Category: Grange News

Notes from National – July 2022

Gleaned from an email written by Phil Vonada, National Grange Communications Director

2023 National Grange Revival

The 2023 National Grange Revival is just one year away! Information and registration forms are available on the Program Books and Information Page under the heading “National Grange.” Make your reservations at the campground as soon as possible – many of the campsites and RV sites are already reserved, which means you’re going to have an amazing week in Curtis, Michigan! Don’t miss out on a week full of fellowship, fun, excursions, great Grange food, and more! Booking your spot now will also save you some money!

Good Day! Magazine

The next issue of Good Day! magazine will be coming out in August, so there’s still time to subscribe! This quarterly magazine is full of information for your members, and at just $16 for a year’s subscription, it’s truly a steal! We are also always looking for content, including editorials, articles about things happening in your State or Community Granges, or other information that you think would be interesting to Grange members across the country. Please email me! The next deadline for information and articles will be August 31, 2022. Thank you to the states who send in your new members, too! It’s a great way to give your new members and Community Granges a shout-out!

Grange Foundation Virtual Telethon

THANK YOU to the States, Departments, and individuals who supported the Grange Foundation’s Virtual Telethon for the Junior and Youth Departments last weekend. You have made a HUGE difference in the future of the Grange, with over $24,000 raised!

Grange Fairs Across the Nation

Phil would love to see pictures from Grange Fairs across the country! I would love to see how fairs operate around the country and to hear how Granges are involved in making them happen. Photos of Grange exhibits and how we are sharing the message of the Grange are especially wanted! Attach them to an email to Phil!

National Grange Quilt Block Contest

The deadline has been extended to September 1, 2022. More information is available here.

National Grange Convention

156th National Grange Convention will be held at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada from November 15-19, 2022. Visit the National Grange Website for information and to register. Early bird registrations are open until September 9, 2022.

National Grange Heirloom Program

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Ritual and Declaration of Purposes. Please share “success stories” about the use of the program with us, or if you come up with other innovative ways to incorporate the Program in your Granges. Information and materials are now available on the National Grange Website.

New Member Recognition in Good Day Magazine

Want to see your new members recognized in Good Day Magazine? Anyone who has not been recognized as a new member in the past year can be included. Use this link to share the news. The deadlines for each issue are:

  • August 30, 2022
  • November 30, 2022

“Notes from National” is based on a monthly email received from the National Grange Communications Department.

156th National Grange Session is scheduled for November 15-19, 2022 in Sparks, NV

Merriconeag Grange Seeks Members

Merriconeag Grange is located in Harpswell, Maine

Check out this article written by freelancer Sam Lemonick for the Harpswell Anchor. The article not only explores some of the factors creating declining membership in fraternal and community organizations, it explores ideas and adaptations that can impact local Granges’ relevance and growth.

The Merriconeag Grange isn’t in immediate danger. Despite struggles to convene formal meetings, Sam Alexander says it is doing better than most Maine Granges, both financially and in terms of membership.

Check out the article to find out how they are doing it!

President’s Perspective — July 2022

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

STATE GRANGE SESSION Here it is July already, which means three months away from State Grange, October 20 & 21, 2022 at the Auburn Masonic Hall, 1021 Turner Rd, Auburn. See this for a basic schedule and information. I am very pleased to announce our National Representative at State Session will be Ann Bercher, Lecturer of the National Grange and Master/President of the Minnesota State Grange, I know you will give her a warm welcome.

We are looking for someone to do the Rose Drill for us. Contact Sherry if you are interested.

MASTERS and SECRETARIES – A strong reminder – correct information for Master, Lecturer, Secretary and CWA Chairman listing the address, phone, cell phone, and email address for each, are due to the State Grange Secretary as soon as possible after the election has been held. Please type or print clearly. The Master or Master elect of each Grange selects the Committee
Chairmen for the Grange and informs the Secretary who those people are. The Secretary gets and/or checks the name, address, phone, email, etc. for each of the people involved, please fill in the entire form provided, or email your list to the state office.

RESOLUTIONS are due in the office on August 15, 2022, either email
mainestategrange@myfairpoint.net or standard mail to 146 State St., Augusta 04330. Submit both ways to ensure we receive them. Each resolution is required to have a title when it is submitted to the office, I cannot give them a title–your Grange must come up with one. The resolution must be voted on by the Grange submitting the resolution. After the 15th, we then have to print everything and mail all resolutions back to each Grange. This all takes time.

