We Have a Winner!
The Posters and Essays have been judged and returned to the students.

We congratulate those who received top honors and thank all the students and schools who participated. We also thank all the Granges that sponsored the very interesting entries.

Poster winners are:

1st - Lydia Gillette sponsored by Crawford Co. Pomona Grange
2nd - Hannah Kolmansberger sponsored by Perry Valley Grange
3rd - Rutger Scherer sponsored by Virginville Grange
HM - Kelsey Keener sponsored by Perry Valley Grange

Essay winners are:

1st - Kevin Kessinger
2nd - Brianna Saraino
3rd - Sarah Fisher
HM - Austin Richards

All of the winning Essays were sponsored by Perry Valley Grange.

You might be interested to know that the judges remarked that they had learned a thing or two themselves from the posters and essays and that they were impressed by the degree of ‘hand work’ done (free hand drawing) to make several of the winning entries.

Consider putting the Poster and Essay Contests on your Grange calendar for next year. Do you know a teacher or staff person from your local school? Perhaps they could help you get to the right people to get it on the school events planned for art or English/writing classes.

You’ve Got Mail!
All the Grange Secretaries should have received the appeal letter by now. If you haven’t, please let me know and we can get one out to you.
Please be as generous as you can as you consider this appeal.

The Price of Gas
My friend Dane sent me a great resource to check locally for the best gas prices. You put in the zip code (for your home or work or even a vacation site) and you get about 15 stations and brands of gas and a map that shows you where the places are located. The address is:

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx

It’s also helpful in my travels to plan if I need gas for a return trip.

Family Festival
Are you all set to go? The Deaf and Community Service Department will be collecting the items for Shoeboxes for Soldiers and Dino and friends will be coming to pick up our donations.

I just got a letter from Dino the other day thanking all the members who have continued to support the troops with their Shoebox donations.
Please bring your items to our display area as soon as you settle in. Seems that there is always someone who wasn’t aware of the time frame and brings the items to us after the bulk of them have been picked up.

We will also have our ‘Chinese Auction’ during the Festival. You have until Saturday evening to buy your chances to win whatever it is that catches your eye.

Things will change just a bit from last year. Names will not be drawn and announced during the evening. We will draw and post the winning numbers then announce your name when you can come see if you are the lucky winner.

Grange D&CS Reports
Does your Grange have an individual or a committee to fill out your report form? Add a picture or two of your favorite events and send it in.
Reports are due by Sept. 15. The report form should be forwarded to:

Lois Steele, Director
D&CS Dept.
5 Buttonwood Dr.
West Grove, PA 19390

Your report doesn’t have to be judged if you don’t want it to be. The important point is that you send in a report.

PA State Grange gets credit (in the way of financial support) for the top judged reports. We have to have a specific percentage of reports to qualify. Don’t let us down.

A Bit of Mindfulness
Remember in the summer, kids are everywhere. Keep an eye out for them.

Watch out for the bees. If you get stung, did you know that putting (taping) a penny on the site for 15 minutes will stop the redness and swelling as well as the hurt? Seems the copper in the penny counteracts the sting. This information is from my wise little sister, Ginne.

An Age Old Thought
There is an Irish proverb that may suit you on a day when you are feeling your ‘age’ - “Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege.”

Be your best you that you can.

That’s if from my desk.

Lois