For Immediate Release
Contact: Larry Clark

Olympia, June 14 -- Grange leaders across Washington are making plans to attend the 113^th annual convention of the Washington State Grange in Everett.

The convention, scheduled for June 23-28 at the Everett High School, is expected to draw more than 1,000 Grange members for all or part of the session.

This year's convention will be especially significant because of several recent high profile activities. Washington's 50,000 member Grange organization has received public praise this past year because of a decision in March by the U.S. District Court validating the constitutionality of the state's blanket primary law that was originally implemented in 1934 due to Grange action. The state's political parties had challenged the blanket primary process in court and the Washington State Grange joined with the Secretary of State in opposing the parties. Recently the Grange also received a $320,560 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to set up Internet centers in Grange halls located in rural locations across Washington state.

Terry Hunt, master (CEO) of the State Grange, will serve as presiding officer at the session and he will officially open the business session of the Grange convention at 1 p.m. Monday, June 24. A large batch of resolutions submitted by local Granges across the state will constitute the bulk of the business occupying the delegates. The resolutions cover a broad range of topics from internal organizational matters to legislative policies, Hunt said.

Among the convention highlights are an annual State Grange talent contest and large displays of handiwork, photography, arts and crafts submitted for competition by Grangers and others across Washington. These displays are open to the public Tuesday afternoon through Thursday and the talent program, also open to the public, will be Sunday evening starting at 7 p.m. in the Everett Civic Auditorium.

Special speakers expected to address the convention include newly appointed director of the State Department of Agriculture Valoria Loveland who will speak Thursday, June 27, at 1:30 p.m. Also appearing will be the new Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Doug MacDonald. He is scheduled to speak Thursday, June 27, at 10 a.m. State Reps. Aaron Reardan and Jean Berkey of the 38^th District are scheduled for Tuesday, June 25, at 11:15 a.m. and attorney Jim Johnson, who represented the State Grange in federal court with its successful defense of the blanket primary, will speak at 3 p.m. Monday.

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Editors: The Grange media kit is online at www.wa-grange.org/news/mediakit.htm