (616) 262-3516, e-mail me at [email protected] or write me at 965 -108th St. SW, Byron

Center, MI 49315. The party this year will be on Thursday, December 17 at 11:30. Everyone is invited!

The letters to the parents have gone out so when they are returned and I get them I will be sending them out. I will try to get the

same students as some of you had last year but we had some that graduated so you will be getting a different student. I am hoping

we have some new Granges this year and new Grangers too!

I hope each of you and your families have

a BLESSED THANKSGIVING and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

MICHIGAN SCHOOL

FOR THE DEAF

CHRISTMAS PARTY

DECEMBER 17, 2015—11:30 a.m.

mailto:[email protected]

Judy Bowers 11802 Reed Road, Byron, MI 48418 Tel: 517-242-2790 Email: [email protected]

Wild life Family Activities Awards and Winners


AWARD WINNERS

BAKED GOODS — COFFEE CAKE

1st Peggy Johnston Burns #160

2nd Dale Moore Studley #1174

3rd Tricia Eidsmoe Studley #1174

BAKING WITH PUMPKIN

1st Barbara Johnston North Adrian #721


3rd Joanne Normand North Adrian #721

PROCESSED CANNING — JAM OR JELLY

1st Sharon Popler Burns #160

2nd Leora Smith Plymouth/Westland #389

PROCESSED CANNING — VEGETABLE

1st Helen Mudd Studley #1174

2nd Ardith Merten Oceana Center #1047

3rd Helen Mudd Studley #1174

PROCESSED CANNING — ANY OTHER

2nd Arlene Hilgendorf Burns #160

KNITTING — AFGHAN

1st Leora Smith Plymouth/Westland #389

2nd Wilma Hayden

CROCHETING — AFGHAN

1st Plymouth Grange

2nd Wilma Hayden

3rd Sharon Strebbing

CROCHETING — DOILY

1st Ardith Merten

Oceana Center #1047

CROCHETING — ANY OTHER

1st Lois Hicks West Oshtemo #1630

2nd Sharon Popler Burns #160

3rd Sharon Strebbing Plymouth/Westland #389

EMBROIDERY — ANY OTHER

2nd Janie Lerchen Plymouth/Westland #389

COUNTED THREAD —CROSS STITCH

1st Leona Smith Plymouth/Westland #389

COUNTED THREAD — PLASTIC CANVAS

1st Leona Smith PlymouthWestland #389

COUNTED THREAD — ANY OTHER


QUILTING — COMBINATION


QUILTING — MACHINE

1st Leora Smith Plymouth/Westland #389

2nd Darleen Dhaseleer Barnard #689


SEWING — PILLOWCASE

1st Helen Mudd Studley #1174

2nd Sharon Strebbing Plymouth/Westland#389

SEWING — PURSE OR TOTE

1st Barbara Johnston North Adrian #721

SEWING — ANY OTHER

2nd Lois Hicks West Oshtemo #1630


SNOWMAN

1st LaDonna Kurburski Harbor Springs #730


3rd Dale Moore Studley #1174

SHRINKY DINKS



LEGO BUILDING

1st Cory Johnston

Burns JG #325

2nd Marc Johnston

Burns JG #325

BEST OF SHOW

BARBARA JOHNS-

TON

NORTH ADRIAN

#721

GRANGER’S MAKING 50 OR MORE TOYS

Doris Buehrer, Linda Harbaugh, Marilyn Kies, Ted

Mudd, Helen Mudd

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT — POMONA

Mid Michigan Pomona #61, St. Joseph, Cass, Kal.

Pomona #4, Lenawee County Pomona #15.

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT — SUBORDINATE

West Oshtemo #1630, Oceana Center #1047, Home

#129, Harbor Springs #730, Gratiot #1898, Barnard

#689, Burns #160, Mosherville #1351, Fern #803,

Plymouth/Westland #389, Studley #1174, Rome

#293, Colon #215 and North Adrian #721.

