A. The Junior Grange program remains under the direction of State Junior Director and continues to be a successful part of the Grange program. Each local grange needs to give its active support to their Junior Grange and if they do not have one, consider how they can reach out to the community to interest boys and girls to join a Junior Grange. All Junior Grange activities and programs are in the Junior Handbook, which is available from the State Junior Director.

B. The Youth Program is now headed by Denise Kelsey and will revitalize the Grange Youth Slogan "I'd be delighted". The youth are being encouraged to be active in their own local Grange and can only be successful if all the other adult members recognize the potential of active young people in the organization. Remember historically, youth were welcomed as full members until age of 16 because of their importance on the family farm. Make them welcome in the Grange family in the same way.

C. Family Weekend -This project is coordinated by the Family Advocacy Department and the "other State Grange Departments. Plans have been made for a three-day weekend at the State Grange Headquarters on June 13, 14, 15, 2008. Rooms will be available at the Quality Inn at the State Grange rate and camping will be available at the Country Music Campgrounds or the Yellow Kampground. Both of these facilities are located within a couple of miles of the headquarters. A registration fee of $25.00 will be charged to all attending which will cover supplies, expenses of guests, and most of the food. A family rate maximum of $45.00 will be charged for families with children under the age of 14. Registration will be made through the State Headquarters. The registration form will be available later this year. During this weekend, instructional classes will be held on Saturday Morning and craft and recreational activities have been planned for Saturday afternoon. There are some special tours available for those who want to go somewhere extra. Special programs and activities will be available for Juniors and Youth. The state contests for Sign-A-Song, Public Speaking, and Talent will be held on Saturday evening to be followed by a camp fire. Sunday morning will include a special program. Our top priority is to encourage a lot of Grange family fellowship and fun. As plans for this weekend become finalized they will be sent to all Granges as well as being published in the Empire State Granger.

D. Emergency Preparedness -To continue to make families and the community aware of the need to be always be prepared for emergencies or disasters. In the event of a weather-related, man-made or other emergency, every family needs to be able to survive in their home for up to 3 days. The following suggestions are made for Granges to use as a program or an open meeting. People should be prepared for any type of emergency.

     1. Make a family communication plan. You never know where you will be during a disaster so it is important that your family have a Family Communication Plan. This plan should be quick and simple to execute easy for the whole family to understand, and updated frequently with all family members. This plan should include a list of telephone numbers of family members including at least one out of town relative, telephone numbers of emergency services such as doctors, dentists, fire company, rescue squad, ambulance, and the local rescue squad. Copies of this list should be in every home and automobile.

     2. Prepare a First Aid Kit for the home, for the car and for the Grange hall. The Red Cross and FEMA have information on this and could be asked to present this information at meeting.

     3. Each Grange family needs to be fully informed on how to put an emergency disaster survival kit for the home, for the car and possibly one to stay in the Grange Hall. What you have on hand when a disaster happens can make a big difference. Plan to store enough supplies for everyone in your household for at least 3 days. Most of us have food stored for a period of time but we need to be sure that we have ready-to-eat, nonperishable foods that will last at least 3 days. Some other items that we will need in an emergency are: a manual can opener, matches in a waterproof container, at least one gallon of water per person per day, a portable battery-powered radio and extra batteries, flashlight and extra batteries, special supplies for infants, supplies for pets, plastic bags for sanitation, bleach for disinfecting, and a supply of prescription medicines. Also be sure there are clothes ready for current weather conditions. Food supplies should be rotated every 6 months.

     4. During the winter months it is advisable to keep an emergency kit in the car also.

     5. The Red Cross is also in need of volunteers to help with emergencies or disasters. The Red Cross would be willing to train anyone interested in assisting such as registering individuals coming in to shelters. The Red Cross can always use help.

E. Instruction for crafts or Handiwork. It is suggested that Grangers have classes to instruct people how to knit, crochet, or handiwork. It will hope to give new interest and new individuals will want to enter contests.

F. Craft and Handiwork Contest This area will involve those interested in crafts and will run from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008. ENTRIES ARE OPEN TO MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. NO PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE MAY ENTER ANY OF THESE CRAFTS.

     1. Woodworking Complete any type of woodworking not to exceed 20 x 24 inches Judging: Creativity -30%, Workmanship -40 %, Appearance -30%

     2. Quilting - Project Create a finished quilt project. You may use any type of thread or material except pre-quilted fabric. Any quilting method may be used.

          A. Small lap size or wall hanging

               1) Machine quilted

               2) Hand quilted

          B. Bed size

               1) Machine quilted

               2) Hand quilted

Judging: Originality -35%, Coordinating Colors -20% Stitching -45%

     3. Needlework

          A. Afghans -Baby size not more than 36"x 36"

          B Crocheted Doilies or Table runners

          C. Cross-stitch or Embroidery Any type of knitting, crocheting, embroidery, needlepoint, cross-stitch is acceptable. May use any brand of yarn, embroidery floss, etc.

     County Winners in these categories are to be sent to the State Headquarters for judging by September, 2008. The projects will be on display at the Lecturer's and FAC Workshop.

G. Baking Contest -Sponge Cake Use any recipe to make the sponge cake. The only criteria is to use yellow or "true" sponge cake baked in a tube pan. DO NOT use Frosting, icing, or filling. Chiffon and white angel food cakes and cakes from a mix are not eligible. County winners will be sent to State Grange for judging on Saturday of session in 2008.

