1. CT State Grange Public Relations Committee
Terri Fassio
Robert Charbonneau
Maggie Schofield
Frank Forrest
Don Offinger
Introduction and mentioning of the team: Maggie Schofield, Frank Forrest, and Don Offinger.
I will be covering two specific areas during this presentation: “Community Grange Support,” and “Committee Support.”

2. Community Grange Support

3. Initiatives Completed To-Date
Developed and handed out Info. Packets to all Community Granges and Committees.
Created affordable website program for Community Granges in CT.
Developed new mission statement for Public Relations Committee.
Promote the efforts of all levels of Grange throughout the state.
Information packets were handed out at State Session to all Subordinate and Pomona Grange representatives, or State Officers from those areas.
As part of the Information packet, information and instructions were given out in connection with a new website program – which gives each Grange the possibility of developing their own unique website – in addition to what ctstategrange.org supplies about each Grange today.
We’ve developed a new mission statement which covers our new dedication to helping Community Granges and State Grange Committees enlighten the public about our efforts.
Now promoting the efforts of all levels of Grange throughout the state has been in the form of our State Grange website. This will be maintained as an ongoing effort.

4. Specific Initiatives Include:
addresses for all Granges.
Privacy protection policy.
GPS Map listings for all Community Granges (CG).
Development of social media for all CG.
Press releases and media alerts.
Trademark identity and branding maintained.
Mobile App for Smart Phones.
The specific initiatives listed on this chart have either been completed or on-going .
The first two items highlighted in blue are complete – the remaining items are on-going.
GPS Map – seven Granges to-date can be located using Google Maps and Google Earth.
We believe that the development of social media for all Community Granges will be an on-going effort.
As part of the Information Packets we gave out guidelines on setting up press releases and media alerts in order to properly identify ourselves as the Grange and to maintain our trademark identity.
Terri Fassio has been working with developers in California where they created a mobile app for smart phones. This allows the user to access the ctstategrange.org site and call up the latest news from the site.

5. Contests Four new contests created, with a total of six contests:
"Spot On" - 30-Second Grange Video Commercial Contest
"Spreading the Word" - Connecticut State Grange Website Participation Contest
"Show Us Your Stuff" - Grange Marketing Contest
"Convey the Message" - Best Grange-written Press Release Contest
Spot On – Create a commercial for your Grange that is 30 seconds in length, using the theme "Community Grown"
Creative: Think of an idea for a commercial representing your Grange. Make us laugh. Make us cry. Make us say, "Wow! I want to join the Grange." Make it something you’d want to see on TV. You write it. You cast it. You direct and shoot it. You have total creative control.
Spreading the Word – Connecticut State Grange Website Participation Contest
Spread the Word about your Grange, its projects, activities and events by submitting content to the Connecticut State Grange website. Submissions can be articles, photos, and scrapbook items (such as newspaper clippings and historical data).
Contest Period: Submission period would run January 1, October 1, 2011
This contest is based on numbers of submissions.
 1 submission per month - Small (5.5 x 8.5) honorable mention participation certificate
 2 - 5 submissions per month - Large (8.5 x 11) Participation Certificate
 6 or more submissions per month - Framed (8.5 x 11) Certificate
Show Us Your Stuff – Grange Marketing Contest
One of the best ways for the Grange to reach the community is to spread the Grange name. Show us a collection of the ways that your Grange promotes itself in the community through its marketing efforts. The possibilities are endless. Examples:
Convey the Message – Best Grange-written Press Release Contest
An engaging press release with an interesting ‘hook’ or angle is an excellent way to gain exposure for your Grange and
can lead to publication in newspapers, magazines and on the internet. Show us how your Grange uses Press Releases to capture an audience.

6. Challenges Granges not using information packets:
Packets not delivered.
Packets not read or utilized.
Changing mindset of Granges that promoting their Grange, projects, and events is worth the effort and beneficial to membership goals.
Digitize / catalog historical photos and news articles of Grange Events from years past (40 years).
In talking or visiting a few Granges since State Session, it has become apparent that at least one Grange didn’t get an information packet, another Grange is waiting to have theirs delivered, and yet another received theirs at State Session but have not read or utilized their information packet.
We are making certain all Community Granges have the information packets. For those Granges not using their packets, the best effort is for our committee to make visitations and talk about the benefits using these packets and utilizing the Public Relations committee for assistance.
A smaller challenge, but more time consuming, is the conversion of photos and news articles from the past 30 years to digital format. The purpose is to make this available to all Grangers and visitors to the ctstategrange.org site

7. Committee Support Concentration of the center four committees.
The Community Growth team will also have high importance.

8. Committee Support Information Packets.
Planning Support on Press Releases.
Supply material / support for special events:
“Ag Day” at the Capitol in March.
“Big-E,” New England Grange Building, CT Room.
Etc.
Support of the individual committees will vary depending on their activity during the year.
Our committee will gladly assist any committee either with planning support or material for the purpose of putting out press releases, promotional material for special events, and/or hands-on assistance.
It should be stressed those committees in charge of these events should be responsible for the content.

9. Appendix
Back-up Slides

10. Mission Statement
The Mission of the Connecticut State Grange Public Relations Committee is: to promote the Grange as an identifiable service-oriented organization, staying true to its agricultural and historical roots while increasing relevancy in today’s communities; to serve the Connecticut State Grange as its informational conduit to Subordinate (local) Granges and to the public on general or specific items which are of informational or promotional topics; to work in connection with the Membership Committee to promote and advertise the benefits of The Grange; to assist other Connecticut State Grange committees with their specific promotions; to promote contests and events which encourage participation of Grange members; and to create new and unique ways of promoting the Grange in the communities across Connecticut.