Category: State Convention

Mill Stream Receives Diamond Grange Award

At the State Grange conference awards night on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, Maine State Grange Master Sherri Harriman (r) presented   The National Grange “2025 Diamond Grange in Action”  award to Mill Stream Grange Master Jill Sampson, who accepted on behalf of Mill Stream, one of two Granges in Maine recognized for achieving the title.  

Secretary’s Corner – November, 2025

By Sharon Morton, MSG Secretary
207 485-6197

The 151st State Grange Session in Orono is behind us, and I am getting the office back in order.  Wow, what a great session.  Learning Row, Row, Row Your Boat in sign language with National LAS, Kathy Gibson, and the election of three new officers.   I would like to wish them a great two years:  Ceres, Judy Meserve of Chelsea Grange; Pomona, Tracey Small of Danville Jct. Grange and Executive Committee (4 yrs), Dale Holst, Alexander Grange. 

Thank you for your outstanding dedication and hard work over the past year.  As Secretary of your Grange, you carry a vital responsibility-maintaining accurate membership records, managing dues, documenting proceedings, and submitting reports to both Pomona and the State Grange.  The Grange is stronger because of your efforts, we appreciate everything you do.

It is  very important to get your Quarterly Dues in on time.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email at mainestategrange@myfairpoint.net or call me at 207.623.3421. I would be happy to help.

The Holiday season offers a meaningful opportunity to honor your Grange members for their years of dedicated service.  Whether they served for 5 years or 85 years, recognize them for their commitment to the Grange.  Please send these requests in a timely manner so that the processing of such requests will assure arrival when you need them.

Have a great Thanksgiving!  Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!!!

Veterans at State Session

submitted by Terry LaCombe Stevens

Veterans attending the 151st Maine State Grange Session were honored by Chaplain Christine Hebert and gathered for a photo.

State Officer Elections

Delegates to the 151st Annual Maine State Grange Convention had a busy few days and a lot of work to do! We’ll be sharing a few highlights. For some, even more work starts now. We’ll be updating directories, but we can at least share this list of officers elected.

  • Master/President, Sherry Harriman
  • Overseer, Adrian Mike Griffin
  • Lecturer, Melissa Baldwin
  • Steward, Ben Edgerly
  • Assistant Steward, Rick Grotton
  • Last Assistant Steward, Roberta Meserve
  • Chaplain, Christine Hebert
  • Treasurer, Laurie McBurnie
  • Secretary, Sharon Morton
  • Gatekeeper, Peter Ivers
  • Ceres, Judy Meserve
  • Pomona, Tracey Small
  • Flora, Debra Ivers
  • Executive Committee, Dale Holst (3 year term)

Appointments will be updated and shared as they are made and confirmed.

151st State Convention Opens Today

This year’s convention opens at 11 am! Since most officers, directors, and deputies will be in attendance, communication may be challenging. In website terms, we’ll be checking email as time permits, and you can expect a reply within 24 hours. That’s always our goal, and we usually beat it!

Thanks for your patience and understanding! For information about the convention, check this page.

Secretary’s Corner – August, 2025

By Sharon Morton
MSG Secretary
207 485-6197

August is the beginning of our late summer months before our State Grange Convention in October.

I am reminding all Secretaries that resolutions to be considered at our Annual Convention must be received at the State Grange postmarked no later than August 15th. 

Delegate credentials and updated State Grange Banquet information will be arriving in August with a return date no later than October 1, 2025. The delegates who will be representing your Grange must be voted on at a regular Grange meeting. The delegate credential may be mailed (preferably) to me prior to the State Session or brought to the State Session in October. Remember that your September Quarterly dues must be in the office prior to October 15th for your Grange to have representation at State Session.

The Maine State Grange currently has 76 active Community/Subordinate Granges. I have received  64 June Quarterly reports, with two of the 64 not providing a quarterly report.  There are still 12 outstanding June Quarterly Reports which I will be notifying of the lateness of their reports. As you can see, it is very hard for me to give the National Grange an accurate number of members for the State of Maine when I don’t have that information.  My report must be at National Grange no later than August 31st.  

