By Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029
Thank you to all the folks who helped with the recent State Grange yard sale & fundraiser. We appreciate your efforts, those who sold and bought raffle tickets, made donations, and your hard work. Thank you to Manchester Grange #172 for hosting this event. The weather was great, and thanks to those who came to support us.
The routine of Grange meetings, activities, events, fundraisers, yard sales, dinners, and more is in full swing all over the state. I would like to encourage everyone to support in some way Grange events planned for this summer and fall. Get involved, spread the word around, and be there for your Grange. Agricultural Fairs are going on throughout the summer and fall.
REMINDER, there are set things that must happen to “open” the Grange in due form. There must be seven members of that Grange present to be a legal meeting. Assistant Stewards open the Bible on the Altar, Opening Prayer, Salutation, the Charter MUST be present, the Implement case is opened, the Grange is declared open, and Salute to the Flag. Business and votes may only happen when the Grange is opened in full form. Special meetings are exactly as implied, “Special” for a specific, pre-designated event or activity only. No other business may be conducted.
RESOLUTIONS are due in the office August 15, 2025, either by email to mainestategrange@myfairpoint.net or by 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; you must come up with one yourself. 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. The Delegate Registration, Banquet and Luncheon forms, etc., will be sent later in August. This all takes time.
Officer and Department Reports are due in the office no later than September 15th. (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.
ELECTIONS are at hand, and every Grange is required to have full elections every year. Please consider the officers and leaders of your Grange. Are you ready for a change? What is best for your Grange? Are there others who would make good officers? Are you helping others learn the different duties of the offices, or are you pushing too hard? Some offices are more involved than others. Some committees are more involved than others. Maine State Grange will have full elections at the State Session in October. MASTERS and SECRETARIES – A strong reminder – Your correct ROSTER information is to be sent to the State Grange office as soon as possible after your elections are completed. The Master of each Grange sets up 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, fills in the entire form provided, and gets it back to the state office.