Please be sure To

pull the Program

out of the center

of this issue and

save for future

use!!


Sharon Popler 3640 E. Bath Road Morrice, Michigan 48857 Tel: 989-634-5748 E-mail [email protected] )

Lecturer Awards & Winners

I’d like to thank everyone for all your entries at this years Michigan State Grange Session. I think everything

went really well. The judges were really good this year.

They took their time examining each item before judging.

The photo category is really growing. The photo boards were almost full this year. GREAT!!! Please make note

of the changes in most of the categories. I hope I’ve

mixed it up a little for everyone to enjoy doing some-thing. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WIN-

NERS!!

LECTURER’S AWARD WINNERS

CREATIVE WRITING—FAMILY SPORTS EVENT

1st Janie Lerchen Plymouth/Westland #389

CREATIVE WRITING-SUMMER VACATION

1st Martha Laupp Home #129 2nd Eric Bishop Home #129

3rd Sharon Popler Burns #160

HAND CRAFTED ART CONTEST

DRIED FLOWERS



DECORATED APRON



3rd Leora Smith Plymouth/Westland #389

HOMEMADE THROW PILLOW

1st Jessica Ewing Plymouth/Westland #389

WEAVED ITEM—SUBORDINATE 1st Sharon Popler Burns #160

2nd LaDonna Kurburski Harbor Springs #730

WEAVED ITEM—JUNIORS 7-8 YR OLDS

1st Cory Johnston Burns JG #325 2nd Marc Johnston Burns JG #325

3rd Casey Lamblin Oceana Center JG #329

WEAVED ITEM — JUNIORS 9-11 YR OLDS 1st Luke Kurburski Harbor Springs JG #330

2nd Eowyn Sheffer Burns JG #325

3rd Jeremiah Near Oceana Center JG #329

MISCELLANEOUS CRAFT—SUBORDINATE

1st Phyllis Warren Burns #160

2nd Karen Strouse Gratiot #1898

3rd Michelle Barnes Home #129

MISCELLANEOUS CRAFT—JUNIORS 9-11

1st Drew Barnes Home JG #290

MISCELLANEOUR CRAFT—JUNIONR 12-14 1st Lexi Gale Oceana Center JG #329

2nd Haley Jessup Oceana Center JG #329

3rd Gus Gale Oceana Center JG #329

ART CONTEST — WATER COLORS

1st Audrey Ewing Plymouth/Westland #389

ART CONTEST—PENCIL DRAWINGS

1st Dawn Laupp Home #129

PHOTOGRAPHY — FARM SCENE—SUB.

1st Ardith Merten Oceana Center #1047 2nd Terri Sheffer Burns #160

2rd Janice Merten Oceana Center #1047

PHOTOGRAPHY—FARM SCENE—JG 9-11 1st Eowyn Sheffer Burns JG #325

PHOTOGRAPHY—LAKE PIC — SUB.

1st Marshall Bishop Home #129 2nd Sharon Popler Burns #160

3rd Ardith Merten Oceana Center #1047

PHOTOGRAPHY—LAKE PIC JG 9-11

1st Eowyn Sheffer Burns JG #325

PHOTOGRAPHY —FAMILY—SUB.

1st Janice Merten Oceana Center #1047

2nd Tricia Eidsmoe Studley #1174 3rd Ardith Merten Oceana Center #1047

PHOTOGRAPHY—PATRIOTIC—SUB

1st Roland Winter Home #129 2nd Peggy Johnston Burns #160


PHOTOGRAPHY—AUTUMN — SUB

1st Sharon Popler Burns #160 2nd Janice Merten Oceana Center #1047


PHOTOGRAPHY — AUTUMN — JG 9-11 1st Eowyn Sheffer Burns JG #325

BEST OF SHOW—LECTURER’S DEPT.

