By Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029
Worthy National Representative Anne Bercher, Officers. Delegates and Members of the Maine State Grange,
It is an honor to present my 2022 Maine State Grange Annual Address. I would like to thank everyone who helped to make this job easier and keeping our organization moving and to each of you who do so much to make our Granges grow and prosper. It is hard work, no doubt about it, but the rewards are worth it. I certainly appreciate the efforts of our Members, Deputies, Directors and Committees who work diligently on behalf of the Grange and wish us all success in the coming year. Thank you to Jim Owens, past Master, for your advice, guidance, counsel and friendship. A special, thank-you Richard for your support and strength through the good happenings and some very difficult Grange situations & decisions, love you.
Jim Owens represented Maine last November as the delegate to the National Grange participating in all work and activities. I did not attend in person because of my bout with covid just prior to the National Convention, but did participate via zoom for some of the meetings and workshops. I was assigned to the Budget Committee and we did our advance work by zoom before the convention. Jim and I will be going to Sparks, Nevada this year in November. I have been assigned to Agriculture and Jim assigned to Grange law. Again we will do updates by zoom to policy statements and review resolutions before the session opens.
The 2023 National Grange Convention will be hosted by the Northeast Region and will be held in Niagara Falls, New York. The 7 regional states have a good handle on the plans for that event. Many volunteers will be needed for the National convention, for different activities, please help out. We have 2023 Convention T-shirts here for sale as a fundraiser, (we have them here). Each Northeast State is also required to pay a Host Fund Assessment of S4.500, Maine’s assessment was paid this year. This happens every five years.
Headquarters
The Maine State Grange headquarters building in Augusta was taken off the market when the contract expired last year. We had quite a number of showings during the past few years while it was listed and the potential buyers have been very impressed with the size of the building and its appearance for its age. However, they did comment about the cost of converting it over to all offices, other potential uses or upgrading it. Our upstairs tenants, Maine Better Transportation, and Garbacik Surveyors on the first floor have moved, not for anything against us but the opportunity suited them, which leaves us with one tenant and our own offices. We are hoping to rent the spaces once again.
Sharon and Henry Morton spend a lot of time at our building, doing a whole variety of BIG jobs and extras, like letting in the plumber, electrician, furnace man, and the list goes on and on for the good of the Grange and not because they have to, or are asked to, but because they care about the Grange. Most recently they have been chasing away the vagrants who have taken a liking to our porches and extra eaves to get out of the rain. The police have come several times and removed people. Sharon put up no trespassing signs as recommended by the police, and Henry cleans up feces and puts the vagrants belongings near the dumpster as instructed by the police, then throws the Items away If they are no: removed I don’t think these jobs are the Office Secretary’s obligation, more a maintenance issue but she is in the office and does them. For all the extra things they do for the Grange and the building. thank you doesn’t cover my appreciation for their efforts. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH
In addition, Sharon, I can’t thank you enough for all your help and assistance you have given me. doing a lot of things which are not part of the State Secretary’s job, but reeded to be done, and she has volunteered to take on these tasks, doing a lot of behind the scenes work. I appreciate you more than I can say.
I work at the office and a lot from home continuing with Grange work. I have communicated directly with the Subordinate & Pomona Masters/Presidents answering questions, calls and emails, creating, printing & sending assorted information, if one person asks a question I share the answer and info with all. I have attended meetings when required or was invited, answering questions and providing copies of materials to the members and others, sent letters to the Granges on a variety of subjects, to State Officers, Deputies and Directors and others, and written a monthly article for the bulletin
I have traveled to closure or consolidation meetings, presented certifícales, signed paperwork for deeds and contracts for the sales of buildings, etc., there are 15 halls currently for sal». Richard S 1 have cleaned out several buildings ourselves.
I hosted a School of Instruction for Deputies. Officers meetings, and Director meetings during the year, gaining a lot of input and ideas from those attending, I have continued to update the paperwork describing ritual floor work and how-to information in more detail and making it easier to understand. Our State Committees and Departments have continued to work very hard promoting programs and events. Most of our Granges are going great guns, some large, some small but doing great things in their communities but we still have others struggling Attendance, participation and finances are the biggest concerns.
