Denise Kelsey, NY State Grange Youth Director

Over the past four years we have had several active Junior Grange members graduate from the Junior program and move on into the Subordinate Grange. We have never seen these members again! After being very active in the Junior Grange program they do not participate in the Community Grange program at all.

In an effort to keep our graduating Junior Grangers involved in Grange we started a group of older Junior members and youth members. We have no strict age limits since we have told the Junior members that if they were truly interested in a certain activity, they could participate in it.

We try to have the OJAYs meet at least once a month (sometimes it is more than once during a month), and we try to do at least one community service a month. The only “rule” we have is that all members who chose to attend an event must participate in that activity. They may not stand around and talk or complain about the activity. That rule has made these activities more fun for everyone involved and only once did some of the Junior members give a leader (a parent) a little grief.

A movie night with a newly released rented movie and popcorn.

Also, and probably most importantly, the OJAYs are often called upon to help at the different Junior Grange meetings and special events.

We plan to continue this group with a wide variety of activities in the current year. We hope that some of the older Junior members will now maintain a relationship with the Grange after they graduate from Junior Grange. And we hope that we will be able to continue to ask them to be involved in helping with the Junior Grangers Special events.

• Six Grange youth will be given the opportunity to participate in a year.
• This opportunity is for Grange youth between the ages of 16 and 24.
• Each youth will serve on one of the legislative committees reviewing resolutions as a voting member of the committee.

• Legislative Director.
• Participants will watch the delegate body take action on the resolutions and assist in other ways.
• This is a once in a lifetime opportunity at this point in time.
• As guests of the National Grange their room cost will be paid (which will be shared with other participants)

• meals and tickets to certain meal functions.
• There are no state requirements that have to be met in order to apply.
• Letters of recommendation from your Subordinate (community) Grange Master and your State Grange Master are required.
• Applications are due to the National Youth Development Director September 10th.
• You’ll attend the National Grange convention from Sunday thru Saturday!

As of March 1, 2008, I will be stepping down as the National Grange Youth Development Director and a new leader will be stepping up and leading the Youth department.

I have learned a great deal about Grangers across the nation over the last six years. For the most part it has been a delightful experience and I am very proud of the youth that are a part of the Grange. Some of these youth are truly amazing individuals and have accomplished so much that I look forward to seeing their leadership skills continue to develop and seeing them take on the leadership roles of the Grange.

It was a huge job to undertake and as time went by I learned what to do and I’m sure that I drove some of you crazy with the paper that was used to get the word out about the programs.

I hope that you will welcome a new leader and give them the respect that they deserve by stepping up to take on this job. It’s not the easiest job in the world, nor it the hardest, but it can be one of the most challenging.

I learned that youth are just as resistant to change as “Adults” are and maybe even a little bit more. But every day we face changes, they might not be noticeable changes but they are changes.

Thank you for your support and cooperation, but mostly for your friendship. May God continue to guide you and direct you as you do your work in the Grange.

Teamwork is the concept of people working together cooperatively. Projects require that people work together, so teamwork has become an important concept in organizations. Effective teams are an intermediary goal towards getting good, sustainable results.

Aside from any required technical proficiency, a wide variety of social skills desirable for successful teamwork, include:

• Listening
• Questioning
• Persuading
• Respecting
• Helping
• Sharing
• Participating
• Communication

Teamwork Quotes and Proverbs

• There is no “I” in “Teamwork.”
• Teamwork: Simply stated, it is less me and more we.
• Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.

Andrew Carnegie

• Teamwork is working together – even when apart.
• A job worth doing is worth doing together.
• A successful team beats with one heart.
• Teamwork divides the task and doubles the success.