By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
Sunday, April 26, at 1 pm at Manchester Grange should be on your calendar if you have new members who have not taken or have not seen the first four degrees. There are members who have been obligated for over a year now who have not seen the degrees. The obligation ceremony does not give the details of the lessons of the Grange, so it would be beneficial (and necessary) to observe the degrees. Last year was successful, and I am looking forward to meeting and greeting our new members.
Grange Month is in April and always gives us opportunities to increase our membership. Most Granges will be busy with events going on throughout the month. Chelsea Grange will again fill May baskets made by the elementary school on April 25 and given to the occupants of the Veterans’ Home. This is a very fun event for both the children and the members who fill the baskets. If your Grange does not have an event scheduled, feel free to contact a Grange that will be active and offer your services. Remember, we are all one big family and are there to help one another.
Ideas for Grange month (and for all year) include having an open house, giving membership awards, public suppers, visiting nursing homes, yard sales, bake sales, and the list goes on. Please advertise on the website so other Granges are aware of these events.
Keep attracting new members and send me more topics of interest to discuss in this column. Maybe we will call this Ask Rick. Send me a question, and I will answer it. Or send me suggestions, and I will include them in my column and reference the Grange that sent it (unless you want to be anonymous).