Manchester Grange is now accepting vendor applications for the fall craft fair!
Saturday, October 24, 2026 8 am to 2 pm
Vendor tables available (8’ x 2.5’) First floor: $25 each or 2 for $45 Second floor: $20 each or 2 for $35
Dealer set-up: Friday, October 23rd 4-6 pm Saturday, October 24th 7-8 am
Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve a table, contact email Paige Tobie or call (617) 800-4564. Include name, brief description of goods, requested floor, and number of tables. Reservations are secured when contract and payment have been received. Contract available electronically at https://tinyurl.com/grangecraftfair2026. Payment accepted by checks payable to Manchester Grange #172, cash, or Venmo.
In what could be considered a comedy of errors, yesterday’s post regarding Saco Grange’s One Day Clothing Giveaway was released the incorrect date! The correct date is August 30, 2026.
The original post and event calendar have been fixed! We’re sorry for any confusion.
Saco Grange is located at 168 North Street in Saco, Maine.
August 22, 2026, Drive for Backpacks at Saco Grange #53 at 10 am. Collecting school supplies for children starting school. Various kids’ games and fun. Donations accepted. FMI: Contact Kathy at Treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com.
September 14, 2026 every Monday. Quilt Club meets at Saco Grange #53, 10 am to 2 pm. Join a fun group learning new techniques for quilting for various charities. $5 donation is appreciated. Call 207 831-5784, or email sacogrange53@gmail.com for more information.
September 26, 2026, Trading Card Show at Saco Grange #53, 168 North st, 9 am-2 pm. Sports, Pokémon, Magic & more. Contact sacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY to sign up for tables, or call 207-831-5784
October 10, 2026, Public Bean Supper at Saco Grange #53 from 4 pm to 6 pm. $10 pp. On the menu are homemade kidney and pea beans, brown bread, red & brown hot dogs, American chop suey, coleslaw, biscuits, pies, and hot and cold beverages. Don’t have time to stop? We do take out! FMI: call 207 831-5784 or sacogrange53@gmail.com.
October 11, 2026, Broomstick Making Class at Saco Grange #53 from 1 pm to 3 pm $40 pp, $10 deposit to reserve a spot. Make a broomstick to start the holidays. Contact sacogrange53@gmail.com or 207-831-5784 to reserve your spot. Please wear a witch hat and have some fun. Accepting donations for Caring Unlimited.
October 17, 2026, Harvest Fair at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am to 2 pm. Start your holiday shopping early with local crafter gifts & seasonal decor. Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY. Beware of scammers when signing up for tables. Collecting items for Thanksgiving baskets for veterans.
November 7, 2026, Public Bean Supper at Saco Grange #53 from 4 pm to 6 pm. $10 pp. On the menu are homemade kidney and pea beans, brown bread, red & brown hot dogs, American chop suey, coleslaw, biscuits, pies, and hot and cold beverages. Don’t have time to stop? We do take out! FMI call 207 831-5784 or sacogrange53@gmail.com.
November 14, 2026, Fall Fair at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am to 2 pm. Join in the festivities, discovering handmade gifts from local crafters and seasonal decor. Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY. Beware of scammers when signing up for tables. Collecting items for Thanksgiving baskets for veterans.
November 15, 2026, Fall Fair at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am to 2 pm. Join in the festivities, discovering handmade gifts from local crafters and seasonal decor. Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY. Beware of scammers when signing up for tables. Collecting items for Thanksgiving baskets for veterans.
December 12, 2026, Christmas Fair at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am to 2 pm. Join in the festivities, discovering handmade gifts from local crafters and seasonal decor. Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com ONLY. Beware of scammers when signing up for tables. Collecting gifts for Adopt a Senior.
December 12, 2026, Girls’ Night In at Saco Grange #53 at 5 pm. Come shop with a handful of amazing local vendors! No need to stress about cleaning your house—just gather your girlfriends and join us. Support a great cause: Toys for Tots Fundraiser – please bring an unwrapped toy to donate. Enjoy light refreshments and enter to win door prizes! Contact treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com FMI.
March 27, 2027, Easter Egg Hunt & Raffles at Saco Grange #53 starting at 10 am. Free, all ages. Have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny. Many Raffle items to raise funds for Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Do not need to be present for raffles to win. Rain or shine. FMI: call 207 831-5784 or treasuresacogrange53@gmail.com
May 22, 2027, Outdoor Plant Sale at Saco Grange #53 from 9 am until 11 am. Come buy local plants to support the greenhouses at Sweetser. FMI: call 207 831-5784 or sacogrange53@gmail.com.
Don’t forget! August 14 is the deadline for the Bulletin! Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Monroe Grange Store–National Grange Statement
The National Grange decided not to renew its licensing Agreement with Monroe Classic, Inc. upon its expiration on August 26, 2026. Monroe Classic, Inc. has since requested that we “cancel our license agreement now and not after expiration” as we proposed. This request has been accepted. Therefore, effective immediately, Monroe Classic, Inc. cannot represent that it is a licensed or authorized vendor of Grange merchandise. As before, any Grange may work with any vendor of their choosing (including Monroe Classic, Inc.) to create merchandise with Grange trademarks, names, logos, or other protected marks. If your vendor requires a letter of authorization to use our trademark, please contact the Communications Department.
Deadlines
Roster information is due NOW- actually, it’s overdue. Resolutions are due August 15, 2026.
Words for Thirds – Book Exchange Boxes
Are you getting ready for this year’s distribution? Are your BEBs and Little Free Libraries stocked for fall? It may be the end of summer, but it’s the beginning of the school year and learning.
