Maine participates in the National Grange Junior 1+ Program. If your Subordinate Grange has Junior 1+ members, please advise Maine State Grange.
Mill Stream Juniors Cleanup!
Exploring Traditions – August, 2025
Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life
By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist
Let’s Take a Class
If you’ve been following this column, you know that I’ve been “sort of” reading Charles Gardeners book Friend of the Farmer 1867-1947. I confess that it probably doesn’t qualify as a page turner, but it is a fascinating read.
In the past, I’ve raised a question about how we describe the action of new members and the degrees. Most of the current common language is quite passive. I often hear that new members should “take,” “get,” or “receive” the degrees. Of course, as a writer, I find that it feels incomplete and maybe an opportunity. Could the reader form a mental picture of a new member being handed something labeled “degrees” and then wondering where to put it and what to do with it. Wouldn’t that make a great editorial cartoon for a Grange publication? It might also lead to questions like, “Can I get the degrees online?”
That could lead to yet another discussion around the question of how engaged the candidates should be while “getting” the degrees. Are they available in the Grange Store? I can order my groceries online and pick them up without even getting out of the car. Is that possible with the Grange Degrees?
A few years ago, I made a plea for us to consider celebrating the degrees. They are worthy of celebration. But it seems that the founders (as is often the case) had an even more straightforward and accurate approach. According to Gardner’s book, they referred to the degrees as “classes.”
We could certainly discuss whether the lessons offered in the degrees are taught effectively when we “do” the ritual. One of the reasons for these columns and my resulting book is to increase the effectiveness of the lessons of the degrees. Studying those lessons can be revealing and thought-provoking.
We can also consider the impact of the Grange Heirlooms. Created by the National Grange from the degree work and other sources, these snippets offer bits of wisdom that are no less applicable than they were 150+ years ago. In today’s vocabulary, these might be thought of as “micro learning.” I don’t think it would hurt us if the Grange became known as an organization based on learning and discovery.
It’s an interesting distinction. What would happen if we stopped telling new members, “You should get the degrees?” How about instead, “Just wait until you learn the degrees?”
Yes, there will be a test. Life gives it.
***
The Kindle Edition of “Friend of the Farmer” is available from Amazon, currently priced at $2.99.
Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.
Communications Column – August 2025
By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director
How are you communicating?
A Grange “brother” recently reached out by email, and we had an interesting “conversation” with a series of back and forth. He admitted that he was not spending much time on Facebook as he was “tired of the rants and stuff and knowing that everything I wrote was data that Zuckerberg would sell.” We commiserated briefly.
Facebook is probably one of the least understood communication vehicles we have available. It, and social media in general, serve some useful purposes—one reason these platforms have been so readily adopted. Since this is about and for Grangers, I think it raises some important questions.
In my not-scientific study, most Grangers I know who use social media do so to “stay in touch with family.” I might fall into this category. I try to ignore the “rants and stuff,” including the many ads, sponsored posts, and outright scam attempts. Given my role as MSG Communications Director and naturally curious nature, I wonder how many Grangers have social media accounts. Again, it’s not very scientific, but I know that most of Valley Grange’s members do not have a Facebook account. We (Valley Grange) do have a Facebook Page, but we do not rely on it to communicate. If we only communicated on Facebook, most of our members would be ignored.
My marketing mind would love objective demographic data, What percentage of Grangers are active on social media? A broader question would be, “What percentage of people likely to become members are active on social media?”
Given the rapid advances in technology, the data would almost immediately become somewhat obsolete. Nearly two years ago, Instagram introduced a feature called “threads” that allows users to create text-based conversations. This could make your eyes glaze over because Meta owns both Instagram and Facebook. Let’s not go there.
One important aspect of social media is that the platform tries to figure out your interests and decides what you should see. Equally important, you are the product, not the beneficiary. As my Grange brother noted, Zuckerberg is selling that data to advertisers and, more recently, using it in the runaway development of AI (artificial intelligence).
This is not an attack on social media. It is an attempt to encourage perspective among Granges and Grangers. I know posting events and information on Facebook is easy, and doing so can create a sense of accomplishment. But what have you truly accomplished?
