One of my frustrations as Communication Director is being asked a question about Grange activities and not having the information! As organizations seeking members and supporters, we need to be “out there” with readily available information. Let me share one question I just received with you.
What’s cooking at your Grange?
I have an email from someone interested in attending “Grange bean suppers in October, in the general coastal Maine region.”
So we know what’s wanted for supper, but we don’t know when and where supper is!
If your Grange is planning ANY fundraiser, activity, or special event, please submit the details for posting on the MSG website. The easiest way to do this is through the “Submit Information” tab at the top of the website. If you have photos or flyers, attach them to an email addressed to webmaster@mainestategrange.org. Make sure you cover all the details, including how someone can get “more information.”
This website averages thousands of views every month. Some of those people are looking for the event you’re holding. Why not tell them about it?
Once you’ve submitted the event, it’s easy to share it on Facebook and other social media. The website is a great place to start!
We are fast approaching the time of year for craft fairs and holiday events. Don’t forget those, either!
It’s an exciting and busy time of year! I won’t be able to cover everything in this letter, so make sure you visit our website and/or Facebook Page. Are you receiving Valley Grange Grams by email? If you’re not on that list, send me your email address, and I’ll get you added!
First, make sure you add at least one jar of peanut butter and one jar of jelly to your shopping list. We are collecting on behalf of the Bangor Savings Bank PB & J Drive. Bring your donation to our next meeting on September 16, 2022 (potluck supper at 6 pm, meeting at 7 pm). There’s also a tote on the Grange Hall porch—you can leave donations there. Since this promotion only runs through September, please have your donations turned in by Monday, September 26!
We kicked off our Meat or Heat Raffle at River Festival but need to sell more tickets, so we’ve enclosed two books for you to sell or buy. (Tickets are $1 each or six for $5.) If you’d like more tickets to sell, contact Janice Boomsma (343-1496) or Pat Engstrom (564-8290). We’ll draw the winning tickets at our November 16th meeting, so please have all money and tickets turned in before then! You can mail tickets and checks to Janice at the address above.
Most have probably heard that Garland Grange has closed and returned its charter. While there aren’t too many, Valley Grange is inviting Garland Members to move their membership to us. While we certainly have our challenges, we continue to serve our communities and hope to keep our hall open through the winter months. Once we know who may join us from Garland, we will update our membership directory and make it available. Please make sure we have current information about you!
Dictionary Days are coming soon! We’ll soon be contacting the schools for third-grade census numbers so we can order dictionaries! It’s still a bit early to predict how deliveries will be accomplished this year—we’re hoping to be able to return to field trips to the hall and personal visits to the schools. I’d estimate that we’ll need at least nine cases of dictionaries this year. We all are familiar with inflation, so it’s not a surprise that the price has increased again this year, and we will likely need over $800 to continue the program. As a reminder, we typically supply over 200 third graders in Guilford, Harmony, Dexter, Dover Foxcroft, and Brownville.
Of course, in conjunction with delivering dictionaries, our Blistered Finger Knitters make hats and mittens, and we will continue the “Sock it to Us” program we started last year.
I’ve had several inquiries about our Bookworming Program at Piscataquis Community School in Guilford. We’re hopeful, but it’s too early to declare whether or not we’ll be able to schedule those important visits with second and third-graders.
They don’t mail well, but I hope you have your “I love Valley Grange” pin! Between River Festival and our booth at the Piscataquis Valley Fair, we don’t have a lot left! People do love Valley Grange, and that’s one reason we’re able to support our communities! While some of our programs have been temporarily suspended due to COVID mandates and restrictions, many continue, and we always seek opportunities to serve.
Please consider a pledge to attend at least one Valley Grange event or meeting before the calendar year-end. While we have financial challenges, our greatest need is participation in our events and meetings. Here are some potential opportunities. More may be added.
Friday, September 16, 2022, potluck supper at 6 pm and meeting/program at 7 pm. Don’t forget to bring PB & J. (I thought about PB & J sandwiches instead of a potluck, but we’ll want to get as much as possible for Bangor Savings Bank. By the way, the Bank matches donations, so for every jar we donate, they add one!) Our program this night will include a discussion of resolutions to be considered at the state session in October.
Thursday, October 6, 2022, Piscataquis Pomona Meeting at 7 pm. We’ve discontinued the meal, but snacks and desserts are provided! You do not need to be a Pomona Member to attend… Pomona Lecturer Dave Pearson always has an interesting and fun program to offer!
Friday, October 21, 2022, potluck supper at 6 pm and meeting/program at 7 pm. Program to be announced, but we usually hear a short report of what happened at the MSG Convention, including new programs and contests.
