(If you read news online, you are probably familiar with paywalls—but try it! I think BDN will allow a limited number of free reads. This article is definitely a very positive one that’s worth reading!)
I’ve always said, “It’s easier to make news than it is to write press releases!”
August 1, 2024, Grange Ag Enterprise Award Applications are due
August 2, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
August 2, 2024, Community Potluck Supper at Trenton Grange, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
August 3-4, 2024, Community Bazaar (crafts, farmers’ market, yard sale…) at Trenton Grange from 9 am until 2 pm both days. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
August 3 -5, 2024, Junior Grange Camp at Highland Lake Grange. Contact Director Betty Young for more information.
August 8, 2024, Blood Drive at Harraseeket Grange in Freeport, 12 – 5 pm.
August 9, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
August 10, 2024, St George Grange Community Supper at 5 pm. Adults $10, Children $5, under 10 free. For more information, see this post.
August 14, 2024, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
August 15, 2024, Resolutions are due at State Headquarters.
August 16, 2024, Mystic Valley Grange Open Meeting with light refreshments & entertainment. TIME CHANGE -Public Meeting 12 noon to 1:00 pm followed by Open House 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. in East Dixfield. Public invited. For more information, contact Nancy Farrington.
August 16, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
August 16, 2024, Senior Circle at Victor Grange in Fairfield. Potluck lunch at 11 am for Seniors to get together with others for socializing, networking and a game or two. Held the 3rd Friday monthly. FMI Deb 207-453-4844 or Sherri 207-815-0615. No Charge.
August 20, 2024, Drop off CWA Contest items at MSG Headquarters, 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
August 23, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
August 24, 2024, Subordinate and Pomona CWA Reports Due to State Director.
August 24, 2024, State CWA Conference begins at 9:00 a.m.
August 16, 2024, Mystic Valley Grange Open Meeting with light refreshments & entertainment. TIME CHANGE -Public Meeting 12 noon to 1:00 pm followed by Open House 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. in East Dixfield. Public invited. For more information, contact Nancy Farrington.
Senior Circle – a potluck for Seniors to get together with others for socializing, networking and a game or two. Held on the 3rd Friday of the month at 11 am. . FMI Deb 207-453-4844 or Sherri 207-815-0615. Victor Grange 144 Oakland Rd Fairfield Center. No Charge.
By Rick Grotton, Membership Committee Director 207 582-5915
This year is the 150th anniversary of the Maine State Grange and some of the earliest numbered Granges. What a wonderful way to attract new members! I have attended a couple of anniversary celebrations, which were well-received and provided much history. Let’s advertise this important event to the public through social media, television, radio, and newspapers or by holding open houses to invite the community to see your hall.
Plan a community celebration, contact your local PBS television station to attend, and advertise in the local newspaper. There are many, many people who would enjoy a walk through your history and how your Grange has survived for 150 years. News media thrives on such content and would be very interested in publishing your information. PBS has a show called “Maine Life,” which covers everything about day-to-day living in our beautiful state. They would surely be interested in televising the Grange anniversaries as they are a part of Maine life and have been for 150 years. This is a big chance to show off your successes and hard work and to educate others on how important Grange has been in Maine history and how it has affected the people of Maine. From Eliot to Presque Isle, from Fryeburg and Wilson’s Mills to Alexander and Perry and in between (especially along the entire coast), the Grange covered most of our State at one time. Even today, although we have fewer Granges, the traditions and rituals are mainly the same as 150 years ago, and some of these Granges are doing extremely well by being active and serving their communities. Our Halls signify a safe place for people to gather and were always considered the centerpiece or hotspot of rural communities.
Please continue to attract members as our future depends on it. Have fun!
Sometimes the question is more important than the answer!
A colleague who writes fiction posted a question in our writer’s forum. His forthcoming book includes a character who uses some bigoted slurs and language. The author was rightfully concerned about the effect the language might have on readers and how he should handle it.
Ironically, as I reviewed a website post on the same day, I faced the decision of whether or not to delete an adjective that, while not offensive, could be considered discriminatory.
Writing and editing are more art than science. This is one reason I don’t fear AI (artificial intelligence), but that would be a digression.