Leora Smith — Plymouth/Westland #389

BEST OF SHOW — PHOTOGRAHY

DALE YOUNG—COMMUNITY GRANGE #1675

TOOK 2ND PLACE AT NATIONAL GRANGE!

CERTIFICATES FOR REPORT-

ING: St. Jos/Cass/Kal Pomona #4, Mid

Michigan Pomona #61, Adams #286,

Harbor Springs #730, Burr Oak

#1350, Gratiot #1898, Burns #160, Barnard #689, Studley #1174, Rome

#293, Pittsfield Union #882, Community #1675, Plymouth/

Westland #389.


Tricia Eidsmoe 1451 Grey Road, Midland, MI 48640


Helen Mudd 1757 Stewart Road, Midland, MI 48640

Tel: 989-631-3708

Community Service Winners

GRANGE HAPPENINGS

There are 29 subordinate Granges in the state

& reports were received from 16 of them. Con-

gratulations to these 16 Granges for promoting

CS in their areas & taking the time to complete a

report & send it to me.

Our judges this year were 3 women from Mid-

land County. One was the Midland County Fair

Manager, one was very active in 4-H in Midland

County & one is a retired Dow Chemical Com-

pany professional.

The judges had a criteria sheet to use and the

total points from the 3 judges determined the win-

ners. There will be 3 winners in the under 40

members category and 3 winners in the 40 & over

category. The award money is furnished from the

National Grange.

Grange winner under 40 members:

3rd Place – Burns #160

2nd Place – Kinney #754

1st Place – Studley #1174

Grange winner 40 & over mem-

bers:

3rd Place – Pittsfield Union #882

2nd Place – Home #129

1st Place – Fredonia #1713

The National Grange requested 1st thru 4th

place winners. Based on the total points from the

judging, the following granges were recognized

as the top 4 winners:

4th Place – Home #129

3rd Place – Kinney #754

2nd Place – Studley #1174

1st Place – Fredonia #1713

Fredonia Grange’s book has been sent to Na-

tional Grange to be judged. Each grange that sent

in a report received a participation certificate

from the National Grange.

Thanks again to all granges participating in the

Community Service program! Keep up the good

I had the pleasure of attending several County Fairs

this past summer to sell tickets on the Family Activities

Quilt Raffle. It was my first time to attend the Hillsdale

County Fair and even though I didn’t get to see to much of

the fair, what I did see was the beautiful displays that Ad-

ams and Mosherville Granges put together. They are ab-

solutely out of this world. So much work! I have in-

cluded a picture of each below. Peggy Johnston

ADAMS #286

MOSHERVILLE #1351

“Master your past in the present, or your past will

master your future.”

*********

“Ignorance breeds fear, Fear breeds hate.

Hate breeds violence.”

JUNIORS

Connie Johnston, Director 6241 Grand River Road, Bancroft, MI 48414 Tel: 989-634-9350 E-mail [email protected]


New Program and Contest Winners

What an excellent state session! Thank you Region 5 for a wonderful time! Entries were down in the Jun-

ior department as well as the Junior portions of the other departments. Many of the items there were done dur-

ing summer camp. Congrats to those that won! Cora Zsigray’s fairy garden won best of show and will be

going onto National Session to be displayed in the idea fair. Congrats to Cora!!

The new program will be out soon and I hope that more Juniors will enter next year. There are three new

craft contests. The first is a plastic bottle craft, which can be anything as long as it uses a plastic bottle. Ideas

are a bird feeder/house, piggy banks, plant holders, etc. The second one is a yarn bowl. This is basically just a

bowl made from yard and can be made in any format, such as weaving, doing the starch way with a balloon as

a form, etc. The bowl can be decorated as well with any medium such as ruffles, paints, beads, etc. The third

is a Halloween wreath. This can be made with any kind of medium and should stay under 12 inches in size.

Of course you can find all sorts of ideas off of Pinterest. It is actually where I get the contest ideas. Also be

sure to check out the other departments for their contests, they all have Junior divisions.

