Wrapping Up A Successful 2025; Preparing For An Even Stronger 2026
By Tom Gwin
State Grange
Master/President
As we prepare to close the doors on 2025, we have several items of unfinished business to touch on.
UPDATED BYLAWS
Thank you to the 70 Granges who have updated their Subordinate and/or Pomona Grange Bylaws. Please be sure to forward a copy of your bylaws to the State Grange Office. We will be reviewing the bylaws to be sure you are in compliance with the National Grange Digest of Laws and the Washington State Grange Bylaws. We will notify Granges if we find any out of compliance and the steps needed to rectify the situation.
STANDING COMMITTEE OPENINGS
State Grange Standing Committees meet via Zoom to review current State Grange Legislative Policy and to make recommendations for deletions, additions, and/or clarifications to our present policy. Those recommendations are then referred to the convention delegates for a final decision on making policy changes. The committees are Agriculture, Conservation and Ecology, Education, Fish and Wildlife, Good of the Order, Health and Healthcare, State and National Issues, Taxation, and Transportation. I am looking for new interested Grange members to serve on these committees. Interested persons should contact the State Grange Office for an application. The committees will be finalized in December and members will serve for one year.
2026 CAPITOL BUDGET REQUESTS
Thank you to the 30+ Granges who completed applications for the Capitol Budget Requests for 2026. The applications have been reviewed. Once we receive the link from the legislature, each Grange will need to input their application directly in to their legislator. Jesse is keeping in contact with the legislators and will be the key liaison between our Grange members and their legislators. We will be announcing the date of our Grange Legislative Day later this month. Legislative Day is a prime opportunity for our members to lobby their legislators and provide additional information on your request.
BONDING
The National Grange Bonding Program has a deadline of November 15. Bonding information was sent to each Grange. Those desiring bonding need to complete the form and send payment with the form to the WA State Grange Office no later than November 15. The bonding will be for the calendar year of 2026. Please note: if your Grange previously had bonding coverage through this program and you do not renew for 2026, you will be ineligible for this coverage for the next three years.
2026 DUES INFORMATION REQUEST FORMS
The Dues Information Request form was sent to each Grange in September. This form is used to prepare your Grange dues notices for 2026. If you have not returned the form, please do so in the next few days. We will start printing dues notices after the National Grange Session.
POMONA MEETING DATES
Date requests for 2026 Pomona meeting are due back to the State Grange Office by November 20. This will allow your staff to prepare the list of Pomona meeting dates for the December issue of The Grange News.
GRANGE OFFICER REPORTS
Each Grange should complete their Grange Office Reports no later than December 1. The report is to be completed, even if you do not elect a full slate of officers this year. Your timely reports will allow the publishing of the State Grange Roster in a timely manner.
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Your State Grange Staff will host a Holiday Open House on Friday, December 12 at the State Grange Office, 924 Capitol Way S., Olympia. The open house will begin at 1 p.m. and run until 4 p.m. All Grange members are invited to stop by the office to join in the fellowship of celebrating the holiday season together.
HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES
To allow our employees to celebrate the holidays with their families, the office will be closed November 27-28 for the Thanksgiving holiday and December 22 to January 1 for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
GRANGE RESOURCE AND TRAINING SESSIONS
As the 2026 Pomona Grange meeting date lists come back, I will be putting together the schedule of Grange Resource and Training Sessions. I am planning to do the sessions in conjunction with Pomona Meetings as much as possible. Details will be announced in December.
Your support in completing our unfinished business for 2025 is greatly appreciated. Here’s to wrapping up 2025 and starting 2026 off in a positive forward direction as we work toward a better tomorrow in our Granges and in our communities.
There’s An Election Upon Us!
By Jesse Taylor
Legislative Lobbyist
Last Christmas my daughter and I bought my wife a cider press as a way to utilize the apples we get from our fruit trees at home. So, this past week, after a late apple and pear pick, we decided to put it together and try our hand at cider-making. We supplemented our apple harvest by getting some different varieties from our church apple sale. Then my 11-year old son got put to work. And if any of you have worked a cider press you know that it’s a chore; but you sure appreciate that sweet cider when you are done. Our first batch yielded about 2 gallons from three varieties, and we are learning as we go. I hope you and your family have had some memorable times this fall as the temperatures begin drop and the holiday season comes front of mind.
Speaking of changing seasons, there’s an election upon us! Let’s look at what’s at stake.
2025 WA Special Elections- There are several special elections up this year, as is the case in most “odd” years. Below is a breakdown of which seats are up on November 7th.
Nov 4 Election Day Dates: Ballots mailed: Oct 17; Sep 20 (military/overseas). Register/update by: Oct 27.
