Tag: Grange Advocacy

Flying Our Flag

In response to a request during the state session, we have researched and are providing the information below. Note this information will also appear permanently at the very top of the Program Books and Information Page. Special thanks go to John Lowry of Porter Grange and Vicki Huff of Hollis Grange for their help!

How we display the flag communicates! The image to the left indicates recent state proclamations regarding flying the flag at half-staff. The image to the right indicates current federal proclamations.

This is a link to a guide to the Federal Law regarding displaying the Americal Flag: US Flag Code.

To sign up for email alerts advising when to fly your flag at half-mast, visit Half Staff American Flag

Learn more from the Department of Veterans Affairs about the rules and traditions for flying the flag at half-staff 

How to Sponsor Garden Tours in your Community

Resources for Granges

produced by the
Maine State Grange Communications Department

While searching for ideas to promote agriculture, the Maine State Grange Farmers’ Initiative discovered that Victor Grange #49 in Fairfield had a jump on us by several years. We asked Barbara Bailey from Victor Grange in Fairfield Maine to share her energy, tips, and success stories they experienced.

Barbara also put together a resource booklet containing planning information, tips, and samples of the material they have used. The booklet also includes Barb’s contact information–she would love to help your Grange set up a similar tour!

Download the Tour Resource Booklet
Visit the Victor Grange Facebook Page

Check out:

  • More Resources for Granges — Program Information and Inspiration
  • Maine Grange Farmers’ Initiative — Information about the Initiative
  • Program Books and Information –Information arranged by committee and topic.

New Paths to Blaze

Webmaster’s Note: Larry Bailey, Master of Ocean View Grange in Martinsville, said it would be okay to share his recent message to the Ocean View members. He could have written this to Grangers everywhere! When he replied to my request, he added, “…The examples of what other Granges are doing is very helpful, instructive, and energizes me. I know we can do more and I know that doing so improves our community and ourselves. It is, perhaps, selfish but, I get great self-satisfaction from cleaning up a local road, giving an award to deserving citizens, providing free meals to veterans, paying heat bills for those who need it, placing flags on the graves of our servicemen, and the other things we do at Ocean View.” Congratulations to Larry and Ocean View Grange for exploring tradition and new directions!

The words from the Exploring Traditions Column are for you to think about. I believe we need a new round of Grange fever. Most of us have been Grangers for several years and have seen our energy and enthusiasm slow down. It is not rare that this pattern takes over after a period of time.  I think new ideas and new directions are what we need. Those of us who joined and worked so hard to save the Grange still have that feeling that the Grange needs us and all our members. I can’t tell you what new ideas and directions we need to follow but our members are creative enough to come up with some ideas. I think we will be back in full action after the end of the year and hope we can start anew with excitement, energy, and determination. I am going to give it my best effort and hope each of you will too.  When thinking about what new paths we can blaze, I hope you still realize that we are not in the Grange to make money from our activities. We are an organization dedicated to helping our community, friends, and neighbors in any way we can. Yes, it takes money to do a lot of what we do but more importantly, much can be done with neighborly effort alone.

Oh, and by the way… Larry and I both ordered some cheese from Goot Essa!
WB

Exploring Traditions and Connections

Here you can watch and listen to the discussion between National Grange Communications Director Amanda Brozana Rio and author Walter Boomsma as they explore some of the topics from the book and what they mean to Grangers and Granges today–especially during the current pandemic.

Walter’s book is available from