Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.
Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!
For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.
Whether you’re from Maine or enjoying a Maine getaway, mark your calendar for this (wild) new Maine tradition. Tour wild blueberry farms, pick (and nibble) wild blueberries at select locations, or try a new-to-you wild blueberry dish or drink.
Wild Blueberry Weekend is happening this summer in Maine (rain or shine)—how wild you get is totally up to you. Be sure to map out your adventure online here.
Maine’s Open Farm Day is a statewide event started by Maine farmers and supporters in 1989. For more than 30 years, this premier agritourism event has been a way to raise awareness about farms and their importance to Maine. It is an opportunity to connect visitors to Maine farms so they may learn and see firsthand the care and effort to produce quality Maine farm products and ingredients year-round. Each site is different and offers visitors a chance to meet farmers and learn more about the role of farms across Maine.
Maine’s Open Farm Day allows visitors to explore host farms throughout the State on the fourth Sunday in July, rain or shine. Please visit RealMaine.com to learn more about this special invitation to see Maine agriculture where it happens, get tips for a good visit, and find a list of participating farms.
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 Margaret Henderson, Director Committee on Women’s Activities 207 948-2762
Committee on Women’s Activities
Wow! It doesn’t seem possible that this year is half over already!
I hope that many of you will be able to attend the CWA conference on August 24, 2024th at 9 am. The new booklet will include dates for next year’s events, new craft projects, and a few other changes.
The CWA committee met and discussed these things and all of us were in agreement on these things. We will talk about all of the changes at the conference. If you have any concerns, please plan to attend the conference.
I am looking forward to seeing all of the wonderful entries in the contests and to seeing many of you at the conference.
Please try to keep hydrated and stay cool in this humidity.
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!
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Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.
Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!
For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.
The Fourth of July – also known as Independence Day or July 4th – has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941; yet the tradition of Independence Day celebrations dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolutionary War.
On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Britain. Two days later, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.
The Declaration of Independence allowed Congress to seek alliances with foreign countries, and the fledgling U.S. formed its most important alliance early in 1778 with France. Without France’s support, America might well have lost the Revolutionary War.
The war waged by the American colonies against Britain, which began more than a year earlier in April 1775 at Lexington and Concord near Boston, would eventually end when British forces surrendered in Yorktown, Virginia. Yet the Declaration and America’s victory had far-reaching effects around the globe as other nations saw a small novel nation win its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.
From 1776 to today, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. This year’s Independence Day celebrating the nation’s 248th birthday will be on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter by Senator Stacey Guerin, Maine Senate District 4.
One of the Ten Commandments is to “Love our neighbor as ourselves.” I would like to think we all follow this commandment! Here is only one example
If someone is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him—how can God’s love be within him? Little children let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. Then we will know for sure. By our actions, that we are on God’s side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.
But if we have bad consciences and feel that we have done wrong, the Lord will surely feel it even more,*for he knows everything we do. But dearly loved friends, if our consciences are clear, we can come to the Lord with perfect assurance and trust, and get whatever we ask for because we are obeying him and doing the things that please him.
1 John 3:17-22 (The Living Bible)
I can think of a time when I could have helped someone out and chose not to. I certainly felt awful about it and wished I had it to do over again, but I don’t. So, I have asked for forgiveness and know that God has forgiven me. We can all learn a lesson from this.
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.
