Master’s Memo

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Jun 132013
 
Master Vicki

Master Vicki

Greetings Maine Grangers,

I would like to give a big thank you for all the well wishes I have received since becoming your State Master. This truly is a humbling experience as there is much to learn. Also, a big thank you goes to the Executive Committee, Past Master Jim Owens and State Secretary Sharon Manley for your guidance and patience with my many questions.

There are many exciting upcoming events and my hope is that more Granges will share this information with the State Office and the website. If you do not have a computer or email, please send your information and news to State HQ. When the newsletter is released, your information will also be published on the website. Note that when you send info directly to the website it will be posted immediately.

Junior Camp is scheduled for the first weekend in July at South Sangerville Grange. I am sure Sister Laurie would love your support either by attending the model meeting on Sunday afternoon or with donations towards the hosting of camp. A child does not need to be a current member of a Junior Grange to attend camp. They will become a member at camp. More information is available on the Junior Grange page of the website.

The Grange Family Campout weekend is scheduled for July 19th-21st at Silver Springs Campground in Saco. This is a fun event. Some folks take their vacation and come a few days early to enjoy the area, swim in the pool and just to relax before the weekend. You can come just for the day on Saturday if you do not wish to camp. There may be cabins available for those who wish a more comfortable stay. Reservations can be made by calling Silver Springs Campground, 207-283-3880 and their website is www.silverspringscampgroundandcottages.com/‎.

Northeast Lecturer’s Conference is Aug. 5-7 and will be in New Haven, CT. Registrations must be in by July 10th.  The forms have been sent to the Grange Secretaries but if you need a form please contact Sherry Harriman for forms or additional information.

The question has come up about “What happens with the Overseer’s position, since I am now State Master?” The answer is I appoint someone to fill the Overseer’s position for State Session. I have asked Brother Steve Verrill to fill that position and he has graciously accepted.

State Session will be here before we know it. The dates are October 17th-19th and this year’s session will be at the Community Center in Skowhegan.  Hotel and banquet information will be forthcoming once pricing is finalized. Brother Jim Owens is working diligently on the arrangements.

While on the topic of State Session how are your resolutions coming? This is your opportunity for your voice to be heard. The deadline for receiving resolutions has been moved up to August 15th. A resolution was passed at the 2012 session to move the deadline up so regardless of when a grange holds their meeting in September they would have the resolutions to discuss before State Session in October.

To make the Grange succeed we need to work together. There is strength in numbers. If a Grange feels it cannot accomplish an event on its own try working with another Grange in your area or perhaps even another organization in your town. Together we can make the Grange a stronger organization.

Fraternally,

Vicki

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Master’s Memo

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Jun 042013
 
Photo by Laurie McBurnie

Photo by Laurie McBurnie

I would like to say a Great Big Thank You to those who braved the heat to come to my installation on Saturday. As one person said to me “it was standing room only”. Brother Arthur Merrill, Past Voting Delegate to the National Grange, was the Installing Officer assisted by my team. Debbie Ivers as Soloist, Sybil Dupuis as Musician, Mike Griffin as Marshall, Nancy Clark as Chaplain, Ann Burns as Emblem Bearer and Pauline Spencer as Regalia Bearer.

There are others to be thanked who helped make this day a success. Tamantha Wilson who with assistance from Laura Jean did the refreshments. To Laurie McBurnie who took photos and got them turned around so expediently. To Clyde Berry who came down at 8:00 AM to help set up the hall. I would also like to thank Clyde and Ronnie Dolloff for their assistance with Pat Brewer’s Past Master’s pins and in the presentation. I know Brother Patrick will wear them proudly. I would also like to thank the “clean up crew”. The hall needed to be cleaned out as it is being used for a wedding in a few weeks.

I look forward to representing the Grangers of Maine and moving the Maine State Grange into the future. Please remember I do have a full-time job and will address your concerns in as timely a manner as I can. Some of those concerns will be addressed in upcoming newsletters as they are concerns shared by all, others will be addressed on an individual basis.

Vicki Install_resized

Photo by Laurie McBurnie

I hope to see many of you in my travels.

Fraternally,

Vicki Huff

Master
Maine State Grange
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New State Master To Be Installed

 Grange News, Master's Memos  No Responses »
May 262013
 
Master Vicki

Master Vicki

Vicki Huff, currently Overseer of the Maine State Grange, will be installed as Master of the Maine State Grange on Saturday, June 1 to fill a vacancy created by the recent resignation of Patrick Brewer. The ceremony will be led by Arthur Merrill, past voting delegate for New Hampshire State Grange and member of the Assembly of Demeter and Assistant Steward of the New Hampshire State Grange. Brother Merrill will be assisted by Sister Huff’s installation team.

