Oregon State Grange

The Beaver Homes Grange #518

Dear Fellow Grangers,

This was our latest event at our hall and it was a such a huge success!   We just wanted to share with all of you the possibilities of a small community like ours’ and what a small group can do with just a little community outreach effort.  We are so excited that we have started something so enormous in our area.  Some affordable entertainment, fun and fellowship, and giving back to the community at the same time.

May 31, 2008

The Rainier Senior/Junior High School Drama Club presented “Broadway Night” for the public, with songs from several venues, including: the “High School Musical”,  ”The Little Mermaid”, “Sweeney Todd”,  ”42nd Street”,  and many others.  The Drama Club Teacher, Laurie Kash, did the introduction with her own performance of the theme song from the musical “Cabaret” to ease the tension of the students.  The dinner included Chicken Cordon Bleu and New York Cheesecake for dessert.  We entertained a full-house with standing-room-only for a crowd of approximately 120 people.  The proceeds for our grange went to our building fund for renovations, with 40% of the total intake going to the Drama Club for their efforts.  We plan on making this an annual event with the school district, and they are as excited as we are for this achievement.  The students provide some of the costumed characters in our annual Haunted House, as well as the general public.  We are hoping to encourage more young people and their families to participate in grange functions and show them the possibilities that they can contribute to the community through our organization.  We hope to show others’ that affordable entertainment and community involvement go hand-in-hand.  So far, we have proven that this is a win-win situation in today’s economy and for all involved.

Robin K. VanVranken, Lecturer, The Beaver Homes Grange #518