Technology!

Technology has certainly made it much easier for us to stay in touch. By logging onto the internet, you're able to keep up with the Grange much easier than ever before! If you haven't checked out all of the ways to stay connected to us, I urge you to do it! Not quite sure about all of this new stuff? I'll explain!

Website
This one is pretty self explanatory! The website is our "home" on the
web. You are able to click through each section of our website to find out news
and information about our many programs and services.

Main Blog
This blog provides general information and happenings of our organization.
There are dates to remember and pictures to look at!

Membership Blog
Membership Director, Jessica Horton, updates her blog as she makes her way
around North Carolina. She documents her efforts in starting new Granges,
recruiting new members and revitalizing Granges. She also works closely
with Rusty Hunt, Membership Director for the National Grange, in his efforts to
grow the Grange across the nation!

Legislative Blog
If you're reading this... you probably already know what the legislative
blog is all about. I keep you updated on recent votes of interest and
issues concerning the Grange. I also document my networking and visits
across the state. This is a way for our members to stay updated on the
action they need to take on issues that effect Grange policy.

Facebook Group
This is NOT an official group of the NC State Grange. However, it's a way
to connect to other Grangers! You will need to be a member of Facebook to access
this site. What is Facebook? Simply put, it's a website that was
designed for college students so that they could connect with others on
campus. You are able to create a profile about yourself including a
picture, interests and hobbies, etc. Then, you can become "Facebook friends"
with others by sending a request. You're able to join various groups on
Facebook. These groups have their own profile and are dedicated to one issue,
interest, subject, organization, etc. There is a "wall" on everyone's profile as well as within the group. On this wall, you're able to leave comments and start discussions with others who are members of the group. A Facebook group dedicated to Grange is: "I LOVE NC STATE GRANGE!!!!!!!!"

You can easily tap into the National Grange too! Check them out!

Website
Again, this is pretty self explanatory. The website provides tons of
information and resources for Grange members. Take a look around the site to see
what all they have to offer.

Blog
I found the blog this morning.. and it's brand new! Keep updated with this
blog and I'm sure you'll be "in the know" about everything going on in DC, in
other states and on the national level.

Facebook Group
Again, there is a group dedicated to the National Grange. There are updates
and links to happenings around the National Grange (such as National Convention
registration and Youtube videos) There is even a National Grange Youth
Facebook group which can be found here. Remember, you have to sign up for Facebook to view and/or join these groups.

Youtube
The National Grange has produced several videos that they have posted
online. These videos range in nature - some promote programs and events like
National Convention while others are messages from the National President.
Youtube is a website that was designed to allow people to upload videos and
share them with others. The National Grange has their own Youtube Channel where
all of their videos are available for viewing.

Twitter
The most recent craze is Twitter. Through Twitter, you can update 160 character messages that post to one website. These messages are called tweets. Movie stars tweet about new projects they're working on, musicians tweet about their concerts and regular folks tweet about everyday events of their lives. When you post a tweet on your Twitter page, it is updated automatically and others can read about what you update instantly. The National Grange's Twitter page has been used to instantly update followers about when registration forms are due, deadlines extended, new programs and links to articles of interest. You don't have to be a member of Twitter to follow the National Grange.

Don't think your Grange can join the technology bandwagon and get connected online? Think again! Look at how these Granges stay connected online!

Schley Grange's website
Cape Fear Grange's blog
Southern Wake Grange's Facebook page

Think it's too expensive to do all of these things? Nope! While it does cost money to host a website, there are free sites. However, these sites don't offer very many options with what you can post or upload online. There has been an effort on the part of the National Grange to set up a website which will allow local Granges to host their own website. I'll keep you updated on that information as it becomes available! Starting a blog and joining Youtube or Twitter is completely free! How can you sign up? Click the following links to take you to the "Sign up" page for each website.

Blog
Facebook
Youtube
Twitter

NEED HELP DOING ANY OF THIS?? Call the State office! Allison or Jessica can help you get started!

STATE CONVENTION

This past weekend the NC State Grange held our annual State Convention in Fayetteville. It's one of those events that every Granger looks forward to and this year was no different! A large portion of our convention is spent discussing resolutions which, if approved, become legislative policy. We discuss these resolutions within 4 committees - Agriculture & Environment, Health Education & Welfare, Legislative & Taxation, Grange Law & Programs. Each of these committees spends time reading through resolutions and debating the issues. When the committees finish their work, their resolutions are brought to the session floor and delegates are able to discuss and vote on the resolutions. Two delegates represent each Grange. When the voting is finished - the NC State Grange has lots of new legislative policy! Our Grange members put in some serious hard work this weekend...

and now my hard work begins! I am now working on putting the 2010 Legislative Policy Book together.. which will be full of new policy. I send a copy of this book to each President & Legislative Director. However, if you would like a copy of the book please let me know and I will be happy to send you one. Aside from putting this book together, it is my job to take your concerns to Raleigh. I will do my best to work on your behalf when I visit members of the General Assembly. I hope that I can represent you in the best way possible.

