LEGISLATIVE
VERMONT GRANGERS WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Director: Kathleen Paglia, 1328 Rte. 100A, Bridgewater Corners, VT 05035
Phone: 802-672-1067 Email: [email protected]
The Granges should focus their Legislative endeavors on local government and issues. This will allow communities to see what Grangers are concerned within their communities.
Programs to consider might be:
Duties of Subordinate/Community Legislative Chair
The National Grange website (www.nationalgrange.org) is a great source of National policy updates.
Resolution Process
Writing a Grange Resolution
The Title - The title should clearly state the issue to be addressed. Be clear about the topic, the more specific you are the easy it is to differentiate between resolutions on similar topics.
The Body - The body of the resolution is where you get to make your argument for why this resolution is necessary. This section does not become policy but explains to other Grangers why the issue is important and provides details, data, and other reference material so they can be better educated on voting for the issue. It is important to note that these should be rooted in facts and not based on the opinions of the writer.
The Conclusion - The conclusion must be a complete sentence which sums up what your resolution is trying to achieve and can stand alone without any of the supporting information.
Example - Deregulation of the Postal Service
WHEREAS the federal government imposes unreasonable regulations and mandates on the U.S. Postal Service but no longer funds any of the organization’s operating costs; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Postal Service will continue to be forced to close local post offices and reduce services under such a business model; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Postal Service could survive and compete if allowed to create its own business model free of Congressional oversight; and
WHEREAS the National Grange has a rich tradition in helping to ensure the rural free delivery of mail; therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the National Grange support legislation that creates an autonomous U.S. Postal Service, which can set its own operating procedures and business model without the undue regulation of the federal government.
VERMONT GRANGERS WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Director: Kathleen Paglia, 1328 Rte. 100A, Bridgewater Corners, VT 05035
Phone: 802-672-1067 Email: [email protected]
The Granges should focus their Legislative endeavors on local government and issues. This will allow communities to see what Grangers are concerned within their communities.
Programs to consider might be:
- Host a candidate night for local offices – be sure to invite ALL candidates.
- Sponsor school or town budget meeting review prior to Annual Meeting
- Hold a public meeting highlighting a community concern such as a discussion on zoning or community development plans.
Duties of Subordinate/Community Legislative Chair
- Report at each Grange meeting on Legislative matters at local, county, state, and national levels
- Assist the Grange Members in writing resolutions.
- Attend Pomona and State Workshops
- Pomona is the Legislative Leader for the Subordinate Granges and needs to reach out to those Granges to insure they are informed on Grange policy concerning legislative matters
- Report at each Pomona meeting on Legislative matters at the county, state, and national levels
- Assist the Pomona members in writing resolutions (Host a Resolution Writing Workshop)
- Each Subordinate and Pomona Grange should be represented at the event.
The National Grange website (www.nationalgrange.org) is a great source of National policy updates.
- Refer to it for monthly updates of National Policy at www.nationalgrange.org/category/policy-updatesnews/
- Under Policy and Advocacy, you can find the history of the Grange and many of its Legislative policies.
- At Vermont Farm Bureau - Policy (vtfb.org) you can find Ag related legislation approved by Vermont Farm Bureau. You can sign up for their publication Vermont Farm Bureau - Under the Golden Dome (vtfb.org). “Under the Golden Dome”, is emailed weekly to subscribing members to keep Vermonters apprised of legislative developments at the Vermont Statehouse that affect agriculture.
- Vermont State Grange Legislative Policy Book – Updated each year after state session a copy is sent to each Grange and is available on the state website (www.vtstategrange.org). This covers all the current policies voted on by the delegates that are still current.
Resolution Process
- All Subordinate Granges will send a copy of any resolutions to their respective Pomona Secretary who will present it at the Pomona meeting. The Pomona Legislative Person should lead the discussion if possible.
- The Secretary of the Subordinate Grange is responsible for sending their resolutions to the State Grange Secretary by the August 1st deadline.
- Pomona resolutions must be sent to the State Secretary by the Pomona Secretary. All Subordinate Resolutions passed or changed (new approved sections or wording) by Pomona must be agreed upon by the Subordinate Grange who wrote the resolution.
- Subordinate resolutions not supported by Pomona can be sent by the Subordinate Grange but must say not supported or acted upon by Pomona. In this way, Pomona can still assist Subordinate Granges with the resolution process and still have their own. They can send a joint resolution stating: ‘offered by the Pomona and the original Subordinate Grange’.
- The Pomona Legislative person will send information about resolutions (passed or not) to the State Legislative Director for information purposes in their report.
Writing a Grange Resolution
The Title - The title should clearly state the issue to be addressed. Be clear about the topic, the more specific you are the easy it is to differentiate between resolutions on similar topics.
The Body - The body of the resolution is where you get to make your argument for why this resolution is necessary. This section does not become policy but explains to other Grangers why the issue is important and provides details, data, and other reference material so they can be better educated on voting for the issue. It is important to note that these should be rooted in facts and not based on the opinions of the writer.
The Conclusion - The conclusion must be a complete sentence which sums up what your resolution is trying to achieve and can stand alone without any of the supporting information.
Example - Deregulation of the Postal Service
WHEREAS the federal government imposes unreasonable regulations and mandates on the U.S. Postal Service but no longer funds any of the organization’s operating costs; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Postal Service will continue to be forced to close local post offices and reduce services under such a business model; and
WHEREAS the U.S. Postal Service could survive and compete if allowed to create its own business model free of Congressional oversight; and
WHEREAS the National Grange has a rich tradition in helping to ensure the rural free delivery of mail; therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the National Grange support legislation that creates an autonomous U.S. Postal Service, which can set its own operating procedures and business model without the undue regulation of the federal government.
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