“The tans will fade but the memories will last forever.”
Anonymous
An Idea for Your Grange
If you follow the Grange Fiscal Year and practice, this is a good time to dedicate a meeting to reviewing your accomplishments and planning your future.
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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 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. Updated January 16, 2026.
East Madison Grange is located at 15 Grange Road in East Madison
The East Madison Food Project giveaway day will be Friday, July 31st, from 10 am-11:30 am at the East Madison Grange. 1 box per family. Come early as supplies are limited. Doors open at 10 am. All are welcome!
This is not all-inclusive, just what has been submitted. Remember that many national and state contest deadlines happen in August.
First and Third Monday, 8 am – 10 am, Coffee Open House at Manchester Grange. Every Monday, 6 pm – 8 pm, Winthrop Grange offers free sewing classes. Every Monday, at 7 PM, St George Grange hosts Music Night. Enjoy live music, bring a musical instrument and play, or get up and sing. Every Monday, 10:30 am- 12:30 pm, Vassalboro Grange hosts Movement Mondays, a kid-friendly dance event. Email FMI Every Tuesday, 8:30 AM- 10:00 AM, Vassalboro Grange hosts Coffee on the Porch. Email FMI Every Saturday, 10 AM-4 PM, Kennebec Valley Grange hosts a flea market that fills two floors. Details here or call Diane Pinkham at 207 314-5135 FMI.
August 2, 2026, Pancake Breakfast at Vassalboro Grange,
August 7, 2026 East Madison Grange Open Mic Night at 7 pm. All musicians, poets and other performers are invited to perform.
August 8, 2026, Chewonki Owls of Maine at Vassalboro Grange, 8:00 am – 10:00 am.
a “webatorial” by MSG Communications Director Walter Boomsma
Seth Godin wrote an interesting post suggesting that when people move away, cards and cake should read, “You’ll miss us” instead of “We’ll miss you.” He points out that the community remains.
One of the more powerful sentences in the short post was, “When a marketer serves a community, they create the conditions where they’d be missed–because the ideas or products or services they bring are important, not simply tolerated.“
With apologies to Seth, I changed a word or two. “When a Grange serves a community, they create the conditions where they’d be missed–because the ideas or services they bring are important, not simply tolerated.“
My revision raises a question for Granges. Would your communities miss you if you were gone? Would they even notice? Are you important or simply tolerated?
One of the challenges we face as an organization is relevance in communities that are loosely defined and increasingly diverse. If our vision is narrow and our goals are limited, we will be missed by an ever-diminishing number of people. For example, not everyone likes potluck suppers.
Seth’s short message is that marketers should see a worthwhile goal of creating ideas, products, or services that the community would miss.
Maybe it’s time for Granges to figure out what they can create and offer that their communities would miss.
Members of the St. George Grange came up with the whimsical idea of having 17 local artists paint some of their vintage wooden chairs and chose Zero to School as the recipient of this CHAIR-ITY fundraiser auction. These ONE-OF-A-KIND works of art represent both the talent and generosity of these artists.
Check out the amazing chairs and the auction, and learn more about Zero to School! Bidding closes on July 19, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
During our Degree Day, someone commented that they wished more people could hear the words from the Degree Work. We continue to share them.
In the First Degree, the Overseer explains to the candidates:
“I greet these Sisters as worthy members of our Order. Man and woman are the educators of youth and co-students through life; therefore both must acquire knowledge and wisdom. Education adds the greatest charm to woman; it is a companion of which no misfortune can deprive her, a friend no enemy can alienate, an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. In this Degree—your Spring season in our Order—begin anew the acquisition of knowledge.”
Grange members are often rightfully proud of the early history of our order regarding women, pointing out that the Grange was the first fraternal organization to grant female members equal standing and the right to vote on Grange matters. It is significant that the Grange’s structure included leadership positions that could be held only by women.
When the Overseer greets the “sisters” (female candidates) during the First Degree, we can see that the greeting is actually not about women. It’s about education. In fact, after the initial greeting, the Overseer points out that both “Man and woman are the educators of youth and co-students through life” and “both must acquire knowledge and wisdom.” It’s a clear recognition of equality in opportunity and responsibility.
So why does the Overseer specifically address the sisters? It seems the Overseer is acknowledging the reality of the historical differences between men and women. In less formal language, “Sisters, the Grange is about improvement. Your place in the Grange and society includes a challenge to enjoy the opportunities and benefits of acquiring knowledge. If you read our Declaration of Purposes, you’ll see that an important one is ‘To champion full equality and leadership opportunities for women and youth, and to promote high ideals of citizenship.’ Historically, you may have been viewed as a companion. The Grange expects more of you and from you.”
That’s not a political statement, and there’s no need to make it so. Since the Declaration of Purposes mentions youth, the Overseer could just as easily be addressing them.
“I greet these youth as worthy members of our order. You must acquire knowledge and wisdom. Education is a companion of which no misfortune can deprive you, a friend no enemy can alienate, an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. In this Degree–your Spring season in our order–begin anew the acquisition of knowledge.”
Contemplation is difficult while experiencing the Degrees. When I’m acting as Overseer during a Degree Day, I’m always tempted to include, “Think about this,” with a forced pause. The only thing worse than not thinking (and learning; the Degrees are lessons) is pursuing a knee-jerk reaction.
Some will argue that the reference to sisters could be removed. The more important question is: should the reference be removed? When we think about it, maybe not. It actually makes sense and is kinda nice that the Overseer singles out the sisters for this lesson.
That doesn’t mean it’s a lesson limited to sisters. The Grange way of life works for all.
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://wboomsma.com,on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.
