President’s Perspective – August 2023

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

RESOLUTIONS are due in the office on August 15, 2023. Any resolutions received or submitted after the August 15th  deadline date will not be considered at this year’s 2023 Annual State Session. Resolutions are printed and then mailed back to each Grange. This all takes time.  

Just like elections, Granges are required to install their officers usually in September or as soon as practicable after elections. There are not many installation teams traveling the state to perform the ceremony. The Installation Ceremony may be handled by each Grange on their own. There is an official alternative Installation of Officers printed in the new manual that can easily be followed by your members with one person taking charge, all participating or just a few. This alternative ceremony contains half the words as the original one, which is also in the manual.  

Grange Committees are appointed by the Master/President-elect (whether newly elected or re-elected) and are responsible for asking the people to be involved. The Committees are responsible for organizing and implementing their programs in Subordinate, Pomona, and State Granges. Each level has more responsibilities and activities for the membership. If you would like to serve on a committee, please contact the Master/President of your Subordinate or Pomona Grange.  The State level is also looking for members to get involved with Committees and being Deputies, this being an election year, some officers, deputies, and committees may change.

This is a good time to remind you that your Grange Secretary’s and Treasurer’s books are to be audited at least once a year, and carrying that out close to installation is the perfect time to get it done.  The Executive Committee and/or the Finance Committee of your Grange are the ones to carry out the audit.  Written records should be kept for all accounts in the Grange, receipts and expenditures. 

Maine State Grange By-Laws:  Article XXI – Subordinate Officers and Their Duties
Section 8.1  It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee of each Subordinate Grange to see that the books of the Secretary and Treasurer and any other funds of the Grange are audited at the end of the fiscal year.      

You will need the  Secretary’s Records and Secretary’s Order Book.  This is the 5×7 book the Secretary writes what bills have come into the Grange and need to be paid with an amount listed. This record book also includes donations made to whom, etc. You will need the Treasurer’s books, checkbook, bank statements, savings book, etc., and receipt book (for funds received from the Secretary).  You compare the Secretary’s minutes and Order Book with the Treasurer’s checkbook and statements for receipts and expenditures.  All items should match between the Secretary and the Treasurer.  All Committees of the Grange that handle funds, such as CWA, Lecturer, Chaplain, Bingo, Dinner, Fund Raising, etc., should also be keeping written records of receipts and expenditures to have audited at the end of the Grange year.

Another reminder, 28 Subordinate and 7 Pomona Granges have provided your 2024 Roster information.  Even if there were no changes, a report needs to be sent, either the printed form or typed in an email.  During the order of business, the Master asks, “Have the reports to the Pomona and State Granges been duly and promptly made?” This includes this request for information. You may not have every committee in your Grange, but we still need the information you have, especially the meeting day & time, the address of your meeting hall, the Master and Secretary’s names, addresses, and phone numbers. Something I did notice on the ones I have received, several of the Granges have changed their meeting day and/or time. That is a By-law change and there is a proper procedure to make those changes correctly, then the change must be submitted for approval by MSG.  The Article, Section, and Sub-section numbers/letters must be stated in the by-law change request, the current information completely written out then the requested change completely written out. All your members must receive a copy of the proposed change(s), and it will be voted on as a motion at a subsequent meeting from when it is first introduced.  After the affirmative vote of the Grange, the same old and new printed information is sent to the State Master for approval. It will take effect after I sign it.

The 150^th Annual State Grange Session is Oct. 20 & 21 at the Auburn Masonic Hall located at 1021 Turner St, Auburn.  Please note this is a Friday and Saturday event. Anyone may attend the session. Letters about the session will be going out next week to the Granges, which will include the Delegate Registration form, schedule, meal information, and hotel info. All information will be posted on the website. Resolutions will be sent after the 15^th of August.

Friday, Oct. 20 — 1:00 p.m. opening & business. 2:00 State Master’s Address.  2:45 Memorial Service,  3:45  Resolutions and National Grange Rep. guest speaker,  6:00 p.m. Banquet by Pine Cone Eastern Star Chapter here in the Masonic Hall – tickets $16.00 purchased in advance. Awards will be presented upstairs after the banquet:  Junior Presentation, Community Service, Family Health & Hearing, Membership, Educational Aid and Howe’s Nurses Scholarships, and others.

Saturday, Oct 21 — 9:00 a.m. opening, acceptance of budget, full election of officer(s), resolutions and reports mixed in with elections as needed & installation of officers.
12:00 Ag Luncheon – tickets $10.00 purchased in advance.
1:30 Call back to order – business continues.
Conferral of the Sixth Degree will be at 2:30 p.m.   ($10 fee for 6^th Degree candidates) (must have had the 5^th Degree or 5^th Degree Obligation to take the 6^th Degree)

Fair Season is in full swing, and I hope you get a chance to attend a few of them, there are lots of things to see and do.  Here are some of the results of the Grange exhibits I have heard about so far:

Ossipee Valley Fair:
1^st Maple Grove 148
2^nd Waterford 479
3^rd Saco 53
Monmouth Fair:
1^st Winthrop 209
2^nd Waterford 479
3^rd Enterprise 48
Pittston Fair:
1^st Enterprise 48
2^nd Chelsea 215
Maine State Junior Grange received 1^st Place award also.

Congratulations and compliments to all who put together these wonderful displays, thank you for your hard work. We are looking forward to seeing more this summer. Thank you, judges!