The National Center for Bullying Prevention initiated National Bullying Prevention Month. The campaign is designed to unite communities nationwide through education and awareness. Much attention is rightly given to preventing bullying among kids, but adults can be victims as well.
This year, October 16 has been declared Unity Day. Wearing orange will increase awareness and encourage kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. That sure sounds like something the Grange does! We don’t stop with wearing orange–“we help build community throughout the year.”
In a simple sense, bullying is about power and communication. Our words and actions are important, and words can be powerful, both in a negative and positive way.
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt
I believe that an important aspect of preventing bullying is building resilience and strength in potential victims. “Where you fly makes a difference.” We can start with ourselves, certainly. But a question worthy of discussion is “What is our Grange doing to promote kindness in our Grange and our Community?”
(Family Health And Hearing Committees take note! Can you provide some resources for members? Maybe include some thoughts in your next report?)
Some Resources:
StopBullying.gov: A comprehensive resource from the U.S. government that provides information on recognizing, preventing, and responding to bullying.
The following letter comes from Jimmy Gentry, State Master/President of the North Carolina Grange.
Grange Friends,
Edneyville Grange and the surrounding Hendersonville community was in the path of Hurricane Helene. The aftermath is devastating as many families have lost everything. Clean-up crews have been working tirelessly to restore power, internet, and roads.
Grange members have been reaching out to the NC State Grange Office asking how they can help. We have been in touch with Wendy Henderson, President of Edneyville Grange. She informed us that she has reached out to a local school in Edneyville that is extremely concerned with the well-being of children and parents. They gave her a list of items that would benefit these families.
Jennie Gentry also spoke with high school teachers in Henderson County, friends associated with FFA and 4-H. Their main concern has been making sure students are accounted for and determining their families’ needs. This has been very difficult without the ability to communicate or travel into areas to check on their students, some of whom live in other local hard-hit communities like Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, Bat Cave, and Gerton.
Wendy mentioned a great need for several items that schools will need for students and their families. Below is information on how you and your Grange can help.
What to Collect:
New Coats of all sizes
New Sweatshirts of all sizes
Gift cards to Walmart
Drop Off Locations:
NC State Grange Office in Statesville: by Monday, October 14 Address: 1734 Wilkesboro Hwy, Statesville, NC Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm To arrange Saturday or Sunday drop off, or outside of these hours during the week, contact our office: 704-878-0000 or jwgentry@ncgrange.com
Making Cash Donations:
Write a check to Edneyville Grange and mail to: Wendy Henderson 29 Arabian Ln Hendersonville, NC 28792
Write a check to the NC State Grange Disaster Fund with “Edneyville Relief” on the memo line and send to:
Thank you for your willingness to donate these items to support Edneyville and its surrounding communities in Henderson County. We are relieved that our Edneyville Grange members are safe and appreciate Wendy for the information so that we can join together to assist their community in this desperate time of need.
Well, it wasn’t that close! Fortunately, I follow my own advice which includes “Think before you click.” By sheer coincidence, shortly after sending three emails, I received this one.
I’ve given you the advantage of highlighting the issues.
The subject of the email is wrong! If it was legitimate, the subject should have been “Unsuccessful Mail Delivery Report.” Oops!
The “from” email address isn’t legitimate and doesn’t make sense.
People (or bots) send email. Servers do not.
In what might be a strange irony, I am the “Mail Administrator” for the mainestategrange.org email. So, there’s very little about this email that makes sense–if we think about it. In fact, I’ve had issues with unsuccessful deliveries and the notices look nothing like this.
I’m confessing “they almost got me” as a reminder that bad people are getting more creative, but fortunately not much smarter. They don’t have to be smart–if they can hook (that’s why it’s called “phishing”) one or two people, they’re ahead of the game. Don’t get caught.
Our undercover reporter tells us that 200 COVID and/or flu vaccinations were administered at the booth in front of the New England Grage Building. The program continues through September 29th. For more information see this post.
