At their recent meeting, members and friends of Ocean View Grange laid out plans for a number of events and programs. They began by noting their recent bean supper grossed over $1,000. A special thanks was issued to Lecturer Emily, who enlisted her entire family as helpers–including four children.
October 1, Irish Dance and Ceilidh (pronounced Kay’lee) will feature Gabriel Donohue and his team.
October 8, Flea Market is being organized by Mary Ann Swittlinger. Contact her at 207 372-8629 for more information.
November 5 will be another bean supper, this one honoring Vets.
November 26 is the potential date for a Christmas Craft Fair at the Harpoon.
Annual dues ($23 per member) are payable now. Please send a check payable to Ocean View Grange (write “dues” in the memo line) to Diane Bailey, PO Box 204, Port Clyde ME 04855
Cancer Crush 2022 5k Raises over $10,000 to Help Crush Cancer
On Tuesday, September 20, Jonesboro Grange President John Cox Jr. and Jonesboro Grange Lecturer Andrew Cox traveled to the Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center and Sarah’s House of Maine to present the funds raised at the 2022 Crush Cancer 5k held back in June. The Crush Cancer 5k is a Jonesboro Grange community service project.
After race expenses such as portapotties, shirts, and race timing software, a total of $10,526.94 was raised at the 2022 Crush Cancer 5k on a back road that leads to the ocean in Down East, Maine! Funds raised were split between the two non-profits.
Many thanks to all the incredible volunteers, sponsors, and participants who helped make this possible. Without YOU, we could not put on this event to help others! Jonesboro Grange #357 has put on the race the past two years.
The Crush Cancer 5k was created by Rebekah Hodgson and Andrew Cox, after John, their father, was diagnosed with cancer. It was a way for both Rebekah and Andrew to channel negative emotions from watching their father battle cancer into a beautiful event that would raise funds to help others in Eastern Maine who are facing a cancer diagnosis.
Jonesboro Grange #357 is already planning the 3rd Annual Crush Cancer 5k to be held in June 2023!
This is the time of year when we “clear out the old” and bring in the new. There are two key documents for most committees.
An annual report for the previous Grange year (October 2021- September 2022) summarizing the committee/department’s activities and accomplishments.
A program book for the next year (October 2022 – September 2023) with important information such as contest rules, important dates, and resource material for that committee/department.
We are in the process of receiving and posting these to the Program Books and Information Page. For the next several weeks, it is important to pay attention to dates! If you are looking for information about this year’s contests, forms, etc., you’ll want this year’s (2021-2022) Program Book. We leave the books on the site for exactly that purpose–some forms and information are potentially needed right up until State Session in October. If you are planning for next year, be sure to download the book for that year (2022-2023.
Annual reports should be of interest to all members–it’s your way to discover what has happened in the previous year in the department/committee. The information can be of particular interest to those who are delegates attending State Session. The annual reports are provided in the delegate packet as well as available to all members on the website.
Both annual reports and program books are being uploaded as received from directors and committee chairs. Note that some annual reports are not usually available until State Session due to the close of the fiscal year on September 30, 2022. So far, we have annual reports from
Victor Grange is located in Fairfield Center Maine
The latest Victor Grange newsletter leads with a photo of their nice “new” shiny floors! This was truly a community effort!
They are now looking into starting exercise classes… maybe as a result of moving all that furniture out and back in!
“We have about 80 chairs from the original Grange 1880’s purchase We’ve gotten organized, and now you can help out by buying them, some even come with a great sample of DNA from the past, (no kidding) $10.00 each and the money will go towards the building fund. We still have many projects to do, however, every little bit counts.”
The “Fairfield Senior Circle” celebrated its twentieth anniversary on August 19th… lunch, ice cream cake, member certificates…
Mill Stream Grange in Vienna will hold a Degree Day and Officer Installation on Saturday, October 15, 2022. The Four Degrees will be conferred in the morning, starting at 9:00 am. Installation of Officers will begin at 1:00 pm in the afternoon. A light lunch will be served following the Degrees. For more information and to R.S.V.P. with the number attending, please call Judy Dunn at 293-2330.
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!
By Sherry Harriman, Maine State Grange President/Master 207 490-1029
September is the time of installations and new Grange year beginnings. With many new officers and more returning to the same positions this is a good time to give everyone some suggestions and instructions for Grange procedure.
The following is an overview of items that should be stressed at all meetings, following the manual (the most current version of the manual is 2013 which has updates through 2019, but whatever year your manual is covers the needs of your meetings.)
You may wish to add to or subtract from this list. We fully realize that conditions and situations vary with the different Granges.
Children and Grandchildren may join the State Junior Grange, submit requests to the State Jr. Dir. Stress the importance of beginning meetings on time and ending at a reasonable time.
If only seven members are present, the following Officers to be filled are: Master, Overseer, Steward, Assistant Steward or Lady Assistant Steward, Chaplain, Secretary, and Gatekeeper
Emphasize the importance of committing parts to memory, (but not required) especially for Opening and Closing, the Obligation Ceremony and Degrees when conferred.