OFFICER and DEPARTMENT REPORTS are due in the office no later than September 15, 2022 (written or emailed to the office and to my email SHarriman@twc.com). I prefer emailed reports. These dates may seem early but getting everything put together for the session takes time, especially when we have to keep adding on the procrastinators.

The Delegate Registration, Banquet and Luncheon forms, etc., will be sent later in August.

“Look for the Stars” Banquet will be roast pork, meatloaf, potatoes, salad, green beans, applesauce, rolls, brownies & ice cream, coffee, tea, lemonade and water for $14 per person.

The Ag Luncheon will be assorted sandwiches, chop suey, chips, cookies, coffee, tea, lemonade, and water for $8 per person. The deadline for the meal registration and prepaid is October 5, 2022.

Once again, I will remind you, anyone may attend the State Grange Session, as long as you are a Fourth Degree (Subordinate/Community level) Grange member and have the passwords for the gate. (To receive the passwords from your Grange, your dues must be paid.) After the opening on the first day of State Session is completed, we lower to the Fourth Degree and all work is conducted in the Fourth Degree, like your regular Grange meeting you are welcome to sit in at the meeting and listen. Only registered delegate(s), may vote on the issues and elections, but this does not exclude you from attending.

 

2022 Parkman Grange Scholarship Awardees Announced

The Parkman Grange is pleased to announce its 2022 Minnie Welts Bridge Scholarship winners. They are Mercy Harper, Sangerville, a Criminal Justice major at Husson University, and Eben Cooley, Parkman, a Marine Engineering Technology major at Maine Maritime Academy. Both will receive awards of $500. Although the Grange normally announces and awards winners at the Annual Scholarship Supper, this year the awards will be presented at the Parkman Grange Bean Supper on Saturday, July 23, 2022, in conjunction with the Parkman Bicentennial Celebration. The Supper runs from 4:00 to 5:30 or when the food runs out. The meal is by donation. Please come and enjoy the good food and good fun.

Minnie Bridge (1909-2011) was a lifelong resident of Parkman, a retired schoolteacher, and a life member of the Parkman Grange. In her memory, the Grange established the Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarship Fund to benefit deserving Parkman students continuing their education beyond high school.  The Grange annually awards one or more scholarships funded through donations and the proceeds from an annual Supper in Minnie’s name. Last year, at the height of the Pandemic, there were no applicants and no awards made. This year applications were opened to all residents of MSAD#4. With these new awards, the Grange has awarded $13,000 since 2012.

Note that the next big Parkman Grange event will be the annual Daddy-Daughter Dance at the Grange Hall on Friday, August 12, 2022, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. All Daddies, with their young ladies, age 13 and under, are invited. DJ Steve Boddy will be spinning the tunes. There will be dance contests, door prizes, light refreshments, and a keepsake photo. Young ladies whose dads are unable to come are encouraged to come with an important adult in their life.  The cost is $5 per person, at the door. Plans are being discussed for a mother-son and/or family dance in the future.

Both the Supper and the Dance are at the Grange Hall located at the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Rd. For more information about these or any other Parkman Grange events, please contact Sue Manchester at 277-3942.

News from Ocean View Grange

Ocean View Grange is located in Martinsville, Maine

by Larry Bailey, Master/President

Grange member Ryan’s idea about serving a Strawberry Palooza of Strawberries and Cream was a success. We ran out of strawberries and whipped cream at 2 pm…, two hours before the advertised closing time. 

We served 92 cups of strawberries and cream and grossed $610. The net after expenses of $146 was $464.  Many of the folks who stopped in had never been in a Grange before and I gave tours of our meeting room. That went over well and, we may get a new member or two out of it.

We need to thank the following who worked to make the event both a financial and, just as important, a public relations success:

  • Ryan Aponte
  • Nancy Fagley
  • Joss Coggeshall
  • Dan Anderson (Ryan’s stepfather)
  • Pat Deussing (Ryan’s mother)
  • Bill Swittlinger 
  • Diane Bailey

Thanks to all of our members who helped and those members who came in to have a taste.

Webmaster’s Note: I highlighted the part about tours of the meeting room… what a great idea when having events!

