Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange Master/President
207 490-1029
THANK YOU to Manchester Grange once again for allowing us to use your hall for our annual fundraising yard sale event. Thank you to all the folks who came to support us, and/or helped. We appreciate your participation, efforts, donations, and hard work. We had a wonderful day, and the weather cooperated.
ELECTIONS are at hand; June is the time for electing officers. Our State By-Laws require every Grange to have full elections every year and yes, we use paper ballots for each officer with names being presented for each, one officer at a time prior to the ballot. Please consider the officers/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.
After the election, the reelected or newly elected Master/President shall appoint/select the Committee Chairs and committee members for their Grange. This should be done right away; there is no need to wait for the installation of officers to get your committees set up. Some of the most common Committees in our Granges are: Legislative-Agriculture; Women’s Activities; Youth; Junior; Community Service; Family, Health & Hearing; Membership and Others. Committee terms begin upon installation of officers. Other Committees may be named as needed that may be specific to your Grange. Special Committees are established as needed for a special event or activity. Please tell your Secretary who the chairman will be, so they can report the roster information to the office.
ROSTER INFORMATION is to be sent to the State Grange office as soon as possible after your elections are completed. Grange Secretaries will receive the 2027 Roster forms next week. Please fill them out legibly and return them to the office as soon as possible. If you want to type the information out separately and mail or email it to us, that would be fine also.
We will be looking for the following information to be provided to us for each Grange: Grange Name and Number; Street Address and Town of Grange Hall; Meeting Day(s) and Time; Supper or Refreshments and Time. (Maine State Grange By-Laws: ARTICLE XXII – MEETINGS Section 1. The Bylaws of each Subordinate Grange should definitely fix the day and hour of all regular meetings.) Plus the following information for Officers and chairmen.
- Master/President: Name; Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
- Lecturer: Name: Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
- Secretary: Name: Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
- CWA Chairman: Name; Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
RESOLUTIONS are due in the office August 15, 2026, either by email to mainestategrange@gmail.com or by standard mail to 36 Anthony Ave, Suite 102, Augusta, 04330. Submit both ways to ensure we receive them. Resolutions must have a title provided by the Grange; we cannot assign one. The Title reflects the issue you are proposing, the “whereas” section(s) explains the issue and includes facts or information and the “resolved” section(s) explain how you propose to correct the issue. The entire resolution must be written out, if you use initials in your resolution, the words must also be written out. The resolution must be voted on & supported by the Grange to be submitted to the State Grange. Any resolutions to make changes to State or National Grange By-Laws must refer to the Article number, Section number, and sub-section number(s) and be written out in full as it currently appears in the State or National By-laws, then the new change written out in full with the change(s) to be made.
We then have to print everything and mail all resolutions back to each Grange, after the August 15th deadline. The Delegate Registration, Meal forms, Schedule, etc., also will be sent in August. This all takes time. State Session is October 30 & 31 at Black Bear Inn in Orono.
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.