Why I love the Grange is the feeling of belonging. It really is the definition of family.
Phil Roberts, Jonesboro Grange #357
Phil loves the Grange!
Tag: Grange Advocacy
Communications Column – April 2025
By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director
Whazup?
Ironically, our Grange fiscal year starts in the fall but for many Granges, their program year starts in the spring! If you attend this year’s Degree Day, you’ll also discover that conferring the First Degree takes place on a farm in the springtime. April is traditionally celebrated as Grange Month. So maybe it does all start here.
One way we find out is by answering the question “Whazup?” For those uninitiated in contemporary contractions and lingo, the question facing us is “What’s up in your Grange?” We could further complicate it by creating a series of questions:
- What has happened (projects, programs, celebrations) in your Grange recently?
- What is going to happen (projects, programs, celebrations) in your Grange in the future?
“Inquiring minds want to know…” is a phrase attributed to the tabloid newspaper “The National Enquirer” in the 1970s. In its original form, it was spelled enquiring, making it a catchy slogan that reflects the value of a curious mind that wants to know as much as possible.
Some of you will remember when the Maine State Grange published a bit of a print tabloid newspaper. Most Granges had a correspondent who submitted a version of whazup in their Grange. Sometimes the results were a bit “gossipy” but generally included short summaries of recent meetings and activities. It worked because it was informal and simple. It worked because it kept members around the state feeling connected.
As we spring into a new year, it’s tempting to suggest every Grange needs a correspondent—someone who is at least informally interested in proactively answering those whazup questions. The MSG Website is committed to serving, sharing, and connecting local Granges. That also means local Granges need to connect with us! Inquiring minds DO want to know (including mine!). We don’t need to formalize a program, we just need a few people who are willing to share whazup in our Granges.
There are many ways to do this. You can, for example, submit basic information about your events using the submit tab on the website. The advantage of this route is that the form will ensure you provide all the required information. (How many times have I seen events listed on social media with no location given?) Submitting to the site accomplishes a lot of things! If the event is in the future, it gets listed on the MSG Events Calendar. We’ll also create a post for you. Those posts stay on the site, get emailed to our website subscribers, and are easily shared on social media by anyone who subscribes to or visits the site. If you have a flyer for your event, attach it to an email and send it to webmaster@mainestategrange.org. We’ll take it from there!
If you volunteer to do this for your Grange, you might find the MSG Communications Handbook helpful! That handbook includes information that will help you communicate, publicize, and advertise your Grange. There are tips submitted by Granges and lists of major and weekly newspapers. Lots of helpful information!
We still have close to one hundred Granges in Maine. There should be (and probably are) more events than those listed on the calendar. That’s a great place to start—easy peasy! At least send the basics! We don’t list “regular” meetings—with the exception of Pomona Meetings—but if your regular meeting includes a special program, that qualifies! When in doubt, share it! The more advanced notice you give, the more we can help.
Inquiring minds do want to know. When we recently promoted Valley Grange’s Blanketeering event, we had people come from miles away and produce a record number of blankets. It works. Help us prove it by sharing whazup at your Grange.
The News Is Where You Find It. If you wonder how the Amish (who tend to shun technology and the Internet) stay connected around the country, check out this article.
► FACT: Did you know that the MSG Communications Handbook includes a list of daily and weekly newspapers in Maine with contact information?
CWA Report – April 2025
By Margaret Henderson, Director
Committee on Women’s Activities
207 948-2762
Happy Spring! If the old saying “April showers bring May flowers “ is true, there should be many this year. I hope that it starts to warm up soon.
The Grange yard sale will be held on June 7. Hope to see many of you there.
Good news! We will be able to sell food at State Grange this year. I am hoping to have fudge, brownies, cookies, and other snacks.
Entries for the contests need to be at Headquarters by Tuesday, August 19.
I will be there from 9 to 2 on that day. If you can not bring them that day, let me know so that we can make arrangements to meet and ensure that your entries are logged in and judged.
I hope that you will all have a blessed Easter with your families.
Chaplain’s View – April 2025
Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277
In Everything We Do…
“In him we live and move and have our being…For we too are his offsprings”
Acts 17:28
We thank you, Lord, who gave us sight and sense to
smell the flowers,
hear the wind,
feel the waters in our hands,
sleep with the night and wake with the sun,
stand upon the star,
sing your praise,
hear your voice.
“Blessed and praised be the Lord, from whom comes all the good that we speak and think and do.”
Saint Thomas of Avila
Let us forever be grateful!
Terry loves the Grange!
