Category: State Convention

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!

Officers Elected, 2023-24

The delegate body elected the following officers during the 150th Maine State Grange Convention.

Master, Sherry Harriman
Overseer, Mike Griffin
Lecturer, Missy Baldwin
Steward, Ben Edgerly
Assistant Steward, Rick Grotton
Lady Assistant Steward, Roberta Meserve
Chaplain, Christine Hebert
Treasurer, Laurie McBurnie
Secretary, Sharon Morton
Gatekeeper, Peter Ivers
Ceres, Betty Huff
Pomona, Kathy Gowen
Flora, Deborah Ivers
Executive Committee, James Meserve – 4-year term

Directors and Committee Chairs will be announced upon receipt of information. If you have been elected or appointed, please be certain that we have your contact information by checking the online officer directory.

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State Session News

A complete summary of the State Session will come in several forms over some period of time. Of course, the official is the Journal of Proceedings, which will be posted when received.

A first priority is the Master’s Address, in part because it’s easy to do! In fact, it’s done! Click this link to download and print a copy of the Master’s Address!

Second are the results of the election. It may, however, be a while before directories are updated with complete contact information. Gathering that information tends to be the biggest challenge. If you were elected or appointed to an office, it will speed things up if you send me your email address and phone number!

Third are the “missing” annual reports. (Some are not available until the state session. You can check the program books and information page. I should have all reports that I’ve received uploaded within a day or two of this post.)

Fourth are the results of the three resolutions considered by the delegates.

Fifth will be some things I’ve requested from people. One example is the MSG history facts prepared by Margaret Morse as “filler” during the elections while counts were being done. Some were very interesting!

Things may not appear in exactly the order given, but my goal is to have at least one through four completed before the end of this week (October 28, 2023).

If you subscribe to the site, you’ll get an email when new posts are made! Thanks to the delegate who told me he loves how easy it is to get information from the site, especially the emails!

Lastly, please continue to submit your events! When I have multiple submissions, I prioritize local Grange events and news first. You matter! Use the submit tab, or send an email!

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MSG Convention Information

Celebrate the 150th Annual Session in Auburn

Are you making plans to attend the 150th Maine State Grange Convention? Your Communications Department has created a special page with tons of information you’ll want and need.

  • A list of important deadlines
  • A basic schedule for the two-day event
  • A link to an Information Packet that includes the form used for meal reservations
  • A list of motels in the Auburn Area
  • Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Convention.

Note that delegates must be registered by your Subordinate or Pomona Grange Secretary. Non-delegates are welcome to attend and can speak to resolutions with the permission of the delegate body. Non-delegates do not need to register to attend! Non-delegates who intend to attend meals must make reservations by October 5, 2023

Visit the 2023 MSG Convention Page

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!

Contest Winners Announced!

The Community Service Committee (Christine Corliss, Cassandra Corless, and Victoria Huff) announced contest winners during the 149th Annual Maine State Grange Convention.

Community Service Contest Winners

  1. Highland Lake Grange #87
  2. Jonesboro Grange #357
  3. Enterprise Grange #48
  4. Valley Grange #144

Firefighter/EMT of the Year

Phil Roberts, nominated by Jonesboro Grange #357

Teacher of the Year

Morgan Swan, nominated by Jonesboro Grange #357

Granger of the Year

John Cox Jr.

Previous Grangers of the Year

2020-21, Rebekah Hodgson
2019-20, Walter Boomsma
2018-19, Ann Burns
2017-18, Victoria Huff

Family Health and Hearing Contest

Highland Lake Grange #87

Note that information and entry forms for 2022-23 are available on the Program Books and Information Page.

2022 Master’s Address at 149th Convention

By Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029

Worthy National Representative Anne Bercher, Officers. Delegates and Members of the Maine State Grange,

It is an honor to present my 2022 Maine State Grange Annual Address. I would like to thank everyone who helped to make this job easier and keeping our organization moving and to each of you who do so much to make our Granges grow and prosper. It is hard work, no doubt about it, but the rewards are worth it. I certainly appreciate the efforts of our Members, Deputies, Directors and Committees who work diligently on behalf of the Grange and wish us all success in the coming year. Thank you to Jim Owens, past Master, for your advice, guidance, counsel and friendship. A special, thank-you Richard for your support and strength through the good happenings and some very difficult Grange situations & decisions, love you.