Thanks for all of your hard work this weekend & I look forward to seeing you all soon!

California's Manmade Drought

In case some of you haven't seen or heard about this issue, the water has been turned off in the Central Valley of California because the Delta Smelt (a minnow) gets caught in the pump and environmentalists hope to help save the fish. However, this area of California is full of fertile farmland that has become a desert filled with dead crops. Many have lost their jobs - in one area the unemployment rate has reached 40%. Take about 5 minutes to watch this video which aired in May on "Hannity". The video was taken from Rep. Devin Nunes' Youtube page. In describing the issues in this video, he begins with this statement: "Let me be honest: When I get hungry, I walk into the kitchen, wash an apple, slice it and slap some peanut butter on it. Or sometimes I grab a can of almonds, pour a few in my hand and enjoy a little healthy snack. But, never do I think about where the foods are grown or how much work went into growing them." Many Americans think that food comes from the grocery store and are completely blind to what actually goes into growing a crop.

Cass Sunstein Confirmed

Source: Foxnews.com

The Senate on Wednesday voted to confirm President Obama's nominee for "regulatory czar," overcoming months of delay due to Republican concerns that he would push a radical animal rights agenda.

Senators voted 57-40 to approve Harvard professor Cass Sunstein as the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Budget and Management.

As regulatory czar, Sunstein will review and provide guidance for draft federal regulations at different federal agencies. It is a wide-ranging and largely unrestrained position in the executive branch.

That's a large part of the reason Sunstein's positions on animal rights have become worrisome to his critics. Despite his assurances to the contrary, Sunstein has spoken stridently in favor of allowing people the right to bring suit on behalf of animals in animal cruelty cases and to restrict what he calls the more horrific practices associated with industrial breeding and processing of animals for food.

Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia had placed a "hold" on his nomination to prevent a vote from coming to the floor. Chambliss lifted his hold in July because he said Sunstein had convinced him that he wouldn't impose new restrictions on agriculture or hunting.

SENATOR BURR VOTED NO

SENATOR HAGAN VOTED YES

Cass Sunstein

Yesterday, the Senate invoked cloture on debate on the confirmation of Cass Sunstein to head the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The NC State Grange opposes his confirmation and has contacted both Senator Hagan and Senator Burr. His views on animal rights are far too extreme and we don't believe he will protect producers from regulation of animal agriculture. We believe his influence within the White House could lead to the decline or elimination of animal agriculture. I believe Cass Sunstein's own words can explain why we oppose his confirmation:

"We should focus attention not only on the 'enforcement gap' but on the areas where current law offers little or no protection. In sort, the law should impose further regulation on hunting, scientific experiments, entertainment, and (above all) farming to ensure against unnecessary animal suffering."

"Less modestly, anticruelty laws should be extended to areas that are now exempt from them, including scientific experiments and farming."

"There should be extensive regulation of the use of animals in entertainment, in scientific experiments, and in agriculture. It also suggests that there is a strong argument, in princple, for bans on many current uses of animals."

"It seems possible, however, that before long, Congress will grant standing to animals to protect their own rights and interests. ... Indeed, I believe that in some circumstances, Congress should do just that, to provide a supplement to limited public enforcement efforts."

"Representatives of animals should be able to bring private suits to ensure that anticruelty and related laws are actually enforced. If, for example, a farm is treating horses cruelly and in violation of legal requirements, a suit could be brought, on behalf of those animals, to bring about compliance with the law."

Farms should be more heavily regulated? Animals should sue their owners?

Senator Burr will be voting against his confirmation. I cannot reach Senator Hagan's office, but have left word with her Raleigh office that if she votes for the confirmation, I would like to be contacted with a reason why.

UPDATE: I was able to reach Senator Hagan's office. The assistant I spoke with said that she was satisfied with Sunstein's nomination and voted for cloture last night. When asked if she was satisfied with his views on animals as they pertain to agriculture, he stated that his writings do not necessarily reflect what he will actually do or have the ability to do. Our concerns with his views were noted and will be passed along to the Senator. If she votes for the confirmation, a response as to why she could support an individual who would have the influence to harm our state's number one industry was requested.

Plant-a-row to feed the hungry

I just had to post a link to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture's blog which provides information on a program being organized by organizations interested in helping feed the hungry in the Triangle.

CHECK IT OUT!

Presidents & Legislative Directors

I came across this quote & I thought I'd share it with you. I encourage you all to take the advice to be an effective leader!

"Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out." - Ronald Reagan