Vote as if it matters.
Because it does!
“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”
Abraham Lincoln
Today’s Your Day!
President’s Perspective – November 2025
Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029
We had a very busy schedule at our 151st State Grange Session, which 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. Thank you to all those special helpers and workers for your assistance, whether a large part or a small piece of the work, I personally appreciate every one of you. I would like to hear your comments and/or suggestions about State Session – schedule, facilities, location, banquet or any other comment you care to make. Send to my email address.
We welcomed Kathy Gibson, Lady Assistant Steward of the National Grange, who gave us inspiring words of wisdom and also taught us “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in sign language, we all managed to get through the entire song in rounds. Some of our “boats” didn’t “row” as good as others. Kathy’s enthusiasm is definitely contagious. Brother Glenn Gibson, Executive Committee Member & Past Master of the Massachusetts State Grange and Amanda Gibson, Communications Dir of the MA State Grange both enjoyed being with us also.
A heartfelt Memorial Service was presented. Resolution work started and continued on Saturday with much discussion on each. A wonderful banquet was shared, and the various Committees presented many awards. We held a full election of officers with most of us being re-elected, thank you for your confidence in me. I am pleased to welcome our new officers, Judy Meserve as Ceres, Tracey Small as Pomona, and Dale Holst to the Executive Committee for a four-year term. I want to express my appreciation to our retiring officers Betty Huff, Ceres; Kathy Gowen, Pomona and Jim Owens from the Executive Committee for their dedication and years of service to the Manie State Grange. We welcomed five new State Grange members who received the 6th degree on Saturday afternoon. Vicki Huff installed our officers in an impressive manner. Thank you!
The new Department Program Books and Annual Reports were given to the Delegates for your Grange. If you did not have delegates at the 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 me, 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. We need to promote these scholarships and awards in our communities; each is a wonderful opportunity for our young folks. Grange Enterprise Award (formerly Farm Family) information with the application can be found on the web too or requested.
I hope to get the 2026 Roster done in the near future. Do I have your most current information? I know I have only about 2/3 of them. Welcome to our new Subordinate and Pomona Masters/Presidents, Lecturers, Secretaries and Committee people. There have been a few changes to Deputies and Committees. Several of our dedicated Deputies have retired after long years of service on behalf of the Maine State Grange. I want to THANK each of them, Maynard Chapman as Chief Deputy, David Gowen, Basil Mosher, Harriet Spencer, Holly & Burt Welch, and Phil Parsons. I know I keep repeating myself with the thank-yous. Still, it is well deserved, heartfelt and important especially to me to do so.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Hug your family and friends. Help someone every day.
2025-26 State Officers
Middle: Roberta Meserve, LAS; Christine Hebert, C; Carolyn Van Horn, EC; Linda Cobb, Mus; Pete Ivers, GK
Back: Laurie McBurnie, T; Rick Grotton, AS; Ben Edgerly, S; Jim Meserve EC
Absent: Mike Griffin, Overseer, Dale Holst, Executive Committee
Don’t Forget Your Clock!
Daylight Saving Time ends tomorrow morning. No, you really don’t have to stay awake and do it at 2:00 a.m. We could probably have a lot of fun with the question of whether it ends at 2:00 a.m. before or after you change it.
Some people change their clocks before retiring; some wait until the next morning. Some make the change to habits gradually, although that seems potentially confusing, and besides, it’s too late this time.
There’s at least one story suggesting that the idea for the twice-yearly time change came from someone who had a blanket that was too short, so he cut some off one end and sewed it onto the other.
It’s also a good time to check/change the batteries in your smoke detectors. You can do that during the extra hour you’re getting!
Communication Shorts 10-29-2025
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
Deadline for the November Bulletin is November 14th. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Belated Greetings from the National President
Through what might be seen as a comedy of errors, we missed posting a Maine-specific video of greetings to our State Session from National President Chris Hamp. We’ve now added it to the 151st Session page — you can watch it there or on YouTube by clicking this link.
Bangor Savings Bank PB&J Drive
If you or your Grange were proud participants in the Bangor Savings recent drive collecting PB&J for food banks, you should know! BSB announced that this year’s collection resulted in over 39,000 jars! They estimate that since the program began in 2012, they’ve collected and distributed more than 185,000 jars. That’s enough to make over 3 million PB&J Sandwiches!
Craft Shows
It’s that time of year! In case you missed it, we’ve created a Grange Craft Show Logo or Icon. It will be beneficial when we receive announcements of craft shows that do not include a photo or flyer and help create a sense of “branding” of Grange Craft shows. Feel free to use it! And remember to get your craft show listed on the website, where it will be seen across the state and beyond.
Website Subscribers Sought and Found!
