Show Time! The 2011 National Grange Legislative Fly-In is here!

We’ve finally made it! This coming week, from Sunday the 22^nd to Tuesday the 24^th, the National Grange Legislative Department will be hosting our annual Legislative Fly-In here in Washington D.C.! We are very excited and have planned some exceptional events aimed at re-igniting Grangers’ commitments to an active citizen government. Setting the tone of leadership, we’ll begin by touring George and Martha Washington’s beautiful Mt. Vernon Estate in Virginia, after which we will be dropped off on Capitol Hill for each attendee to meet with their elected representatives. Later that evening, our members will be having dinner at a local hot spot with our guest speaker, Scott LaGanga, Deputy Vice President of Federal Alliance Development and Public Affairs at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), to learn about how the Affordable Care Act implementation is progressing. On Tuesday, activities start with breakfast and an issue briefing by John Blanchfield, Senior Vice President for the Center for Agricultural and Rural Banking. After more congressional visits, Tuesday’s lunch will be hosted by AT&T at their Innovation Center in Washington D.C., where our members will be briefed on Telehealth and how it is changing the face of rural healthcare.

The Legislative Department looks forward to our annual Fly-In for several reasons, but primarily because it grants our members the opportunity for face-to-face communication with their representatives in Congress. It takes many phone calls, emails, and faxes but the Grange Legislative Department does its best to arrange meetings for all our attendees, allowing them to sit and speak with their representatives and/or their staff to discuss pressing issues facing Grange Halls across America.

While scheduling appointments, we are honored to witness the name recognition that the Grange still enjoys. Having been founded in 1867, the Grange is one of the oldest lobbies in Washington and still maintains a presence in the world of agricultural and rural politics. Hosting an annual Legislative Fly-In only serves as a reminder that Grangers are still committed to celebrating their citizenship and engaging with their government on behalf of their communities. I’d like to extend a very special thanks to everyone who helped with the Fly-In, be it in donations or packing envelopes. Your efforts and support help carry on the Grange name and our worthy cause. See you soon everybody!

Grace Boatright

National Grange Programs Assistant