Four Former State Officers passed away during this past year. Sister Dot Brown, Brother Wayne Sherman, Sister Dot Shores also a Past Officer of the National Grange and Sister Elaine Walls, several Deputies, and many other valuable members Their passing was a difficult time at the Subordinate, Pomona and State levels and they v/ill certainly be missed by many here in Maine and all over the country, as they each made friends everywhere during their memorable Grange Journeys.
Meetings and Membership
Membership and attendance at meetings continues to be of concern and is vital to our organization, a strong sense of. achievement and service to our communities must be developed. Community activities and involvement are important but so is the Grange Ritual The Grange Ritual (the set pattern that we do things at each meeting) may «em outdated to some or unnecessary. But it is part of this fraternal Organization and to be considered a Grange MUST be followed. Some things have been modernized and simplified but the basics are still there lets make the effort to be part of it whether In person or use of technology.
Internal fighting is a problem and hurtful to our Order, we are a collective group working together for the betterment of all, no one member should control everything that happens in the Grange. Every member in every Grange has a say and a vote on what goes on, whether they agree or disagree with your opinion, each is entitled to that vote. Respectful discussions must take place in the meeting where each can express their views and listen to others views.
By this time, we should all be meeting in person once again. Reach out to those members who haven’t been to Grange for a while, what can we do to get them to return? Is it a matter of a ride, a different day of the week or consider a day meeting?
Several successful degree days were held throughout the state at different times during the year and many more Granges conferred the Obligation Ceremony. We had 24 Granges with Net Gains in Membership, that’s more than a quarter of our Granges. However, we did not have a net gain overall this year. Maybe next time. Many public events were held, where we had a manned booth and some unmanned, ag trade show, fairs, and other events where we publicized Grange.
Thank you to all who took the time to invite someone to join and to the members who organized and took part in the obligation ceremonies and degree work. I have encouraged Granges to handle degrees and installations on their own and many have reported finding this very satisfactory. Now let’s put the new members AND seasoned members to work with something meaningful for them to do and keep their interest involved. We enjoy going to Grange, but we need to continually work to make our meetings and activities productive and interesting. New ideas came out of necessity, we missed being together, so where we had become bored with our meetings, we need to continue with our renewed excitement, new ideas and the positive energy can be contagious to say the least.
As you have heard in the State Secretary’s report, we have lost more Subordinate Granges and one more Pomona this past year with an overall loss of membership. A few Granges are considering consolidation or closure, but they have been struggling for some time. Many problems could have been prevented had our members followed the rules and procedures that we have in place, plus using some tact, common courtesy and respect for each other.
Agriculture
The Agriculture Committee under the direction of Willie Grenier, promotes agriculture with their participation in several statewide events and has met often during the year. Agriculture in Maine continues to have many challenges. It makes more sense than ever to purchase locally, if we do not support agriculture in the State of Maine, it will continue to disappear.
The committee gave scholarships again this year to students going to college with agricultural pursuits. They need your help to get the word out to the schools that this program is available and certainly rely on your donations to make these scholarships possible.
Fairs
Agricultural Fairs were opened once again with record attendances. Many Granges participated with wonderful exhibits or displays Congratulations. To get one of these displays in p ace Is often a daunting task and I commend your dedication and hard work If your Grange can’t put m a full Domestic, Agricultural or Combined display for your Grange, why not consider putting in an Educational or Informational Display. The building Superintendents, appreciate your efforts and need your displays to get people to come in and look, keep up the good work.
The Eastern States Exposition, known as the Big E, had record attendances this year, and the New England Grange Budding did very, very well. Thank you to Mike, Pauline, Judy, Jimmy, and Vicki Irom Maine who went and worked in the store for the first weekend.
