A2€-L«nc«stef Farming, Saturday, October 30, 1998
(Continued from Page A 1)
“And cooperation. I believe in per
sonal liberties. And I am over
whelmed the ways we are losing
our freedoms."
like many young men and
women of the time, Dawson
enlisted, sometimes waiting in line
for the chance to fight for freedom.
In 1946, he said, more than
3,000 joined the state Grange at
one time. But ever since, agricul
ture and the rural economy have
changed, promoting new “diversi
ties,” he said. “We’ve had to pick
our little niches, to get people
interested in participating."
Dawson, who has served on the
Ohioville Borough Council for 24
years, began a hunting club within
the Fairview Grange about a year
ago, the While tail Group. He also
helped sell a parcel of Grange
property to the Ohioville Fire
Department for truck and equip
ment bousing. He was directly
involved in the installation of a
handicapped-use ramp to the
entrance of the Grange hall. Daw
son donates material and time to
enhance the building housing the
Grange and has worked with legi
slators on several issues.
In a letter of recommendation
submitted by Janet E. Fishovitz,
Pennsylvania State Orange Flora,
Fishovitz refers to Dawson as “Mr.
Grange.”
She wrote, “(Dawson) speaks
Grange to everyone and truly is
always seeking to get new
members.”
Dawson served many offices in
his subordinate Grange, of which
he is Master, as Past Pomona Mas
ter, and legislative chairman for
the Pennsylvania State Grange.
When Dawson accepted the
award from Bill Steel, state
Grange Master, Dawson said,
“There isn’t anything I’m more
proud of than the Grange
organization.’’
Dawson said, “If you don’t get
out to work to build the Grange, it
won’t grow. If you don’t ask (peo
ple) to join Grange, they won’t
join. It behooves everyone to ask
everyone you think should join the
Grange. You don’t know until you
ask.” If you do ask, he said, “you’d
be surprised how many of them say
‘yes.’”
The main challenge for Grange
is to spread the word about Grange
itself. “We’re not getting the mes
sage out about what the organiza
tion is, how great it is, and what it
stands for," he said.
Paul and Phyllis Dawson have a
son, Barry, a minister, married to
Shelly, who work in Tokyo, Japan;
State Grange awarda, county level, were given to Berks
Pomona #43, first place; Huntingdon, Pomona #6, second
place; and Northumberland/Montour/Union, Pomona #3l,
third. From left, Joan Keith, Huntingdon; Fern Kulp, Berks;
and Dorothy Krouse, Northumberland.
We’re Losing Our Freedoms, Says
Granger Of Year At State Banquet
At the 127th annual banquet meeting Monday evening in
Allentown, Chariea, pictured here, and Judy Hallman of the
Pennsylvania Foster Parents Association spoke about the
work Grange has done for the association.
a daughter, Kathy Austin, married
to Paul, in Salisbury, Md.; and five
grandchildren.
The 1998 Granger of the Year,
Jennifer Viscusi, said that she
helped experience her goal of
speaking about Grange to the
schools. She thanked those who
helped her volunteer time for
youth to “allow them to take con
trol into the next generation,”
according to Viscusi.
At the 127th annual banquet
meeting Monday evening in Allen
town, Charles and Judy Hallman
of the Pennsylvania Foster Parents
Association spoke about the work
Grange has done for the
association.
Charles, who grew up in a small
farm in Montgomery County, said
that the association deals with
between 6,000-7,000 foster
parents at any time and
15,000-16,000 foster children. “To
me, that’s terrible," said Hallman.
He said, with the fund-raising
work done by the Grange, the asso
ciation can do what it can “to keep
kids in our homes," to break the
JoAnn . .. . .
show with her Juggling act at
the elate Grange convention.
cycles of abuse, to “nurture them
and keep them out of the system.”
Through the work of the Bowl
Across America program, about
$lB,OOO was raised at the national
level, and Pennsylvania’s contri
bution was all but $4,000. The Val
ley Grange in York County alone
raised between $12,000- $14,000.
At the banquet, the Most Valu
able Recruiter award went to Eve
lyn Wood, Washington. Accepting
for Wood was Bob Moore,
Washington.
Glenn Gross, Emlenton,
accepted the All-Star Grange
Award for Scrubgrass Grange,
Number 1705, Clintonville.
State Grange awards, county
level, were given to Berks Pomona
#43, first place; Huntingdon,
Pomona #6, second place; and
Northumbcrland/Mootour/Union,
(Turn to Page A 27)
Members of several state Granges attended the meeting.
They Included, from left. Jack Robinson, New Jersey Mas
ter; Bill Steel, Pennsylvania Master; John Thompson, Mary
land Master; and Mervln Richard, Delaware Master.
At the banquet, the Most Valuable Recruiter Award went
to Evelyn Wood, Washington. Accepting for Wood was Bob
Moore, Washington, right. At left is Bill Steel, Pennsylvania
Grange Master.
Glenn Groee, Emlenton, left, accepted the All-Star
P 1 ”*® rd L for Scrubgraaa Grange, Number 1705, Clin
tonville. At right la Bill Steel, Pennaylvania Grange Master.