Following the manual, instruct proper procedures for Opening and Closing in full form.
To open in “full form” means to follow the prescribed Ritual/instructions in the Grange manual, which includes opening the Bible, taking the passwords & reporting, Salute to the Flag, opening the implement case and the Salutation given (prescribed hand salute) and the Charter in the hall.
The word “Ritual” means a set routine or pattern of conducting the meeting each time you meet.
Demonstrate Grange Salutation. (Read the specific instructions from the Code Book on how to make the Signs and Salutation properly. Encourage and assist with reading from the Code Book.) Demonstrate the Voting Sign.
Demonstrate Flag Presentation, Balloting, and Draping of the Charter. Do you need instructions?
The Gatekeeper may come into the hall after the completion of the Flag Salute during the Opening after the Master has rapped the gavel to seat the Grange.
The Obligation Ceremony and Welcome Ceremony may be used, but full Degrees (degree means a level in the Grange) are recommended to be viewed or read thru by the Grange. However, since it is harder and harder to get a team together or to take your candidates somewhere else, encourage the Grange to read aloud through each Degree, even one degree at a time, at four different meetings. This gets everyone involved and is less overwhelming than viewing the degrees all at once. Don’t keep the prospective members waiting. (There is a Pomona Obligation Ceremony also, encourage its use.)
Candidates who are waiting for degree work may come into the hall for the opening. Prospective members may attend a meeting.
Stress the importance of prompt advance payment and collection of dues. Encourage the Secretary and the Grange make every possible effort to save a member. Delinquent members should have three notices, one a personal contact before they are suspended.
Granges are to keep their by-laws up to date, in writing (a copy to be on file at State Office). Changes must be made with a 2/3 vote of those present and voting of the Grange at a subsequent regular meeting after the initial reading of the proposed change. After the vote to adopt, the changes must be submitted in writing to the State Master for approval, you must write out the current section of the by-law(s) and write out what changes are to be made.
Your Grange is required to meet at least once a month and open the meeting in full form. You may meet more than once a month as desired, but must open in full form each time. (A minimum of 7 members must attend for a quorum to hold a legal meeting.)
All funds, regardless of who is holding the money, should be reported by a specific committee or under “Bills and Accounts” at every meeting. All Grange and committee accounts are to be audited at least yearly by either the finance committee or the Executive Committee of the Grange. All Grange accounts should have at least two (2) signers of different families on each account, and all persons who handle monies are required by our by-laws to be bonded.
Do you have a plan for fundraising? What are your needs?
Encourage community service and participation in the Community Service contest; at least send in the Community Service Report form, even if you are not doing a lot.
The Salutation before the Overseer upon entering or retiring is no longer mandatory at the Subordinate level, though encouraged. It is recommended that this be demonstrated with member participation so that members are comfortable with this procedure. The raps and passwords must be used. Going before the Overseer is still in use at the Pomona level, to leave the meeting.
Assist in installing officers of the Granges if possible. Encourage joint installations. The Installation Ceremony could be more informative to the members and the Officers if each Officer take turns reading the charges at other times besides the Installation meeting. It could be spread out over several meetings giving more time to absorb the messages. There is an alternative Installation Ceremony now available for use, it is about half the length of the original ceremony but still gives the Officers duties and instructions.
There are many published items to help in your work, look on the National Grange website or the Maine State Grange website. Items may be requested to be emailed or standard mail.
When you ask, “Have reports to Pomona and State Grange been duly and promptly made?” This covers quarterly dues reports and includes year-end reports of committees, requests for roster information, survey, and any other information requested by Pomona or State offices.
Are your Committees active and reporting? After elections are completed, the Master selects or appoints the chair for the needed committees, the appointed chair takes over upon Installation of officers and remains chair until the next election & installation. The Master can appoint their committee, or the Chair can make their own selections.
Guest speakers and visitors are welcome to sit in on a meeting even during the full opening.
Encourage participation in various contests, attending other meetings, conferences, etc.
Attempt to get the Grange to send a listing of upcoming meetings and events for the Maine Grange Bulletin and website at least two months in advance with reminders. Encourage members with the internet to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website.
Promote good publicity — Grange newsletter, press, radio, etc.
Encourage Open House and Booster Night meetings during Grange Month or at other times as good Grange promotion.
Encourage your members to get involved with Junior activities (includes ages 5 – 14) even if the Grange does not have a Junior Grange
Well, almost home. Since the Houlton Grange is closed and the hall is gone, it’s about as close as it can get, thanks to Jamie Millar, a Houlton Native who continues to support his hometown roots. How the 12 x 18 foot curtain ended up in an antique shop in Texas remains a mystery but it is now owned by the Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum. It hangs in the County Co-Op and Farm Store in downtown Houlton. An easel near the entrance of the store offers a brief history of the Houlton Grange.
We became aware of the story thanks to links to the Maine State Grange Website. The article incorrectly lists 1879 as the date Houlton Grange closed–probably a typo. But does accurately note that in 1924, the Houlton Grange was the largest in the world, with a membership of over 1,000.
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!