Monroe Grange Store Reminder
As noted in this month’s Exploring Traditions Column, flags and holders are available from the Monroe Grange Store. Many Grange-related products available—even the hard-to-find stuff! They can help with fundraising programs, custom-printed apparel, promotional items, awards, signs, and banners.Check out the Grange Store!
State Session Page Updated
A page dedicated to the 2024 State Session has a “packet of information” that includes the forms necessary to reserve meals. It even includes deadlines for reserving and submitting information! This page is currently getting lots of visits!
Officers and Directors Note!
Annual reports and program books are coming due.
Consider this Idea!
Think about “rebranding” your potluck into a community event. Encourage residents to meet and greet each other and build the community. Welcome, children so it’s a family event. Request participants bring food, hot or cold, to share. Make available bottled water, paper goods, cups, tables, games, and music. Include activities like face painting, corn hole, drawing, and dancing.
Think about this!
Doing things is not the same as getting things done!”
Jared Silver
Submit News! Be “famous”
Submitting news can be as simple as a photo and “cutline.” A cutline is a brief description–longer than a caption–to accompany the photo. Let’s prove that the Grange is alive and well in Maine! (Photos should be submitted as an attachment to an email.) We get inquiries from people looking for active Granges!
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!
Oops! It seems a bit ironic that I accidentally sent last month’s column about communication instead of thus month’s!
The Communications and Website Annual Report is posted on the site. For this month’s column, it seems appropriate to include a few important excerpts from it. I certainly encourage you to read the full report and welcome your comments and questions!
There have been 17,985 site views from September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024—an average of nearly 1,500 monthly. However, these visits do not include subscribers receiving the posts without visiting the site. While this represents a significant decrease from the previous year, the number of actual visitors hasn’t changed much. One could rightly conclude that a similar number of visitors are viewing fewer pages and posts.
Considering the decline in Granges and Grange membership, the site is doing well. Some of that success can be attributed to the site design and content. The site is resource-rich and appeals to both members and non-members. The top pages visited are the information pages, such as the directory of Granges, program books and information, etc. This year, the Grange Event Calendar received the third most visits.
During this past year, I have continued to add resource documents and tools to our collection of communication resources available on the site. There is value in our website.
Several significant accomplishments this year include:
Added additional resources for Grangers, including timely posts that seem to be of interest to them on a variety of subjects.
Completed interviews with media representatives and researchers. One example is a favorable feature article in the Bangor Daily News and Piscataquis Observer.
Completed another significant purge of the website’s oldest posts and images. This makes the site much more manageable and saves server space and remains an ongoing focus.
Continued to work with an editorial calendar to ensure regular, consistent posting. This includes Grange Heirlooms and Why I Love the Grange.
Continued to make “under the hood” improvements to the site.
Continued posting of “special events” being sponsored or hosted by Granges. These events have also been added to the MSG Calendar Page.
Continued to facilitate an email service that allows information to be sent directly to officers, directors, and deputies on short notice.
Looking ahead to 2024-2025, some objectives include:
Continue researching options for a site subscription. The current process is time-consuming, and more automation is needed.
Continuing to keep communication positive, helpful, and engaging.
Investigate the feasibility of sponsoring at least one virtual roundtable discussion. Due to time limitations, this was not achieved last year. I am upgrading my computer system and hope this becomes more feasible soon.
Continue to research further connections between the MSG website and social media.
Continue searching for resources, including additional guest columnists and regular topical information that can be reposted with attribution.
I believe the primary role of any state position or function is to support Subordinate and Pomona Granges and their members. But communication is not a “one-person job.” Individuals, Community/Subordinate, and Pomona Granges can best support our communications efforts by providing positive news and information.
I will continue encouraging open communication throughout our Order and with the public. We must generate interest and excitement among our communities, prospective members, and ourselves.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you and your Grange.
Thank you for your continued confidence and support.
► FACT: The events page on the website continues to be one of the most frequently visited pages on the site! Are you submitting your programs and events?
Find the button representing how and where you want to share a post.