2015 JUNIOR CONTEST WINNERS

COLORING CONTEST — 7-8 YR. OLDS



PET ROCK — 6 & UNDER


PET ROCK — 7-8 YR OLDS

1st Kassidy Lamblin Oceana Center JG #329

2nd Casey Lamblin Oceana Center JG #329

3rd Marc Johnston Burns JG #325


1st Luke Kurburski Harbor SpringsJG #330

2nd Eowyn Sheffer Burns JG #325

3rd Jeremiah Near Oceana Center JG #329


1st Cassidy Jessup Oceana Center JG #329

2nd Peter Kurburski Harbor SpringsJG #330

3rd Michaela Dold Oceana Center JG #329

FAIRY GARDENS — 6 & UNDER


FAIRY GARDENS — 7-8 YR OLDS

1st Marc Johnston Burns JG #325

2nd Cory Johnston Burns JG #325

DREAM CATCHERS — 6 & UNDER


DREAM CATCHERS — 7-8 YR OLDS



DREAM CATCHERS — 9-11 YR. OLDS

1st Jeremiah Near Oceana Center JG #329

2nd Luke Kurburski Harbor SpringsJG #330

3rd Eowyn Sheffer Burns JG #325

SUBORDINATE GRANGE REPORTS

Fern #803, Burns #160, Harbor Springs #730, Gratiot

#1898, Home #129, Mosherville #1351, West

Oshtemo #1630, Community #1675, Plymouth/

Westland #389, Adams #286.

SUPER JG THANK YOU!

Oceana Center #1047 for hosting JG camp

JUNIOR GRANGE DONATIONS

Rome #293, Burns #160, Studley #1174, Gratiot

#1898, Home #129, Carlisle #812, Kinney #754,

Kathryn Strouse

“JUNIOR GRANGE BEST OF SHOW”

CORA ZSIGRAY WITH HER FAIRY GARDEN

9 Michigan State Grange

Roland Winter 15150 A Drive North Marshall, MI 49068


FOUNDATION Annual Report

Again this year it is my privilege as President of the Michigan

state Grange Foundation to report to you on the condition of your

Foundation and its progress this past year. I believe that the Foun-

dation is a very important part of our organization. Presently it

provides loans for students to help with their education, funds for Department Directors to develop and carry out educational work-

shops plus send out quarterly newsletters, for their particular de-

partments, and I believe it could also be a valuable asset in the

future to keep our Grange active and also to help preserve our His-

tory.

This year has been another very good year for the Foundation.

Two years ago, if you remember, we invested $100,000.00 of our

funds in a ten-year annuity. This year in April it became

$123,228.66 with another good return on our investment. That

amount was again invested for this year hoping for a good return,

but the way the Stock Market has been going this year it will

probably not be as great as the past two years. This past year we have also been working hard trying to collect more of our past due

lo9ans. At this time we have collected $4,120.00 and have four

people making regular payments with the promise of more to

come. This includes some money from past due loans plus the

money from those making regular payments. This will increase

with more loans becoming due in the near future.

The Haslett property where the Michigan State Grange Office

stood is still in the process of being sold. We had ho0ped to have

the closing before the end of last year but this did not happen.

There are still a few details to be worked out but this should hap-

pen very soon. This past year we only issued one new student loan of

$1,000.00. It was again issued to Malcolm Carey of Oceana Cen-

ter Grange #1047 to attend the University of Michigan. This was

his third load, and was Loan #141. Malcolm has one more loan

available which will probably happen this next year. The loan

program was started in the early 1960’s by the Youth Department

and then taken over by the Michigan State Grange Foundation

when the Foundation was founded in 1986.

We are again emphasizing that this is a loan program and the

loans need to be repaid if the program is to continue. Last year in

November we sent out, what will be a yearly report form to each

loan recipient so that we can keep better track of where they are with their education, and when their loans will be coming due.

We had a very good return on this report which will be sent out

again this year.