A third generation Granger Vicki joined the Grange in 1978 at the age of 15. She has held several offices in her home Grange of Hollis #132 including secretary for over 20 years and currently serves as Master. In 1991 Vicki was the first woman elected as Master of York Pomona and currently holds the office of Treasurer. Vicki is well-known around the state, having led her first installation in 1992. She served on the State Youth Committee from 89-91, Junior Committee 91-93, Deputy from 93-97, Ceres 97-01, Pomona 01-07, Flora 07-11 and was elected State Overseer in 2011. She is also currently active in the planning of National Conference in New Hampshire later this year.

“My vision is to make the Granges in Maine, at all levels, stronger and active in their communities,” Vicki announced. “We need to share our successes with one another. We need to stop dwelling in the past and look forward to a bright, successful future. We need to be realistic, set goals for our Granges that are high enough so we need to reach and stretch and have a sense of accomplishment when we get there. But those goals should not be so high that if we have to take a step or two back that we feel defeated. Granges need to be TEAMS (Together Each Accomplishes More).”

Vicki is looking forward to the support of members. “A team approach to working as an organization is necessary, since a full-time state master is not economically feasible,” she noted. “But it also just makes sense. The roots of our organization were about ‘coming together’ and our motto speaks to unity in essentials.  That motto need not change: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things charity. I look forward to some exciting times as we prove to ourselves that our fundamental beliefs are still valid even though we are approaching our 140th birthday as an organization.”

When Vicki has a free moment or two, she enjoys snowmobiling, ATV-ing, fishing, reading, cross stitching and latch hooking. She also has been known to hit a golf ball on occasion,  but won’t say she plays because she mostly enjoys the great way to go for a walk in a beautiful setting. Those who know her often mention her infectious laugh and belief that life is too short to not enjoy what you are doing.

The installation on June 1st will begin at noon at State Grange Headquarters, 146 State Street, Augusta Maine. The public is invited to attend. Please help with the planning process by calling Vicki at 699-2830 if you are planning to attend. Vicki’s complete contact information is:

Vicki Huff
90 Linton Street
South Portland 04106
granger1atmainedotrrdotcom
699-2830
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Master’s Message

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May 072012
 
Patrick J. Brewer, State Master, 207-623-3421
Email: rightgrangeratmyfairpointdotnet Cell #207-458-9234

Hello Grange members! I hope you are enjoying this Spring weather. We just had the Legislative luncheon at Head quarters. MANY thanks to those who made this day a success. You know who you are and I personally can’t thank you enough. Because of the sacrifice of those who volunteered their time (time off from work for some, I might add) and effort to put this together, it was a huge success. My situation being what it is, I was unable to contribute more. But those who worked on this luncheon, deserve a standing ovation. They showed what it means to be a Granger.

While I am on this topic of working together, I am hearing of some personal problems at some other Granges. Brothers and Sisters, we need to keep our personal issues out of the Grange meetings and events. We need to all work together for the ‘Good of the Order”. Let’s refresh our memories with the by-laws of not only the Subordinate Grange, but our Pomona and State Grange. Let us remember WHY we joined the Grange and what the Grange stands for: Helping those less fortunate than ourselves; Helping your neighbors and friends and helping our communities and State something to be proud of. Leave the rumors and pot stirring out of the Grange. Let’s make ourselves proud of this organization and our fellow members.

ALSO, many thanks go to the Ag Directors for the work and coordination for their part on this luncheon. They did a great job. They are raffling off theme baskets to raise money for their committee and were able to have three of them at the Legislative luncheon. They started selling tickets for these already. We hope to get these out and about (at least pictures of them) for everyone to see and hopefully take a chance on.

 

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State Grange Photo?

 Master's Memos  No Responses »
Mar 222012
 

submitted by Worthy Master Brewer

I know this is an afterthought, but…. does anyone have a good picture of all the State Officers after they were installed last October??  And if so, may I  get a copy of it?

Fraternally,

Patrick Brewer

Master, Maine State Grange

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Master’s Message, February 2012

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Feb 202012
 
Patrick J. Brewer, State Master
207-623-3421
rightgrangeratmyfairpointdotnet
Cell #207-458-9234

Hello again to the officers and members of the Maine State Grange. I hope your Valentine’s and President’s Days were pleasant. A few weeks back I received a call from a possible relative in South Carolina. This gentleman was doing genealogy with the same surname as mine. This got me to thinking… how many of my ancestors were Grange members?? We all know of someone who has family members who belonged, but what about when the Grange first organized? Now granted the Grange organized in December of 1867, so only my great, great grandfather and his wife and offspring could have been the earliest possible Grange Members in my family, but it is still a thought-provoking feeling.