Candidates (9 seats: 5 Senate, 4 House)
SENATE
• 5th: Victoria Hunt (D) vs. Chad Magendanz (R)
• 26th: Deborah Krishnadasan (D) vs. Michelle Caldier (R)
• 33rd: Tina Orwall (D) — unopposed
• 34th: Emily Alvarado (D) — unopposed
• 48th: Vandana Slatter (D) vs. Amy Walen (D)
House
• 33rd: Edwin Obras (D), Kevin Schilling (D)
• 34th: Brianna Thomas (D) — unopposed
• 41st: Janice Zahn (D), John Whitney (R)
• 48th: Osman Salahuddin (D), Dennis Ellis (R)
Upcoming Minimum Wage Hike in Washington
Starting January 1, 2026, Washington’s hourly minimum wage will increase by 2.8% to $17.13. The announcement came on October 1, 2025 from the state’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).
By state statute, L&I determines the annual adjustment using the Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The calculation involves comparing the August CPI-W figure from the prior year to the same month in the current year, then applying any percentage rise to update the wage rate.
At $16.66 per hour, Washington already holds the country’s top state-level minimum. The national federal minimum stays at $7.25 hourly.
New Taxes Take Effect
A new sales tax on services, key to funding Washington’s latest budget by Democratic lawmakers, took effect October 1. It’s projected to generate $1.1 billion in the current two-year budget (starting July 1) and $2.6 billion over four years, helping cover a $3.6 billion shortfall. Local governments will receive hundreds of millions from shared proceeds.
Comcast is suing to overturn the advertising services tax ($475 million over four years), claiming it’s illegal. The state attorney general will respond soon in Thurston County Superior Court; a ruling could take months. If invalidated, collections are uncertain, per the Department of Revenue, a block would hinder the $77.8 billion budget.
The tax expands retail sales tax to services like temporary staffing ($833 million over four years, exempting hospitals), security ($127 million), live presentations ($360 million), and IT ($189 million). Over 90,000 businesses are affected; summer listening sessions revealed complaints about unclear implementation and profit impacts.
Other changes: Taxes on nicotine products like Zyn pouches start January 1, along with higher business and occupation (B&O) rates. Financial institutions over $1 billion net income see B&O rise from 1.2% to 1.5% (affecting ~200 firms) starting October 1. Service businesses over $5 million gross income face B&O increase from 1.75% to 2.1%. Republicans opposed this package and democrats supported it; as it was passed on a partisan basis.
Election:
You must have your ballot postmarked by November 7th in order for it to count in the general election. Get those in and check with your local county office to make sure your vote was counted.
I hope you all have a joy and family-filled Thanksgiving!
By Alison Cook, Secretary
Happy Valley Grange #322
Lorraine Charlote (Isackson) Mills was born October 24, 1925 at her family home in Redmond, Washington. She has lived in the Redmond area almost all of her life.
Lorraine learned how to help with the family farm, save, and appreciate the little things in life. On the farm she milked the cows and tended to the pigs, chickens and turkeys.
She went to school in Redmond and finished high school in Fall City. She played the accordion in her school band and orchestra which led her to play at school dances. She was awarded an Athletic Letter for being on the Tumbling Team. She also played tennis, basketball and baseball. Her graduating class was 21 members. Lorraine graduated mid-term as it was the beginning of WWII and she had to go to work.
In 1940, Lorraine joined the Happy Valley Grange #322. She is celebrating not only her 100th birthday, but also her 85th year of being a member of the Grange. She has held many offices at Happy Valley Grange #322 along with 13 years as State Lecturer. She says that the Grange was really an education for her as she learned so many new things, served on so many statewide committees and did so many things she didn’t dream she could ever do.
The Grange Insurance Agent’s position became available and she was able to work there for 32 years. She also managed the Grange Credit Union for 25 years.
Lorraine was married to Vernon Mills on November 27, 1943. She has a daughter, Carol, and grandson Rodney.
We want to thank Lorraine for all her many, many, years of hard work, service and friendships.
By Grange Staff
On October 26th, 2025, Moran Prairie Grange recognized Jennell E. Branson for 80 years of membership. The ceremony was held at Rockwood South Hill Retirement Community. Since joining in 1945, Mr. Branson has shown exemplary commitment to the Grange community. In 1950, he transferred to Triangle Grange #927 where both he and his wife, Louise Branson, were dedicated members engaged in farming activities.
Mr. Branson has actively contributed to Spokane County Pomona for many years, serving as assistant steward and overseer. His involvement extended to participation in the drill team and leadership as Master at Moran Prairie Grange #161. He provided vocal performances at national, state, and Pomona events, as well as numerous subordinate Granges. Additionally, he served as Deaf Awareness Representative for six years, visiting nearly every Grange in Spokane County and consistently supporting the deaf community, especially by facilitating their Christmas program through sign language interpretation for Santa.
The luncheon celebration at Rockwood included a certificate and pin presentation in Mr. Branson’s honor. Distinguished attendees included National President Christine Hamp, Spokane County Deputy Bob Shea, and current members from Tyler Grange (Bob and Evelyn Shea), Moran Prairie Grange (Dave and Cyndi Langston, Valree Gayken), Five Mile Grange (Christine and Duane Hamp), along with a close friend Bob Bushnell.