We also need to emphasize that this program is not just for

youth but for any Grange member that might need to advance their

education. With money coming in from Student loans there are

funds available from the $35,000.00 that we have set aside for this

program and more funds will become available as more loan pay-

ments are made, and I am sure that more of our available funds

could be added to this program if necessary.

One of our goals for the coming year would be to see every active Grange in Michigan make at least one donation to the

Michigan state Grange Foundation, and many of our members

doing the same. The donations do not have to be large and if eve-

ryone helped a little it would make a big difference. I would em-

phasize that the Foundation is a 501 ( c) 3 organization and

individual donations are tax deductible.

$69,669.24 of our money is in a permanent Endowment

Fund with only the interest being used. Our policy in the past

has been that half of all donations made that are not given for a particular purpose would go to the Endowment Fund and half

to available funds and we are planning to continue this policy.

The Michigan State Grange Foundation would like to

thank all those Granges and Gr4ang emembers that made dona-

tions to the Foundation this past year. The Foundation appreci-

ates your donations.

I would also like to thank the other members of this Board

for their work and dedication to this program, they include;

Eric Bishop, Vice President, Kathryn Strouse, Secretary-

Treasurer, Jeff Swainston, Director and Chris Johnston, Direc-

tor.

Fraternally, Roland G. Winter, Board President.

Michigan State Grange Financial Report as of 9-3-15

ASSETS:

Athene Annuity $123,228.66

Checking Account 14,768.60

Student Loans 28,385.00

Total Assets $166,382.26

ALLOCATED FUNDS

Endowment Fund $69,669.24

Student Loan Fund 6,615.00

MSG Dir. Prom&Dev. Fund 3,431.76

Michigan Disaster Fund 633.00

Jonathan Woodman Mem. Fund 2,043.00 Deaf Awareness Fund 161.55

Total Allocated Funds $ 82,553.55

NON ALLOCATED FUNDS $ 83,828.71

INCOME:

Interest received from investments 8,198.39

Student loan income 4,120.00

Endowment fund-D. Pagels Inheritance 499.24

Funds received for memorials 200.00

$ 13,017.63

EXPENSES Corp Tax Report 40.00

Student loan 1,000.00

National Grange Foundation 1,500.00

Meridian Charter Township 1,969.30

Lecturer Expense 216.00

$ 4,725.30

MSG FOUNDATION,

Kathryn Strouse, Sec/Treas.

P.O. Box 84

North Star, MI 48862 Please accept my donation to help support the Mission of the Michi-gan State Grange Foundation.

$ _______ ________________________ In Memory of:

For Memory ____Birthday

Address ________________________ ____Anniversary

City/State ___________ Zip_______ ____ Deceased

Donations made by: ________________ ____ Other

Thank you for your Support!

10 Michigan

Kevin Young, Director 60822 Creek Road, Niles, MI 49120


AGRICULTURE Annual Report Annual Report Legislative

Jeff Swainston, Director 2589 144th Ave., Dorr, MI 49323

Tel: 616-813-8746 [email protected]

Worthy Master, First Lady, National Grange Rep-

resentative, Delegates, Brothers and Sisters:

Welcome to the 142nd Annual Convention of the

Michigan State Grange!! It is hard to believe that it

is time for yet another Michigan State Grange Ses-

sion. Time sure goes by fast and for some reason

this year has gone by way too fast!! I hope everyone

has enjoyed my articles as at times I felt like I was

just rambling on but at the time I was writing them it

was what was on my mind. I appreciate the wonder-

ful attendance at the Salute to Ag Dinner last year

and I hope we have a good attendance again this

year. I will be doing door prizes again this year, try-

ing to stick with things pertaining to Ag type items.

Agriculture in our Great State is a very important

part of life and of the State Economy , and I feel

honored to be the Director of the MSG Agriculture

Department. I hope to continue to bring you infor-

mation on this Department that meant so much to

our Great Organization when it was first founded! I

hope everyone enjoys the State Session and their

stay in the Adrian!!!

