Reporters Wanted!

Stick figure press

No worries! It’s not THAT difficult!

With all the great Grange events around the state this summer, we should be able to show our communities the opportunities the Grange offers and how successful our programs and events are!

You won’t earn cash, but you will get credit. Consider yourself appointed as a reporter for the Maine State Website.

Smartphone photos are welcome for posting. Send them by email to webmaster@mainestategrange.org. Include at least a few details–think of it as captioning your photo so we know what it’s about. Remember the “who, what, where, when” basics.

We’ll try to keep this simple but here are a few guidelines.

  • Photos of children require the written permission of a parent or guardian to publish. A form is available here. The fact that the child is with a parent is not sufficient.
  • Courtesy and respect are important! Even with adults, explain that you’d like the photo posted on the website.
  • One of the common rules of press/media photography is “no feet! When taking a posed photo of a group, move in close and try to shoot above the waist. Time permitting, we’ll crop and edit if needed.
  • Additional information is available in the MSG Communications Handbook.
MSG Communications Department

Of course, written stories without photos work, too! We’re here to help! Send us what you have and we’ll write, edit, and let you know if we need additional information. Let’s show off the Grange!

The codfish lays ten thousand eggs,
The homely hen lays one.
The codfish never cackles
To tell you what she's done.
And so we scorn the codfish,
While the humble hen we prize,
Which only goes to show you
That it pays to advertise.

July Events

  • July 5, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
  • July 5, 2024, Community Potluck Supper at Trenton Grange, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
  • July 6-7, 2024, Community Bazaar (crafts, farmers’ market, yard saleโ€ฆ) at Trenton Grange from 9 am until 2 pm both days. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
  • July 11, 2024, Blood Drive at Harraseeket Grange in Freeport, 12 – 5 pm.
  • July 12, 2024, Parkman Grange’s Minnie Bridge Scholarship Deadline. See this post.
  • July 12, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
  • July 13, 2024, Excelsior Grange Anniversary Celebration includes a yard sale, activities for kids, public supper, and contra dance! See this post.
  • July 13, 2024, St George Grange Community Supper at 5 pm. Adults $10, Children $5, under 10 free. For more information see this post.
  • July 14, 2024, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
  • July 19, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
  • July 19-21, 2024, NE Youth Conference in New York.
  • July 20, 2024, Jonesboro Grange Luau and Craft Show. For more information, see this post.
  • July 20, 2024, Wayside Grange Variety Show featuring Timberdoodle. Doors open at 6:30 pm. More information at Wayside Grange & Theatre’s Facebook Page.
  • July 20, 2024, Junior Grange Meeting at Enterprise Grange. Contact Director Betty Young for more information.
  • July 26, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
  • July 27, 2024, Regional Church Sunday at the Vermont Grange Camp.

What’s happening at your Grange? Submit your event for publishing on the Maine State Grange Website! It’s not much of a party unless you invite people!

Fraternal Concern — Rolf Staples, Sr.

Submitted by Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director

It is my sad duty to inform you that Rolf Staples Sr. passed away on June 10, 2024, following a long illness. Rolf was a member of Bangor Grange and Old Town Grange, where he held numerous offices, including Master/President.

Rolf served as Deputy of the North Penobscot Pomona from 2006 to 2009 and on the Maine State Grange Membership Committee. He led numerous Degree Days and an Officer Installation Team. He and his wife Anne supported Granges in the area, including the Piscataquis Pomona. Rolf’s knowledge and understanding of “the Grange Way” was deep, and he truly loved the Grange. When Rolf said, “for the good of the Order,” you could trust it.

Cards of condolence and encouragement should be mailed to Anne Staples, 487 Grandview Avenue, Apt 202, Bangor, ME 04401

A service is scheduled on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at 1:00 pm, at the Essex Street Baptist Church in Bangor. A complete obituary is available here.

May the example of our Brother inspire us to persevere and
when we are called to lay down our implements here on earth, may we be reunited with all our Brothers and Sisters who have labored in His glorious cause. May we enter the Paradise not made with hands, eternal in the heavens and receive that welcome plaudit: โ€œWell done, good and faithful servant.โ€ We remember our Brother not as one dead โ€“ but as one gone on before us through the gates, where dwells the Great Master of us all.

Adapted from the Subordinate Grange Manual, 2023

Fundraising Report – June 2024

Norma Meserve, MSG Fundraising Chairperson
207 998-2586

Report of the 2024 Annual State Grange Yard Sale

What a beautiful day it was for the annual State Grange Yard Sale on June 1, 2024. Sunny and warm and people were ready to shop! This event was once again held at Manchester Grange. There were approximately 15 tables rented, including the Lions Club, which once again sold breakfast and lunch. The State Grange Fundraising Committee had a table with sales items available as well as a 50/50 and a Raffle for two $100 VISA gift cards. The winners of the gift cards were Gailene Friedly of Golden Harvest Grange in Carmel and Karen Gagne from Danville Junction Grange in Danville. The winner of the 50/50 was Dana Long from Vienna. Overall, it was a very successful day. We raised over $400. I would like to thank all those Granges and Grangers who sold raffle tickets ahead of time for us.

Your help is greatly appreciated and the Fundraising Committee couldn’t make these events successful without your help. I would also like to thank Manchester Grange for again hosting us, and a special thanks to Linda Cobb, who was very accommodating in meeting us and the renters at various times to set up.

Until next time, have a great summer and I hope to see many of you at Headquarters for the State Grange’s 150th Anniversary celebration on June 29th.

Answer This Question!

Line drawing with questions

I have been thinking about ways to give back to my community, and I am curious about what the Grange Halls’ main functions are today. There is a great deal of information regarding the history of the Grange Hall but not much about what the purpose is today. I have talked with a Grange member and know that they provide educational scholarships and hold public suppers to raise money but beyond that I am not sure.

