Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
By Margaret Henderson, Director
Committee on Women’s Activities
207 948-2762
I hope some of you are starting to plan activities for next year. My Grange is planning to make lap robes for Veterans. I believe this will be a great project for us. I am sure there are many wonderful projects across the state that we can participate in.
I hope that you all will have a very Merry Christmas, enjoying time with your families and friends. Stay healthy and safe.
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
All the Mainers who attended the National Grange in November had a great time in Niagara Falls and were greeted with great weather. It was great to be reacquainted with friends from across the country who I haven’t seen in a few years. It was wonderful to find out that a number of State Granges had overall increases in net membership this past year! Maine can do the same if we focus and let people know we exist!! Thanks to those Maine Granges who did have net gains; keep up the great work!
Let’s make a group resolution for the upcoming year to increase our memberships. At State Grange in October, during the Memorial Service, the Grange was described as a four-story home with the Subordinate/Community Grange as the main floor with Pomona, State, and National as the upper floors, consecutively. Everyone enters the ground floor and climbs up to the upper floors, where more lessons await. Thus, without the ground floor, there would be no house. That is why it is important for us to bring in new members; if not, the house collapses. Our Grange “house” has existed for all of these years so repairs are needed and upgrades necessary. We have gone through periods of change, and more are needed today. Please be an integral part of our growth and continue to contribute as you have over the course of your membership. We all need to support one another to help keep our “house” sturdy and functioning. A little TLC (tender loving care) helps tremendously.
Over this holiday season, please reflect on how grateful we are in so many areas. How can we improve ourselves? How can we help others? How can we increase our Grange membership? What needs to be changed? All of these questions are vital and extremely important and require an answer. Let us get a head start and start to make resolutions for the new year so these questions can be answered.
The State Membership Committee wishes all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay safe, stay positive, and stay grateful.
By Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029
A quick reminder: Deputy School, scheduled for Dec 2 has been canceled. Your packets of information will be put in the mail next week. Thank you for your understanding.
We had 20 Grangers from Maine attend the National Grange Convention in Niagara Falls, NY, the week of Nov. 12th. It was a very busy seven days for all who attended. There were close to 600 Grangers registered, the most in recent years. 25 candidates received the 6th degree, and 150 took their 7th degree, again the largest class of candidates for quite some time. The Northeast Region hosting the convention did a tremendous job planning and carrying out the conference and activities. Debbie Ivers was Maine’s host coordinator. Thank you, and congratulations on a job well done.
Richard could not attend the convention due to a health issue just before we planned to leave. Since Maine is allowed two voting delegates, I asked Pete Ivers to fill in as delegate with no advance instructions or information on what is involved. Pete did an exceptional job being fully involved in the Grange work and participated in committee work, discussions, the resolution process on the floor, full elections, and all activities that were part of the session. I was very proud of his involvement. Congratulations, and thank you very much, Pete. There were a total of 134 resolutions presented for consideration by the seven committees of the delegate body. Pete was assigned to Labor, Judiciary, and Transportation, and I was assigned to the Citizenship and Taxation committee.
Workshops were presented on a variety of subjects, and new programs/partnerships were introduced. The National Grange is requesting e-mail addresses from the membership to provide program information to all. Please sign up for National Grange posts and newsletters. Full elections were held, with Chris Hamp (WA) being elected as the new President and John Benedict (NJ) as the newly elected Vice-President. Several other new officers were elected, and several remained the same. The full list was posted on the web. Thousands of socks were collected for a local mission as part of the regional community service project.
Jim Meserve was honored by the “Quilts of Valor,” receiving a beautiful quilt during the presentation ceremony.
Roberta, Rick, Jimmy, Judy, Tracy, and Bill helped out in the hospitality room and cleaned up at the end of the week. Thank all of you for being there. Sharon and Henry ran the National Grange store during the session, selling Grange jewelry, Grange socks, etc.. Great job.
Terry LaCombe Stevens and Betty Young, Co- co-junior directors, drove out bringing Carrie Coffin, Nicole Nickerson, and 5 Junior Grangers with them: Edith, Mary, John, Laura, and Sebastian, to participate in the Junior program and activities. It was great to have you there.
It was very exciting sitting in the audience and hearing a Grange or member from Maine having their name called to receive one of the many awards presented. Congratulations everyone. Items will be mailed to you. Maine received the following recognition awards:
Photography: Rebekah Hodgson, Jonesboro – 1st in “Grange Family”
Photography: Laurie McBurnie, Willow – 2nd in “Potluck Activity”
(each received a ribbon and a package of winning photo postcards)
Communications: National Grange Connector Award: Rebekah Hodgson, Jonesboro
Membership & Leadership Awards:
Honor Subordinate/ Community Granges for Net Gains:
Richard and I wish to send you, your families & friends a most wonderful Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Take care of yourselves; we care about all of you.