Worthy Master, First Lady, State Officers & Directors, Dele-

gates, Members, and Friends:

Welcome to Adrian for the 142nd annual session of

the Michigan State Grange. What a great week this

will be. An organization that is the legislative voice of

rural America meeting at a fairgrounds that is rich with

Grange history and tradition. I bring you greetings

from the Legislative Department where it is a pleasure

to continue to be able to serve you.

The action we take this week on resolutions submit-

ted by local Granges is the beginning of the grass-roots

stepladder. It is important to consider all resolutions

seriously and give them all ample thought and discus-

sion. We are mapping our organization for years to

come.

Activities surrounding the Legislative Department

continue to be thin due to budget constraints but there

are still ways we can be active. The most important

way to stay active is to involve yourself in the local po-

litical process, and most of all… get out and vote.

There is one new item on our agenda, however, that we

are seriously starting to look at. We have been asked to

join the Coalition for Expanded Pipeline Infrastructure

(CEPI) which brings together groups from across

Michigan and Ohio that support the development of

new, safe natural gas pipeline infrastructure in the re-

gion. This is a coalition representing interests from ag-

riculture, business, manufacturing, and labor in Michi-

gan and Ohio. Hopefully, we will have time to review

and discuss this during the session this week.

I look forward to this week in Adrian. The last time

we were here the weather was unseasonably warm and

it would be joyous to have that happen again. It is al-

ways great to reconnect with Grange friends and hope-

fully make and new friend or two along the way. As

always, if you have any questions about our policies,

please ask.

“The world we are experiencing today is the result of our collec-

tive consciousness, and if we want a new world, each of us must

start taking responsibility for helping to create it.”

—Rosemary Fillmore Rh

** “Success isn’t permanent and failure isn’t fatal.” - Mike Ditka

**

Humor is contagious...Laughter is infectious….Both are good for

your health.


Creative FUNDRAISING

Find a date in the next year

to have an additional fund-

raising event at your

Grange

Utilize Michigan State

Grange officers to help man

your event

Notify the Michigan State Grange office

when the event will be and how many

people are needed

Delegate tasks to the Michigan State

Grange helpers

Run the event in the way you normally

do

Advertise your event in the normal ways

Invite lots of people to your event

Sell to or Serve those that attend your

event

Include your processes for success that

are used in your other local Grange fund-

raisers

New concept to replace Michigan State

Grange raffles

Give the profit to the Michigan State

Grange

This is a new approach developed by the

Michigan State Grange Executive Com-

mittee to be utilized in 2014/2015. Please

help our Michigan State Grange have the

funds to provide continued support to the

Subordinate Granges so that they may

serve local communities.

Michigan State Grange

Executive Committee Request Jeff & Nancy Swainston, 2589 144th Ave., Dorr, MI 49323


YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS Awards

BE SURE TO PULL OUT THE

PROGRAM BOOK

IN THE CENTER OF THIS ISSUE

AND KEEP FOR REFERNCE THIS YEAR

ON THE AVAILABLE CONTESTS

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS:

Christopher Eidsmoe, Nicholas Eidsmoe, Karen Strouse,

Frances Zsigray, Alli Driskell, Kirk Maylum II, Kathryn

Bishop, Bradley Skidmore, James Laupp, Elizabeth Kurbur-

ski, Katie Kurburski, Emily Kurburski, Audrey Ewing,

Christopher Johnston.

SUBORDINATE AND POMONA RECOGNITION

Home #129, Harbor Springs #730, Plymouth/Westland

#389, Burns #160, Gratiot #1898, Community #1675, Stud-

ley #1174.

SPECIAL AWARD/APPRECIATION

Oceana Center Grange 31047 for hosting Youth/Young

Adult Camp.