Committee of Women’s Activities
The Women’s Activities Committee under the direction of Margaret Henderson has been busy with many projects. Their donations toward Home for Little Wanderers and House in the Woods program through your kind contributions is certainly beneficial to many.
Thank you to all who sent items for the State sales tables and the sales tables at the Big- E. They will gladly accept all that you can provide for next year.
Community Service
Director Christine Corliss received twenty four reports and notebooks, WOWi I certainly would not want to be one of the judges for these books, as so many Granges have done such outstanding work in their communities t know that many more Granges are also doing superb community service in their towns but our Granges need to publicize our helpful deeds better. Brag yourselves up and your good works
Educational Aid and Howes Nurses’ Scholarship
This committee continues to award scholarships to deserving recipients but are still In need of your assistance to get the word out that these scholarships are available and your continued donations are needed to keep these scholarship programs viable.
Fundraising
Norma Meserve chairman and the fundraising committee have been dedicated in their fundraising efforts and still works for the good of the Grange and we appreciate what has been done. The yard sale was another success.
Junior Grange
Thank-you Co-Junior Directors, Marilyn Stinson and Terry LaCombe-Stevens have worked hard to increase the number of active Junior members through their various programs and activities. Distance is still disrupting plans but adjustments were made and zoom utilized several times. Junior Camp v/as held at Enterprise Grange and the children participated n activities that were both fun and educational. I believe that the adults who were Involved also enjoyed the activities This department needs your support to continue growing We are looking for a new Director or Co-Directors to take over the position.
Legislative
Director Linda Weston, continues to follow legislative issues. The updated legislative policy book was completed in 2020 and is available upon request.
I would encourage our Granges and membership to be active in legislative issues in your local community. As in days gone by, the Grange can make a difference, be part of the solution and be an important part of our community, state and nation.
Publicity and Web Site
Our Web Master and Publicity Director Walter Boomsma, works at updating and upgrading the website for all of us. I appreciate his input. He will be glad to assist you with publicity, and be delighted to put information, upcoming events and pictures on the web site.
In addition to the web postings, the Grange Bulletin is printed monthly including articles by Officers, Directors and guest writers which keeps our membership informed. It is sent to the Secretary of each Grange around the 15th of each month.
The National Grange website and State Grange websites are very helpful tools for our benefit, however a word of concern, sometimes we jump to conclusions by information we find on the web or on face-book that needs a closer look or more details before we can utilize those ideas. Some are suggestions, not must dos, some ideas are not used here in Maine but are in place in other states. As an example the title of Master and President are interchangeable or suggested for use, or both may be used together but the title President is not mandatory.
In Conclusion
CONSIDERATIONS FOR GRANGE LEADERS: There are no easy solutions. Prevention is a future thing. People are more important to situations than things. Embarrassed kittens become tigers. People rise to a challenge, if it is given. A person’s loyalty is a function of how he feels he is appreciated. A person’s self-esteem is his most important possession. Don’t destroy it. Most major jobs can be broken down into several manageable tasks. If something is inevitable, acknowledge it and use it to your best advantage. Volunteers don’t work for money- they work for good feelings. If you don’t ask the right questions, you won’t get the right answers. Volunteers are more committed to tasks they have helped develop. Learn from your mistakes and keep a useful record for your successor. Time invested in planning pays off in the end. What you feel is not always apparent to others. Communication and understanding take effort. Prevention is planned anticipation. If a volunteer doesn’t understand why he is doing something, he probably won’t do it well. Always show more concern for the people than the task. They get the job done for you. Creative ideas flourish in a free and open environment. Build on the past, don’t be tied to it. Change is the very thing we can count on, are you preparing to deal with it? The future will be very different from the past, like it or not. If you don’t invest time in doing it right now, when will you have time to do it over? Are you helping those around you to grow and become future leaders? Cultivate a positive attitude in yourself and co-workers, if you expect positive results.
I am looking forward to a successful year in our State Grange and hope all our Granges prosper.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sherry A. Harriman, Master Maine State Grange