Posted on 06/24/2002 12:13:13 PM PDT by farmfriend
The National Grange Legislative Fly in June 9 through 12 was very productive. Chief Lobbyist, George Dupray and Brothers Joe Victorine Tulelake Grange # 468 and Tim Connors, an Oregon Grange cattleman, both victims of the Klammath Basin water crisis last year, represented our State Grange.
Since Monday is always a travel day for our congressional delegates, several informational programs were presented by the National Grange Legislative Director, Leroy Watson. Beginning Sunday, June 9, representatives from the State Granges were divided into two groups. Group A participated in a workshop titled "New Opinions About the Grange" a professionally mediated discussion regarding member services, legislative programs, and member programs for the new Grange. Meanwhile, Group B participated in another workshop addressing the issue of increasing State Grange legislative effectiveness through better media relations. The discussions were led by our new National Grange Communications Director Rick Ottinger. Each workshop lasted one hour, at which time the groups changed places and participated in the other workshop. The outcome of these sessions will be published later.
The next program was led by National Grange Legislative Director Leroy Watson and his new assistant Joanne Manelli. The program was called "Through the Looking Glass", how the press and pundits saw the 2002 Farm Bill. This was the result of a National Grange Media Survey on the 2002 Farm Bill. The questions raised seemed to indicate that the National Press viewed the bill as a tool to gain votes in the mid-west farm states. Although other issues were raised that included concerns over trade agreements, environmental concerns and the list went on and on.
Sunday concluded with an informal reception with Congressional Staff at a picnic and a free presentation of "the Two Gentlemen of Verona" at the Carter-Barton Amphitheater.
Monday's programming included presentations by several coalition and business leaders from the Washington D.C. area and including a working luncheon with members of the current Administration. Subjects covered a wide diversity of Grange interests, including Farm legislation, U. S. Fish and Wildlife reform, Prescription medication issues facing rural America, communication issues and legislative effectiveness plans.
Tuesday began with a breakfast in the Rayburn House lunch room with invited congressmen and staff personnel. Visits to members offices began after breakfast. Your representatives began with a visit to Congressman Robert Matsui then on to Wally Herger, and Doug Ose. Lunch was at the Members Dinning Room, U. S. House of Representatives. After lunch, it was on to more member visits, including one to Senator Dianne Feinstein and to Congressman Doolittle. All these visits were scattered all over the Hill and it was a great day of pedestrian exercise. Due to the increased security provisions normal foot traffic has been denied to any but staff and members. That makes getting from the House side to the Senate side and between the several office buildings a real journey.
Thursday brought us to visits the bureaucrats. Our first visit was with the Associator Solicitor for Parks & Wildlife, U. S. Department of the Interior. There, Brothers Victorine and Conners told of the damages they received as a result of the cut-off of water to the farmers in the Klammath Basin last year.
Next, we met with the Assistant Director for Planning & Threatened & Endangered Species at USDA. Again, the "walking wounded" enlightened our regulatory bodies about the "train wreck" (their description of the events in the Klammath Basin) last year.
The next visit was with the Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, The National Marine Fisheries Services. Once again our visit was an effort to educate those in high office of the impact of their actions.
Several of the people we talked to expressed their appreciation to us for bringing our message to Washington and encouraged us to return and become their communication channel.
Overall, the annual Fly-In was a successful venture for the California Grangers.
Other organizations that have taken advantage of the increase of power associated with the Grange are:
Think how effective the Bucket Brigade could have been if it had made stops at the approximately 230 Granges across California.
Everyone has heard the phrase: United we stand, divided we fall.
Why then do we spend so much energy trying to hold together organizations that have no money and no power when that energy could be directed at driving policy?
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!
Molon Labe !!
You make an extremely powerful and profound point.
Thanks for the prod; maybe others would like to check out their neighbor.
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State Granges
The National Grange has membership in 37 states and the District of Columbia. For more information on Granges in your state and local community, please click on your state from the list below.
See #6 for your States info.
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!
Molon Labe !!
I'll have to ask Leroy, National's Legislative Director.
We had Randal Torgeson, Deputy Administrator from USDA's Rural Business Cooperative Service speak to our group. he talked about the new oppertunities for forming member owned cooperatives to address rural and farm economic issues.
We also had Charles Conner, Special Assistant to the President for Agricultural Trade and Agricultural Policy scheduled to speak, but at the last minute, he had to cancel to attend a White House meeting. Thats the risks you take inviting the big players to speak to your group.
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