Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
This one-hour, moderated webinar will present one woman’s lived experience with managing her adult son’s mental illness and overcoming barriers to mental healthcare in rural Wisconsin and a community psychiatrist sharing her expertise in treating patients in rural America.
The delegate body elected the following officers during the 150th Maine State Grange Convention.
Master, Sherry Harriman
Overseer, Mike Griffin
Lecturer, Missy Baldwin
Steward, Ben Edgerly
Assistant Steward, Rick Grotton
Lady Assistant Steward, Roberta Meserve
Chaplain, Christine Hebert
Treasurer, Laurie McBurnie
Secretary, Sharon Morton
Gatekeeper, Peter Ivers
Ceres, Betty Huff
Pomona, Kathy Gowen
Flora, Deborah Ivers
Executive Committee, James Meserve – 4-year term
Directors and Committee Chairs will be announced upon receipt of information. If you have been elected or appointed, please be certain that we have your contact information by checking the online officer directory.
A complete summary of the State Session will come in several forms over some period of time. Of course, the official is the Journal of Proceedings, which will be posted when received.
A first priority is the Master’s Address, in part because it’s easy to do! In fact, it’s done! Click this link to download and print a copy of the Master’s Address!
Second are the results of the election. It may, however, be a while before directories are updated with complete contact information. Gathering that information tends to be the biggest challenge. If you were elected or appointed to an office, it will speed things up if you send me your email address and phone number!
Third are the “missing” annual reports. (Some are not available until the state session. You can check the program books and information page. I should have all reports that I’ve received uploaded within a day or two of this post.)
Fourth are the results of the three resolutions considered by the delegates.
Fifth will be some things I’ve requested from people. One example is the MSG history facts prepared by Margaret Morse as “filler” during the elections while counts were being done. Some were very interesting!
Things may not appear in exactly the order given, but my goal is to have at least one through four completed before the end of this week (October 28, 2023).
If you subscribe to the site, you’ll get an email when new posts are made! Thanks to the delegate who told me he loves how easy it is to get information from the site, especially the emails!
Lastly, please continue to submit your events! When I have multiple submissions, I prioritize local Grange events and news first. You matter! Use the submit tab, or send an email!
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
Brothers and Sisters, for many months now, this column has been giving to you ways to approach gaining new members. Hopefully, this advice has worked well with your Grange. Just remember the following:
There is no “I” in Grange or in team. No one should be a dictator or make rules based on their own ideas. This causes animosity and disrespect. Everyone has a duty, and all members are important no matter the office held. WE are the Grange, and our ideas need to be heard and discussed. Otherwise, we will be losing more Granges.
Be active. Plan events and help your community. Let people know you are alive and well.
Let the committees do their work. If you are the Master/President of your Grange, please do not give committees an agenda. Let them come up with ideas to present at meetings. The Master/President is a facilitator, not the ruler. This applies to all levels of the Grange. Do not overstep your authority. “My way or the highway” is absolutely unacceptable and should be avoided. Anyone who rules this way does not have the interest of the Grange in mind. Let all members become involved. Not all of us are leaders and those who do lead need to do it for the Good of the Order (GOTO), not because they say so.
We need to develop new leaders and inform them of the rituals and traditions of the Grange.
Stay positive. Keep doing your good works.
Help one another. Teach your new members and welcome them. Answer their questions.
Visit other Granges and work with them. The days of visitation and mentoring have faded and need to be revived. Share with other members your successes, and if a Grange is struggling, it is the duty of the Pomona to help them. It seems like Granges are “doing their own thing” and do not visit or attend State Grange. We need every one of you to keep us alive.
Resolutions are an important part of the Grange procedure. Instruct members on how important it is to come up with resolutions and how to write them. Confer with your Deputy on instructions for floor work and other procedures. It is their duty to help you.
Major changes are happening to us, and we need to keep up and change too. We are severely lacking youth and younger members. Focus on bringing them in as members.
Remember, each and every member is vital to our Grange growth, and membership should be your major priority. Bring ’em in, feed ’em, teach ’em, and enjoy your meetings. It is what a good Grange member is expected to do.
Kennebec Valley Grange is providing a “take out lunch” on Saturday, October 28, 2023, from noon until 2:00 p.m. The menu includes ham, baked beans, a variety of casseroles, biscuits, and apple crisp with real whipped cream for dessert. The cost is $10. This is their annual fundraiser to benefit the Carroll Dean Memorial Agricultural Scholarship Fund.
For additional information, contact Diane Pinkham at 207 314-5135.
The Kennebec Valley Grange Hall is located at 560 Main Street (Rt. 148) in Madison, Maine .
For those who couldn’t attend… here’s what it looked like! Business was as brisk as the weather!
The Parkman Grange is again helping out Santa to make Christmas special for MSAD 4 area kids with the Santa Project. This program provides warm winter coats, boots, and a toy to local kids, from newborns to high school seniors whose families could use a little help this holiday season. Applications can be picked up at the following town offices: Abbot, Cambridge, Guilford, Parkman, and Sangerville and at the Parkman Grange on the porch. They are also available through the schools. The application deadline is November 11, 2023. Distribution will be on Sunday, December 17, 2023, from 10 AM to noon. The Parkman Grange is located at the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Road.
If you would like to help out, donation checks can be made out to Parkman Grange, memo line Santa Project, and sent to PO Box 114, Guilford, ME 04443.
Save the date: December 9, 2023, from 1-3 p.m. Parkman Grange hosts a kids’ Christmas party. Santa will be there with simple crafts to make for gifts. There will be cookies, cocoa, and lots of fun for all!
Additional information is available from Sue Manchester, Parkman Grange Master, at 207 717-6248.
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Join us for a mythical market at the most magical time of the year! The Witches Faire will take place on Sunday, October 29th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the East Madison Grange, right by Wesserrunsett Lake. There will be herbal products, jewelry, unique crafts, tarot and astrology readings, and more! Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and free admission is free. FMI email team@gardensofasgard.com, message or call 716-6441.
Public Supper at St. George Grange 32 Wileys Corner Road in St. George, ME, on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 5 pm.
Enjoy lots of homemade food with Grange members, family, and friends. All welcome! We have public suppers on the second Saturday of each month until October.
For more information about Katherine and her music, visit https://katherinerhoda.com/