Tag: Grange Membership

Membership Moments

Rick Grotton

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

Here it is September again, and time for the installation of your officers and close to the beginning of a new Grange year.  Each month, I give you advice and tips on how to gain and keep membership. This year, let’s do something different. I would like to hear from you, the members, tips, and advice to share with our readers. Also, any questions you have for the Membership Committee will be answered and put in each monthly column. This is not a one-time request; it is ongoing because I want us ALL to be involved to help each other. 

Each meeting, address the issue of membership and come up with a list of questions and tips to ASK RICK, and he will answer and share. I have given you all my views over the years, but I am sure you will have more information for me to share. Again, I say that membership should be your top priority and that all of us are responsible for finding new members. Please let me know! 

By the Book —   a message from Chris Hamp, National President

I want to remind each of you and ask that you make it a priority to remind your membership of our long-standing and unwavering non-partisan policy, which has been part of our Order since day one. Our Constitution, Declaration of Purposes, and Bylaws clearly state that the Grange is not, and must never become, a partisan or party organization and this must be reflected in all we do. This applies to every publication at every level, oral reports at Grange meetings, social media posts made in the name of the Grange, and any other communication. I ask that you carefully review and ensure that all communications are free of partisan comments, endorsements, or implications. When we drift into comments about people and parties rather than focusing on issues, we erode the very bonds of unity built by our non-partisan approach. Our strength lies in being a trusted, non-partisan voice for rural America, and it is vital that we preserve that trust through our words and actions. That unity is what makes the Grange one of the few remaining places where civil dialogue across differences can thrive – and it is essential we protect it.

CHAPTER I – CONSTITUTION OF THE ORDER OF PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY

1.12.1 Denominational religious or partisan political matters shall not be the subject of discussions in the work of the Order, and no religious or political tests for membership shall be applied.

CHAPTER II – DECLARATION OF PURPOSES OF THE NATIONAL GRANGE OF THE ORDER OF PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY

2.5.1 We emphatically and sincerely assert the oft-repeated truth taught in our Constitutional Law, that the Grange — National, State, Pomona or Subordinate — is not a partisan or party organization.

CHAPTER X – CODE OF ALL GRANGES 10.1.4 No Grange of the various divisions of the Order shall use or allow to be used any name, insignia or mark of the Order in a manner which could indicate support, approval or opposition of any candidate for political office or any partisan political position.

MSG President Sherry requested that we post and publish this important message!

Membership Moments – August 2025

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

There are many active Granges doing many events, which are well-advertised and appealing to the public. What a great way to attract new members. I know of a few that have done so successfully. This is probably the easiest way to attract new members. Keep in mind that any public or community event is also a membership drive, not just a fundraising event. Take advantage of this opportunity.

When speaking to interested parties, be prepared to answer their questions. Subjects in which they are interested include the following:

  • The history of the Grange.
  • What is the Grange?
  • What does the Grange do?
  • Rituals and traditions.
  • What has the Grange done to affect our lives now and in the past?
  • Is the Grange just for farmers?
  • Is it family-friendly?
  • Meeting times and dues.
  • Why did you join?
  • Benefits (insurance, discounts (for example car rentals)

If you are unsure of the answer of any of these questions, we have literature that explains and covers these areas. Give them contact names and numbers,  and make sure they are not confused when you end your conversation.  The Grange is a great organization and an opportunity to change one’s life for the better. There are many people out there who are waiting for you to ask or invite them to become a member. Do your best to encourage them into membership. Open up a new world for them; one of knowledge, history, and helping fellow community members. Make this world a better place in your little corner of it. Get out there and recruit!

Secretary’s Corner – August, 2025

By Sharon Morton
MSG Secretary
207 485-6197

August is the beginning of our late summer months before our State Grange Convention in October.

I am reminding all Secretaries that resolutions to be considered at our Annual Convention must be received at the State Grange postmarked no later than August 15th. 

Delegate credentials and updated State Grange Banquet information will be arriving in August with a return date no later than October 1, 2025. The delegates who will be representing your Grange must be voted on at a regular Grange meeting. The delegate credential may be mailed (preferably) to me prior to the State Session or brought to the State Session in October. Remember that your September Quarterly dues must be in the office prior to October 15th for your Grange to have representation at State Session.

The Maine State Grange currently has 76 active Community/Subordinate Granges. I have received  64 June Quarterly reports, with two of the 64 not providing a quarterly report.  There are still 12 outstanding June Quarterly Reports which I will be notifying of the lateness of their reports. As you can see, it is very hard for me to give the National Grange an accurate number of members for the State of Maine when I don’t have that information.  My report must be at National Grange no later than August 31st.  

I also need the Pomona annual reports, of which I have received 8 out of the 12 remaining Pomonas. I will note that one Pomona just elected their secretary, and I have forwarded the report to the new secretary. I am also notifying the Pomona secretary that the annual report is now due.

You may also receive a notification from the IRS regarding the filing of your 990N. Please do not respond to this letter, as I am working on the filing of all 990Ns as quickly as I can. If you would like to know how to file your own, please contact me and I will gladly try to help you navigate the IRS filing system.

The role of a Grange Secretary is vital to the success of your Grange. As the keeper of records and administrative backbone, a secretary ensures that meetings run smoothly and that members remain informed.

A Grange Secretary is responsible for keeping precise minutes of meetings, recording membership details, and preserving historical documents.

Clear and timely communication with Grange members, officers, and committees is essential.  Sending out meeting notices, reminders, and reports ensures that everyone stays informed.