To my writing colleague, I suggested that we writers must not become so obsessed with the fear of offending someone that we forget the ultimate purpose of writing.
As an editor, I focus on the fact anything that appears on the website or in the Bulletin reflects on the Grange as an organization. Offending people is not in our best interest.
In both cases, there can be some hard decisions as we strive to find the delicate balance. The standard for a fictional novel will be different from the standard for publications representing an organization. And while communication, by its nature, is never perfectly done, we have to try to create understanding. “Free speech” does not equate to “irresponsible speech.”
Hopefully, editors exist to improve communication. Ultimately, it’s not an exact science because the reader contributes much to the process of the words used by the writer. If you’ve ever been misunderstood, you know what that means.
My intent here is not to start a political discussion but rather to create an awareness that society is increasingly sensitive to word choices. Writers and speakers do well to be considerate and can unintentionally cause problems when they are not.
Here’s a simple example. Have you noticed that when I refer to the head of a committee, I use the term “chair” instead of “chairman?” It’s just a simple example of “gender neutrality.” Another example from the news is changing “policemen” to “police officers.” Occupations are gender-neutral and should be referred to accordingly.
I can offer another example of how word choice can be important. This was actually a few years ago, before the heightened sensitivity. Someone only slightly familiar with the Grange explained, “When I see events listed, I assume a meeting is for members only, but a program can be attended by anyone.”
Isn’t that interesting?
“ I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant”
Alan Greenspan
With a little focus and by working together, we can decrease the chances of that happening.
► FACT: The third most visited post in the past seven days was the list of new members! People are hungry for good news from Granges!
Find the button representing how and where you want to share a post.
With all the great Grange events around the state this summer, we should be able to show our communities the opportunities the Grange offers and how successful our programs and events are!
You won’t earn cash, but you will get credit. Consider yourself appointed as a reporter for the Maine State Website.
Smartphone photos are welcome for posting. Send them by email to webmaster@mainestategrange.org. Include at least a few details–think of it as captioning your photo so we know what it’s about. Remember the “who, what, where, when” basics.
We’ll try to keep this simple but here are a few guidelines.
Photos of children require the written permission of a parent or guardian to publish. A form is available here. The fact that the child is with a parent is not sufficient.
Courtesy and respect are important! Even with adults, explain that you’d like the photo posted on the website.
One of the common rules of press/media photography is “no feet! When taking a posed photo of a group, move in close and try to shoot above the waist. Time permitting, we’ll crop and edit if needed.
Of course, written stories without photos work, too! We’re here to help! Send us what you have and we’ll write, edit, and let you know if we need additional information. Let’s show off the Grange!
The codfish lays ten thousand eggs, The homely hen lays one. The codfish never cackles To tell you what she's done. And so we scorn the codfish, While the humble hen we prize, Which only goes to show you That it pays to advertise.
July 5, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
July 5, 2024,Community Potluck Supper at Trenton Grange, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
July 6-7, 2024, Community Bazaar (crafts, farmers’ market, yard sale…) at Trenton Grange from 9 am until 2 pm both days. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
July 11, 2024, Blood Drive at Harraseeket Grange in Freeport, 12 – 5 pm.
July 12, 2024, Parkman Grange’s Minnie Bridge Scholarship Deadline. See this post.
July 12, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
July 13, 2024, Excelsior Grange Anniversary Celebration includes a yard sale, activities for kids, public supper, and contra dance! See this post.
July 13, 2024, St George Grange Community Supper at 5 pm. Adults $10, Children $5, under 10 free. For more information see this post.
July 14, 2024, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
July 19, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
July 19-21, 2024, NE Youth Conference in New York.
July 20, 2024, Jonesboro Grange Luau and Craft Show. For more information, see this post.
This is just too funny and too creative not to share! The USDA in Montana has developed a fun way to test the fertility and health of your soil. “Just bury a pair of cotton underwear around June and dig it back up after at least 60 days. It’s the quick and dirty way to test the microbial activity in your soil. The more the underwear is deteriorated, the healthier your soil!” Complete instructions are available here. There’s even a guide for judging the results.
I could see this adopted as a local Grange Promotion, with results being brought to the hall for judging. It would certainly be fun to create a certificate of accomplishment for the winner and a great way to generate curiosity about the Grange!