News from Victor Grange

Victor Grange Is Located In Fairfield Center Maine

Check out the latest Victor Grange Newsletter! Lots of accomplishments and activities… note they need some help moving furniture on Sunday, July 24, 2022, so all the first floor floors can be refinished! Hot dogs and burgers will be included for helpers!

Thanks to donations from the Mosher & Pellerin Celebration of
Life we have secured enough money to have the first floor refinished. We have also had a donation of a trailer to store Grange
belongings by Timmy’s Trailers and Pro movers will come to pick
up and store the two pianos & return them in a couple of weeks.
That’s what we call Community!

Additional articles mention the twentieth anniversary of Fairfield’s Senior Circle… a floral design class… and an opportunity to purchase chairs for $10 each! Don’t miss the July Issue!

Ocean View Grange Looks Great!

Submitted by Larry Bailey, Master/President

The front of the Grange has been power washed, sanded, primed, and painted and the newly refurbished signs have been installed.  Words are simply insufficient to express my thanks to the crew of Grangers who worked very hard to get this done in three days. Our Grange looks wonderful and we and our community should be proud of it. This renewal of the Grange look symbolizes the renewed energy and enthusiasm our members are bringing to Ocean View Grange’s programs and community contributions.

The attached photo of yesterday’s crew shows our team, but several others have been on-the-job at different times.  You can thank the following Grangers and FOGs – (Friends of the Grange).

Jim (Spinner) Lee – (Jim started, managed, and did most of the work on this project)
Ben Norton
Joss Coggeshall,
Nat Lyon
Dick Bomba (FOG)
Bill Swittlinger (re-painted the blue Grange arch)
Al Moncovich (painted new wheat and white signs)
Larry Bailey (I got more paint on me than the building)

See you soon at the Grange.

Notes from National – June 2022

Reminders

Many contest deadlines are coming up soon! National Grange Lecturer’s Virtual Photo Contest and Communication Department Publicity Item Contest are both due on June 30, 2022. Check recent issues of Patrons Chain and the National Grange Website for more information. Many National Junior and Youth Grange Contests are coming up–check your handbooks!

An Encouraging Word!

Granges are active in 1500 communities nationwide and we are 140,000 members strong. A few states are seeing massive growth in membership numbers, and (more importantly, in my opinion) activity and presence in their communities. Members are joining because they are proud of the work being done by the Grange and proud of the way their members are talking about the Grange.

Phil Vonada, National Grange Communications Director

Grange Foundation Virtual Telethon

This year’s telethon is July 9, 2022. We are seeking sponsorships, testimonies, and talent entries from youth and juniors! Please email Samantha or Mandy if you have questions about the event. Please plan to tune in, starting at noon eastern on July 9, 2022!

National Grange Quilt Block Contest

The deadline has been extended to September 1, 2022. More information is available here.

National Grange Convention

156th National Grange Convention will be held at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada from November 15-19, 2022. Visit the National Grange Website for information and to register.

National Grange Heirloom Program

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Ritual and Declaration of Purposes. Please share “success stories” about the use of the program with us, or if you come up with other innovative ways to incorporate the Program in your Granges. Information and materials are now available on the National Grange Website.

New Member Recognition in Good Day Magazine

Want to see your new members recognized in Good Day Magazine? Anyone who has not been recognized as a new member in the past year can be included. Use this link to share the news. The deadlines for each issue are:

  • June 30, 2022
  • August 30, 2022
  • November 30, 2022

“Notes from National” is based on a monthly email received from the National Grange Communications Department.

156th National Grange Session is scheduled for November 15-19, 2022 in Sparks, NV

St. George Grange Public Suppers

St. George Grange has started our Summer Public Suppers. We will host suppers on the 2nd Saturday of each month until October. We always start at 5 pm (even though people start arriving at 4 pm). The supper in October will include our Fall Craft Fair that day. We take November off and then on December 3, 2022, we will host the 40th Annual St. George Grange Christmas Fair! A wonderful community event.


PUBLIC GRANGE SUPPER
ST. GEORGE GRANGE
WILEY’S CORNER
SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022 @ 5 pm

Come enjoy a variety of homemade food, fresh-baked bread, biscuits, desserts, coffee, and cold drinks with neighbors, friends, and family

Adults $8.00 Children $5.00
(Under 10 yrs. Free)
Cooked food donations for our suppers welcome
(Casseroles, salads, desserts, etc.)
Thank you!
For more info. call 372-8904 or 372-6768