Tag: Grange Procedure

Communications Column – May 2023

Are you giving out or getting through?

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Someone should do a study to answer this question: How much genuine communication takes place on social media? Stay with me—it’s an important question that actually isn’t limited to social media.

There’s a quotation from Sidney Harris on the masthead of the Bulletin. The two words’ information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.” If you have read the Bulletin and didn’t notice it, we’re not getting through. That shouldn’t be a surprise. One-way communication has its drawbacks. And, as a society, we are increasingly relying on one-way communication, whether we realize it or not.

I had an exasperating exchange on Facebook recently. I won’t bore you with the details as interesting as they might be. I was answering a writer’s question. Another person almost immediately jumped on me, “correcting” me. I responded to his comment by pointing out that I did not say (write) what he was criticizing me for, hoping he would see we weren’t communicating. He then proceeded to take a slightly different approach to telling me I was wrong anyway. I did not respond further and attempted to see some humor in it. Part of the humor was that the person who originally asked the question didn’t take part in the exchange.

My attacker had no desire to communicate. He was more interested in demonstrating how smart he was. He went off-topic, particularly when I challenged his understanding of what I’d written.

How often does that happen in our conversations? Are we giving out or getting through? We all want to be heard, and that’s not a bad thing. But we should be equally interested in being understood and at least mildly interested in our listeners. That’s much simpler to achieve in “live” in-person conversation. But it’s only easier if both parties are committed to communicating to create understanding.

A down-to-earth technique is called “clarifying and confirming.” It’s based on the assumption we should understand both what the other person is saying and why they are saying it.

“I love ice cream,” seems like a clear statement, at least as far as what is being said. If we want to understand, let’s be a little curious and ask (clarify) why the person loves ice cream. “Because it tastes good.” How’s our understanding? We won’t know for sure until we confirm it. “So what you’re saying is that you like ice cream because it tastes good.” That just might trigger more information. “Yeah, and I feel like I’m getting a treat…”

This becomes particularly important when our initial reaction to someone’s statement is to reject, ignore or disagree. How we react determines what happens next. A knee-jerk reaction may mean the conversation ends or develops into an argument. The few minutes required to demonstrate a desire to communicate by clarifying and confirming are well worth the effort. If you confirm that you are in total disagreement, understanding the “what and why” equips you to remain friends and perhaps even find a middle ground or compromise.

► FACT: Last week, the MSG website was viewed 328 times. The two most visited items were the Directory of Granges and the Mill Stream Grange post.

Tell us why you love the Grange!

Franklin Grange Reorganization Meeting

Saturday, May 6, 2023 — 1:00 PM

A group of folks interested in reorganizing the Grange in Franklin Grange is meeting at the Franklin Library! Anyone in the area who is curious or interested is invited! For more information or to express your interest, email FranklinMEGrange@gmail.com!

Communication Shorts 5-1-2023

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!

May Bulletin

The deadline for the May Bulletin is May 14, 2023. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Submitting Events and News

We’ve recently been receiving requests to post information with a reference to Facebook. While we are anxious to support Granges, this is not practical–primarily because it requires additional steps and time to find, copy, and process information from Facebook. Please email your news and events or use the submission tab on the website. We will, of course, be happy to include a link to the Facebook post “for more information” as long as you provide that link with your submission.

Once your event or news is posted, it’s quite easy to post it to Facebook by using the share links at the bottom of the post! Or you can copy the link (right-click on the title or headline) and simply paste it into Facebook.

Also, when submitting events, please plan ahead! Posting events at the last minute is not good stewardship. For one thing, it can take 24-48 hours for it to be posted, then another 24 hours for the post to be sent to subscribers. You should plan to have your event submitted at least one week prior to it happening!

Grange Month Happiness

Don’t forget to tell us what happiness you experienced during Grange Month at your Grange. Use the Submissions Tab or send an email!

Ideas for Granges

The Freedom, NH, Public Library recently hosted a Fun Friday event that included After-School Activities (3:45-4:45 PM – Students are welcome to come directly after school for crafting with perler beads), Pizza Time (4:45-5:15 PM), and Family Movie Night (5:15-7:00 PM – showing Puss In Boots: The Last Wish).

Thought for You…

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

Michael Altshuler

Do You Love the Grange?

The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!

Online Directories Available 24-7

  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!

Do You Have FOMO?

“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

Sagadahoc Fifth Degree Day

Guests at Sagadahoc Pomona Fifth degree, April 26, 2023. Mr. and Mrs. Gerry Simmons from Minuteman Pomona in Massachusetts, Henry and Sharon Morton, and Rick Grotton from Lincoln Pomona in Maine.  They were a great help to us filling in as Guest Master, Assistant Steward, Lecturer, and Spector. We had no candidates but new Graces who need the experience, so we did the Degree anyway. Everyone needs a reminder of what Pomona is all about including our secretary, who filled in as our acting candidate.

