Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange Master/President
207 490-1029
Annual Passwords: The annual password ciphers were sent to the Grange Secretaries with the December quarterly report forms. The keys to the password will only be mailed to the Masters/Presidents when all dues are paid up to date, including the December 2025 Quarter. If you have not received your key, check with your Secretary or our office to confirm your dues are paid in full. Sharon did tell me recently that not all dues are up to date. As an individual, to receive the new password, your personal dues must be paid up to date, you should receive a receipt as proof of payment to show the Master/President.
Degree Day: April 26, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Manchester Grange #172, located at 953 Western Ave, (Rt. 202) Manchester, ME. All four degrees will be conferred. Let Norma Meserve (207-583-7211) or email her at: meserve1965@gmail.com if you have candidates or if you would be willing to help out. The candidates should bring their application for membership with them.
Spring isn’t so far away as it may seem at this point, but it is eventually on its way. Winter has been treating us fairly well, except for the big storm of 19” and a few inches here and there, some wind, and several cold days. I guess we really can’t complain all that much about the weather – after all, it is Maine and February. We are still hunkering down in place with the weather & doing well.
With spring comes reopening. It’s almost time to get back in the swing of in-person meetings in our halls. Spring is also clean-up time outside and inside for our own yards, but this should also include our halls. Get the lawn raked up, clip the grass and bushes around the steps and foundation, pick up the branches and trash lying around, get the tattered plastic off the windows and maybe even wash the reachable ones. Repaint your sign, the steps, railings and even the door. We all need an occasional facelift. Closer to summer, get some new plants in the window boxes and garden.
As we are all involved in promoting Grange membership and growth, we should be advertising ourselves. The name and number of a Grange should be on the building or on the sign at the road, and should include the day and time of the meetings. This way, someone passing by or visiting the area will know when you meet.
Grange Month: It doesn’t feel like it, but here we are a little over a month away from Grange Month, a time of year we honor our community members and promote our Grange. Congratulations to those who have made plans for something special at this time. Why not incorporate something to honor our Nation’s 250th Anniversary at the same time. This was a resolution we accepted at the State Grange Session in October. You can plan your event honoring your community later in the year. Nothing says it can only be done in April, honoring someone special or a special activity can happen anytime, it’s the result that really matters. You can buy or make up your own certificates, plaques, etc., for honoring an individual or group, or items may be purchased from National Grange. Whether you order on your own or from National Grange, remember to allow lots of time to get the items back, especially if you are getting it by mail or shipped. We have lots of informational brochures as handouts in your halls available on request at the office.
State Office: I want to remind you that the State Grange office does have an answering machine to leave questions, requests, and information at 207-623-3421. Please leave a clear name, phone number, and brief message so we can return your calls. We are in the office a couple of days a week. We also have a new email address: mainestategrange@gmail.com.
Our personal numbers, home and email addresses are in the 2026 Roster that each Grange Secretary will receive soon. I must apologize for the error I made in the new Roster. I listed the wrong additional email under State Secretary’s name – it should be mainestategrange@gmail.com. We had been given a preliminary email prior to the new Gmail one being issued. The State Grange web site is valuable and can provide information, the webmaster is very helpful, however, some of your questions should be directed to the State Grange Secretary or myself personally by email or phone.
Until we can be together again, take care of yourselves.
Thank you, Worthy Master, for all of your contributions to the Grange!