Tag: Grange Advocacy

Helping in North Carolina

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:

NC Grange
1734 Wilkesboro Hwy
Statesville NC 28625

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. 

Please contact the Grange Office with any questions. 

Sincerely,

Jimmy Gentry
President, North Carolina Grange

Why the Grange

by Walter Boomsma

The following article was written in the spring of 2009 as part of a National Grange Essay Contest… and it won second place! It seems even more true today than it did fifteen years ago.

One of my greater pleasures in life is attempting to explain the origins and purpose of this organization called “the Grange” to excited third graders as part of our “Words for Thirds” program. I start by attempting to determine what they already know and I’ll always remember the young girl who waved her hand enthusiastically and announced “I was born there.”

It took a little thinking to realize she’d heard me say “LaGrange” – one of the small, rural communities here in Maine. Her answer was certainly amusing, but it was also insightful and telling. Like the organization she was learning about she was proud of her roots and heritage.  She announced her connection and kinship to LaGrange just as enthusiastically as I announce my connection to the Grange.

That sense of connection attracts people to rural, small-town America. But even small towns are experiencing a “social disconnect” as things like regional school systems and “social networking” using the Internet change the traditional model of community. We now have cell phones, PDAs and computers to stay “connected” with people – in many cases people we only rarely see and certainly can’t touch.

But beneath all the communicating, we still want to see people – to touch and be touched – and to feel a part of something. People will claim their families are going “in a million different directions” but not really consider why. Some of it has to be the search for connections and belonging. One reason every community needs a Grange is that folks are searching hard for a sense community and geographic boundaries no longer provide it. Being from “LaGrange” is not enough. Being from “the Grange” offers more.

The Grange, with its fundamental principles and practices, is one place the entire family can not only be together but also feel a connection to other like-minded people and families. The rich heritage of the Grange as an organization with shared values and missions is relevant today. One hundred years ago it was about farmers coming together and overcoming rural isolation. Today, it is about a larger and redefined community, but it is still about coming together and overcoming isolation.

In a 1986 study, psychologists McMillan and Chavis identified the four elements required for a “sense of community”: 1) membership, 2) influence, 3) fulfillment of needs, and 4) shared emotional connection. An in-depth study isn’t required to see how an active Grange contributes to those elements and builds a sense of community. From potluck suppers to community service projects, Grange members and friends feel a sense of kinship and demonstrate a cooperative spirit.

There are several important factors that distinguish the Grange from other civic and community organizations. The family orientation is one notable exception. Grange families find occasions when they don’t go in a million directions. Another is the diversity of programming and interests. The Grange offers social, political, economic, and educational benefits to all. You can’t be born there, but you can belong.

Parkman Grange Scholarship Supper Celebrates Students

The Parkman Grange awarded six MSAD#4-area college students Minnie Welts Bridge Scholarships of $500 each for the 2024-25 school year. Winners this year include Anna Zimmerman, Guilford, a Psychology major at the University of Maine at Farmington; Cadence Clukey, Abbot, a Counseling major at Grand Canyon University; Emma Calnan, Parkman, a Nursing major at Husson University; Elizabeth Kendall, Guilford, an Education major at the University of Maine at Farmington; Kendall Kimball, Parkman, an Interdisciplinary Global Studies major at the University of South Florida; and, Hannah Dow, Guilford, an Education major at University of the University of Maine at Presque Isle. 

Parkman Grange Master Susan Manchester was joined by recipients Emma Calnan and Hannah Dow (l-r) took a break from their studies to share their career plans.

The six 2024 recipients were celebrated at a Minnie Welts Bridge Scholarship Supper on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Attendees enjoyed pork loin, potatoes, salads, and assorted desserts. All proceeds will go to the Scholarship Fund for future awards. Donations may be made to Parkman Grange at PO Box 114, Guilford, ME 04443. Note Scholarship Fund on the memo line.

Minnie Welts Bridge was a lifelong Parkman resident, a teacher, and a Grange member. She passed away in 2011 at the age of 102. Since then, the Parkman Grange has awarded a total of $18,000 in scholarships in her memory.

Community Service/FHH – September 2024

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

As autumn approaches and a new Grange year begins, I would like to thank the Granges that submitted Community Service Books, Community Service Reports, Family Health & Hearing Reports, Police, Firefighter/EMT and Educator of the Year, and Maine State Grange Community Service Granger of the Year. Winners will be announced at the State Grange Session in October.

The Community Service and Family, Health & Hearing Program will be available at the Maine State Grange Session at the Community Service Table. 

The Family, Health & Hearing suggested topics for September and October are:

September 2024
Classical Music Month
Chicken Month
Baby Safety Month
Self-Improvement Month

October 2024
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
National Diabetes Month
Domestic Violence Month

Start your new books, reports, etc. for the upcoming year. 

Keep up the good work! 

Thank you to all for the phone calls, cards, texts, food, and thoughtfulness to me and my family. Gloria (Mom) loved the Grange and what it stands for. Thank you! 

Communications Column – September 2024 (CORRECTED!)