Communication Shorts 4-18-2023

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!

April Bulletin

The April Bulletin is now available for downloading and printing. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Have You Started on Your May Baskets?

It’s often called a “forgotten tradition.” If you need reminding, check this out!

Grange Month Happiness

Don’t forget to tell us what happiness you experienced during Grange Month at your Grange. Use the Submissions Tab or send an email!

Ideas for Granges

Celebrate something crazy! There’s a fairly successful and long-standing “Black Fly Festival” that started as an effort to Save the Black Flies. Find a reason to have a party.

Thought for You…

“Good leaders make people feel that they’re at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens, people feel centered and that gives their work meaning “

Warren Bennis

Do You Love the Grange?

The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!

Online Directories Available 24-7

  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!

Do You Have FOMO?

“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

Communications Column – April 2023

Let’s Have a Grand Grange Gathering

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

“Train With Hazardous Materials Derails in Rural Maine “ was a recent headline in a mainstream media outlet. Since a small forest fire developed, the Maine Forest Service was involved. A subsequent report by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry included this statement, “Additional rail cars transporting hazardous materials did not derail.”

There might be a lesson in communication here. Or at least in journalism. The media headline is not inaccurate and will pass the fact-checkers. Is it a “good” headline?

A headline is, according to Wikipedia, “the text indicating the content or nature of the article below it.” There’s actually a bit of science involved that includes grammatical rules. No, we’re not going down that path, interesting as it might be.

Headlines became commonly used in the late 19th Century as competition between newspapers increased. Thus, they became “attention-getting devices.” When people stood at the newsstand, they picked up the paper with the most interesting headline. As readers paged through the purchased copy, they often decided which articles to read based on the headline.

In the electronic world, we use the term “click-bait” to describe a headline that captures interest to the point we click a link, often to be disappointed. As a writer, I find it disappointing that we aren’t having more conversations about the ethics of headline writing. I’m willing to concede that there’s a difference between writing a  headline for an advertisement versus a news story. An online ad recently offered “Save a Life—Free CPR training.” To their credit, in the fine print, they disclosed a fee for the certificate or completion. Much like the news example, the headline was not inaccurate. A number of folks took them to task for what they considered “misleading.” It might be a shame that we aren’t taking the media to task for some of the headlines they write. “The Training Is Free. The Certificate Is Not,” might have been more accurate, but a lot less attention-getting.

I’ve been tempted to create a lecturer’s program that would involve critiquing current headlines using some sort of accuracy scale. The program might be more about critical thinking than headlines.

When we send Grange news and program information to media outlets, we certainly don’t want to be misleading. But I think most would agree we can and should be more “attention-getting.” It may not be easy because you’re forced to really think about why someone should read your story or come to your event. A good day for a reporter includes a report where the headline just writes itself, but it rarely happens. One of my memorable ones happened when I was writing a press release announcing a local school concert. “Kids Raise Voices and Lift Spirits.”

One way to improve our headlining ability is to read other headlines critically. Be especially alert to headlines that might be adaptable to the news and events you are trying to promote. I love alliterations—they tend to “stick” in people’s minds. Let’s have a Grand Grange Gathering!

► FACT: Your MSG website was viewed over 1,500 times during March 2023–if you aren’t submitting your events and news, you are missing an opportunity!

Tell us why you love the Grange!

Sagadahoc Fifth Degree

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Special Guest for Sagadahoc Pomona Fifth Degree will be Gerry Simmons, Past Master of Minuteman Pomona and Past Steward of Massachusetts State Grange. Other special guests filling chairs include Rick Grotton, Sharon Morton, and Henry Morton.

Sagadahoc Pomona will hold its annual Fifth Degree at Enterprise Grange #48, 15 Alexander Reed Road, Richmond, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. From Main Street in Richmond, take the street across from the library and fire department, and pass two houses and the ballfield.

A potluck supper at 6:00 with a meeting at 7:00.

Other Pomonas are welcome to take their candidates. Please be sure the candidates have their applications signed by their Subordinate Master or Secretary. Contact Ben Edgerly or Marilyn Stinson for more info.

President’s Perspective – April 2023

By Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029

The Degree Day on April 23, 2023, has been moved to Manchester Grange at 953 Western Ave, (Route 202) Manchester, ME 04351. The hall is located about 10 miles south/west of Augusta next to Walgreens on Route 202. The reason for the unexpected change was the furnace breakdown at the State Grange office building.

Spring in Maine, how absolutely wonderful to see the green shoots of the jonquils, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, the variety of colors in the crocus beds and patches of green grass showing up here and there, even though those little shoots may still be shivering during the chilly nights, the sun is warming them more and more. With spring comes reopening. Spring is also clean-up time outside and inside for our own yards but this should also include our Grange 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.  Get some new plants in the window boxes and garden.  Repaint your sign, the steps, the railings, and even the door.  We all need an occasional facelift and get ready to provide a welcoming place for your neighbors to trade seeds, starter plants, and gardening advice.

