Grange Officers & Directors

President

Rachel Brobst

The role of the president is to conduct meetings efficiently and with neutrality. A large responsibility of the president when members are addressing issues is to maintain a civil environment and not allow partisanship as part of the discussion. They agree as part of their installation that they "will not take advantage of the position to bias in any way, either directly or indirectly, the political or religious opinions of any member of the Order."

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"You may encounter difficulties. Overcome them, remembering that difficulties are but opportunities to test our abilities."

Vice President

Victor Barreto Rios

The vice president is a vital link in the chain of a Grange in action. This officer is charged with ensuring that which the Grange has voted to do is done in a timely fashion. As such, at Jefferson Grange, the vice president serves as an ex officio member of most committees. The vice president also steps in to run the meeting whenever the president is unavailable to do so or if the president would like to speak on a matter up for a vote of the Grange. 

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"Of all the sweeteners of human toil, of all the motive powers that give alacrity to the hand or foot, readiness to the will, and intelligence to the mind and purpose, the quickest and most enduring in results is the kind word spoken in season."

Lecturer

Liz Kattner

The Lecturer, also known as the Program Director, sees that "information for the Good of the Order [is] promptly laid before the Grange." This officer designs and presents a program of educational or entertainment value at each meeting or provides programming through other events that are open to the community at large. While this officer coordinates such activities, they need not always be the one to present the program but may instead have outside speakers or other members expert in the area lead for that period.

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Finally, this officer serves as our Community Service director, helping to coordinate with other members of our Grange on our outreach. They serve as our POC to the State and National Grange in these efforts.

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"Especially urge and encourage the young and the diffident to become writers, readers and speakers in Grange meetings, and thus develop and direct to greater usefulness the latent abilities of your fellow members."

Steward

Mykal McCulloch

The Steward holds an especially important position, one that requires foresight and creativity in seeing the talents of members and encouraging them to their fullest potential. At Jefferson Grange, our Steward, in conjunction with the President, identifies members for committees and encourages formal and informal mentoring experiences. This officer is also charged with securing a location for meetings and events and helping to smooth any tensions and ensure the Grange operates without strife, especially among members by encouraging active listening and fellowship.

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"Your duty in the Grange is to learn the qualifications of new [members], then assign them their proper places, and set them to work. It requires good judgment on your part. You are also to see that each one is suitably rewarded for his/[her] labor."

Assistant Steward

Val Bildheiser

The Assistant Steward of Jefferson Grange will serve as the director of our Youth (14-22) and Young Adult Program (23-35), ensuring they have a variety of opportunities to make a difference in their communities, for their peers, and grow in the process of doing.

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Along with the Junior Assistant Steward, these officers will assist with member and guest recognition and special events. 

Junior Assistant Steward

Michelle Zimmerman

The Junior Assistant Steward of Jefferson Grange will serve as the director of our Junior program for children ages 5-13. They will ensure our youngest members have ample opportunity to learn and grow, encourage them to learn about the needs of our community and their peers that are meaningful to them and carry out service projects.

Chaplain

Abby Konkus

During Grange meetings and events, the Chaplain offers a nonsectarian prayer or inspirational reflection and provides comfort to members and those in our community who find themselves in time of need.

Treasurer

Marie Bildheiser

The treasurer provides a monthly update on the financial matters of Jefferson Grange #1384 and ensures the dues are collected promptly, recorded and portions due the State and National Grange are remitted.

Secretary

Amanda Brozana Rios

The secretary of Jefferson Grange #1384 will take minutes at all regular meetings of the Grange and ensure they are provided for dissemination to the membership within a few days after the meeting has closed. These minutes are the history of our work and proof when necessary to financial institutions, the State Grange and other entities. This officer also ensures all members have access to information provided by the State and National Grange and any other relevant bodies. Finally, the Secretary maintains our website and sends our e-newsletter, liaises with local partners and ensures new member applications are forwarded to the membership for review and to the State Grange once approved.

Greeter

Amy Burke

The Greeter welcomes guests to our meetings and introduces them to our membership. When persons of honor are in attendance, the Greeter informs the President so they may be recognized. This officer, having the distinction of being the one to make a first impression for our Grange, also serves as our membership director.

Civic Engagement Director

Torie Konkus

Our Civic Engagement Director presents the flag at all official Grange events and leads our membership in activities related to an informed and engaged citizenship. This officer encourages patriotism, honoring service members and veterans, and members' involvement in advocacy and the democratic process.

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When the Grange was founded, the offices of Ceres, Pomona and Flora were created to honor various parts of agriculture. These officers were charged with helping to refine the work of our meetings and serve as a symbol of our respect for women, who have been given equal voice and vote in the organization since its inception. As a way to honor this history, the Civic Engagement Director was established, a nod to the role of Ceres who was the flag-bearer. This officer also performs the functions of Legislative Director for our Grange.

Food and Agriculture Director

Hannah Burke

Our Food and Agriculture Director helps to link our present and past. The Grange, founded as a fraternity for farm families, has always had at its core an interest in agriculture. Today this interest is for both the producer and consumer sides. At Jefferson Grange, this officer helps to promote a greater understanding of our local food system and encourages us to support or grow food security programs in our community. They also help to coordinate potlucks and refreshments among our membership at meetings and events.

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This directorship honors the original ceremonial office of Pomona, one which promoted growth and improvement with a keen eye to the cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

Personal Development and Consumer Science Director

Will Bildheiser

Our Personal Development and Consumer Science Director seeks to introduce members to various life skills, home management and handicrafts that can provide members with knowledge to encourage personal sustainability and possible creative outlets.

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As a nod to the traditional office of Flora, whose job it was to encourage members to maintain personal tranquility and a cheerful home, this director works to provide knowledge that will improve our members' homes and lives. This office also performs the functions of Family Activities Director for our Grange.

At Jefferson Grange #1384, this officer, along with the Advocacy and Citizenship Director and the Food and Agriculture Director, consistently allow us to fulfill one of our core objectives: to build a more sustainable and resilient membership and community.

Executive Committee

Sharon Thomas (at large)

Barbara Weller (at large)

The Jefferson Grange #1384 Executive Committee includes two at large members not holding another office in the Grange, in addition to the President, Vice President and Treasurer. This committee may act only in times of emergency between meetings of the Grange.