The secretary is responsible for preparing and submitting Quarterly reports to the State Grange on time. (September 30th, December 31st , March 31st and June 30th )  Your report will not be considered late if postmarked on or before the 15th of the month following the quarter it is due.  Remember that there is a $5.00 late fee to be included with such report if postmarked after the 15th.  It is extremely important that you keep the State Grange informed of any changes in membership, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

As your State Secretary I appreciate your dedication to being secretary in your Community/Subordinate and Pomona Granges. 

Have a safe and enjoyable remainder of the summer season and will see you all soon.

Membership Moments – July 2025

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

Most of us have heard of a subliminal message and its purpose.  For a refresher, a subliminal message is one that is intended to be embedded in our subconscious mind without our conscious knowledge of what is happening. These messages are commonly used by television commercials and ads, which contain “trigger” words and continuous use of phrases undetectable to the conscious mind in order to influence us to buy their products. In this column, I will use the phrase “increase membership” at various times and embed the phrase in the topic we are discussing. Although it isn’t really the same as I described, it gives the reader a sense of what I am talking about.

We all know that our member numbers have decreased and at times (increase membership) many Granges do not have enough members present to hold a meeting. It disrupts the flow when a meeting is canceled (increase membership) and people begin to lose interest when this happens on a regular basis.  Even to the most dedicated Granger, this is quite annoying and sometimes makes us question why do we bother. Our love and dedication to the (increase membership) order keep us chugging along. We don’t give up easily and our high energies motivate all our members. However, how long (increase membership) can this last? Even the Sun will run out of energy at some time. To avoid burnout, we need to make membership a top priority at every meeting. All members of our Granges are responsible (increase membership) to bring in new members; not a select few or only the State Membership Committee. It is up to YOU (increase membership) to be a part of the membership drive!

Read this message over a few times and let me know how effective this subliminal message has been or even better, read this message often and let the hidden message do its work.

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Membership Moments – May 2025

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

I attended the recent Degree Day in Augusta in which 24 new members saw the first four degrees. A big thanks to the members of Androscoggin Pomona for organizing this yearly event. It was great to meet new Grangers and to see present Grange friends from all over the State of Maine. Congratulations to the new members. Hopefully, those who didn’t get a chance to see the degrees this year will attend the next one. There are still many obligated members who should be learning the lessons of the Grange first-hand. In the meantime, keep attracting those new members! 

June is coming, and with that month comes, yes, elections! Elections, believe it or not, are very important for the progress of your Grange. Please consider your new membership when electing officers (if they are interested) to keep them involved. Teach them the floorwork; we all could use a refresher course from time to time. Keep your Grange meetings running smoothly and listen to all ideas, especially from your new members. They do have their reasons for joining. 

Forming committees is also important to the well-being of your Grange. Too many times, there are no reports given on the selected committees or no active committees to report. A membership committee is recommended in each Grange. The membership committee can be a select few or the whole of your current membership. Please report on this committee at each meeting. Some discussions about membership planning and ideas should be shared at all meetings.  

Kudos to all Granges who have a full calendar of events this year. I wish them the best in their accomplishments, and may they continue to prosper and grow!  

Celebrating Grange Membership

Information gleaned from the current issue of GoodDay!TM magazine.

75 Years of Continuous Membership

Grace Addison, Benton #458

50 Years of Continuous Membership

Steven Cyr, Golden Harvest #33
Richard Lawrence, Benton #458

Granges Gaining New Members

  • Chelsea Grange #215, 2 new members
  • Community Grange #593, 1
  • Deering Grange #53, 8
  • East Sangerville #177, 6
  • Enterprise #48, 4
  • Fairview #342, 27 new members!
  • Farmington #12, 2
  • Granite #192, 2
  • Harraseeket #9, 1
  • Huntoon Hill #398, 1
  • Jonesboro#357, 6
  • Lakeside #63, 2
  • Merriconeag #425, 6
  • Mill Stream #574, 2
  • Ocean View #463, 1
  • Saco #53, 1
  • St George #421, 11
  • Topsham #37, 2
  • Tranquility #344, 14
  • Trenton #550, 3
  • Valley #144, 3
  • Victor #49, 5
  • Waterford #479, 2
  • White Rock #380, 1

You’ll Miss Us!

a “webatorial” by MSG Communications Director
Walter Boomsma

Seth Godin wrote an interesting post suggesting that when people move away, cards and cake should read, “You’ll miss us” instead of “We’ll miss you.” He points out that the community remains.

One of the more powerful sentences in the short post was, “When a marketer serves a community, they create the conditions where they’d be missed–because the ideas or products or services they bring are important, not simply tolerated.“

With apologies to Seth, I changed a word or two. “When a Grange serves a community, they create the conditions where they’d be missed–because the ideas or services they bring are important, not simply tolerated.“

My revision raises a question for Granges. Would your communities miss you if you were gone? Would they even notice? Are you important or simply tolerated?

One of the challenges we face as an organization is relevance in communities that are loosely defined and increasingly diverse. If our vision is narrow and our goals are limited, we will be missed by an ever-diminishing number of people. For example, not everyone likes potluck suppers.

Seth’s short message is that marketers should see a worthwhile goal of creating ideas, products, or services that the community would miss.

Maybe it’s time for Granges to figure out what they can create and offer that their communities would miss.

Karen loves the Grange!

I love the Grange for all the support to all people! It’s awesome to hear so much about the history .

Karen Small, Golden Harvest Grange #33