Category: Membership

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

This year is the 150^th anniversary of the Maine State Grange and some of the earliest numbered Granges. What a wonderful way to attract new members! I have attended a couple of anniversary celebrations, which were well-received and provided much history. Let’s advertise this important event to the public through social media, television, radio, and newspapers or by holding open houses to invite the community to see your hall.

Plan a community celebration, contact your local PBS television station to attend, and advertise in the local newspaper. There are many, many people who would enjoy a walk through your history and how your Grange has survived for 150 years. News media thrives on such content and would be very interested in publishing your information.  PBS has a show called “Maine Life,” which covers everything about day-to-day living in our beautiful state. They would surely be interested in televising the Grange anniversaries as they are a part of Maine life and have been for 150 years. This is a big chance to show off your successes and hard work and to educate others on how important Grange has been in Maine history and how it has affected the people of Maine. From Eliot to Presque Isle, from Fryeburg and Wilson’s Mills to Alexander and Perry and in between (especially along the entire coast), the Grange covered most of our State at one time. Even today, although we have fewer Granges, the traditions and rituals are mainly the same as 150 years ago, and some of these Granges are doing extremely well by being active and serving their communities. Our Halls signify a safe place for people to gather and were always considered the centerpiece or hotspot of rural communities.

Please continue to attract members as our future depends on it.  Have fun!

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

This month, we will go into more depth on this important part of gaining membership. Doesn’t it seem like almost everyone you ask about Grange has never heard of it or has heard of Grange but knows nothing about it? Many will tell you they had a relative who belonged a while back or some will say they briefly belonged but no more. However, they cannot define Grange. This is really sad. Who will join an organization they know nothing about or have just heard about? I knew nothing about Grange when I joined, but I found out there were many Granges in my area at the time. I’m sure these Granges were active with meetings and events posted in the papers, but like most people, I did not pay attention because it wasn’t something that interested me, or nobody had spoken to me about Grange.  With membership levels elevated at the time and the number of Granges around, how come we still knew nothing about Grange? Sure, they advertised public suppers and dances, but was that enough? Evidently not. Some of the mentioned Granges are still active; however, some of those that closed did not hold membership drives or lost interest even with a good number of members. 

 Each community with a Grange should know what is happening within it’s walls at all times. In Chelsea, we have been organizing public events, involving the community, getting involved in community events, showing up at town meetings, getting involved with the schools, and educating our citizens. We are a small but lively group and I am very happy to be a member of this Grange. It is up to us and all members around the state to educate others on our colorful past and important part of American history not recorded in any history books from schools.

I had belonged to other well-known organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus and the Jaycees, and appreciated their work and efforts. Of course, we have all heard of the Lions Clubs, the Elks, the Odd Fellows, the Masons, and other community organizations such as 4H. But why not the Grange? With our longevity and colorful past, it should be known to all. Today, the Grange is still an important organization for farmers and communities alike. We need to band together to show that we still exist and are there to help. Just holding public suppers and bingo is not enough. We need to grow and need members to carry on our work and traditions. So be visible, educate, and be proud of our worthy organization called the Grange. I am.

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

Spring has sprung and warmer weather has us out and about and ready to plant our crops.  Enjoy the wonders of Nature as the seed becomes a healthy plant, then bearing fruit. We are grateful for all the resources that Nature provides so we can have a bountiful harvest.

I am pleased to hear that the Degree Days in April were successful as well as Granges that recruited new members. I know of fifty, yes fifty, new members who saw the degrees or were obligated last month.  Our Grange had 2 who were obligated. Out of the fifty new members, three Granges alone totaled 36; Fairview (Smithfield) had 18, Meericoneag (Harpswell) had 10, and Androscoggin (Greene) had 8. I am also aware that Deering Grange (Portland) took in 4 new members! Keep up the good work!

The new members will need proper training in the ritual and floorwork. Please offer to help mentor them and provide them with the resources and information they can use to become active in their communities. In previous columns, it was explained how your Grange can help these new members. For a quick review, remember to greet them and make them feel welcome, listen to their ideas, get to know their interests, and have an active Grange for them to be able to participate in events. I am available to attend and mentor if needed. Membership takes work, but we are well equipped to handle the task with ease. Enjoy!

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

This year is the 150th anniversary of the Maine State Grange and many of the earlier established Granges, which were organized in 1874. I attended the 150th anniversary of Excelsior #5, the earliest of the surviving Granges. It was a great celebration with music, awards, a history presentation, a great meal (of course!!), and a wonderful attendance of both Grange members and non-members. Attendees were amazed to see the history of the Grange in that area and the changes that happened over the years.

 Hopefully, all Granges will have a tribute to the 150th Maine State Grange anniversary, as well as those who also will be celebrating this year. It is a great milestone; one we are proud of and willing to share with our communities. Advertise and be proud; let the word out and invite the public to celebrate with you. This is one of the best ways to attract new members! Plan your event with a neighboring Grange or with your Pomona. Don’t miss out on new membership; take action and open those doors!!!

I am excited to hear of the results of the two degree days in April. Remember, make sure all your members who are new or only had an obligation ceremony receive a chance to see the full degrees to enhance their knowledge of lessons and symbolism. The next one is April 21, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Maine State Grange Headquarters in Augusta and presented by Androscoggin Pomona.

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

April is Grange Month, and many Granges are busy with events scheduled during this time. Do you have any members who have not seen the four degrees or need to take them? If you do, then you are in luck! Below are the scheduled dates when the Community (Subordinate) Grange degrees will be performed. Please inform your new members and encourage them to attend one of these sessions. I haven’t been to a degree day in a while, so I am looking forward to them.

April 14 at North Scarboro Grange, 74 County Rd., Scarborough. Contact Mike Griffin, Master, for information and to let him know how many will be coming. The meeting starts at 1:00 p.m.

April 21 at State Grange HQ, 146 State Street, Augusta. Contact Maynard Chapman, Chief Deputy, for information and to let him know how many will be coming. The meeting starts at 1:00 p.m.

Please refer to the website at mainestategrange.org to find out what other Granges are doing. The site has a ton of information pertinent to all members, so please visit and subscribe.

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

Some of you who read my columns may be thinking that I may be on some Cloud 9 somewhere with the way I explain how to gain membership. You may think, “That does not apply to my Grange,” “We are too small and do not have community events,” or “What he says does not seem realistic,” or the worst one of all, “We are not interested in gaining new members because we are fine.” Which word, however, appears in each of the above-quoted sentences? Ah, yes, did you find it!! The word NOT!!!! A negative connotation. Negative energy. How do you know the suggestions and hints will not work? If you do not try, they certainly will not work! We all can and must continue to keep our Granges active. New membership is a priority for all organizations. The Grange has much to offer, so let us build on changes and improvements.

The information provided to you is basic and realistic to all Granges and other organizations for that matter. Such information contains the building blocks and principles needed to build a strong organization and needs to be maintained and updated according to your needs without losing the identity of the original basic rules.

Yes, there are Granges in Maine that are not interested in adding new membership. The majority of those have closed due to such, however, there remains a few who want to keep things the way they have always done without outside interference. The Grange is more than just “our” organization. It belongs to everyone who comes through the doors, those whose lives have been changed because of something the Grange has done for them, those who have attended suppers, bingo, and yard sales, and to those who will be our successors who will keep the Granges active and touching lives in their communities for a good cause. Remember to inform others about joining the Grange when talking to them that it applies to ages five and up. Explain the Junior Grange and its function to them. The Grange is a family organization, so advertise it as such.