Tag: Grange Activities

President’s Perspective – November 2024

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

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Hug your family and friends. Help someone every day.

Our 150th State Grange Session went well. Thank you to the Officers, Delegates, Members, Deputies, Directors, and Committee members who attended. I appreciate your participation and input during the business and activities. A wonderful banquet & luncheon were shared, awards were presented, Juniors participated, and a heartfelt Memorial Service was held; Barbara Foster was pleased to be with us. We elected Carolyn Van Horn to the Executive Committee and welcomed five new State Grange members who received the Sixth degree.

The new Department Program Books and Annual Reports were given to the Delegates for your Grange. If you did not have delegates at session, you may download the programs and reports from the web under “Program Books” or if you want a printed copy, email or call the office or myself and we will send them to you. You may request all or just select certain ones. Agricultural Scholarship, Educational Aid & Howes Nurses Scholarship requirements and applications can also be found on the website or requested from the office. Grange Enterprise Award information and the application can be found there too or requested.

Deputy School was held on Nov 2 with several State Officers & Committee people also attending. Paperwork was passed out, we covered Opening & Closing — Opening the Bible, Presenting the Flag, Introducing Honored Guests, balloting, and discussed other Grange business.

I would like to do instruction meetings in your areas again this year. Think about setting something up in the spring with me. I would prefer a Saturday meeting during the day but could do an evening if requested. We will be covering the same as above. Everyone is invited to attend.

Contact the office or myself if you would like to have any of the following materials:

  1. Expectations of State Officers and Deputies
  2. Visitation reports — Subordinate and Pomona
  3. Maine State Grange Guidelines, Information, and Instructions.
  4. Hello Worthy Master and Members (information regarding closing/consolidation of Granges)
  5. Maine State Grange Ritual Handbook
  6. Suggestions and Instructions for Grange Procedure
  7. Code Book with instructions on Grange Ritual
  8. Official Obligation Ceremony
  9. New Member Welcoming Ceremony
  10. Official Fifth Degree Obligation Ceremony
  11. By-Laws of the Maine State Grange (newly revised edition)
  12. Officers, Deputies, and Directors List 2025. The complete roster will be available soon. Additional materials are listed in the book.
  13. Maine State Grange Leadership Directory from Webmaster.
  14. Maine Granges, Town, and Contact Brochure (many changes included)
  15. Subordinate/Community Manual Edition 2023 (printed on regular-size Paper)
  16. Manual of Pomona Granges 2017* (printed on regular-size paper)

Valley Grange Presents Dictionaries

Watch the story Here!

Please note that there is one correction to the story–The Dictionary Project has actually distributed 37,000,000 dictionaries in total!

CWA Report – November 2024

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

Committee on Women’s Activities

It was nice to see many of you at State Grange session.
Thankfully, the items that went to “Big E” got back to me a few days before State Grange, so I was able to return these entries to the ladies who entered them. Winners at “Big E” from Maine:

  • Class B Doilies: Grace Weste, 3rd Place
  • Class C Embroidery: Gail Butterfield, 1st Place
  • Class E Plastic Canvas: Elmira Collins, 1st Place
  • Class G Adult Garment: Kathy Gowen, 3rd Place
  • Class I Quilted Wall Hanging: Jackie Morgan, 1st Place
  • Class J Stuffed Toy: Ann Burns, 3rd Place
  • Class K Baby Afghan: Elmira Collins, 2nd Place

Congratulations, ladies, you make Maine proud!

Also, at the State Grange Session, certificates were presented to the Granges that made donations to House in the Woods, Home for Little Wanderers, and prize money. A check for $630.00 was presented to Richard Harriman, who will present this to House in the Woods. I went to Home for Little Wanderers and presented them with a check for $605.00. There were also donations of diapers, diaper wipes, hats, mittens, and toys for them. These organizations are very thankful for the contributions the Granges donate to them.

I hope that you all have a very enjoyable Thanksgiving with your families. Let us be thankful every day.

Valley Grange Updates “TelaGranger”

By Walter Boomsma, Valley Grange Program Director

TelaGranger Masthead

The most recent issue has just been released! Articles include:

  • Veteran’s Day 2024
  • Meeting Friday, November 15, 2024
  • Knitters Kneeded!
  • Members Are Stars
  • Dictionary Days Update
  • Facebook Forward
  • Another Dues Reminder
  • Did Ya Know?
  • Area Grange Events
  • Valley Grange Contacts and Resources

You can read the entire issue here!

A recent review of our subscriber list shows we’ve lost some folks due to automation. Our program automatically stops sending issues if your email address doesn’t work. (The most common reason for this seems to be full mailboxes. Check your email and keep it clean!) Once the program stops sending to your address, we cannot override and resubscribe you. But you should be able to re-subscribe!

Subscribe to Valley’s Newsletter

Communication Shorts 11-1-2024

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!