By most if not all Granges have received the new password and rosters. As a new State Master, I made changes as I saw fit. My changes were NOT intended to offend or sting anyone but to help the Grange grow as I saw it. Please do not badger your fellow Grange members about these changes. Badger me. I made the changes, so feel free to call me, your State Master, personally on my cell phone. My cell number is at the top of this bulletin.

This Organization is a GREAT organization. We need to remind ourselves why we joined the Grange and to remember our By-laws, by re-reading them if need be. We are all struggling in one way or another, but we don’t need to. We have each other and together we can STRIVE to do better.

This time next month, I will have returned from State Masters conference, with hopefully some refreshing ideas to help us grow. We will also be winding up with the Legislative luncheon and the State Committees will have had their first meeting of the year. Come heck or high water, we will survive. Happy Easter (I know, I’m a little early) and St. Patrick’s Day everyone!!

 

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Master’s Message – January 2012

 Master's Memos  No Responses »
Jan 232012
 

Reprinted from the Bulletin

Patrick J. Brewer, State Master, 207-623-3421
Email: href="rightgrangeratmyfairpointdotnet">rightgrangeratmyfairpointdotnet    Cell #207-458-9234 

Warm Greetings Brothers and Sisters of the Maine State Grange.  The Committees are all chosen and ready to take on the activities to help promote our organization.  Our newly appointed Agricultural Directors, Robert and Agnes Nelson, graciously accepted the position.  They organized the assignment of Committee members, to help at the Agricultural Trade Show at the Augusta Civic Center this month.  They did this on somewhat short notice and I am proud to have them as our Ag Directors.  This is their first year as Directors, so please give them a warm welcome and a chance to help promote agriculture in our Granges’.

As you may be aware, we also have new Youth Directors.  They have their first column listed below.  Give them a warm welcome as well.  They are both experienced Grangers with a lot of good ideas to help keep us all feeling youthful.

Also on the topic of changes, I would like to see more Resolutions at State Session.  I am asking all State Committees to try and come up with at least (1) resolution related to their committee.  Any questions on what I mean by this, don’t hesitate to call my number at the top of this bulletin or email at the address next to my phone number.  As for Granges in our state, we need to concentrate more on resolutions concerning our communities, state, health, or some other topic of importance, and less on changing some Grange policy.  Let us remember that our resolutions should be to help better our fellow neighbors, communities, state and nation.  Not for some convenient way to run a Grange meeting.

I look forward to seeing the Grange members in the coming months to help keep this Grange Organization spirit alive. As it is Valentines Day this month, love the Grange as you love your valentine.

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Master’s Memo — December 2011

 Master's Memos  No Responses »
Dec 212011
 
Patrick J. Brewer, State Master
207-623-3421
207-458-9234 (cell)
Email: rightgrangeratmyfairpointdotnet  (rightgrangeratmyfairpointdotnet)  

Happy Holidays! Brothers and Sisters of the Maine State Grange,

Another Christmas season is upon us and another calendar year is about to close. Some new Deputies are among our ranks and some changes have been made in the Committees’ as well. I hope for the benefit of all. We had a successful State Officers meeting and an interesting Deputy School of instruction. The complete list of Deputies will be on the Maine State Grange website until the roster gets published. The Deputies are here to help all of the Granges in our state. Please ask them for any, and all help you may need and definitely contact myself on any pressing matters. This is a great organization and we want to keep it that way.

Enjoy your Holiday season and may your wishes come true and your New Year be full of Hope, Laughter and Love

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From the Master’s Desk

 Master's Memos  No Responses »
Nov 072011
 

Hello Brothers and Sisters of the Maine State Grange,

The 138th State session has come to a close along with a new slate of officers.  As the newest Master of the Maine State Grange I look forward to meeting as many of the Grangers (not just Granges) in our State as possible during my term.  One of my main goals as Master will be to not only increasing membership, but to keep an interest in the Grange and bring a good feeling of positives in our organization.

The Grange is not about what the “I’s” or “we’s” can accomplish or have accomplished in each Grange or Pomona or Committee.  It is about being a FAMILY organization looking out for the best interest of our communities, counties, state and nation called the United States of America.  Meaning we should find a common good to promote the Grange Organization, by getting along and working together to making good show of the U in USA…  UNITED.  Having been a Grange member for 30 plus years, and staying active in it for most of that time, I believe in this organization and will do my best to make us proud to be called Grangers. (Or as our National Rep, Brother Jim Gentry called us “Mangers”)  

BUT, any Grange Master is only as good as the people working under him or her. That means EACH and every one of us regardless of whether we hold an office, are on a committee, are a Deputy or hold any other position, AND even if we are just a Granger without a position.  We still need to STRIVE to do it well.

Brothers and Sisters, I look forward to working with each and (hopefully) every Grange in the coming 2 years to make us a strong as possible to survive for another 138 years.

 Fraternally,

 

Patrick J Brewer

Master, Maine State Grange

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