Jim Owens represented Maine last November as the delegate to the National Grange participating in all work and activities. I did not attend in person because of my bout with covid just prior to the National Convention, but did participate via zoom for some of the meetings and workshops. I was assigned to the Budget Committee and we did our advance work by zoom before the convention. Jim and I will be going to Sparks, Nevada this year in November. I have been assigned to Agriculture and Jim assigned to Grange law. Again we will do updates by zoom to policy statements and review resolutions before the session opens.

The 2023 National Grange Convention will be hosted by the Northeast Region and will be held in Niagara Falls, New York. The 7 regional states have a good handle on the plans for that event. Many volunteers will be needed for the National convention, for different activities, please help out. We have 2023 Convention T-shirts here for sale as a fundraiser, (we have them here). Each Northeast State is also required to pay a Host Fund Assessment of S4.500, Maine’s assessment was paid this year. This happens every five years.

Headquarters

The Maine State Grange headquarters building in Augusta was taken off the market when the contract expired last year. We had quite a number of showings during the past few years while it was listed and the potential buyers have been very impressed with the size of the building and its appearance for its age. However, they did comment about the cost of converting it over to all offices, other potential uses or upgrading it. Our upstairs tenants, Maine Better Transportation, and Garbacik Surveyors on the first floor have moved, not for anything against us but the opportunity suited them, which leaves us with one tenant and our own offices. We are hoping to rent the spaces once again.

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2021 Maine State Grange Master’s Address

Please note this address is also available on the Program Books and Information Page as a PDF file that can be downloaded and printed.

By Sherry Harriman, MSG Master

Worthy National Representative Judy Sherrod, Officers, Delegates and Members of the Maine State Grange,

It is an honor to present my 2021 Maine State Grange Annual Address. Richard and I represented Maine last November as delegates to the National Grange Session with all states participating in the two-day session via Zoom,all meetings and committee work also held completely by Zoom in advance. A first for National Grange and many of us. I served on the Audit and Budget Committee and Richard served on the Conservation Committee once again.

Due to Covid-19, the in person Master’s Conference was changed to Zoom for Feb and the NE Regional Leader’s Conference also was cancelled,  Informative meetings were held with Master’s participating again using Zoom.

Maine will be hosting the 2022 Combined NE Regional Conference for Leaders, Lecturers and Youth at the Double Tree Hotel in Portland on March 25, 26, & 21, 2022, with workshops and activities being planned for each group, some planned for the entire group, and the NE Youth regional contests scheduled to be held. Suggestions for workshops and volunteers would be appreciated.

The 2023 National Grange Convention will be hosted by the Northeast Region and will be held in Niagara Falls, New York, The 7 regional states have started making plans for that event. The Northeast Region is starting their fundraising efforts for hosting the convention and each state will be required to pay a Host Fund Assessment of $4,200 in 2022. Volunteers will be needed for the convention, please help out.

Once again, many meetings, activities, and scheduled events, both Grange and public had to be cancelled, with the ongoing pandemic. I have worked mostly from home only spending limited time in the office but still continuing with Grange work answering questions, calls & emails, creating, printing & sending assorted information to Sub & Pom Masters, State people and others. I have traveled to closure or consolidation meetings, presented certificates, signed paperwork many times, deeds and contracts for the sales of buildings, etc., 16 halls are for sale. Richard and I have cleaned out several buildings ourselves and I drove Richard to bush-hog a couple of places.

Meetings and Membership

Membership and attendance at meetings continues to be of concern and is vital to our organization, Jet’s make the effort to be part of it whether in person or use of technology. By this time, we should all be meeting in person once again, the pandemic is not a forever excuse to not meet at all. The pandemic has given us renewed excitement, new ideas and the energy is contagious to say the least. New ideas came out of necessity. We missed being together so where we had become lethargic and bored with our meetings, a stronger sense of achievement and service to our communities has developed.

We have taken in new members during the year and some Granges have had net increases. Degree days were held at several places around the state.  Thank you to all who took the time to invite someone to join and to the members who organized and took part in the obligation ceremonies and degree work. I have encouraged Granges to handle degrees and installations on their own and many have reported finding this very satisfactory. Now let’s put the new members to work with something meaningful for them to do and keep their interest involved. We enjoy going to Grange., but we need to continually work to make our meetings and activities productive and interesting. Maybe this year we can turn it into a net gain.

As you have heard in the State Secretary’s report, we have lost more Subordinate Granges this past year with an overall loss of membership.  A few Granges have consolidated or closed, not necessarily because of the COVID-19 but had been struggling for some time. Those consolidating are working hard to make the new partnerships work. Many problems could have been prevented had our members followed the rules and procedures that we have in place, plus using some tact, common courtesy and respect for each other.

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