By Sherry Harriman, Maine State Grange President/Master 207 490-1029
The Deputy School will be held on November 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at State HQ. We will cover ritual, floorwork, salutation, and other related Grange items.
Congratulations and welcome to all the Officers & Members, new and seasoned and I wish you all much success for the coming year. September is the time of new Grange year beginnings with installations, making plans for the coming year and setting goals. This is also the time for year-end wrap-ups such as your annual audit, reports to be submitted, (to your Grange, Pomona and State), and a time to evaluate last year’s activities, events and goals, what was successful and what was lacking. There are very few Installation Teams or Installing Officers traveling, so I encourage each Grange to do their own Installation. There is an Alternative Installation Ceremony (half the words) in the new Manual which can be read with one or two people in charge and working with the members present. It is impressive to have it memorized however many people, like myself, cannot memorize charges any longer. By reading it with appropriate feeling and enunciation, it comes across very nicely. The original ceremony in also still in the manual if you are so inclined. We have manuals at the office for sale or get it on line from National Grange at sales@nationalgrange.org
Another reminder or nag, less than half of you have provided your 2025 Roster information. Even if there were no changes, a report or email needs to be sent. During the order of business, the Master asks, “Have the reports to the Pomona and State Granges been duly and promptly made?” This includes this and any request for information. If you are changing the time or day you meet, this is a By-Law change and is required to be voted on in a regular Grange meeting and approved by the State Master before it can officially take effect! Do we have a copy of your By-Laws at the office?
I am still working on getting the new database completed. I am typing in all the information for our 80 Granges, 2,200+, names, addresses and other information into a more user friendly format that can be accessed without internet. I have not heard anything at all from many Granges, where are your lists?
The National Grange and the Northeast Region will be holding a Covid-19 and Influenza free immunization clinic at the New England Grange Building at the Big-E Fair in Springfield, MA in September.
The Annual Maine State Grange is a month and a half away, October 18 & 19. Our National Representative will be Barbara Foster, Pomona of the National Grange and President of the West Virginia State Grange, long time Grange member and she is looking forward to being with us. Information about our guests can be found on our website under State Session along with other session information such as schedule and meal registration form.
Meal tickets are to be purchased in advance, form and money are due by Oct. 5.
Remember, if your Subordinate and/or Pomona Grange plans to or wants to have 2 voting delegates at State Session:
Your Grange MUST vote by name on the people to be delegates and alternates at a regular meeting prior to session. Two delegates and two alternates are to be selected.
Delegates must be members or affiliate members of your Grange. You may only represent the Subordinate or Pomona Grange where you are a member.
You may represent your Subordinate and Pomona Grange and have one vote for each.
You may NOT represent 2 Subordinate Granges or 2 Pomona Granges.
Register that person or persons using the Delegate form provided to your Secretary.
The form must be signed by the Master or Secretary of the Grange
Your Grange’s quarterly dues must be paid up to date or brought with you to registration to be eligible to vote
You can’t just show up expecting to vote on the resolutions, elections, or any other business without the proper paperwork being submitted. NO exceptions.
Anyone may attend the session just are not allowed to vote, but may participate in discussions. You may pick your program books for your Grange if there is not a delegate.
The National Grange annual session will be November in Bettendorf, Iowa hosted by the Mid-west Region of States. All are welcome to attend.
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director 207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
September Bulletin Deadline
The September Bulletin Deadline is September 14, 2024. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
Danville Junction Grange Bingo Postponed
Danville Junction Grange will resume Bingo at the Grange Hall on Saturday, December 7, instead of in September, as previously mentioned. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.
Monroe Grange Store Reminder
This is just a reminder that the Monroe Grange Store has many Grange-related products available—even the hard-to-find stuff! They can help with fundraising programs, custom-printed apparel, promotional items, awards, signs, and banners.Check out their Grange Store!
State Session Page Is Updated
A page dedicated to the 2024 State Session now has a “packet of information” that includes the forms necessary to reserve meals. We’ve recently posted a copy of the 2023 Journal of Proceedings, a record of last year’s convention.
