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The Master’s meeting took place in Orlando over President’s day weekend. As the weather in the Mid-Atlantic States was rather severe, a number of officers and Masters were unable to attend. Br. Ed Lutterell gave us an update of the progress in organizing new Granges in several states and the plan to get Granges organized in Arkansas and Utah. Grange growth is possible and you will be hearing more about this later in the year.
The Grange name protection program is proceeding with much success. After Tyson backed off, the National Grange has proceeded to go after the other companies falsely using our name. Most drop the name usage and some enter a license agreement. The legal side of the problem has progressed very well. The down side of these actions is that the lawyers have charged the National Grange in excess of $200,000.00 for these services. Last year, the donations from local Granges, like yours and mine, have been almost none existent resulting in a severe deficit. This fight is really your fight and the ability of your Grange to have exclusive right to use the Grange name. Please consider sending more donations to the fight to keep the Grange name ours.
HEAR YE! Hear Ye The State officers are coming to your Pomona. Letters have been sent to all but one Pomona announcing our pending visit as a group. We have not done this for a while and I feel it is necessary to reaffirm the bonds between the Pomona officers and the State Officers. I would like very much to meet with the local Grange masters within the Pomona at these meetings. Contact your Pomona and find out from them when we are coming. For those Masters not yet 5th degree members, these meetings will be open per the latest digest meaning you are welcome to attend.
Be Kind. If you know someone who does not have a computer and would like a copy of the News, please print them one. Thank you.
Fraternally,
Calvin C. Chase, Jr.
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