I am a 4th Generation Granger, who used to benefit from the sewing contest and my great grandfather served on the Maine State Grange Executive Committee. I will never forget the year my great-grandmother made dresses, for me and all my cousins. Another fond memory was going to Grange with grandparents, and after singing for the Lecturer’s Program, having to go down stairs and wait. Oh the fun of laughing at the “old people.” Needless to say, my grandchildren are 6th generation and have enjoyed JR Grange activities. I can travel the USA and visit many different states with Grangers. I have made many lasting relationships. I love attending meetings and visiting friends, new, old, far or near. I have plenty of opportunity to relax at a meeting, participate, or find out rules to be competitive. My entire family is welcomed or I can enjoy my extended family. The Grange has changed a bit over the years but my memories of the Grange have not.
Terry LaCombe, Hudson Grange #457/Tranquility Grange #344
Tammy loves the Grange!
I love the Grange because, it reminds me how important community is and how important we are to our town.
Tammy Willey, St. George Grange #421
Grange Heirloom — April 2025
Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.
Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!
For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.
Community Service/FHH – April 2025
By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193
There is a revised Community Service Report Form for 2025. Changes were made at the National level, so we have revised our information, requirements, and form. The new information and forms will be mailed to each Grange this month.
We are asking each Grange to fill out the Maine Community Service Summary Report and return it to us by August 31, 2025. This can be part of a detailed report or just the form. We need to receive 25% participation of our Subordinate Granges returning the form to receive some additional funding from National Grange to help with our awards at State Session in October.
Even if you are doing a few small projects, a large project, or not doing Community Service in your area, please return the form anyway. Please note the 3/19/25 revised Community Service Summary form and instruction information about the detailed report is enclosed and can be found on the Maine State Grange website under Program Books and Information Page for Community Service: 2024-25 Community Service Revised Pages. You may request the revised form & information or the completely revised book from State Grange. (The form, instruction information page, and judges sheet are the only changes to the book.)
We must hit that 25% to receive the funding necessary to move forward.
Just a friendly reminder the Community Service Reports or folders are due to the director no later than August 31, 2025! Be sure to include the revised Community Service Summary Report and mail to:
Brenda Dyer
9 Marial Ave
Biddeford, ME 04005
Remember your Nomination for Police – Firefighter/EMT – Educator Of The Year 2024-25. You may nominate one individual for each of these three categories using a separate form for each.
We can’t wait to see what new and exciting things you have been working on this year! Congratulations on your CS work, and thank you so much for your support!
Janice loves the Grange!
A fellow Granger is never a stranger. There is an immediate bond between Grangers. We are part of a long and honorable tradition. Through Grange Programs, I can serve my community in ways I cannot do alone.
Janice, Valley Grange #144
Community Service/FHH – March 2025
By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193
Just to update you on the State Community Service Contest. Changes are being made on the State level and will be posted and sent to Granges soon.
One major change will be no notebooks and the report will be limited to 10 (ten) double sided sheets. This is to be a report of your projects answering specific questions about your project(s) – I will get that off to you by next month and mailed to the Granges.
I have included a message from the National Community Service co-directors.
Message from National
The 2025 National Grange Community Service Program is now posted on the National Grange website (nationalgrange.org).
We have found that not all PCs/Laptops/smartphones show the same format but under Community Service, you will find a page with the CS logo describing the 2025 National Grange Community Service Program.
Also included are the National Grange Community Service Report Form and a “Share Your Project’s Story” Form and Program Ideas.
In 2025, the focus of Community Service will not be a contest, but a celebration of good works. As such, there will be no judging on the National level. No notebooks are to be taken to National Convention or sent electronically prior to Convention to the community service email address.
Likewise, “Of the Year” Nominations for Fireman, Teacher and Policeman will not be judged on the National level but can be recognized on the local and State levels.
We encourage each State to receive the Subordinate Grange reports/notebooks and “Of the Year” nominations in the format that best serves your State. The option to judge or don’t judge is yours. As State Director, you have the responsibility to work with your State President and others as necessary to determine what is best for your State and get it communicated to your Subordinate Granges.
The 2025 National Grange Community Service Report Form must be completed by the State Community Service Director or State President and emailed to communityservice@grange.org
In order to receive the monetary $250 award from National, States must meet the required 25% of their total Subordinate Granges submitting reports to the State level.
The Report form must be sent to us in the current calendar year.
Please note that the hours expended for Project Sustenance, the newly launched National Grange Program, is to be included on the CS Report Form. Details for this program can be found on the Project Sustenance page on the National Grange
Any Subordinate Grange can submit a “Share Your Project’s Story” Form.
We know there are changes announced here from what some of you had been told previously and we apologize for any inconvenience. We do trust, however, that you have been making a difference in your communities and now we can finally all move forward together with the 2025 National Grange Community Service Program.
As National Co-Directors, we are committed to helping you be successful. Please contact us at communityservice@grange.org and we will try our best to assist. Best wishes.
Bonnie Mitson & Randee Farmer
NG Community Service Co-Directors