Brothers and Sisters of the Connecticut State Grange,
As I come to the close of my first term as the President of the Connecticut State Grange, I realize the many challenges our organization faces in order to move forward. We cannot continue to do things as we have always done. Now is the time for changes. We have a remarkable history and must continue to cherish and celebrate it, but we must move forward to survive. It has been an absolute joy to work with the officers and Board of Directors to run this Order. It would not be possible for me to do what I do without the sage advice of my predecessors in the office, and fellow Board members. Thank you to all the members for what you all do in your communities with service to them, events, and fairs that get the name and mission of the Grange out and into the public eye. This is an election year, and I am willing to serve for another two year term if that is your will.
I continue to serve as the President of Mountain Laurel Pomona Grange #15, Lecturer of Bethlehem #121, and Secretary of Oxford #194. Other duties and conflicts have kept me away from Bethlehem meetings, but I have attended the meetings of the other two. I thank the members of Bethlehem for filling in for my duties in my absence. I always enjoy the day of the Greenfield Hill Grange Fair and have put up a display of some sort from my collections for them. This year, it was birds and I did some talks on birds for the public. Grange Family Day at Granby Grange was fun and although I couldn’t attend all of it, I enjoyed seeing the contest entries and the talent revealed in the creation of those items.
One of the biggest challenges to come my way while I have held this office came recently in the form of a letter from Connecticut State Senator Patricia Billie Miller of the 27th District and a member of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus (BPRC) on BPRC letterhead. She referenced the use of the title “Master” at the head of my monthly column From the Master’s Desk in the Connecticut Granger. She noted that this term is especially offensive to people of color, especially those whose ancestors were held in bondage. Furthermore, she noted that on our website, she could find nothing that made it clear why we continued to use this title in this day and age. In addition, she asked to be removed from the mailing list. My reply to her explained that our usage dates back to a feudal English farm terminology and has no relation to the institution of slavery as our Order was founded after the Civil War. I sent her an electronic copy of the booklet Welcome to the Grange where all of this is explained in print. I asked that she hold off on canceling her receipt of the Granger until we had a chance to alter things. I know many of you cherish our traditions and history, but on our lobbying front, we can’t afford to make enemies in Harford or elsewhere. For that reason, as much as I don’t like to be told what to do, I will be retitling my column “From the President’s Desk”. Many of you may say that our use of this term is justified, but we can’t simply offer the defense of telling people that, and then not to be offended. People are going to take offense where they choose and for the reasons they choose whether we can relateor not. I would warn all of you to start thinking about how your using these terms may limit your membership recruitment and act wisely in this matter. We are in the public eye and can’t afford to offend. End of discussion!
Another item of concern for the Connecticut State Grange is finances. We are selling stock in our portfolio to cover the cost of State Session and payroll. This situation cannot continue forever, obviously, and I am sure much discussion will be had when we discuss the budget. A fundraising committee has been appointed and there will be major fundraisers starting with a raffle to give a lucky winner gift cards for airfare and to be put toward a cabin on the 2025 National Grange Convention Cruise. We will also be looking into ways to cut the costs of our annual convention which runs in excess of $25,000.00. Stay tuned.
MEMBERSHIP
Many Granges are struggling though some are continuing to do rather well. Subordinate membership statewide was 1370 as of the end of the first quarter and Pomona membership stands at 523. Not long ago, subordinate members were above 1400. Redding #15 is progressing. Wallingford #33 is working with ARPA funds to make building improvements which will render that hall an asset to the community and Grange. Wolcott #173 has been working to attract a nucleus of members around which to reorganize. Stonington #168 and Groton #213 merged but did not see as much increase in contributing members as expected. The membership Committee also rendered aid to Lyme #147 and Harmony #92. Glastonbury #26 is considering surrendering their charter. Preston City #110 will likely have had its charter suspended by State Session. Cawasa #34 will close upon the proper and legal disposition of their scholarship fund.
