Updated: June 12, 2003
---------Olympia -- Grange leaders across Washington are making plans to attend the 114th annual convention of the Washington State Grange in Okanogan.
The convention, scheduled for June 25-28 at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds, is expected to draw nearly 1,000 Grange members for all or part of the session.
Gov. Gary Locke will be the keynote speaker for the convention; he is scheduled to address delegates on Friday, June 27, at 9:45 a.m. Also speaking that morning will be Valoria Loveland, director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland. Five area legislators will visit the convention on Friday. U.S. Rep. George R. Nethercutt, Jr. will speak to the convention on Saturday, June 28, at 11:30 a.m.
Terry Hunt, president of the State Grange, will serve as presiding officer at the session and he will officially open the business session of the Grange convention on Wednesday evening, June 25. 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 Thursday afternoon through Friday and the talent program, also open to the public, will be Friday evening starting at 8 p.m.
###
Editors: The Grange media kit is online at www.wa-grange.org/press_releases/mediakit.htm
The convention press room can be reached by phone June 25-28 at (509) 422-2132. (Fax 509-422-2866)
For more information contact Larry Clark, Communications Director, (360) 943-9911