It is good to hear Granges are getting back in the swing of things in their Grange and Community. REMINDER, there are set things that must happen to have the Grange open in due form or full form to conduct business and take votes.  There must be seven members of that Grange present to be a legal meeting, Assistants open the Bible on Altar, Opening Prayer, Salutation, the Charter MUST be present, the Implement case is opened, the Grange is declared open, and Salute to the Flag. Special meetings or open meetings are exactly as implied, “Special” for a specific, pre-designated event or activity only.  No other business may be conducted.  Open meetings are also set for special events and activities, but NO business may be conducted.

Recently while reading the information provided for Secretaries by Sharon M., our State Secretary, she talks about keeping the minutes of the meetings.  This includes motions made and the action taken on the motion during the meeting. This was a good place to remind everyone about making motions and recording them to go along with her information.  After a vote is taken on a motion, it is up to the Master to state specifically that the motion was adopted or rejected. They should not just say, “It’s a vote.”  It is always a vote one way or the other, be specific what was the vote’s end result. The Secretary should also be specific about what the outcome of the vote was and note that in the minutes along with the wording of the motion.

Handling Motions and Voting Procedure

  1. The member should stand and address the Master by saying, “Worthy Master.”
  2. The Master recognizes the member (the member obtains the floor).
  3. The member from that Grange makes a motion by saying, “I move that…”  or  “I would like to make a motion to …. “
  4. The Master then asks for a second to the motion.  (If no one seconds the motion, it is lost, and no discussion may continue on the subject.)
  5. Another member of that Grange seconds the motion.
  6. The Secretary records the wording of the motion.
  7. The Master repeats the motion for all to hear.
  8. The Master asks, “Is there any discussion?” Only at this point are debate and/or questions allowed.
  9. A motion may be amended (wording changed, added, or deleted) by making another motion saying, “I move to amend this motion to …” Again, it must be seconded.  The amendment (changes)  is voted on first.  The Secretary records the changes.
  10. If the changes are adopted, then the amended motion is taken up as a whole.
  11. If the changes are not adopted, then you go back to the original motion. 
  12. Hearing that there is no more debate/discussion, the Master puts the question to a vote by saying, “All in favor of the motion as stated will make it manifest by the voting sign of the order.”  After this vote, the Master will say “Down hands” and ask, “All opposed by the same sign.”  The Master must ask for those in favor and those opposed on each motion presented.  The voting sign of the order is the end of the sign for the First Degree.
  13.  The Master announces the result of the vote by saying, “The Motion carries; is adopted or is affirmative.” If the vote is negative, “the Motion is rejected or lost.” Specific words adopted or rejected must be included in his/her report.  Then make it official with one rap of the gavel.   
  14. The Secretary records the result of the vote for the motion using the specific words “motion carries/adopted or motion lost/rejected”. 

A simple majority is needed for a motion to be approved or rejected unless it is a Bylaw change.  In this case 2/3 of those present and voting is required.  Also, Bylaw changes must be held over to the next meeting, and all members notified of the changes and the meeting date for the vote.

Other dates I have scheduled for information/instruction meetings:

  • Apr. 22, 1:00 pm Arbutus not confirmed. Call ahead.
  • May 13, 1:00 pm – 3:30 Cumberland Pomona hosting at N. Scarborough
  • May 15, 6:00 pm refreshments; 7:00 pm meeting Evening Star
  • June 22, 6:30 pm Paugus
  • June 27, 1:00 pm Searsport 

The Springfield Fair date has been changed to June 15 – 18. NE Youth Conference will be July 15 and 16, hosted by Vermont, more info to come.

Degree Day Location Changed

Due to an issue with the furnace at State Grange Headquarters, the Degree Day scheduled for April 23, 2023, will be held at Manchester Grange located at 953 Western Ave, (Route 202), Manchester, ME 04351 starting at 1:00 pm. Please contact Maynard Chapman or Sherry Harriman for more information!

Communication Shorts 4-2-2023

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!

April Bulletin

Columns and posts for the April Bulletin are due April 14, 2023. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Pie and Community

Listen to this one-minute podcast and think about Grange Month! Could you drop off some pies around your community together with some information about your next meeting or program?

Grange Month Happiness

Don’t forget to tell us what happiness you experienced during Grange Month at your Grange. Use the Submissions Tab or send an email!

Ideas for Granges

How about a House Plant and Seed Swap? Invite people looking to build their plant collection or interested in gardening and looking for seeds to join other plant lovers to trade plants and seeds. Serve light refreshments.

Thought for You…

Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’

Robin Williams

Do You Love the Grange?

The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!

Online Directories Available 24-7

  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!

Do You Have FOMO?

“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website