It is clear that if we are to increase our membership, we must think outside the box as they are doing in Redding, Wallingford, and more recently Wolcott. The newer members have creative methodologies of approaching people and attracting them into our Granges. We must pick up on some of these and utilize them while mentoring these newer Grangers to keep some modicum of Grange ways. It is very clear that our Grange must evolve and change with the changing times.
The next iteration 2.0 of the Leadership Academy has had to be put on hold due to injuries suffered by State Treasurer Jody Cameron in a work accident. I look forward to a repeat of version 1.0 and the new version 2.0. State Secretary Todd Gelineau held a Secretarial School of Instruction on Sunday, March 26 to lay out to the Grange secretaries the specifics of the position. Many secretaries come to the position with little or no training. Absent or improperly completed reports make the state secretary’s job difficult. Thanks to Publicity Co-Chair Terri Fassio who has put on several virtual social hours for the benefit of the membership. These have been very enjoyable and educational too. She also scheduled Pomona Grange Round Table discussions on Zoom for July 14 and December 8. These are being done as an adjunct to the National Grange Pomona Study Committee appointed by Past National Grange President Betsy Huber, of which I was a part. The idea was to carry on the discussion more locally.
Eastern Connecticut Pomona #14 held a Harbor Cruise out of New London on Sunday, July 21 which was open to Grangers statewide. Maggie and I went and had a good time. Over 50 attended, Grangers and guests combined. We thank Eastern Connecticut Pomona for hosting Maggie and me as their guests for the cruise and dinner afterward. This was a great idea and it would be nice to see more of these social events. National President Chris Hamp and husband Duane planned to be with us for the cruise, but couldn’t make it due to flight cancelations on account of the Crowdstrike based computer problems affecting many service businesses like airlines and banks.
NATIONAL GRANGE
I attended the 157th National Grange Convention in Niagara Falls, NY from November13-19, 2023. The location was great and after a very busy week, I got out to do some sightseeing before I drove home Sunday. Having never seen the Niagara Falls before in my life, I must admit they are truly spectacular. As with last year, Vice President Ted Powell served as your second delegate. It was an election year, and there are many new National Grange officers, including Chris Hamp, our new President, who was our National representative last year. Since then, the National Grange Headquarters in Washington DC has been sold and National Grange was allowed six months of rent free use of office space after which it will have to be decided where to relocate the headquarters. I served on the Grange Law Committee along with Brother Phil Prelli. This was very interesting. This convention coming up, my assignment will be the Citizenship and Taxation Committee. This year, the convention location is to be Bettendorf, Iowa, one of the so-called Quad-Cities on the Mississippi River. The 2025 convention is taking a new turn as Grange leadership tries new things in place of doing them as we have always done them. It will be an eight day ABC (Aruba-Curacao-Bonaire) Cruise, and is already sparking some discussion. I spite of that, quite a few have already registered to go.
If Chris Hamp and Duane had made it to Connecticut for our Lighthouse Cruise, she planned to do a Zoom based town hall style program on July 23 for Connecticut Grangers while they were here visiting. Not being able to make it here, she agreed to hold the program anyway while home in the state of Washington. I want to thank Jody Cameron for coordinating this event and the Chris for her time to do this program for us. As it turned out, 24 attended and listened to Chris give her overview of the Grange from her proverbial 30,000 foot vantage point. She shared her philosophy of leadership and working together to improve the Grange, and make it “Stronger tomorrow than today.”
POMONA GRANGES
I continue to believe in the value of Pomona Granges as a connection between the State Grange and the Subordinate Granges for a two-way flow of information. In conversations with National Grange Vice President and New Jersey State Grange President John Benedik, he has plans to continue with the National Grange Pomona Study Committee appointed by Betsy Huber when time permits. In this same vein, but on a more local level, Terri Fassio set up two Pomona Grange Round Table discussions on Zoom for July 14 and December 8, 2024. As of this writing, the first was held with 27 in attendance including John Benedik. People freely shared their thoughts on the purpose of Pomona Granges (which is spelled out in the Digest of Laws) and why we may or may not have strayed from that. We talked about re-establishing Mission Statements form Pomona Granges. Some of the problems brought up were: attendance because of reasons of travel distance; the “just another (useless) meeting” problem; and the issue of our three Pomona reconfiguration in Connecticut causing the “not my Pomona anymore” problem. For one, Pomona meetings border on painful due to lack of focus. On the other hand one stated that they are meaningful and helpful. Yet another felt that Pomona has seen its day and should be let go. John shared results of the National Pomona Study Committee report with us. The conclusion of the report centers around the idea of keeping Pomona Granges and working to give them new revitalized mission and meaning and therefore some utility. Please understand that these initiatives are not a directive from Connecticut State Grange on Pomona Granges, but rather an effort to gather peoples’ feelings and offer guidelines. It seems to me that those who value Pomona attend and keep involved while another group made up their minds the opposite way.
