Tag: Grange Membership

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

This is a busy month for all Granges. April is Grange month, so there will be many activities going on at various times throughout the State of Maine. Open houses, giving membership certificates for longevity and degree days are happening. As you may have heard, there will be a degree day at 1 pm on Sunday, April 27, at State Grange Headquarters in Augusta performed by Androscoggin Pomona. If you have any candidates (including those who have been obligated but have not viewed the degrees), please bring them. This may be the only degree day scheduled. Last year was a success, so let’s attend and meet seasoned and new friends. I am pleased to hear positive things concerning Granges having taken in new members recently. Is your Grange one of those?

I will remind all Granges to please read the membership columns at your meetings. Please assign or volunteer a member to do that task. It is important that the information contained in the columns reach all members so that all of us know what is happening. Pomona Masters/Presidents, since all of you are part of the State Membership Committee, I would like you to place a bigger emphasis on increasing membership for Subordinate/Community and Pomona Granges. The more we all emphasize increasing membership as a priority in our Granges, the more likely it is to happen. There are many who would join if we just asked or shared information with them. Members of all ages are
welcomed with younger members especially needed. Who is going to take over when we have passed? Do you have youth in your Grange? I am not talking about young at heart, seasoned members, but those who are 14 to 35 years old. Not many of us do, which is scary. However, we CAN attract members if we put our minds to it. I have proposed to my own Grange a membership competition, the winner to receive a cash prize. What are your ideas? Please share them!!! Let’s all work together to rebuild our membership base.

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

Grange month is here again which is a perfect time to boost your membership drives. Many events are happening all over the state; don’t be left behind!!! What are your plans to boost membership? Is everyone on board in your Grange on how to increase membership? Make it a contest. Challenge each member of your Grange to bring in one new member! Last year, there were a number of Granges who ended the membership year with a net gain (meaning the new members less death and demits). Let’s strive to beat the record of last year. It isn’t hard to do. Use your Grange projects to attract new members. Ask your community and various other organizations to help with the projects you have planned. For example, we advertised on social media to have the community children help make May baskets in the past, and some did show up and had a great time. We even got a few new members from our projects.

Community, cooperation and communication are the three C’s we should follow. Community is important for us to carry out our duties as Grangers. If there is no community, who will attend our suppers, craft fairs, farmers markets, etc. Then what would be our purpose? Cooperation makes the projects go smoothly and makes our Grange meetings run smoothly. We need cooperation to carry on the projects, to fill our Grange offices, to spawn ideas for future projects. Every member is unique and has their own ideas and thoughts. Every member is important, regardless of title or office. Let us all help one another and be there when needed. Not only your own Grange, but others, which is the purpose of the idea of a “sister” Grange. We would open up a new world of cooperation and learn from others as they will learn from us. Fresh ideas and new faces will give us a new perspective on how we view things on the outside and a new routine. Communication is a big deal. Everyone should be on the same page and all members be notified of events, projects, and meetings. Granges are not “social clubs” and must follow the rules of being a Grange. The social clubs are only interested in using a hall for their events and ruin the reputation of the Grange. They are subject to be shut down. Advertising is big because who will attend our events if no one knows about them. Miscommunication or no communication brings confusion, misunderstandings and bad blood. It has destroyed many Granges over the years and still does today. No one person “owns ” their Grange or is entitled to “own” a specific project. So many times we have heard or seen this happen. No good comes from it. Selfishness has no place in our Granges. We are there for a purpose. What is yours?

On April 27 at the State Grange Headquarters, a Degree Day will be held beginning at 1 pm. The first four degrees will be performed so anyone who has new members who have not seen the degrees are encouraged to attend.

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

We will talk this month about helping gain membership from within, not just within our Granges but within ourselves. I become inspired at times when I hear something on television or something that someone said. I was wondering what I was going to write about this month until I watched a segment on getting rid of negativity and being good to your enemies. Then it hit me; there is much most of us can do to change our thoughts to not only make us feel good but mainly also others so that we can emit those positive energies to others to bring forth positive, happy results. How often have we known a brother or sister who churns up bad feelings and energies by being selfish, vindictive, and threatening to quit if they don’t get their own way or cannot get along with others? Over the years, we all have seen this, and it destroys our goals. Outsiders (potential members) notice this, and they remember.