Many Contest Deadlines Are Coming Up
Get your entries in! Officers and directors note that annual reports and program books are coming due.
Consider this Idea!
Where’s your Grange’s Cornucopia? What’s it look like? It just might be time for rehabbing your “horn of plenty” and having it prominently displayed somewhere in the hall. H-O-P-E!
Think about this!
“Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you into trouble.”
Frank Tyger
Submit News! Be “famous”
Submitting news can be as simple as a photo and “cutline.” A cutline is a brief description–longer than a caption–to accompany the photo. Let’s prove that the Grange is alive and well in Maine! (Photos should be submitted as an attachment to an email.) We get inquiries from people looking for active Granges!
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!
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!
August Bulletin Available
The August Bulletin is available for download and distribution. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
Androscoggin Grange #8 Schedules Big Day!
Androscoggin Grange in Greene has a big day planned on September 14th! Check out the events calendar on the website for details, but activities include a pancake breakfast, pie contest, chili cook-off, and roaring twenties celebration with mocktails and dancing!
Information Available: Castle Hill Grange
The Castle Hill Grange Hall Preservation Society was formed in 1993 to save the Grange Hall in Castle Hill. We have now disbanded due to lack of funds and membership. We have some papers from Grange #260, which disbanded in 1976(?). If you would like any of these papers and certificates. you can contact me by email: Sheena McHatten
State Session Page Is Updated
A page dedicated to the 2024 State Session now has a “packet of information” that includes the forms necessary to reserve meals.
Many Contest Deadlines Are Coming Up
Get your entries in! Officers and directors note that annual reports and program books are coming due.
Consider this Idea!
Are there events in your community sponsored by others that you could piggyback on and be part of?
Think about this!
“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is to work hard at work worth doing.”
Theodore Roosevelt
Submit News! Be “famous”
Submitting news can be as simple as a photo and “cutline.” A cutline is a brief description–longer than a caption–to accompany the photo. Let’s prove that the Grange is alive and well in Maine! (Photos should be submitted as an attachment to an email.) We get inquiries from people looking for active Granges!
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!
So, at least in theory, I recently learned how to work with an oxen team. I’d been saying that I was going to learn to drive oxen. Among my many discoveries was that working with oxen is more about communicating with them than driving them.
I heard one of my instructors say more than once. “You’re confusing them. They don’t know what you want them to do!” Staying focused on communicating was a bigger challenge than it might seem. And at times, it was funny. Mostly though, it was frustrating!
In brief, trained oxen receive information from the teamster in three ways. The first is (or at least should be) spatial—the body position of the teamster. Second is the “goad” or stick and where and how they are touched. The third is verbal. There is some indication that they hear vowels best. So “whoooooa” works better than “whoa.” The best example of confusing them was when I’d say, “Whoa!” but keep walking. (In my mind, it made sense because I wanted to get in front of them. In their bovine minds, I was sending mixed signals.)
Instructor Rob is a school teacher. We had lots of fun making comparisons. I finally reminded myself of the comment, “What you’re doing shouts louder than what you’re saying.” You don’t have to work with kids for long before you realize “Do as I say and not as I do” doesn’t work well.
While a 2,000+ pound ox doesn’t engage in what we call “higher levels of reasoning,” the basics are the same. That said, two of the teams I worked with were extremely well-trained. One team of Devons would stand and let me walk some distance away. I could then raise my goad and call, “Right here, boys,” and they would walk to me and stop with their heads on either side.
We students had to learn a bit about herd instinct and survival from predators. Rob occasionally reminded us that building trust with the beasts was important. “You may have to convince them you’re not trying to kill them.”
Here’s an interesting comparison. My Ram pickup truck weighs about the same as a large pair of oxen. During Road Trip 2024, I drove that truck over 3,600 miles, mostly by pushing pedals, turning the wheel, and flipping switches. (I’m purposely omitting occasional arguments with the voice feature of the GPS.) The truck doesn’t have a mind of its own or any instincts. It just does what you tell it to do.