November Bulletin Coming Soon!

The deadline for submitting information to be included in the November Bulletin is November 14, 2024. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.

Words for Thirds

We’re still looking for any Granges considering or already participating in the Words for Thirds Dictionary Project. Please let us know who you are!

Missing “stuff?”

As we purge older posts and clean things up, you may occasionally encounter missing photos and broken links. Remember, we only maintain two years of posts both to save space and avoid confusion. If what’s missing seems important, please let us know! Mistakes happen.

Note Regarding Contacting State Master Sherry

Please remember to use the correct email address for State Master/President Sherry. An older Gmail address is floating around, but it is not regularly checked. Also, she does not maintain any social media accounts, including Facebook.

Holiday Craft Fairs?

Many Granges offer holiday craft fairs or “makers markets.” Please submit information about yours! We offer statewide publicity and make it easy for you to share information on Social Media. If you submit it before November 15, it will be included in the November Bulletin!

Grange History Booklet Added

The 150th Anniversary Booklet is a literal treasure of historical information about Granges in Maine, including a reasonably complete list of every Grange that has existed in Maine! Check it out!

Consider this Idea!

If you are having any sort of program event, consider offering tours of your Grange Hall. Many folks are interested in learning more about both the Grange and these buildings.

Songbooks for Singing!

Ellie Collins has some Grange Songbooks that are looking for a good home!

Think about this

“If you don’t know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere.”

Henry Kissinger

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! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.

Mill Stream Grangers at State Session

Mill Stream Grange #574 members and delegates to the 2024 Maine State Grange Convention.   Front from left:  Jill Sampson (Master); Judy Dunn (Chaplain); David Dunn. Back row from left: Paul Lavender (Assistant Steward); Debbie Lavender (Treasurer); Laurie Cunningham (Secretary)

Brownville Students Gain Words!

Valley Grange is located in Guilford, Maine

BROWNVILLE — Grade 3 students at the Brownville Elementary School now have thousands of words and accompanying definitions at their fingertips, along with other assorted facts. The pupils do not need to worry about charged laptops or cellphones to access this information, as each of the nearly 50 youngsters now has their very own dictionary thanks to Valley Grange No. 144 of Guilford...

Check out this amazing article in the Piscataquis Observer about the words for Thirds Dictionary Day in Brownville Elementary School!

Highland Lake Grange Turkey Supper

Saturday, November 9, 2024 – 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Drive-up, Take-out only

Peaking Turkey

Highland Lake Grange will be having a roasted turkey drive-up, take-out only dinner on. There will be roasted turkey, vegetables, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, bread, cranberry sauce, and cake. The cost is $10.00 per person. Please have the exact price for the meal(s) you want. There are no substitutions or preorders; you drive up, pay, and receive your meal. The Grange is located on the corner of Route 302 and Hardy Road, Westbrook. FMI Joann 207 233 7119.

Beans at Ocean View Grange

by Larry Bailey, Master

We at the Ocean View Grange #463 have always used Great Northern Beans. We had a Bean Supper a couple of weeks ago in conjunction with our local Odd Fellows group. They always used Yellow-Eye Beans, and we may try them the next time we have a Bean Supper. This one was a great success thanks to our very hard-working Grange members and the help of the Odd Fellows.

Webmaster’s Note: Followers may remember “Beans, Beans, Beans,” a post published back in June looking for feedback on the preferred beans at Granges. While tradition is essential, is it time to experiment? The Chef’s Resource leans towards Navy Beans, and at least several sources claim smaller beans tend to be tastier!

November Grange Events in Maine

  • November 1, 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.
  • November 2, 2024, Saco Grange 150th Anniversary Celebration. Pie, History, and Music starting at 5 pm. See this post for more information.
  • November 2, 2025, Androscoggin Grange Christmas Variety Show. See this post for more information.
  • November 2, 2024, Deputy School at Maine State Grange Headquarters starts at 10:00 am. Contact Master Sherry FMI.
  • November 2-3, 2024, Community Bazaar (crafts, farmers’ market, yard sale…) at Trenton Grange from 9 am until 2 pm both days. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
  • November 9, 2024, Androscoggin Grange Christmas Craft Fair. For more information, see this post.
  • November 12-16, 2024, 158th National Grange Convention in Bettendorf, IA.
  • November 14, 2024, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
  • November 16, 2024, Senior Circle at Victor Grange in Fairfield. Potluck lunch at 11 am for Seniors to get together with others for socializing, networking and a game or two. Held the 3rd Friday monthly. FMI Deb 207-453-4844 or Sherri 207-815-0615. No Charge.
  • November 23, 2024 White Rock Grange Christmas Craft Fair. For more information, see this post. White Rock Grange is located in Gorham, Maine.

Here’s the complete list of Holiday Craft Fairs