A special Thank You to all of the individuals and

Granges that helped the Michigan State Grange out with

some very nice gifts for our wish list. All of these items

will certainly help to keep the headquarters expenses down

this year. Here is a list of all of the items that have been do-

nated. 2—10 Ream Cases of Paper

1—5 Ream Case of Paper

2—500 sheet Reams of Paper

3—250 sheet Reams of Paper

2 boxes of 3000 each labels

1—box of 500 envelopes

6 — boxes of 40 envelopes

10—9 x 12 manila envelopes

12—6 x 9 manila envelopes

4 pack of sticky notes

500 sheet memo pad

Book of 20 stamps

Roll of 100 stamps

1 individual black ink cartridge

2 double pack ink cartridge (black and color)

Check for $11.00

That’s an estimate of over $400.00 in supplies

THANK YOU!

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and

complain, and most fools do.”

Benjamin Franklin


Position open

MEMBERSHIP Awards

PUBLICITY AWARDS:

Adams #286, Barnard #689, Burns #160, Burr Oak

#1350, Colon #215, Community #1675, Fern #803,

Fredonia #1713, Gratiot #1898, Harbor Springs

#730, Home #129, Kinney #754, Maple Leaf #940

Mosherville #1351, North Adrian #721, Oceana

Center #1047, Pittsfield Union #882, Platte #1328,

Plymouth/Westland #389, Studley #1174, Summit

City #672, Torch Lake #1840, West Oshtemo

#1630.

VOLUNTEERS AWARDS:

Sharon Popler, Arnette Welsh & Luanna Swainston

GOLD STAR AWARD RECIPIENTS:

Burns #160 & Oceana Center #1047

SPECIAL MASTERS AWARDS

Lenawee County Pomona, Washtenaw/Wayne

County Pomona, & Hillsdale County Pomona for

hosting the 2015 Annual Convention.

Dale Moore, Peggy Johnston, and Sharon Popler for

selling tickets on the Family Activities Raffle.

Helen Mudd for donating the quilt for the Family

Activities Raffle.

Sharon Popler for hosting the Great Lakes Grange

Leadership Conference.

MEMBERSHIP AWARDS

SENT IN REPORTS-APPRECIATION AWARD

Adams #286, Barnard #689, Burns #160, Fredonia

#1713, Gratiot #1898, Harbor Springs #730, Home

#129, Lime Creek #712, Mosherville #1351, Oceana

Center #1047, Plymouth/Westland #389, Rome

#293, Studley #1174, Summit City #672, Torch

Lake #1840, White Pigeon #1345, North Adrian

#721.

NEW MEMBERS—ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Plymouth/Westland #389, Oceana Center #1047,

Torch Lake #1840, Harbor Springs #730, Barnard

#689, Burns #160, Lime Creek #712, Fredonia

#1713.

NET GAIN — ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Lime Creek #712, Oceana Center #1047

“Be more concerned with your character than your

reputation, because your character is what you

really are, while your reputation is merely what

others thing you are.” John Wooden

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Kenneth Becker

Kenneth Becker will be 100 years old on

December 9, 2015.

He joined Courtland Grange #563 in 1950 with five

other couples. Took the 5th degree in 1950 by Ensley

Centre 5th Degree Team. He and his wife along with

Franklin and Doris Roth had the youth of Kent County

with a fifth degree team. He took the 6th degree in

Hastings in 1952. He was a member of the Camping

Patrons in 1974 and was a life member. Courtland

Grange closed in 2007 and he then joined Kinney

Grange #754 and still belongs to that Grange. He has

held many offices in Subordinate and Pomona Grange

and the Camping Patrons. Kenneth’ address is 8938 13

Mile Road. NE, Rockford, MI 49341, if you wish to

send him a birthday card.

Congratulations on a wonderful milestone!

Documents

Michigan - Amazon Web Services · Happy Thanksgiving Merry Christmas Michigan State ... Marshall & Jackie ... same students as some of you had last year but we had some that graduated