January 10-12, 2025, in Danvers, MA
2025 NE Leaders Conference
Category: Grange News
Jefferson Historical Society presented Spirit of America Award by Willow Grange
by Paula Roberts, LCN
reprinted with permission
Willow Grange #366 of Jefferson presented the Jefferson Historical Society with a Spirit of America Award on Thursday, Sept. 12.
The historical society has spent years archiving early photos of Jefferson, gathering history, and preserving early artifacts of the town. One of the group’s more recent projects was gathering pictures of older families in Jefferson.
Members have printed a couple of histories of Jefferson and annually make a calendar with historic photos. They also hold open houses each year to display Jefferson’s historic artifacts.
There were 34 members of the historical society present at the ceremony, including 16 who are also Grange members. President Marilyn Speckman accepted the award on behalf of the Jefferson Historical Society from Willow Grange Master Sharon Morton.
The evening’s program was on the history of the Grange, including its set of five stage curtains. The curtains were a gift in 1906 from Grange member Charles M. Davis. The curtains were made by the renowned L.L. Graham, of Brooklyn, N.Y. The grand drape is a scene of Venice, and the other four curtains include a street scene, a kitchen, a parlor, and a nature scene. The stage also has reversible ears for the wings.
The curtains were restored in 2012.
Valley Grange Dictionary Days
Valley Grange is proud to have handed out close to 250 dictionaries to third-graders this year. That puts us well over 4,000 since starting the program several decades ago. Enjoy some photos of this year’s program.
Dictionary Days are fun because learning is fun!
If your Grange is interested in starting a Words for Thirds Dictionary Program, complete the form below. No obligation!
Excelsior Grange Christmas Craft Fair
November 30, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
CRAFTERS – DOOR PRIZES – RAFFLES – WREATHS AND SWAGS
Chili, chowder, beef stew, and dessert will be available for lunch for $5.00
Excelsior Grange is located at 446 Harris Hill Road in Poland, Maine.
Communication Shorts 11-16-2024
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
November Bulletin Available
The November Bulletin is now available. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
Printable ODD Directory Available
ODD Directory provides a printable list of state officers, directors, and deputies with basic contact information. It can also be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
Missing “stuff?”
As we purge older posts and clean things up, you may occasionally encounter missing photos and broken links. Remember, we only maintain two years of posts both to save space and avoid confusion. If what’s missing seems important, please let us know! Mistakes happen.
Recent Uploads to the Website
We continue to add new information to the site! The Program Books and Information Page now features the MSG Bylaws as Revised at State Session and the words to Veterans of the USA from the 2024 Memorial Service. We’ve also added the 2025 Ag Program Book.
Holiday Craft Fairs?
Many Granges offer holiday craft fairs or “makers markets.” Please submit information about yours! We offer statewide publicity and make it easy for you to share information on Social Media.
Grange History Booklet Added
The 150th Anniversary Booklet is a literal treasure of historical information about Granges in Maine, including a complete list of every Grange that has existed in Maine! Check it out!
Consider this Idea!
If you are having any sort of program event, consider offering tours of your Grange Hall. Many folks are interested in learning more about both the Grange and these buildings.
Songbooks for Singing!
Ellie Collins has some Grange Songbooks that are looking for a good home! If you’re interested, contact her or let us know!
Think about this
“When you think you are too old to do something new remember you will never be younger than you are right now.”
James Clear
Online Directories Available 24-7
- The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
- The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.
Grange Today! 11-14-2024
During the National Grange Convention, Grange Today! is being published daily.
While National Grange continued to publish a daily edition, I realized the “In this Issue” (table of contents) section did not accurately reflect the content of the actual newsletter. Rather than risk confusion, I decided not to post the daily summaries. If you click the “Read the Current Issue” button below, you should have access to all the issues published during the convention. When regular publishing starts, we’ll resume posting the summaries. Thanks for understanding.
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
Grange Today! 11-13-2024
During the National Grange Convention, Grange Today! is being published daily.
Articles in this edition include:
- Stepping back: How to gracefully become a “has been”
- Reaching Rural Surgical Seniors
- Running a Grange Meeting
- Imagine If… Facilitating Brainstorming from a positive place
- Food Safety for Group Meals
- Science of Butter
- Corn & Ag/Job Industry
- Charcuterie Boards
- Fidget Building
- Finding Hidden Potential & Embowering Members
- Regional Seedballs & Pollinators
- Finding History in the Mystery of the Grange
- Escape Rooms
- Bedtime & Stories & Homework time
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
Grange Today! 11-12-2024
Articles in this edition include:
- The Heart of our Grassroots Structure: The Resolution Process including new strategies for Research and Writing
- Cookie Decorating (Pre-Register)
- How to Lead a Workshop
- What to Do When Stuck Vertical Thinking.
- Wreaths Across America
- River Rock Painting
- Planning and Executing Successful events: New Strategies
- Emblem & Founders Activity
- Bedtime & Stories & Homework time
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
Valley Grange Updates “TelaGranger”
By Walter Boomsma, Valley Grange Program Director
The most recent issue has just been released! Articles include:
- Veteran’s Day 2024
- Meeting Friday, November 15, 2024
- Knitters Kneeded!
- Members Are Stars
- Dictionary Days Update
- Facebook Forward
- Another Dues Reminder
- Did Ya Know?
- Area Grange Events
- Valley Grange Contacts and Resources
You can read the entire issue here!
A recent review of our subscriber list shows we’ve lost some folks due to automation. Our program automatically stops sending issues if your email address doesn’t work. (The most common reason for this seems to be full mailboxes. Check your email and keep it clean!) Once the program stops sending to your address, we cannot override and resubscribe you. But you should be able to re-subscribe!
Grange Today! 11-8-2024
Articles in this edition include:
- Meet us At the River
- Five Mile Prairie Grange Hosts
- Inaugural Crock-tober Soup
- Showdown
- Sterling Grange marks 150 years
- Gold sashes up for grabs at 158th Convention
- Grange Heirloom
- Grange Member Benefits: Wyndham / StartHearing
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.