Once a year, I “audit” any Facebook Pages or Groups I’m aware of or stumble upon. You might be surprised at how many of those are for Granges that no longer exist. You might also be surprised that, for some, where the Granges still exist, nothing has been posted for a year or two. The only action I can take is to eliminate any reference to the defunct page on the MSG Website. (I will advise the Grange involved.) I also occasionally discover inappropriate posts on individual pages and groups.
We could, and probably should, revisit the Grange’s social media policy. But for now, let’s get thinking about how we are communicating with members and potential members.
An important reality is that it is relatively easy to move information from the MSG Website to Social Media. Moving in the other direction is almost impossible. (And, remember, Facebook decides whether or not I get to see the information you have posted.) There are several methods for submitting your news and information to the site. More about that later. Once we have it on the site, you can share it on Facebook with a couple of mouse clicks.
A secondary reality is that when you submit events and news to the website, we offer a degree of quality control. I recently stumbled on a Grange Facebook post full of spelling and grammatical errors, not exactly an example of putting our best foot forward. Perhaps even more importantly, we check for missing information. In fact, if you submit using the website itself, you fill out a form that asks for the specific details. If time permits, I will also assist with flyers, etc. We’re Grangers. We help each other!
Enjoy social media, just keep it in perspective. When you’re planning an event (or have had one and want to share the news) make sure someone is assigned the task of submitting them to your MSG website!
► FACT: The Communications Department of one has a goal that email and voice mail will be replied to within 24-48 hours.
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!
Fraud Watch- Pause, Reflect, Protect
Keeping up with the latest scams and all the red flags that warn us of each one is exhausting. Scams constantly evolve, and each comes with its own red flags to remember. But some warning signs apply to a wide range of scams, and recognizing them can help you to react safely.
Most scams come at us with three elements: unexpected contact, a surge of emotion, and a sense of urgency. Together, these elements form a “trigger” for a safe response. Many of us learned as children that if our clothing caught fire (the trigger), our response should be to “stop, drop, and roll.” The safe response for scams is to take an “active pause.” The active pause is a deliberate act that allows us to move away from an emotional response and engage with logic.
With the active pause, we can reflect on what we might know about the situation confronting us. Is this something I have heard about before? Does the scenario make sense? Is there some way I can verify the communication? In the end, the active pause can help us recognize the scam and protect our money and sensitive information.
Know the triggers, know the response: Pause. Reflect. Protect.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
Vermont State Grange Fall Festival
By Beth Morse, VSG Fall Festival Director
802 388-2653
Maine Grangers are invited to join us at the VT Grange Center (located at 308 West St, Brookfield, VT 05036) for our annual Fall Festival on Sept 5th, 6th & 7th.
Like many fairs, we give Grangers the opportunity to showcase the quality products they produce. (Forms are listed at the end of this post.)
Here is a copy of our schedule of activities for the weekend:
Friday:
- 5:00 pm – Entries for judging can be turned in with entry form
- 5:30 pm – Potluck Supper
- 6:00 pm Bonfire (weather & burn ban permitting, plan B movie)
Saturday:
- 7:00 to 8:00 am Breakfast ($8) Waffles, Bacon, Syrup, Fruit, Coffee & Juice
- 8:00 am Activities will commence:
Cribbage Contest
Checkers Contest
Hula Hoop Contest
Horseshoe Contest
Cornhole Contest
Selfie Photo Booth
Pumpkin Checkers
Pumpkin Ring Toss
Frying Pan Throwing
Rolling Pin Throwing
There will be sign-up forms available for each contest.
- 9:30 am All Vegetable, Flower, Cooking, and Craft Contest entries are due with the entry form (no form, no entry).
- 10:00 am Winter Building will be closed while the judging is going on (signs will be posted on the doors).
- 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Lunch ($12) Meatball Grinders with/without sauce, Macaroni & Potato Salad, Brownies & Ice Cream, and Drink
- 1:00 pm Activities will recompense, and Winter Building will reopen for viewing winners.
- 1:30 to 2:30 – Live music provided by Granville Daze.
- 3:30 pm Action – items that have been exhibited and donated to auction.
- 5:30 pm Dinner ($15) Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Vegetables, Coleslaw, and Apple Crisp
- 6:30 pm Awards and prizes for the activities will be announced and presented.