Website Visitor Lisa

(Answer provided by Walter Boomsma, Maine State Grange Communications Director. But local Granges should also be providing their own answers. Make your interests, events, and programs known.)

Thank you for your question and desire to give back to your community. The answer to your question is an example of how sometimes an organization’s greatest strength is its greatest weakness.

The Grange is a grassroots organization and, therefore, a very diverse organization. In a general and national sense, the Grange has a “Declaration of Purposes,” but within that framework, local Granges tend to have different focuses and interests. A correct but not very helpful answer to the question could be “It depends.”

For example, I can think of Granges that are focused on being a community center and providing a home to community resources and hosting events. A number of Granges sponsor a “Words for Thirds” Program by providing personal dictionaries to third graders in local schools. Some Granges provide entertainment ranging from concerts to open mics and craft fairs. Given the Grange’s strong agricultural roots, some Granges focus on supporting farms and farmers in their area. Knitting and sewing activities and classes are not uncommon. It really does depend on the interests and commitments of the local members.

That variety means a local Grange is open to new programs and ventures. I’ve occasionally said, “If you have a passion, we have the place.” Originally, the Grange was about supporting and strengthening the American Farmer. Our purpose has expanded to supporting and strengthening our communities and residents of all ages. Any member with an idea for doing that can expect an opportunity to use the hall and Grange resources to achieve a greater sense of community.

An eye to the future would see additional possibilities that go beyond the physical Grange Hall as technology expands the definition of “community.” When the Grange first formed, farm families hooked up their horses and wagons to meet at Grange halls both for socializing and for learning together. The community was defined by how far one could comfortably travel in a horse and wagon. While the local and in-person aspects will always be a bedrock of the Grange, the impact of a local Grange program can readily and quickly reach much farther.

We need to keep asking what we can do and what we want to do while honoring our motto: “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things charity.”

Community Service/FHH – June 2024

By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193

There has been some confusion and questions regarding our “Coups for Troops” Program. Some of this is because the official program was discontinued some time ago and we are now involved in the “TroopOns” program. We just haven’t changed the name until now!

Troopons is a program in which the Grange participates to help the military and their families.

  • Coupons must be manufacturerย coupons only.
  • Coupons that have expired up to six months ago can still be used.ย 
  • There are four categories: food, non-food, baby and pets.

Group coupons in baggies and label on the outside of baggie:

  • Expired or unexpired
  • Category: food, non-food, baby, or pets
  • Number of coupons in the baggie
  • Dollar amount of coupons in the baggie
  • Please include an email address so troops/family can email thank you.

Send to Community Service Committee:
Brenda Dyer, Director
9 Marial Avenue
Biddeford, MEย  04005

The Community Service Committee verifies and documents the baggies, then forwards them toย Troopons. Troopons distributes the coupons to commissaries.

Learn more about Troopons here!


PLEASEย Keep track of community service hours for each member and non-member involved in each project.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

June is election of officers. Remember, “The office seeks the man and not the man the office.”

Jonesboro Touch-a-Truck

June 9, 2024 – 11:00 am until 1:30 pm

Valley Grange Community Celebration

Congratulations to the Piscataquis County Dispatch Team and Valley Grange 2024 Community Citizens Kaylee Aucoin, Magen Bishop, Jon Buckingham, Jaeme Duggan, Gabrielle Huettner, Megan Leavitt, Alicia London, Joshua Michaud, Ashley Monahan, Nathan Richards, Jessica Trewmyn, and Team Leader Eric Berce.

Photos by Janice Boomsma

June Events Around the State

  • June 2, 2024, MSG Outdoor Yard Sale at Manchester Grange, 9 am until 2 pm. FMI see this post.
  • June 2, 2024, The Spring Faire will be a lovely craft, art, and spring-themed fair and makers market from 10 am – 3 pm at East Madison Grange Hall. Refreshments available for purchase. Free and open to the public. FMI or to apply as a vendor: hideandgopeep@gmail.com or message 207-716-6441.
  • June 3, 2024, Ag Scholarship Recipients will be notified.
  • June 4, 2024, Piscataquis Pomona Meeting at Wayside Grange Hall. Contact Bill Bemis FMI.
  • June 7, 2024 Community Potluck Supper at Trenton Grange, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
  • June 8, 2024, St George Grange Community Supper at 5 pm. Adults $10, Children $5, under 10 free. For more information see this post.
  • June 8-9, 2024, Community Bazaar (crafts, farmers’ market, yard saleโ€ฆ) at Trenton Grange from 9 am until 2 pm both days. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
  • June 14, 2024, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
  • June 21-23, 2024, Northeast Lecturer’s Conference in Norwich, CT. FMI Contact MSG Lecturer Missy Baldwin.
  • June 22, 2024, Junior Grange Meeting at Lincolnville Grange. Contact Director Betty Young for more information.
  • June 29, 2024, MSG 150th Anniversary Celebration, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at headquarters. FMI see this post or contact Master Sherry.

Patrons Chain Changing

from the MSG Communications Department

(Read that headline quickly out loud three times!)

Many know the National Grange E-Newsletters “Patrons Chain” and “View from the Hill.” Effective June 1, 2024, both will be discontinued and replaced by “Grange Today!” The first issue of Grange Today! will be released on June 14, 2024.

If you subscribe to Patrons Chain, your subscription will automatically transfer to the new publication. No action on your part is necessary.

At this time, our intent is to continue publishing a summary of each issue when it is released. That summary will include a link to the full issue as a PDF on the National Grange Website. We’ll also include a link allowing you to subscribe to Grange Today! and receive the complete issue directly from National Grange.

Do not confuse Grange Today! with the National Grange quarterly magazine, “Good Day!”