By Betty Young
Terry LaCombe
MSG Junior Co-Directors
The Maine State Junior Grange took the “Junior Grangemobile” which is a nine-passenger van, to National Grange in Niagara Falls. We apologize to our Navigation expert Caroline for having the middle hump seat both ways. She has the great Grange attitude and did not complain about it once. One mother wasn’t feeling well during the trip. We all brought food and snacks to share. They enjoyed many fun activities and events. Please find the list below. This is just a few of the many noted features.
We received the 2024 Junior and Youth National Grange Program Book. If you would like more information on how to become a Maine State Grange Junior or Youth, please contact us. This year’s Junior theme is CORN. The Youth age has changed and will roll out in the next 2 years. Current Youth ages 14 to 20 will remain the same, but Grange Youth Adult will be ages 21-30 until until November 2025. Starting November 2025, the age will be 21-25, over 25 should be stepping into the role of a Grange mentor as they make the transitions into full adulthood. The Grangemobile hopes to be able to attend the Legislative Experience in Washington DC, as this is such a fun way to learn our history, but we will have to wait and see when the Northeast Conference is going to be. We are trying to coordinate the Junior and Youth Conference at the same time as the Northeast Leadership Conference. Possibly, having our contest as entertainment. We all enjoyed the Northeast Youth Conferences (NEYC) in July. However, we are trying to reduce costs, work and for many conferences a reduction in attendance is an issue. Being in the summer, it was a fun opportunity for many Junior and Youth to attend NEYC camp.
Would your Grange like to host Junior Grange? We will visit you at your Grange and include you and your child or grandchild. Our next Maine State Junior Grange meeting will be December 16th at Danville Junction! The children will work on a Christmas or Holiday Craft.
Maine State Junior Grange may not be the largest, but we truly have the “BEST” group of kids. We hope the others who aren’t homeschooled have the opportunity to attend a National Event soon.
.
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!
The deadline for the printed Bulletin is December 14, 2023. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.
Once again, our family has lost another of our Past State Officers, Sister June Burke, Past State Lecturer (75 – 81) and Past Junior Deputy, who passed away on November 22. Her obituary may be found at www.edgerlyfh.com. Cards may be sent to :
The Burke Family
3 Milton Mills Rd
Lebanon, ME 04027
Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing! Thanks to the many who have submitted December Events. This is a busy Grange Month in Maine!
Our website monitoring program indicated an “outage” took place recently. Fortunately, it lasted less than ten minutes. Hopefully, these are rare, and they are almost always self-correcting. If you try to visit the site and can’t, wait a few minutes and try again! This shouldn’t happen more than once or twice a month!
For a copy of the Guide to National Grange Contests, click this link. Think twice before printing! It’s over 100 pages long!
We have the online directory and the print directory of officers, deputies, and directors. The print directory is available on Program Books and Information Page! Please let us know if you encounter any errors!
Similar to an Easter Egg hunt, how about sponsoring a Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt? All you need is a field or lot and a pile of candy canes. Invite participants to bring a flashlight and a bag or bucket to help collect the candy canes nestled throughout the field. Provide hot cocoa and cookies.
“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder
The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!
“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!
By Wilma Grenier, MSG Ag Director
(207) 437-2099
I have enjoyed my time as committee chairperson and want to thank the loyal members for their dedication over the past two years! Each member of the group has contributed in their special way! As I step down, I want to thank you all!
In 2023, five scholarships were awarded, and as they finish their first semester and turn in their proof of successful completion to Sharon at the office in January, they will receive their checks for $500. These students are:
Funds have been raised over $2,300 to replenish the fund due to the hard work of the volunteers at the Grange Store at Fryeburg Fair ($1,500), Committee volunteers at the MAITC Annual Meeting ($500), and raffles at the State Grange Session this fall. A big thank you to all the committee members who worked on these projects.
In closing, I would like to wish the new committee chair, Roberta Meserve, the very best of luck in the upcoming year! I am willing to remain on the committee if you would like, and look forward to helping with scholarships and judging at some fairs if still needed.
I know that Ag Trade Show is coming up on January 9 – 11. Sharon is working on
securing the booth. The scholarship applications go out to guidance councilors in January too. I can take on that job at the office if Roberta and Sherry wish.
Please let me know. So many thanks, everyone! As the air gets cooler, I am thinking about the holidays coming! All my best to you all and those you love!
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!
The November Bulletin is finished! Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.
We’ve had reports of members receiving a letter that appears to be from National Grange offering free life insurance from a company called “American Income Life Insurance Company.” This is a “legitimate” company, but the letter is suspect. With nearly everyone from National Grange at the National Convention, it may be difficult to confirm my suspicion, but I would be very cautious about responding to this letter. A little research shows that this insurance company receives nearly double the number of complaints as similar-sized companies.
Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing!
You may submit the names of new members so they can be recognized in Good Day! by emailing Philip Vonado or by calling (814) 404-7985.
For a summary, check this link.
We believe all updates are completed! The correct information is listed in the online directory, the print directory (a copy will be mailed with the Bulletin), on the Bulletin, and on the Program Books and Information Page! Phew! Please let us know if you encounter any errors!