Oxen require a bit more understanding and communication than my truck or your car. You can’t just drive them. One of the things I found challenging is the amount of attention required with oxen, particularly when pulling something. There is no cruise control!
Of course, all analogies break down if you press them, but in addition to the joy of working with these large animals, it was great to be reminded of some of the basic truths about effective communication. I’m still processing, but a few important lessons can be learned.
Don’t send mixed messages! If you say “whoa,” stop moving. If you invite someone to attend your Grange, make sure your invitation is positive and complete.
Use multiple communication strategies! Oxen expect to be told and shown by position and the goad. With humans, say it, write it, demonstrate it. If you invite someone to attend your Grange, offer to give them a ride. Send an email or postcard reminder.
Speak the language of the listener! With oxen, “Come here!” is not the same as “Right here!” If you invite someone to attend your Grange, be aware of using “Grange Speak.” “We’ll open in full form” is not the same as “We start at…” Remember, nuances are important. Are you inviting your friend to a meeting or a program?
Use the listener’s name freely! To make a team of oxen turn sharp left one to slow down and perhaps to stop completely—it’s like driving a bulldozer. You’ll need to tell one ox, “Haw!” and the other, “Whoa!” (The goad and your body position are important. Use multiple communication strategies!) “Walter, I’d like you to come to our Grange…” sounds different than “I’d like you to come to our Grange. Actually, it is different!
I’m trying to resist the temptation to suggest that we invite people to join the herd. I may not be able to resist the temptation to make a comparison to being yoked into a team.
► FACT: The events page on the website continues to be one of the most frequently visited pages on the site! Are you submitting your programs and events?
Find the button representing how and where you want to share a post.
By Sherry Harriman, Maine State Grange President/Master 207 490-1029
State Session is October in Auburn. All paperwork and information has been mailed to the Secretaries and is posted on the website under “Program books and Information”. Remember, each Grange may have 2 delegates (they must be voted as delegates in your Grange meeting), and the quarterly Grange dues MUST be paid up to date for them to be able to vote. Any 4th-degree member may attend the session even if you are not a voting delegate. Our National Grange representative will be Barbara Foster, Pomona of the National Grange & Master/President of the West Virginia State Grange.
Reports – Reports – Reports. That’s right, ALL Reports are due Individual, Subordinate, and Pomona:
Lecturer’s report and Book Reading lists to Melissa Baldwin.
Community Service reports and books to Brenda Dyer.
Family Health & Hearing reports due to Brenda Dyer.
CWA reports to Margaret Henderson.
Pomona and Subordinate Roster information to the State Office was due by July 15th. Thank you to those who have submitted them — where are the rest of yours? Even if you had no changes, the report is to be sent in. We ask you to provide the Grange name & number, the physical street address and town of the Grange hall, which day or days and time. Let us know if there are refreshments or supper and that time. Also, the name, postal address, phone, cell phone (if they want it posted), and email (if applicable) of the Master, Lecturer, Secretary, and CWA (Committee of Women’s Activity) chair. Additional committee chairs may also be included on the back or a separate sheet for Agriculture, Legislative, Community Service, Family Health & Hearing, Junior, Youth, and Education.
State Officers and Deputy’s Visitation reports are due to the State Master (standard mail or emailed) or get them to the office.
State Officers — Lecturer, Chaplain, Treasurer and Secretary are expected to present a written report by Oct 1.
Committee Chairs/Directors — Agriculture, Committee of Women’s Activities, Communications, Community Service, Family Health & Hearing, Educational Aid & Howes Nursing Scholarship, Fundraising, Junior, Legislative, and Membership are required to give a written report on your actives for the year, submitted to ME, State Master, by standard mail or email (email is easier for me, I can copy into the book). All of these reports will be compiled together and printed for approval by the delegates at the State Session.
Directors, I need your 2025 Program Books, so those can be printed to be passed out at State Session.
While I am talking about reports. I am still missing many updated membership lists. Please get them corrected and sent in.
