The Alaska State Grange is spreading its wings and scouting-out communities around the state for new members.

A community meeting about the Grange is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the National Resource Conservation Offices, 4014 Lake St., Suite 201. The public is invited. Refreshments will be served. A brief program will introduce the Grange and the benefits of membership. A question and answer session will follow, beginning with the Grange asking how it can help the community.

President Gaye Hunt leads the team of Grange ambassadors touring Alaska.

"We want to get to know our neighbors and make new friends," said Hunt from her office in Anchorage. "The Grange has a lot to offer folks looking to belong to a family friendly, community oriented organization with an emphasis on fun."

The Grange is the nation's oldest agricultural organization. Since 1867, the Grange has provided gathering places where neighbors, friends and family can enjoy each other's company, share common interests and serve their communities. Today, there are 300,000 Grange members in 3,600 local communities across the country.

The first Alaska Grange was organized in 1934 in Palmer. Currently there are six Alaska Granges located in Anchorage, Palmer, Two Rivers, North Pole, Delta and Fairbanks.

Application for Grange membership is open to everyone. The Grange has special programs for kids, youth, young adults and women. The Grange welcomes all religious persuasions and is not affiliated with any political party or candidate.

However, the Grange supports worthy causes initiated by its grassroots membership. Current areas of focus include rural highways and infrastructure, school partnerships, food safety, rural telecommunications and property rights.

The National Grange headquarters is located in Washington, D. C. The National Grange Web site is www.nationalgrange.org.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit the Alaska State Grange web site at: www.alaskagrange.org.

For more information, contact Alaska State Grange President Gaye Hunt at (907) 345-5527 or via e-mail at gvhunt@gci.net.