If you read “View from the Farm” this month, Phil makes several interesting points. One is about individuals supporting CSA programs… for Granges with local farms in the area, there might be several opportunities here. Put your creative thinking hat on! Could your Grange sponsor a CSA or two? Could you offer your local farmers “advertising?”
“Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.”
George Bernard Shaw
The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!
“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!
By Melissa Baldwin, Maine State Grange Lecturer
207 324-4661
Adult Photo Contest Winners
Category: Animals
1st place: Paula Roberts – Willow Grange #366
2nd place: Terry LaCombe – Hudson Grange #457
3rd place: Kathy Gowen – Highland Lake Grange #87
Category: Gardens
1st place: Kathy Gowen – Highland Lake Grange #87
2nd place: Laurie McBurnie – Willow Grange #366
3rd place: Marilyn Stinson – Enterprise Grange #48
Category: Water
1st place: Kathy Gowen – Highland Lake Grange #87
2nd place: Laurie McBurnie – Willow Grange #366
3rd place: Norma Meserve – Danville Jct. Grange #65
Category: Winter
1st place: Norma Meserve – Danville Jct. #65
2nd place: Laurie McBurnie – Willow Grange #366
3rd place: Terry LaCombe – Hudson Grange #457
Best in Show: Paula Roberts – Willow Grange # 366
People’s Choice: Terry LaCombe – Hudson Grange #457
Adult Coloring Winners
1st place: Terry Wilson – Bangor Grange #372
2nd place: Tim Wilson – Bangor Grange #372
Junior Art
Age Group 5-7:
1st place: Laura Coffin
Age Group 8 – 10
1st place: John Coffin
2nd place: Mary Coffin
Age Group 11 – 14
1st place Edith Coffin
The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330. The email address is mainestategrange@gmail.com.
I have written previously challenging members to realize that the Grange was created to create change. In fact, it could be said that the Grange has a history and tradition of causing change.
But what about changing the Grange itself?
We tend to see a bit of a disconnect here. For an organization that was formed to cause change, we tend to resist changing the organization itself. That wasn’t always the case. During the Grange’s growth years, many changes were made. So how is it that these years, when growth is the exception, we seem to be more focused on preservation? Could there be a correlation?
For starters, in order for change to take place, someone has to decide it’s their responsibility to worry about whether or not the change is necessary and potentially positive. One of the changes to consider is whether or not we’ve been too protective of the status quo and keeping things the way they’ve always been. No, I’m not suggesting change for the sake of change, but I am suggesting that it might be time for an organization with success in growth and permanence based in large part on change to consider how we’ve ended up with so much resistance to change.
While this article isn’t about change management, a basic premise is that change requires leadership. As noted, “someone has to decide it’s their responsibility.” We tend to think that the Grange was founded “all it once” when, in fact, many changes were made by the founders and early leaders during those formative years.
What if those leaders resisted making the necessary changes to create the explosive growth of the earliest Grange? We might, for example, still have separate degrees for men and women. It would also be very difficult for those associated with the business of alcohol to become part of the Grange. There would be no “National Grange,” the official “Patrons of Husbandry” would apply (technically, it still does) and the term “Grange” would more accurately apply to local halls.
There were undoubtedly some thorny debates many years ago. One was about adopting the term “Granger” to apply to members. Many argued against it. “The Grange is a place, not a person!” I suspect it would have been extremely interesting to sit in Grange meetings and listen to some of those discussions.
One problem with a fraternal organization is that it’s easy to become a bystander and simply enjoy the fraternity. It’s harder to become a leader who sees and acts on other priorities, such as keeping the organization relevant and exciting. A fraternity without clear purpose and relevance is ultimately doomed to non-existence.
It won’t be a debate, but this might be a great time of year for a lecturer’s program that includes a discussion of how much a family’s holiday traditions have changed over the years. Then, contrast that with how much your local Grange’s traditions have changed over the years. Or perhaps more appropriately, how much your local Grange’s traditions need to change.
When I was a young adult, everyone gathered at “Mom’s” house for at least part of the holiday. Mom made sure there was a filled stocking hanging on the wall for everyone–even the occasional girlfriends of the unmarried. (Sometimes, names on the stockings had to be switched at the last minute.) As the family grew, it became increasingly difficult to find room to hang them. She held out as long as she could but eventually admitted it was time to rethink that tradition. Truthfully, I think she was ready for a couple of years, but it took a while for her to work up the courage to announce the change. She’d been dropping some hints, and no doubt would have been thrilled if someone else had suggested it. It’s easier to be a bystander than a leader.
It’s easy to leave things as they are, but things rarely stay the way they are, especially when left alone. Other forces are at work. Mom’s Christmas budget was certainly a factor. It was a fun tradition, but I think she enjoyed it the most.
We survived the change. The family wasn’t destroyed, and no one suffered permanent psychological damage from not finding a stocking. Most importantly, we almost unconsciously realized that the stocking tradition was ultimately about inclusion. We didn’t need stockings to make everyone feel welcome to the holiday celebrations.
Sometimes, we lose sight of what we are actually trying to keep.
Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-sixth edition of the 2013 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.