EDUCATION
Education remains an important topic of interest for the Grange. Our Scholarship Committee does fine work in picking those deserving students for our scholarship awards to further their educations. After many years of service on the committee, Nancy Weissmuller has notified me that she will be stepping down as she moves from North Stonington to Rhode Island. Dawn Percoski, Nancy strong, and I will be looking for a third person to volunteer to join them and replace Nancy Weissmuller.
At the last State Session, Resolution #29 Re: Rising College Costs Correction was referred to the combined State Grange Legislative, and Education Committees and Board of Directors to be reviewed for action and reported back upon at this State Session. The combined committees and BOD will offer a substitute resolution regarding control of interest rates. Many of the factors entering into college costs are out of our control, but we thought we might be able to influence this one factor.
We continue to support vocational agricultural education and the FFA in Connecticut. On Friday, March 15, I was invited to attend the FFA Leadership Training Luncheon held at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. I was one of six honored guests along with Executive Director Joan Nichols of Connecticut Farm Bureau and four others. We were spread out among tables of students. Over lunch, I had good discussions with my fellow lunch mates talking about what the Grange is and what it does. They in turn told me about their agricultural education and their SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) projects. My table was composed of students from Shepaug Valley High School. After lunch, we six honored guests formed a panel who responded each in turn to questions about our thoughts on various agricultural topics. Some of these questions were not easy but quite thought provoking. The honored guests were each gifted a pair of custom designed leather work gloves with FFA logos and slogan. Mine have been put to work here on the farm and come in handy for pulling up thorny berry vines!
The President of the Connecticut State Grange, by virtue of the office, is also on the Frank Roswell Fuller Scholarship Committee. Frank Roswell Fuller was from Hartford and lived from 1873-1957. From 1904-1920, he operated the Fuller Company at 40 Wall St. in New York culminating a successful career in the brokerage business. Later in life, he had several large farms in West Hartford where he lived after returning from New York. His concern for helping “needy and deserving” students led to the provision in his will for a substantial scholarship fund. Roughly 40 students receive scholarships from just under $5000.00 a year to just over $10,000.00 and totaling over $200,000.00. The larger amounts go to upperclassmen (juniors and seniors). Trinity College Office of Financial Aid administers the scholarship. This year I had the pleasure of attending the Zoom session where we review the recipients and amounts. Last year, I was only able to sign off on paperwork approving the awards but unable to interact with the committee.
AGRICULTURE
Once again, State Grange Legislative Director Noel Miller and Vice President Ted Powell manned the booth for Ag Day at the Capitol on March 20. Their table had poster displays about the Grange to represent us to the agricultural community at this annual trade fair event.
Most importantly, with the Farm Bill up for renewal, both the US House of Representatives and the Senate have their versions of a Farm Bill which as of this writing will have to be hashed out for a final version. With the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn the Chevron Rule, the regulatory power of federal agencies will be crippled thus giving big business less oversight in matters of environment and safety. This some say will help business do better without being stifled by excess regulations. On the other hand, many regulations that keep people safe from unregulated capitalism will not be enforceable by federal agencies giving big business more latitude to damage the environment and create unsafe working conditions of employees. Congress may need to step in and manage this regulatory function legislatively.