H. Sports Program -Work out Your Worries

     BOWLING Bowling Chairman: Gerald Batsford 1199 Church ST. Cortland, NY 13045 607-835-6127 e-mail GABLAB1652@yahoo.com The State Bowling Competition is the first weekend in June each year. The applications are sent out by the 1st of April each year. The price may vary as the cost of the bowling goes up and we have to adjust accordingly. Please note that the rules are enclosed on a separate page. The bowling takes place at Cortlanes Bowling Alley in Cortland, N. Y. All fees are split to the winners after the bowling fees are paid. We do a 50/50 raffle to help pay for running the tournament. If you have any questions or need an entry forms please contact me. We also have a youth and special needs class to give them more handicap. As in all of our programs we support family fun. All members must be in good standing. Also teams members can be from anywhere from across the state.

     GOLF Golf Chairman: Carl Bullock P. O. Box 276 15 Ok Street McGraw, N.Y., 13101 607-836-7647 The State Golf Tournament is held in July each year. 2008 the tournament will be held on July 13th. This is a captain and crew team format that can be made up of 2 men and one woman, or 2 women and 1 man. Any team can be made up from across the state and don't have to be from the same Grange. This year we had 3 companies that helped sponsor us with door prices. If you have any questions please contact Carl Bullock.

     DARTBALL STATE CHAIRMAN TOM ECCLES RD#2 RANDOLPH, N.Y., 14772 (716) 358-6086 RULES: 1. All players must be Grange members in good standing. 2. Dartball Medical Rule: Anyone who has a medical problem (e.g. arthritis) may stand 17 feet from the playing field. These persons should be identified early in the league play. 3. If your Grange doesn't have a team your members may join another team. A person cannot join two teams in the same year. 4. Each league has a chairman who has final authority on all rules and regulations in that league. The state chairman has control over all regional and state playoffs. 5. Official dart boards and rules must be used. Center of home run must be 54 inches from the floor. Second base must be at the top of the board. The distance used is 20 feet from the board. Handicap distance is 17 feet. If using Junior Granges the distance is decided by their ages. Ages 5 to 9 years old can throw at 14 feet. Ages 10 to 13 Y2 is 17 feet. 6. All games must be played with at least 7 players and no more than 9. Of the 7 players you must have at least 2 women or 2 men playing at all times unless agreed upon by both teams. 7. All matches are to consist of 3 games of 7 innings each. No games can end in a tie. You must play extra innings to get a winner. All games will be reported to your league chairman. No games are to be forfeited. If games are not played they cannot be counted. 8. Substitutions are allowed as the same as in baseball. 9. All Playoff are to be played in a neutral hall. Playoff consists of the best 2 out of 3 games. 10. Leagues shall be completed by March 31st. Regional must be played by April 15th. 11. All leagues need to playa total of 12 games to go to regional or state playoffs. 12. During playoffs you must keep at least 8 feet between teams. Each team is set up a lineup with only the players in the lineup sitting in the row. Subs must sit in the spot of the person that they were subbing for. Six darts only per person can be thrown in warming up for playoffs. 13. Any team coming to state will play a total of 9 games that day. The playoffs start at 9.00 a.m. on the last Sunday of April. This is the same time every year. Each team has to play each other for 3 games. If ties for any on the four places occur at the end of the day, a one game tie breaker game is played. The winner takes that spot and the loser moves down one place. 14. Two identical State Grange dartball boards will be used at state playoffs. 15. Trophies will be awarded to all four teams at state playoff. 16. Each team must furnish their own equipment at all games. 17. All rules and score keeping are the same as baseball. Each team must furnish scorekeepers. Each team needs 1 umpire at the board at all times. Rules can be gotten from the State Dartball Chairman or by contacting the NYS Grange Sports Chairman.

     The National Grange "Family of the Year" Award is designed to identify and recognize outstanding Grange families. The Award is intended to acknowledge the accomplishments and achievements of a family in their local community and Grange. If your family has done something outstanding and has made a difference in your Grange or community, let us know. We want to celebrate your accomplishments and successes! Eligibility Requirements: All Grange families are eligible. A family can be defined as the following: a traditional family, a single parent family, a married couple, or a multigenerational family. Adults must be Grange members. Children 14 and older must be Grange members. Children 5-14 must be Junior Grange members if a Junior Grange is chartered in the area. Application Requirements: To be considered for the National Grange "Family of the Year" Award, please submit the following: Family of the Year" Questionnaire 1. Family Photograph 2. Letters of Recommendation (one from your Grange and one from a community group, church, school, etc) 3. Certification of Membership Rules: 1. The Family must meet the eligibility requirements 2. Families must submit all application requirements by September 15, 2008. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. 3. Answers and responses to the Questionnaire are to be limited to the space provided. Additional responses will not be considered. 4. Families can be nominated not more than once every 3 years. 5. A National Grange "Family of the Year" winner cannot be nominated again for 5 years. Selection Criteria: The "Family of the Year" Award will be given to three families based on the following selection criteria: Answers and Responses in the Questionnaire will be given a score of 1-5 by three individuals. The three families with the highest totals will be announced as the 2008 National Grange "Family of the Year". All nominated Grange families will receive recognition at the 2008 National Grange Convention in Cromwell, Connecticut. Three families will be selected and named "National Grange Family of Year". The National Grange Families of the Year will be presented and celebrated during the Evening of Excellence. Each "Family of the Year" will be presented with a plaque honoring their achievement. $250.00 will also be given to each National Grange "Family of the Year" attending the National Grange Convention in Cromwell. Connecticut. Please return the application by September 15th to the National Grange. 1616 H. Street NW, Washington, DC 20006-4999.