Grange Communication – Page 7 – Maine State Grange

Communications Column – May 2024

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Our April Column discussed “boosting” the Grange. One obvious way of doing that is to promote your events thoroughly. Since I’ve recently had some questions about posting events on the website and in the calendar, let’s continue the theme!

When you submit information about an event…

For example, the deadline for the May Bulletin was May 14^th. As long as space permits, I include the entire website calendar (the following month [June] through December) in that (and every) Bulletin. I usually complete the Bulletin a day or two after the deadline and post the PDF on the website. I also send it to MSG Headquarters for them to print and snail mail a copy to all Subordinate Grange Secretaries. The way the local secretary handles it is very individualistic. Many bring it to their next meeting. That’s where it gets tricky. Using Valley Grange as an example, we’ll be meeting on June 19^th, so you can see how most of the June events in that Bulletin will be over by the time it reaches some people.

For the website, I usually post events within 24-48 hours of receiving them. I probably should note that we don’t post “regular” meetings. I love to create an individual post for events when there’s sufficient information. If you use the submission form on the website, it prompts you for what to include. If sending an email is easier, by all means do so—if you send an email, you can attach a copy of any flyers or other visuals. Visuals help me create an actual post for the event!

Once your event is posted on the MSG Website, it’s easy-peasy to share that post to Facebook–or lots of other places! Go to the bottom of the post and click the button!

Find the button representing how and where you want to share a post.

Hopefully, this shows the value of posting your events to the website:

Your event information is posted and available almost immediately after submitting it;
Your event may include illustration–for example, we have standard logos for events such as public suppers and yard sales;
Your event information is easily discovered by people searching for Grange activities;
Your event is easily shared by anyone on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc.;
Your repeating events are listed as such on the MSG Event Calendar;
Your event gets statewide and national exposure.

To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.
Leonard Bernstein

Tell us why you love the grange

Submit an Event or News

► FACT: So far this year, nearly 3,000 people have visited the MSG Website!

The Patrons Chain 5-10-2024

Articles in this edition include:

Massachusetts Agriculture in Action Expo Showcased State’s Vibrant Farming Community
Member Satisfaction Survey
Presidential Prompt
National Convention Registration is Open
Grange’s Affordable Connectivity Program grant effort ends
Coming Soon… Grange Today!
Programming Notes
Analysis: The Myth of Rural Voters’ Power in the House of Representatives
Register for the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference
Grange Supply Store: Emblem Patches
Grange Member Benefit: Nationwide Pet Insurance

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to the Patrons Chain!

Read THE Current Issue

Subscribe to Patrons Chain

Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. Occasionally, a weekly issue isn’t sent. For example, the last Friday of the month is usually a View from the Hill week, so the fact that one hasn’t been posted on the MSG website doesn’t necessarily mean we skipped it! You can double-check using the link (Read the Current Issue) above. Effective 2024, we will only maintain one year of issues on the MSG website.

President’s Perspective – May 2024

By Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029

WELCOME to our 37 new members who received their degrees at last month’s Degree Days. The first held at North Scarborough Grange conferring all four degrees on ten candidates from North Scarborough, Deering, St. George, Hollis and White Rock. Thank you, officers from Cumberland and Androscoggin Pomonas for filling the chairs, nice job everyone. Thank you, Yvonne Johnson for putting things together. The second held on Maine State Grange’s 150^th Anniversary April 21 at the State Grange Home in Augusta. Candidates were from Danville Junction, Excelsior, Mill Stream, Farmington, Androscoggin, Cambridge Valley, St. George, Victor, and Merriconeag. Thank you to the officers from Androscoggin and Cumberland Pomonas for taking the office parts, super job everyone. Thank you to Maynard Chapman, Chief Deputy for getting things organized. Thank you to the folks who attended the two meetings just to view the Degrees.

Reminder dates:
June 1, 2024 Maine State Grange Yard Sale at Manchester Grange
June 21 -23, 2024 North East Lecturers Conference hosted in Norwich, Connecticut

RESOLUTIONS are due to the State Grange office by August 15 — email or standard mail.

