Category: Membership

I will be attending the annual Agricultural Trade Show in Augusta this week to talk to people about grange and to try to get some new membership. Each year I attend, emblazed in my Grange attire, either wandering around talking to the vendors or seated at the Maine State Grange booth, enticing new membership and explaining what Grange has to offer. People from all over the state attend and check out the agricultural exhibits, eager to find new ideas or products to help with their gardens and food production. Events like these offer a great opportunity to add new membership. We have people sign up who are interested, and the list is passed to Granges based upon the geographical location of the person’s residence. Applications and other information are readily available. 

By attending this event, I am achieving three things that are mentioned in my columns over the years as in the following:

Visibility, by letting yourself be shown and making yourself known.

Approaching others and having pleasant conversations about Grange. 

Wearing clothing that proudly displays Grange emblems and creates conversations such as, “My parents (grandparents or myself) used to belong to Grange” and “Do Granges still exist?” 

I encourage all members to attend any kind of event in their jurisdiction where there may be interest in Grange membership. There are so many people who have not heard of Grange, so get out there, make yourself visible, talk to others and wear Grange apparel!

With all the chaos in our country, the Grange needs to step up and help those in need. We need to work as one and become stronger. The Grange needs to keep its reputation as a safe place to go, with helping hands and friendly people.  Our communities need us more than ever, so we need to be ever so vigilant.  We need to let our communities know we are there for them. After all, isn’t that the Grange way?

Keep in contact with others, schedule events helpful to the people, such as a free clothing drive, craft fairs, dinners, lunches, card and game nights, and other social events. It only takes a smile to make someone’s day. Grangers are givers. Grangers are helpers. Grangers care.

To attract new members, we must always be on our “A” game. Be positive, smile, lend a helping hand, listen to others; their concerns and needs. Our communities need us more now than ever, so reach out! Remember why you joined the Grange and why you still belong.  Having been a Grange member for 40 years, I am truly grateful for all the Grange has provided me with: love, lasting friendships, and the opportunity to make a difference. As has been said, you get out of something what you put in and much more. Tell your story.

As the new year approaches, what changes need to be made? Will the Grange strive to work easier (not always harder) to gain membership, to be a factor in our communities, a name that all will trust, and most of all, visible to others? YOU can make it happen. YOU can be a factor. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Happy Holidays to all.

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means a busy time for many Granges. Giving is what Grangers do, and it is at its peak during this time. Craft fairs, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the community, helping those in need for food, heat, and Christmas presents for the children, donating hats, coats, and other outerwear to keep them warm; the list is endless. Recruit others to help with your projects, whether it’s baking, cooking, organizing, or serving dinner. People are in a generous spirit and are willing to help a good cause. Gaining members is at its highest point during this season. So what do we do as Grangers?

Start planning early. You can start putting together an outline for your event, which includes staffing. Ask others if they would like to help with the cooking and setting up. Make your event a joyous, successful time that everyone will remember.

Advertise and be visible. Organize a planning and publicity committee to take care of the needs. Do it early and often. Even if you are a small Grange, it doesn’t matter; it can be done. My Grange is small, but we have devoted, loyal members who enjoy each event.

Keep up the enthusiasm. Not everything goes as planned, but make the best of it. Keep calm and you will persevere. For those who are not yet 5^th degree (Pomona) members, perseverance is one of the lessons of being a Grange member.

Give a hearty “thank you” to all who helped and explain why the Grange holds such events. Have applications handy!

Have a clothing, food, or toy giveaway day at your Grange. Invite the public using the suggestions mentioned above. We all have things we would be willing to donate to those in need. This is one event that needs time to be successful.

Membership is a big concern for all, but we can do it. It is the same issue as our predecessors had, and look at how long we have survived. Numerous wars and pandemics over the years have not stopped us. Do your part!

Pomona membership is a big problem. Only just over a quarter of our membership are Fifth and Sixth Degree members, which is alarming.  Where are our future leaders? The State Membership Committee (which also includes all Pomona Masters) will address the problem. We need all Pomona Masters to address this problem with their Subordinate Grange members. We need insight from all members, and we will be devising a plan and maybe some workshops for all to attend.

The State Membership Committee wishes all a happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all. Be active and safe!

Now that your officers have been installed (hopefully you all have had them installed), there will be those in new offices. In order to keep the Grange rituals flowing smoothly, make sure all are educated in the duties of their new office. It is very important that we help one another become familiar with our new positions. New membership wants to see a well-organized, smooth-flowing meeting and new members, upon becoming an officer, want to know the history and duties of their new office. Explain what the Grange is all about. Encourage them to take the remainder of their degrees in order to fully understand what the Grange is all about. It does not end with the 4th degree. If you have not gone beyond that then you haven’t totally learned all the lessons of the Grange and are missing part of the Grange experience. That seems to be a problem in our Grange today as more Pomonas are closing and less resolutions sent to State Grange.

Hope to see and speak to all of you at the State Grange session Oct 17-18!

Here it is September again, and time for the installation of your officers and close to the beginning of a new Grange year.  Each month, I give you advice and tips on how to gain and keep membership. This year, let’s do something different. I would like to hear from you, the members, tips, and advice to share with our readers. Also, any questions you have for the Membership Committee will be answered and put in each monthly column. This is not a one-time request; it is ongoing because I want us ALL to be involved to help each other. 

Each meeting, address the issue of membership and come up with a list of questions and tips to ASK RICK, and he will answer and share. I have given you all my views over the years, but I am sure you will have more information for me to share. Again, I say that membership should be your top priority and that all of us are responsible for finding new members. Please let me know! 

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

There are many active Granges doing many events, which are well-advertised and appealing to the public. What a great way to attract new members. I know of a few that have done so successfully. This is probably the easiest way to attract new members. Keep in mind that any public or community event is also a membership drive, not just a fundraising event. Take advantage of this opportunity.

When speaking to interested parties, be prepared to answer their questions. Subjects in which they are interested include the following:

• The history of the Grange.
• What is the Grange?
• What does the Grange do?
• Rituals and traditions.
• What has the Grange done to affect our lives now and in the past?
• Is the Grange just for farmers?
• Is it family-friendly?
• Meeting times and dues.
• Why did you join?
• Benefits (insurance, discounts (for example car rentals)

If you are unsure of the answer of any of these questions, we have literature that explains and covers these areas. Give them contact names and numbers,  and make sure they are not confused when you end your conversation.  The Grange is a great organization and an opportunity to change one’s life for the better. There are many people out there who are waiting for you to ask or invite them to become a member. Do your best to encourage them into membership. Open up a new world for them; one of knowledge, history, and helping fellow community members. Make this world a better place in your little corner of it. Get out there and recruit!