We added 14 website subscribers during the State Session. “Inquiring minds want to know!” We’ve also been getting more since then. Here’s a form you can print (there are two per page) to post and hand out to your members and guests to help keep them in the know! 2025 FOMO Subscriber Form.
Don’t Shoot the Piano Player!
He’s playing as fast as he can! We’re still catching up with results and information from State Session.
Think About This! CHANGE
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie
An Idea for Your Grange
Before you get overwhelmed with the holidays, it’s a great time to review the status of your future projects, such as Words for Thirds and your Book Exchange Box.
Subscribe!
Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members and Grange friends!
Online Directories Available 24-7
Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes! The officer portion of the ODD Directory should now be accurate. Deputies and Directors are being updated.
- 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 frequently consult these directories.
- The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information.
Grange Today! 10-24-2025
Articles in this edition include:
- National Grange President to Join National Panel on Rural Women’s Health
- Prepare to celebrate National Rural Health Day
- Save the Date: National Grange Honors Night
- National Ag in the Classroom Grants and Scholarships Cycle Open
- Grange Member Benefit: SingleCare / GoodRx
- View from the Hill
- Home Fire Prevention Tips
- We need Red, White, and YOU!
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Grange Store: #GrangeStrong Socks & 60-year membership pin
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
Shaking Hands with FFA
The Grange and FFA share many things in common and that means we have an opportunity to help each other. FFA member Delaney McKeen joined us to explore!
An interview with FFA member Delaney McKeen exploring some comparisons between it and the Grange. It’s not trite to say that “this is not your grandparents’ FFA.” You’ll be surprised at how and why the FFA continues to grow and develop–and in some ways, Granges and other organizations can both benefit and help.
Due to a bit of a snafu, this video truly features Delaney–my portions were not captured visually. I assure you I was there virtually! For more information, visit the FFA website or send us an email, and we’ll give you a hand.
State Officer Elections
Delegates to the 151st Annual Maine State Grange Convention had a busy few days and a lot of work to do! We’ll be sharing a few highlights. For some, even more work starts now. We’ll be updating directories, but we can at least share this list of officers elected.
- Master/President, Sherry Harriman
- Overseer, Adrian Mike Griffin
- Lecturer, Melissa Baldwin
- Steward, Ben Edgerly
- Assistant Steward, Rick Grotton
- Last Assistant Steward, Roberta Meserve
- Chaplain, Christine Hebert
- Treasurer, Laurie McBurnie
- Secretary, Sharon Morton
- Gatekeeper, Peter Ivers
- Ceres, Judy Meserve
- Pomona, Tracey Small
- Flora, Debra Ivers
- Executive Committee, Dale Holst (3 year term)
Appointments will be updated and shared as they are made and confirmed.
151st State Convention Opens Today
This year’s convention opens at 11 am! Since most officers, directors, and deputies will be in attendance, communication may be challenging. In website terms, we’ll be checking email as time permits, and you can expect a reply within 24 hours. That’s always our goal, and we usually beat it!
Thanks for your patience and understanding! For information about the convention, check this page.
Grange Libraries Take Different Forms
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director
Did you know that for many years, Granges often maintained a library of books available to members? I suspect some still do! Well, here are some ideas that will drive traffic to your Grange Hall and, more importantly, make your Grange more relevant to your community.
Little Fee Libraries (LFL)
The first is inspired by Caroline Heck, Junior Granger from Mill Stream Grange #574. Caroline is working on her Girl Scout Silver Award to raise awareness of the importance of childhood literacy. Her project includes building and placing a Little Fee Library™ (LFL) at the Grange and informing the community of the importance of access to books in early childhood. Master Jill Sampson is her Project Advisor. She has already collected 203 books, a mix of board books, picture books, early chapter books, and middle-grade novels, all donated by the local community. She’s scouted a location at the hall for placement: out front at the edge of the flower bed where it meets the parking lot, so it will be safe from the plow but always accessible.
Book Exchange Boxes (BEB)
Ocean View Grange in Port Clyde went from an idea to completion quickly. The idea came from someone who has a bit of a hobby of filling area libraries, and she suggested the Grange would make a great location! The idea truly took on a life of its own. Interestingly, much of the work that went into the project was completed by folks who are not Grange members. Yet. The entire project was accomplished from start to finish in a matter of weeks!
(Just to clarify, an outside library cannot be considered an LFL until registered and assigned someone–a steward–to monitor and maintain the box.)
Granges in Maine Book Exchange Program
Several other Granges have different programs and approaches, and the MSG Communications Department wants to help! We’re pleased to announce that we’ve created a BEB Resource Section on the website for Granges who are interested in or operating a Book Exchange Program.
The section includes more information on creating a Little Fee Library™ or Book Exchange Box, a comprehensive list of potential sources of free books, document templates… it will always be under construction, so please share your ideas and experiences. And let us know how we can help!