82-Lanc<istef Farming, Saturday, November 1, 1997
Four-Generation Family
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
READING (Berks Co.) —Hun-
dreds of Grangers gathered this
week for a “family” reunion.
“Grange is family,” said Brian
Ebersole, a college student, who
was attending the five-day conven
tion of the Pennsylvania State
Grange.
Held Oct. 25-29 in the Scottish
Rite Cathedral, Reading, the 125th
anniversity session marked
Brian’s grandfather, Paul Britcher
Sr., 60th year as a member.
“I wanted my five children to
always enjoy the Grange so I gave
them lifetime memberships,”
Britcher said.
His gift is not considered coer
cion but a valued opportunity for
the four generations of his family
who attended this year’s
convention.
“I wouldn’t know my best
friends if it weren’t for the
Grange,” said Brian’s sister Stacy.
Brian and Stacy grew up know
ing that vacation always merit
attending a Grange convention.
They are enthusiastic and vocal
about Grange membership. The
two previously won appointment
as national public speakers and
9 -m jr -m - ■ — a. hi « _ _ The state convention is only one
mmmmm ■jl J I. '* I*| ' ff week of the three that the Bricker
9 II f /1/1 t m r" A-l m I offspring spend with their “Grange
» iVXjL f JL ■ 11/ family.” In the spring, they take off
■JL JEL -r- . —i ■-]« ■ -i a week for Grange camp and in two
I m y f weeks they will attend the national
I ■ mm r" Grange convention in
jL w Massachuset.
Women’s Director Finds Grange Patriotic, Religious,
Family-Oriented, Just Plain Friendly
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
READING (Berks Co.)
Behind every successful organiza
tion are dedicated hard workers.
Rebecca Michalka is one of
those for the Pennsylvania State
Grange.
For 13 years, she’s the person in
charge of the women’s activities.
This means she plans and organ
izes the hundreds of needlework
From left, Evelyn Cottrell of Susquehanna Co., Ruth Wallis of Lycoming Co., and
Evelyn Grant of Jefferson Co the quilts Grangers made for AIDS tables.
Grange Is
travelled across the U.S. to prom
ote the Grange.
Brian, a student at Ursinus Col
lege, plans to become a politician.
Despite the prospect of a hectic
lifestyle, Brian is adamant' “I nev
er want to give up Grange.”
His 24-year-old sister Stacy was
graduated from the University of
Pittsburgh and returned to her
hometown to work in a bank and to
save as master of the Perry Coun
ty Pomona Grange—a position
that delights her grandfather.
His daughter Martha Ebersole
credits him with instilling creativi
ty in carrying out many Grange
responsibilities.
Martha is the state youth direc
tor for four years. About 80 youth
attended youth activities during
the weekend session.
Her kids credit her for transfer
ring her leadership ability to them,
but they also offer some advice to
their mother when she gets frus
trated “mothering” so many youth.
They tell her: “Don’t try to be a
mother to every one, just be there.”
Martha’s husband Ray is also an
active Granger. “He’s my best
man,” Martha said of her hus
band’s support of her year-round
duties as state youth director.
and craft projects that are entered
for competition and for distribu
tion at die annual state Grange con
vention. She also plans annual
baking contests. And, under Beck
y’s organization, the Grange has
printed three cookbooks. The most
recent one was just released in
celebration of the 12Sth anniver
sary celebration of the Grange.
“Becky,’’ as she is most often
called, lives within one mile of the
Martha selected the sunflower
as the emblem for the Grange
youth. She said. “I chose the sun
flower because the Grange is just
like it in that it is blooming and
growing across Pennsylvania.
The perky flowers were evident
on “sunflower designed” vests,
shirts, and corsages—many made
by the elder Britcher.
“Dad can make everything,” his
daughter Isabelle Myers said of
Britcher.
Now 74 years old, Britcher uses
the skills he obtained by working
in a garment factory. He sews
everything from a country rabbit
used as a Grange fundraiser to the
sunflower• vests worn by his
daughters to promote the Grange.
Britcher is typical of Grangers
who believe in doing everything
they can to help others.
The Grange is lauded for their
work with the deaf. Britcher, his
children, and grandchildren have
learned to sign songs as part of
their Grange involvement
Bricker said of his 60-year
involvement with the Grange; “It’s
changed in some procedures, but
the Grange is still made up of close
knit and kind people. I can go to a
Grange meeting in any state and
feel welcome wherever I go.”
Washington County home in
which she was bom.
Church, Grange, and family
activities fill her life. As a young
teen-ager she became pianist and
organist at the church where she
now is choir director and organist
She and her husband John mar
ried 47 years ago and joined the
Grange about 30 years ago.
Becky said that she joined
because she knew school friends
IsSL
.**
- *
L *
Family
Active In Grange
Paul Brltcher Sr. Is proud that four generations of his
family travel as a family to participate in Grange functions at
local, county, state, and national levels. He Is surrounded
by his daughter Martha Ebersole, left, and her children
Brian and Stacy. Another of Brltcher’s daughters, Isabelle
Myers Is at right with grandson Derek. The 74-year-old
Brltcher stitched the vests his daughters are wearing and
the black velvet dress worn by his granddaughter.
John and Becky Michalka from Washington County like
the Grange because “It’s patriotic, religious, family
oriented, and Just plain friendly.”
who were involved in the Grange, working at the state level.”
Becky soon became women’s That was 13 yean ago, proof
activity director for Washington that Becky is doing riiligmt work
County. About 13 years ago, the in the appointment that is renewed
state master attended a meeting every two yean,
where Becky reported on the Nothing thrills Becky mm thy.
women’s activities. He was quoted to see the hundreds of
,«s saying. “Igot tpget that woman (Ture k».Pw B 3). ’