I also need the Pomona annual reports, of which I have received 8 out of the 12 remaining Pomonas. I will note that one Pomona just elected their secretary, and I have forwarded the report to the new secretary. I am also notifying the Pomona secretary that the annual report is now due.

You may also receive a notification from the IRS regarding the filing of your 990N. Please do not respond to this letter, as I am working on the filing of all 990Ns as quickly as I can. If you would like to know how to file your own, please contact me and I will gladly try to help you navigate the IRS filing system.

The role of a Grange Secretary is vital to the success of your Grange. As the keeper of records and administrative backbone, a secretary ensures that meetings run smoothly and that members remain informed.

A Grange Secretary is responsible for keeping precise minutes of meetings, recording membership details, and preserving historical documents.

Clear and timely communication with Grange members, officers, and committees is essential.  Sending out meeting notices, reminders, and reports ensures that everyone stays informed.

The secretary is responsible for preparing and submitting Quarterly reports to the State Grange on time. (September 30th, December 31st , March 31st and June 30th )  Your report will not be considered late if postmarked on or before the 15th of the month following the quarter it is due.  Remember that there is a $5.00 late fee to be included with such report if postmarked after the 15th.  It is extremely important that you keep the State Grange informed of any changes in membership, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

As your State Secretary I appreciate your dedication to being secretary in your Community/Subordinate and Pomona Granges. 

Have a safe and enjoyable remainder of the summer season and will see you all soon.

Ag Committee Report — December 2023

By Roberta Meserve, MSG Ag Director
(207) 998-3857

The raffle, drawn at State Session, earned over $600.00. The winner of the Visa gift card was South Sangerville Grange; Harriet Spencer won the basket of goodies. Thank you to Agnes and Bob Nelson for taking care of the raffle table during the convention.

In my 55 years of Subordinate Grange Membership, this is my first time on the Ag Committee at any level, and I’m still learning the ins and outs and expectations. I look forward to discovering more.

I hope to see some of you at the Trade Show in Augusta in January. Stay safe on the snow and ice!

Ag Committee Report — June 2023

By Wilma Grenier, MSG Ag Director
(207) 437-2099

On Thursday, May 4th, the Agriculture Committee of the Maine State Grange met at headquarters with eight members present.

The scholarship fund is currently at $5,980.42 due to fundraising and donations from the Grange Store at Fryeburg Fair, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, and the raffle at the State Conference. Two of the three winners from 2022 have been paid. Sharon will contact the remaining student, Chantal Cyr, to see if she is eligible for her scholarship after the fall 2022 semester.

The group voted to fund five exceptional applications for 2023. 2023 Winners are:

  • Lily Mae Jaffray from Blue Hill to study Pre-Veterinary Science.
  • Emma L. Alexander from Dexter to study Forestry,
  • Zachary Dean Skidgel from Newport to study Sustainable Agriculture,
  • Grace Cassandra VanBuskirk from Thomaston to study Pre-Veterinary Science,
  • Ashley Nicole Stubbs from Addison to study Animal & Veterinary Science.

The committee discussed fundraising to continue the scholarship program into
the future and will conduct a raffle with the drawing at State Grange Session in October. Granges wishing to support the scholarship program should send funds to State Grange labeled AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

2023 Fairs and events calendar was mailed by the State master to existing judges. Some fair dates may have changed. The Fryeburg Grange Ag Store moved last year and had a much better location. Volunteers are needed to work during the week of October 1 – 8. Let Sharon know if you would like to volunteer.

The group discussed the 2023 State Conference on October 20 & 21 (Friday &
Saturday this year) at the Auburn Masonic Hall, which is behind the Auburn Mall. It will start on Friday after lunch and include a Friday dinner banquet and Saturday lunch. The dining room made it difficult to hear a speaker last year, so the group decided instead to just draw the raffle winners and have some Maine Ag in the Classroom bookmarks and other information to hand out at the luncheon. It will be a very busy session this year!

MAITC supplied over 800 books for both virtual and in-person readings this year. The book was “Honeybee” and was very well received by everyone.
The committee will meet again at state headquarters in August to review Grange Enterprise applications, go over fall plans, and any other business. Please submit applications! They are due August 1, 2023. Be well, everyone! Spring is here, the rain has finally stopped, and the sun is shining!