Grange News

This area's Horizons Program meetings began on Sunday at the Grays River Grange Hall. Did you know that the Horizons is a community leadership program aimed at reducing poverty in small rural and reservation communities (population less than 5,000) faced with economic decline and demographic change? The program’s goal is to help communities understand poverty, commit to action to change it, and then bring about lasting change.

Horizons explores the perceptions and sources of poverty, recognizing that it isn’t always just about lack of money. Poverty impacts everyone in a community. Horizons builds stronger community leadership, acknowledging that leadership is as important as good roads, great schools and clean water. This initiative embraces the entire community: everyone is needed and everyone has something to contribute. For communities to thrive, everyone has to have an opportunity to prosper.

Horizons helps communities to meet three main outcomes in each of its areas of focus: building knowledge and awareness, building skills and mobilizing, and taking action.

Additional meetings at Grays River Grange will be each Sunday in February as well as March 4 from 1-4 p.m. For more information call Carrie Kennedy at the WSU Extension Service.

Catlin Grange #199 located at 207 Shawnee Street, Kelso will be celebrating 100 years since their Grange was organized as well as the 100 year birthday for their Cowlitz County Pomona # 7 on Sunday February 11 at 2 p.m. This is going to be a great celebration so I want to encourage all Grangers to plan to join in the fun. These are very active Granges and should be congratulated on many years of a great job, well done.