Junior

The youth and junior departments are having a Flower Power fundraiser to raise funds for the Army Platoon that we have adopted. This money will be used exclusively for postage, shipping supplies, items that are not donated that they need and to give them a nice Christmas.

The "Flower Power" company is in Vermont and they ship items ordered directly to the ordering customer in time for fall planting. Their catalog has beautiful bulbs and flowers. There is a 100% money back guarantee!

Granges will be receiving catalogs in the mail, junior and youth committee members will taking orders and you can order online by going to www.flowerpowerfundraising.com
then clicking on "find an organization" at the top of the page, a box will come up that asks for the organizations name, type in Maine State Grange and click on "search", our site will come up, and you may order from it.

The Memorial Garden has been completed and it is beautiful. All of the bricks sold by the Junior Department have been placed, the flag pole is in and shrubbery and flowers have been planted. Gary Ladner Landscaping and his crew from Gardiner did an outstanding job. The Junior Department is proud of our efforts and so should all the Grangers of Maine be. Our Grange home is seen by many people daily and they will see this lovely addition and that we are proud of our home. I'll be sending photos to our platoon.

The Junior and Youth Departments have received our Platoon Assignment from Adopt a Platoon Soldier Support Effort. We will be supporting 33 soldiers, which includes 3 women, with a minimum of one card/letter per week each and one monthly care package minimum. But I know we can do better than that! All of our mail and packages go to a Point of Contact who shares it with the platoon as a whole.

Our soldiers are Combat Engineers and move around frequently, their conditions are not good, they have NO stores, running non potable water, power is 110V and as soon as I find out if they have a microwave I will let everyone know.

Juniors visited the State Grange Headquarters from August 8th to the 13th. We started out with 7 Juniors and lost two due to homesickness. During the week the Juniors worked very hard on their Super Junior Grange Awards and four of them completed the requirements, one didn't need to because she all ready had. Those completing the requirements were: Cheyenne Dulac, Bobby Faulkner, Savannah Hallowell and Brianna Goldrup. Grace Dunderdale received hers in the past. We went on field trips each day; including Boothday Railway Village, Damariscotta Lake State Park, Maine State Aquarium to pet a real shark, Miniature Golf, swimming at an Augusta pool, and Maine Discovery Museum. Juniors spent a lot of time working on ritualistic work learning to open and close the grange, ballot for candidates, escort honored guests, make motions during meetings, flag presentation, how to set up a Grange room properly, and how to work your way into a meeting. Adults accompanying us were: Roberta Meserve, Karen Flagg, Sue Hackett and Sharon Manley. We had a very enjoyable time and those that didn't join us, really missed out!

Northeastern Regional Youth Conference July 9 to 11, 2010
To be held at Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Mass. Tuition for entire Weekend is $110.00. Deadline for forms and tuition to Sue is June 5th. Anyone who won in the public speaking, manual spelling and share a talent or skill should contact Sue immediately if they didn’t receive the required forms. Maine is doing the Worship Service on Sunday.

FAMILY CAMP OUT WEEKEND JULY 23 – 25, 2010
The Family Camp Out Weekend is coming right up! Juniors and Youth are your crafts ready for judging? Remember judging will take place on Saturday, July 24th at 9:30 am sharp, no late entries. Everything but the gourds will be judged. In addition there will be a Scavenger Hunt on Friday evening; organized games, a horseshoe tournament, a Chinese Auction and talent show on Saturday. Prize money will be awarded on Saturday evening for the craft contests.

The Junior Departments Vegetable Raising contest this year is Gourd's. Ornamental Gourd seeds have been sent out to the Junior and Youth age Grangers. (If you are a Junior or youth Granger and have been missed, please contact Sue, 666-8849) Do to the cost and lack of participation seeds will not be furnished to anyone over 35. You can purchase your own Burpee Ornamental Gourd seeds at Walmart or Farm Stores for $1.00 a package. Since the contest rules ask for the best arrangement of 3 gourds you may use any kind of gourd seeds.

Judging will take place at the Annual State Grange session on Saturday, October 23rd at 8:00 am. Session will be held at the Skowhegan Recreation Center. Age groups are 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-21, 22-25 and 36 & Up. Place your best three gourds on a stiff plate with your name, birth date and Grange on the bottom of the plate. Judging criteria is color, texture, form and arrangement.

Junior Grange Program 2010

CALENDAR
February 13/14 Mid-Winter Get Away
April 11th 2 pm Maine State Junior Grange Meeting
May 7 & 8 Junior Grange Yard Sale
July 23 to 25 Family Camp Out Weekend
August 8-13 Junior Grange Camp

CRAFT CONTESTS – Judged July 24th 9:30 am at the Family Camp Out Weekend
GENERAL RULES Age groups unless otherwise noted; 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, Must be a Junior Granger. A label must be attached on the bottom of the craft that contains the following information, Name, Date of Birth, Grange Name and Number; Prizes 1st $15.00, 2nd $10.00, 3rd $5.00, ALL entries will receive a ribbon

The Youth and Junior Departments have been saving Campbell Soup Labels since February 12, 2001. We have turned in a total of 89,873 labels since then. We also earn points by filing out forms regarding the Community Service projects that we complete. We receive 500 points for each one.

This year we ordered and received a "Yoga and You" CD, a foam bowling set, a 24 foot parachute canopy, and a multi-sport ball pack for use at camp.

In the past we have ordered a Panasonic stereo music system, cash boxes, throw down bases, collection bins, a portable wireless PA system, a horseshoe set, rubber deck rings, numbered bean bags, game cones, and beverage
coolers. Most of these items are still around and still in use.