Connecticut has over 5500 farms contributing $4.0 Billion to the state’s economy. According to State Commissioner of Agriculture, the 2022 Census of Agriculture indicates that our state is ahead of the national average for both female and new and beginning producers. The state continues to have a diversity of types of agricultural enterprises.
Catastrophic storms like the one that hit Oxford, Southbury, and the neighboring towns on August 18 are becoming more common and widespread. Damage for these two towns were estimated at $100 Million in the August 21 Waterbury Republican-American. Numerous roads and bridges are washed out and have proven how fragile our infrastructure can be in the face of this 1000 year flooding. The washouts have Southbury cut off to the south, west, and north. At least 10 towns have been affected to some degree. This is sure to cost society more money and likely to affect agriculture in our state and across the country and world.
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the Connecticut State Grange officers for their dedication to our State Grange. They all work hard to further our Order. Once again, Vice President Ted Powell was very helpful in doing Grange inspections. State Lecturer Dave Roberts hosted the first Northeast Lecturers’ Conference to be held in five years here at the Norwich Holiday Inn June 21-23. I regret having been unable to attend due to other obligations as president of the Oxford Historical Society and a fundraiser that weekend. I would commend him on the regular Lecturers’ Roundups held to dispense useful information and updates on Grange programs. Dave also spearheaded the Peoples State Forest Grange marker plaque project to mark the Grange Plot. In addition, he worked with Joan Smith from National Grange on the PCORI (Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute) and RRSS (Reaching Rural Surgical Seniors) programs. Chaplain Charles Dimmick led the service and delivered the sermon at the New England Grange Chaplains’ worship service held Saturday July, 27 as part of Grange Weekend at the Vermont Grange Center in Brookfield, Vermont. Several other of the Chaplains group had their parts as well. Visiting with Grangers, a delicious lunch, and the service made for an enjoyable day. Another adventure ensued as my cell phone was insufficiently charged and died en route, so I had to resort to an atlas and asking a mailman I passed where the Grange Center was located. He Knew! This made my day. Todd Gelineau is helpful with needed information as always. Treasurer Jody Cameron keeps our finances in great order. Good as he is, he cannot conjure up money from a magic hat. We must live within our means as you all must. Noel does a superb job of managing the New England Grange Building all year long and during the Eastern States Exposition/Big E, keeping us up to date on legislative issues, representing the Connecticut State Grange, and keeping me in line. All the Past State Masters are willing to lend advice when asked and I thank them. Thanks to the rest of the officers for being good Grangers, serving the State Grange, and fulfilling your duties in your Subordinate and Pomona Granges.
The Board of Directors is a fantastic group under the leadership of Chairwoman Alma Graham. We do the work of running the business end of the State Grange by making executive decisions in the best interests of the Order and to the best of our abilities. Thank you to the Board for your dedication.
CLOSING COMMENTS
While farm work keeps Maggie occupied, she has accompanied me on several visitations to Granges and the Light House Cruise. I thank her for supporting me in this endeavor of doing what I love.
I attended the Northeast Leaders’ Conference in Concord New Hampshire from January 12-14. It was great to see Northeast Grangers from all seven states. We had great workshops and learned much. After visiting 50 plus year friends in Derry on the way home, I got caught in a white- out snow squall while crossing southern New Hampshire. Getting through that, I blew a tire out when I hit a pothole in Brattleboro, Vermont in another squall which delayed my arrival in Connecticut a couple of hours. The tire was only about six months old. Well, what’s $250? Then, it was on to National Leaders’ Conference (formerly Presidents’ Conference) from February 16-18. Maggie and I drove to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We had a great time, again with valuable workshops and great camaraderie with Patrons from across the US. We were tasked to formulate new Mission and Vision statements for National Grange. The warmth was a nice winter break. On the way home, we crossed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, for the last time ever. Hank continues to accompany me on my Grange rounds and I’ve gotten rather fond of the little guy. Thanks for your confidence in me as I go about representing you, the Connecticut State Grange.
Remember that old saying that “you only have one chance to make a (good) first impression,” and don’t do anything to jeopardize that chance.
Fraternally,
Robert A. Buck State
President |