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Annual Report, 2023-24

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.
Tell us why you love the grange
Submit an Event or News

Getting Grounded

Guest Article by Walter Boomsma

September is Suicide Prevention Prevention Month. As many know, I am a big promoter of preventing suicide.1 Our approach to preventing suicide seems to be one of waiting until a crisis develops. I have long suspected that suicidal tendencies develop pretty early on, and we would be better served to take preventative steps before we reach the crisis point.

Thanks to the media, we’re not only becoming more aware of the issue of suicide-we are also being confronted with examples of mental health issues. COVID certainly contributed. We are easily overwhelmed by the complexity and intensity. In February 2021, 37.5% of adults in Maine reported symptoms of anxiety and depression2.

Since I do not intend to add to the complexity and intensity, I’d like to propose a simple exercise in Emotional Hygiene. In 17 minutes, Guy Winch provides a good foundation in an entertaining and non-clinical way that will also have you laughing.

At one of the mental health workshops I attended some years ago, the instructor asked us to share how we “centered” or grounded ourselves. It was interesting that he gave us some time to think before answering, suggesting that we may not be immediately aware of it. Being grounded generally refers to achieving a state of being emotionally and mentally stable and having a sense of connection to reality. In non-clinical terms, some refer to it as “going to my happy place.”

Life can easily throw us off balance. If we catch our balance soon enough, we can avoid unintentionally going somewhere (mentally and emotionally) that isn’t helpful. That somewhere may involve depression or anxiety. In simple, non-clinical terms, mental hygiene prevents mental health issues that can lead to suicide. But it’s not just about preventing suicide. It’s about living fully and happily.

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside awakens.”

Carl Jung

  1. I am a Certified NAMI Mental Health First Aid Responder, a teacher of Suicide Prevention Workshops, and an instructor in Beal University’s Addiction Counseling Program. Additional mental health resources are available on my Brain Leaks and Musings website. ↩︎
  2. State of Maine Mental Health Factsheet. ↩︎

National Suicide Prevention Month

September is being observed as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This observance is designed to reach out to those affected by suicide, raising awareness and connecting individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. We can all help individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention.

Seek help immediately if you or someone you know is talking about suicide, feelings of hopelessness or unbearable pain, or about being a burden to others.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

For those in need of immediate support:

Call or text 988. This suicide and behavioral health crisis hotline is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by trained crisis specialists who offer free, confidential support for anyone. Specialists can also respond by chat at 988lifeline.org. Information for the deaf and hard of hearing is available here.

National Alliance on Mental Illness: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: National Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

The State of Maine has a dedicated webpage with many behavioral health resources including online support and resources for children and familiies.

CWA Report – September 2024

By Margaret Henderson, Director
Committee on Women’s Activities
207 948-2762

Committee on Women’s Activities

It sure seems like the leaves started changing colors early this year. Our CWA Conference went very well. I heard many positive comments.

We have two new members on our committee. Welcome, Judy Meserve and Kathy Ward. Kathy helped present a demonstration on mosaic art. We all got to make something. I think everyone enjoyed doing this. Thank you, Kathy. A big thank you to all of the ladies on the committee. I am so thankful for all that you do. You are all so helpful with everything from setting up to cleaning up.

Here is a list of the winners:

Baking: Blueberry Cake: Carl Moon
Class A: Afghans: Elmira Collins
Class B: Doilies: Grace Weste
Class C: Embroidery: Gail Butterfield
Class D: 3 Piece Baby Set: Nancy Gowen
Class E: Plastic Canvas: Elmira Collins
Class G: Adult Garments: Kathy Gowen
Class I: Quilted Wall Hanging: Jackie Morgan
Class J: Stuffed Toy: Ann Burns
Class K: Baby Afghan: Elmira Collins
Class L: Children’s Garments: Laurie McBurnie
Class M: Table runners: Rachel Nelson
Class N: Miscellaneous: Rachel Nelson
Class O: Decorated Item: Sherri Applebees
Class P: Wooden Item: Phil Parsons – Juniors:  Sebastian Nickerson

Class Q: Tote Bags: Kathy Gowen

Quilts
Class B: Machine Quilted: Rachel Nelson
Class D: Pieced by Entrant/Quilted by someone else: Karen McCarrick
Class E: Baby Quilt: Elmira Collins
Best of Show: Kathy Gowen

The winning entries in Classes A-K were sent to Eastern States for judging in the New England area. All the entries were awesome! I hope that we will have more next year. Thank you to everyone who entered. I will look forward to seeing your entries next year. You all do amazing work.

Thank you to all of the Granges who have made contributions to Home for Little Wanderers, House in the Woods, and for the prize money for the contests. These donations are greatly appreciated.

National Grange Arranges Vaccinations at the New England Grange Building

National Grange is excited to invite you to visit the National Grange’s FREE vaccination clinic at the Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts, hosted with the support of our New England State Granges!

If you are heading to the Big E this year, be sure to stop by our booth in front of the New England Grange building to receive free, updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Professional pharmacists from PharMerica will be there to assist you and answer any questions.

For more information: https://www.grangevaccinationeffort.com/

Grange Heirloom — September 2024

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.