- 7:00 Movie
Sunday
- 7:00 am Breakfast ($10) Egg Sandwiches, Bacon or Ham, Hash Browns, Fruit, Coffee & Juice
- 8:00 am Chapel Service
- 9:00 am Clean/Pack Up
Festival Registration (Meals and accommodations)
Festival Information (Contest Categories)
Festival Entry Form
Vermont State Grange Website
View from the Farm – August 2025
Webmaster’s note: The format of this column includes all of the Quill’s Endians participating at various times and in various ways! Phil writes this month’s column.
Resources
The summer weather we have been receiving for the past couple of months is enough to make a northerner blush. We don’t know what to do with it. Some of us can just enjoy, others of us dread the ‘payment’ for sunny skies and 80 degree weather.
“Just you wait,” I can hear a part of my brain say.
The lack of moisture, of course, concerns a farmer more than most. After a wet, wet spring and just 3/4″ of rain since July 1st, the current trajectory is not a good one. Our stockpiled pasture will soon run out and we’ll have to start feeding hay months earlier than normal.
In years like this–3 of the last five–our thoughts turn to patterns and possibilities. Could we irrigate the pasture? What kind of infrastructure would that require? Where would we procure the water necessary? To reliably irrigate 25 acres of ground, one would need to be able to draw over 2,000,000 gallons of water for about 4″ of coverage. That would handle a seasonal drought only. We could have used that this year just since the middle of July alone to keep the pastures verdant and vigorous.
Aroostook County potato growers are in full irrigation mode. Potatoes planted in May add bulk to their tubers in August. Acquaintances of ours have spent untold thousands digging ponds and piping water underground to spigots that service their fields. They can now put an inch on an acre fairly quickly. That is over 27,000 gallons.
Alas, it is a pressing problem in the moment as the parched earth below our feet begs us for relief. For now, we can only watch and manage for the resources we do have.
In that vein, I’ve heard from some folks that humans are geo-engineering and can control the weather; if any of you know to whom I could address my concerns for immediate relief, I would appreciate that information.
Until then, I’ll try to turn this northerner’s anxious-for-rain brain to low and enjoy the gorgeous weather.
Heather and Phil Retberg and their three children run Quill’s End Farm, a 105-acre property in Penobscot that they bought in 2004. They use rotational grazing on their fifteen open acres and are renovating thirty more acres from woods to pasture to increase grazing for their pigs, grass-fed cattle, lambs, laying hens, and goats. Quill’s Endians are members of Halcyon Grange and publish a newsletter for their farm’s buying club of farmers in her area and generously permit us to share some of their columns with Grangers. Visit the Quill’s End Farm Facebook Page for more information.
Staying Cool…
Can you stand one more reminder to use caution during the heat we’re experiencing in Maine? Here are some resources we’ve found. (If you receive this post as an email, you’ll need to visit the site to watch the video.)
The American Red Cross offers a fairly complete page of resources including a guide to the three types of heat illness and a complete Extreme Heat Safety Checklist.
This is a great time to be a good neighbor by checking on others. Something as simple as handing out bottles of cool water can help. Staying hydrated is important. If your Grange Hall can serve as a “cooling center,” send us the details and we’ll post an annnouncement.
Communication Short – Secretary’s Report
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!
Addition, Secretary’s Report
For some reason, (Grange Gremlins?) a portion of the August Secretary’s Report was missing from the post! It has been corrected and is included here.
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.
Our apologies! You can also read the entire report here!
Duck Pond Heritage Day Update
Duck Pond Variety, Highland Lake Church, Highland Lake Grange, and Lenny’s at Hawkes Plaza are pleased to announce a celebration of history at Duck Pond Corner, located at the intersection of Route 302, Duck Pond, and Hardy Roads in Westbrook.
The Day will feature open houses at the church, Grange, and Lenny’s, live music, historic photos, Scout & 4-H activities, food sale fundraisers, a special church service, displays of artifacts, Westbrook Police K9 demonstrations, a display of historic signs at Duck Pond Variety, and much more!
Come join us to explore the long history of this community. No cost to attend.
These are some of the many raffle items available.