Friday, November 16, 2022, potluck supper at 6 pm and meeting/program at 7 pm. Last chance to purchase raffle tickets (be sure to bring any you’ve sold to the meeting)! While plans are still being made, this will include something special in the form of an “open house” or the old-fashioned “booster night” when we celebrate the existence of our Grange! We also tend to extend a special invitation to the families of children receiving dictionaries.
Friday, December 2, 2022, fellowship breakfast for supper at 6 pm, holiday program at 7 pm. Neighboring Granges and friends are invited to join us for a warm evening of breakfast and fellowship. You can come in your jammies if you’d like!
And, by the way, dues are due in December! As postage costs continue to increase, reducing mailings becomes just one of the ways we try to be good stewards. Please ensure we have up-to-date contact information for you—especially an email address if you are actively using it!
As most of you know, I also serve as Communications Director for the Maine State Grange. I recently kicked off a program at the state level that collects “testimonials”— one or two sentences about why members love the Grange. If you’d like to participate, just go to the Maine State Grange website. There’s a link (red button) near the top that opens a simple form to collect your contribution. You actually don’t have to be a member to love the Grange!
However you’ve chosen to help Valley Grange and our communities, thank you! As always, if you have any questions, concerns or ideas, please let us know. Don’t underestimate your role and contribution. Everything and everyone helps!
Did you know that since 2012, the Bangor Savings Bank Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive has collected more than 83,000 jars that have been donated to local food insecurity programs? That’s a lot of sandwiches!
While it’s not an official Grange Program, it’s an easy one to support. Members could do this as individuals–or your Grange could collect donations and deliver them all at once. Take a photo of the delivery!
Jars of peanut butter or jelly can be dropped off at any Maine or New Hampshire Bangor Savings branch during operating hours from Thursday, September 1, 2022, through Friday, September 30, 2022. For each donation received, Bangor Savings Bank will donate one additional jar of peanut butter or jelly to local food insecurity programs.
Peanut butter, a protein-rich food item, is too often in short supply and in high demand at local food insecurity programs. And what’s a more classic pair than peanut butter and jelly? Something as simple as donating a jar can make a big difference to a neighbor in need. And with school back in session, we can support our local schools and backpack programs by donating a jar of peanut butter or jelly!
Jonesboro Grange #357 earns a Blue Ribbon at the 2022 Washington County Fair in Pembroke, Maine.
Pictured with the display are (L) Jonesboro Grange Vice President Muriel Gay holding the blue ribbon and (R) Jonesboro Grange President John Cox Jr.
The three active Granges in Washington County, which include Jonesboro, Alexander, and Perry, each set up a display for fairgoers.
The Jonesboro Grange display included vegetables grown in the Jonesboro Grange garden, a quilt made by Jonesboro Grange members, as well as resin art, a wire skidder & dump truck, woodworking, handmade bags, and pot holders, and delicious home canned goods – all from our talented Jonesboro Grange members! WOW! We also brought along our 2021 Grange scrapbook, photo board, and membership information!
Next stop for the Jonesboro Grange is the Bluehill Fair!
Piscataquis Pomona and Valley Grange Show Their Stuff
Valley Grange DisplayPiscataquis Pomona Display
Folks attending the Piscataquis Valley Fair found two Grange Booths to admire and study. The Valley Grange Booth demonstrated what it takes to get wool from “sheep to shawl” and how members use those skills to benefit their communities. The Piscataquis Pomona Display focused on general Grange information such as who we are and what we are about. It included some of our Grange Heirlooms!
Willow Grange #366, of Jefferson, presented membership awards to (from left) Henry Post (70), Leo Glidden (65), Sharon Morton (50), Nancy Post (55), Gladys Glidden (65), Norman Hunt (55), Judy Hunt (25), Patricia Moody (50), and Dottie Parker (60). (Laurie McBurnie photo)
On July 28, 2022, Willow Grange master Ed Worthley and secretary Laurie McBurnie presented membership awards to Judy Hunt (25 years), Norman Hunt (50 & 55), Patricia Moody (50), Sharon Morton (50), Nancy Post (55), Dottie Parker (60), Gladys Glidden (65), Leo Glidden (65), and Henry Post (70). Member earning awards earned but unable to attend were Wilfred Manley (50), Kathryn Brown (65), Hazel Kleinschmidt (75), and Madelyn Creamer (85).
Highland Lake Grange is pleased to report a very successful night of World War II local history! 42 attendees and Grange members enjoyed Ken Moody’s wonderful program on four US Army Air Corps flyers from Duck Pond Road: Wesley Dearborn, Harold Lewis, Frederick Gowen, and Leonard Emery. We are very excited about raising $400 for the Westbrook Veterans Relief Fund.
Thanks to everyone who attended, and a big thank you to Ken for all of his research and work over many years. Thanks to Ken, the devotion of these men to their country during World War II will not be forgotten.
Mike Sanphy, President of Westbrook Historical Society and member of the Grange, stated that the Society does have plans to record this program so it can be viewed more widely.