Who wants to be a member of any organization where negativity thrives or is constant? I have, in the past, transferred to other Granges for that reason because I did not want to be a part of this negativity, and it was affecting me because I allowed it to consume me. I then began feeling down. Leaving was the only solution, as those Granges did not survive (those Granges are not around today).

Every once in a while, I get a feeling of “Why do I write these columns since I rarely get a response or feel that nobody is reading them.” This is a negative feeling that is quickly discarded. But then, I think it is my duty as a membership director to write these columns for the Good of the Order. It isn’t about me. It’s about the Grange and my brothers and sisters. It makes me feel good to be able to share helpful information with others and to see it work. I am contributing to the growth of the organization that has done so much for me and my growth and that is always a great feeling. If nobody reads the columns or answers my requests, I still feel positive feelings because there is potential, and I am happy to contribute positive thoughts, suggestions, and actions. To be an active participant in the growth of the Grange makes me feel rewarded and good, and it is my duty to pass these feelings on to others and to guide them.

The road is long but is filled with good lessons and results. Stop and smell the roses; don’t trample on them. Enjoy the walk down that long road; take in the beauty and learn about yourself as well as others. You and the Grange will reap many rewards once you reach your destinations. Imagine if we were all on the same page. Wow!!!

It isn’t difficult to get rid of these negative feelings if we remain in control and really think. We all want to be happy and we can be by following a few simple steps. First, don’t hang on to negativity. Don’t worry if someone doesn’t like us. Don’t worry about anything at all. Find a solution. Ignore the hurtful comments of others; they are hurting themselves, so don’t let it hurt you. It will make you stronger and more confident. Don’t think of getting back at them or trying to hurt them because nothing is gained, and much is lost. There is no winner here. Treat your “enemies” with kindness; They will soon get tired of harassing you because you aren’t playing their game. As the saying goes, “Kill them with kindness.” Listen to others. Instead of a negative response or action, tell them, “I didn’t think of it that way,” or respond in a manner that won’t cause hurt feelings. If you don’t agree, then ask, “Did you ever think of doing it this way?” or give them something to think about. Don’t call them stupid or laugh at their idea or respond negatively.

Second, don’t try to dominate or pout or threaten to quit if you don’t get your own way. You aren’t doing anyone or the Grange any good by acting this way. You might as well not be a member because you are doing much more harm than good. Work on the suggestions of others. Try to absorb what they are saying and be a part of it. “That won’t work” or “That’s a dumb idea” should never be said. How do you know it won’t work? Because it wasn’t your idea? Because you have had conflicts with the person in the past and want revenge? Do a turnaround in a positive light, show excitement and encouragement and support. Even if the project doesn’t work out to your expectations, then dwell on what went right and make improvements. Work together for the Good of the Order. I have seen this great turnabout happen in my own Grange. We listen to each other, we respect each other, we support each other, we work together. In a few short years, we have gained so much: a new well and septic, acceptance and being noticed in the community, and a great core of friends. It is a pleasure to go to meetings and everyone is excited about our next projects. We plan ahead and everyone’s say is welcome and incorporated into the plans. It is a great pleasure to see more community members, the school and the town officers support our projects. Do they also feel the positive vibes we emit when we talk Grange or when we are in their midst?

Third, the two most powerful words are THANK YOU. Always thank others for their help, whether it be members or the community. Be grateful for what you have and what you all have done. Make others feel good by sharing your good feelings. If you have a productive Grange meeting, thank others for the great meeting. Whether you are the leader or not, still say thank you to your brothers and sisters for being a part of that Grange, for their friendship and devotion, for the reasons you are feeling good. Share your good thoughts with them and make it a “win/win” situation every time. You and your Grange cannot fail from this. Remember, the more positive we think, the more positive energy we attract, then the results will be positive. The same goes for the opposite. Just stop and think. You know which of the above you want, so work toward it and make the world a better place. It will take some work, but it can be done.