Category: Communication

Degrees and Symbols Brochure

Check out this great resource for recruiting and developing your membership!

DIY Resource

National Grange designed this long-overdue tri-fold brochure for local Grange use. It offers an effective summary of Grange heritage, ritual, and lessons.

The degrees “are short enactments, like plays, that allow members of the Grange to pass on to new candidates the values of the organization and lessons that can be learned – in the Grange’s case – through the natural world and work of agriculture.while emphasizing the core teachings of the Grange and the fact that ‘local Granges build resiliency and sustainability in their hometowns..'”

You can download a copy from the National Grange Section of the Program Books and Information Page then print as many as you need. (You might consider adding a small label with contact information for your local Grange. Contact the MSG Communications Department if you need help with that!) Additional options include having a local printer produce them or ordering from the National Grange Supply Store as part of an orientation pack.

If you’ve ever tried to remember the emblems, seasons, or symbols of the first four degrees, you need this brochure! And what a great thing to give new members who are about to celebrate the Four Degrees–or as a take-home “handout” after a degree day.

Visit the Program Books and Information Page–Scroll down to the National Grange Section for a complete list of brochures available for your use. That list includes:

And don’t forget, there’s a one page letter describing these brochures and tips for using them!

New Applicant “Pack”

Check out this great resource for recruiting and developing your membership!

DIY Resource

National Grange designed this as a new membership application and orientation/welcoming plan! It’s larger than the other brochures and with good reason! The membership application is very user-friendly and captures plenty of good information. It is “detachable” in a way that leaves the applicant with meeting information, important additional contacts a local mentor, a dues reminder, and some ways to stay informed!

You can download a copy from the National Grange Section of the Program Books and Information Page then print as many as you need. (You might consider adding a small label with contact information for your local Grange. Contact the MSG Communications Department if you need help with that!) Additional options include having a local printer produce them or ordering from the National Grange Supply Store as part of an orientation pack.

This brochure is a great way to process new members and to make them feel welcomed by providing basic information they’ll use. Ideally, an existing member would complete the application with the new member, making sure to include the orientation information–so much better than handing someone an application and telling him or her to fill it out! Applying for membership should be a warm and friendly experience just like being a member should!

And you just have to love the fact that the Grange Motto is right on the first panel.

Visit the Program Books and Information Page–Scroll down to the National Grange Section for a complete list of brochures available for your use. That list includes:

And don’t forget, there’s a one page letter describing these brochures and tips for using them!

Member Benefits Brochure

Check out this great resource for recruiting and developing your membership!

DIY Resource

National Grange designed this tri-fold brochure for local Grange use as a way to introduce members to the benefits that provide “added value for your dues dollars.” The general list of benefits includes

  • Travel and entertainment
  • Hearing services and devices
  • Financial planning and home protection
  • Shopping
  • Technology, shipping, and business services
  • Insurance
  • Prescription and medical care

While enjoying Grange membership, it’s easy to forget that there are some financial benefits as well!

You can download a copy from the National Grange Section of the Program Books and Information Page then print as many as you need. (You might consider adding a small label with contact information for your local Grange. Contact the MSG Communications Department if you need help with that!) Additional options include having a local printer produce them or ordering from the National Grange Supply Store as part of an orientation pack.

This brochure is a great reminder of the opportunity to get the most out of membership. New members should definitely receive a copy and it could be used to supplement an occasional lecturer’s program to briefly review current benefits offered by National Grange.

One panel suggests “Grange benefits help you secure what’s most valuable”–an interesting thought starter. What is most valuable and how can the Grange help protect it?

Visit the Program Books and Information Page–Scroll down to the National Grange Section for a complete list of brochures available for your use. That list includes:

And don’t forget, there’s a one page letter describing these brochures and tips for using them!

An Order Like No Other Brochure

Check out this great resource for recruiting and developing your membership!

DIY Resource

National Grange designed this great tri-fold brochure for local Grange use. It describes the overall structure of the Grange explains Grange Entities and how each works to ensure rural prosperity.

There’s also information about the National Grange Foundation and other opportunities for giving. Of all the brochures available, this one has the least amount of local focus but does establish the credibility of the Order and explains the various IRS designations.

You can download a copy from the National Grange Section of the Program Books and Information Page then print as many as you need. (You might consider adding a small label with contact information for your local Grange. Contact the MSG Communications Department if you need help with that!) Additional options include having a local printer produce them or ordering from the National Grange Supply Store as part of an orientation pack.

This brochure is a great way to introduce the Grange as an organization. Having copies available in a rack at your hall is great but you really want to get copies out to the community in a way that supports your role and recruiting efforts. Many people will find the national aspect of our Order reassuring as it suggests permanence and deeper resources.

Make sure people know “Granges improve quality of life and inspire others to work for the common good.”

Visit the Program Books and Information Page–Scroll down to the National Grange Section for a complete list of brochures available for your use. That list includes:

And don’t forget, there’s a one page letter describing these brochures and tips for using them!

How to Sponsor Garden Tours in your Community

Resources for Granges

produced by the
Maine State Grange Communications Department

While searching for ideas to promote agriculture, the Maine State Grange Farmers’ Initiative discovered that Victor Grange #49 in Fairfield had a jump on us by several years. We asked Barbara Bailey from Victor Grange in Fairfield Maine to share her energy, tips, and success stories they experienced.

Barbara also put together a resource booklet containing planning information, tips, and samples of the material they have used. The booklet also includes Barb’s contact information–she would love to help your Grange set up a similar tour!

Download the Tour Resource Booklet
Visit the Victor Grange Facebook Page

Check out:

  • More Resources for Granges — Program Information and Inspiration
  • Maine Grange Farmers’ Initiative — Information about the Initiative
  • Program Books and Information –Information arranged by committee and topic.

New Paths to Blaze

Webmaster’s Note: Larry Bailey, Master of Ocean View Grange in Martinsville, said it would be okay to share his recent message to the Ocean View members. He could have written this to Grangers everywhere! When he replied to my request, he added, “…The examples of what other Granges are doing is very helpful, instructive, and energizes me. I know we can do more and I know that doing so improves our community and ourselves. It is, perhaps, selfish but, I get great self-satisfaction from cleaning up a local road, giving an award to deserving citizens, providing free meals to veterans, paying heat bills for those who need it, placing flags on the graves of our servicemen, and the other things we do at Ocean View.” Congratulations to Larry and Ocean View Grange for exploring tradition and new directions!

The words from the Exploring Traditions Column are for you to think about. I believe we need a new round of Grange fever. Most of us have been Grangers for several years and have seen our energy and enthusiasm slow down. It is not rare that this pattern takes over after a period of time.  I think new ideas and new directions are what we need. Those of us who joined and worked so hard to save the Grange still have that feeling that the Grange needs us and all our members. I can’t tell you what new ideas and directions we need to follow but our members are creative enough to come up with some ideas. I think we will be back in full action after the end of the year and hope we can start anew with excitement, energy, and determination. I am going to give it my best effort and hope each of you will too.  When thinking about what new paths we can blaze, I hope you still realize that we are not in the Grange to make money from our activities. We are an organization dedicated to helping our community, friends, and neighbors in any way we can. Yes, it takes money to do a lot of what we do but more importantly, much can be done with neighborly effort alone.

Oh, and by the way… Larry and I both ordered some cheese from Goot Essa!
WB

Exploring Traditions and Connections

Here you can watch and listen to the discussion between National Grange Communications Director Amanda Brozana Rio and author Walter Boomsma as they explore some of the topics from the book and what they mean to Grangers and Granges today–especially during the current pandemic.

Walter’s book is available from