MAINE STATE GRANGE ANNUAL SESSION dates set for October 18 and 19 at the Auburn Masonic Lodge in Auburn. Details coming out soon.

PROCEDURE FOR ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Maine still uses paper ballots for each officer and should be held in June. The committees are named by the elected Master ASAP after elections.

The Master will appoint tellers to count the ballots.
Master will say: “The Chair awaits presentations of names for the office of…..” and will repeat the name presented and ask, “Are there any others?,” asking a total of three times, repeating the list of names for that office each time. A person may decline or withdraw their name for the office, if they wish to, at the time their name is presented and does not have to give a reason for declining.
The Master will repeat the names and say “You will prepare your ballots for the office of ….” After a brief pause, the Master will instruct the Assistants to collect the ballots and may excuse the Assistants from carrying their staves. You do not have to ballot if you do not wish to. If you want to cast your ballot, but do not want to vote for one of those names presented or any other name, you must write the word “Blank” on the ballot to be counted in the total.
After the Assistants have collected the ballots, the Master will declare the ballot closed. The ballot is then given to the tellers and the Assistants return to their seats.
The tellers will count the ballots and make the report to the Master.
The final choice is announced by the Master, “By your ballot, you have elected ___________ to the office of ____________.” and the results are recorded. Once a majority has been reached, the Master will ask the person “Brother or Sister ____________, do you accept the office of ______________. If they decline or if there is no majority of the ballots cast, the Master will say, “Since we have no majority, you will prepare your ballot for the office of _____________,” repeating all names listed. You will proceed to ballot once again on the same office until a majority is reached. The ballots are then thrown away after the result is given by the Master. The same procedure is followed for each office.
Upon completion of the election, the tellers are excused with thanks.
After the election of the Subordinate or Pomona Grange, the Secretary will provide Roster info for the meeting day and time, the Grange address, and name, address, phone & email for the Master, Lecturer, Secretary & CWA Chairman to the State Grange as soon as possible.

The Patrons Chain 5-3-2024

Articles in this edition include:

Western Region Leaders’ Conference is #GrangeStrong
Member Satisfaction Survey
National Convention Registration is Open
Tonight: Fellowship First Friday
May Grange Heirloom
Coming Soon… Grange Today!
Rural Minds Webinar: Managing Tardive Dyskinesia in Rural America
Grange Hall Podcast: Episode 1
Grange Supply Store: Good Day! magazine
Grange Member Benefit: Lenovo

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to the Patrons Chain!

Read THE Current Issue

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Fairview Grange Success!

Fourteen new members were welcomed to the fold

Fairview Grange in Smithfield recently held a wildly successful open meeting with 42 townspeople attending. Master/president Rick Watson said it was exciting to see that the Grange is important to the community adding, “We discussed expectations, wants and needs along with how the Grange can serve as a community or event center and the collaborative relationship with The North Pond Association. These three groups with different needs can work together to benefit the community.”

Twelve people joined the Grange immediately following the meeting and two more have since decided to join!

The labors of the day are not complete in Smithfield!

Rick also expressed thanks to all who attended, helped set up, or tore down, and especially to those who joined. In addition, he gave a shout-out to Kings Restaurant up the street for sending some desserts and a thank you to the Grange ladies who baked. “You’ll never go home hungry from a Grange meeting,” he pledged.

Those who attended the meeting completed questionnaires asking for input regarding ideas for Grange events and programs and an inventory of the types of activities people would be willing to help with!

Fairview Grange meets next on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 6:30 pm. Visit the Fairview Grange Facebook Page for more information! Fairview Grange is located at 826 Village Road in Smithfield Maine.

Communication Shorts 04-30-2024

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!

May Bulletin Coming soon!

The deadline for the May Bulletin is Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Keep those cards and letters coming in! You can find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

This Might Be Ironic

A recent “Word of the Day” in The Dictionary Project Newsletter was hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. No, it’s not a fear of hippotamus. It’s a fear of long words!

Katherine Rhoda Concerts

You may have received an offer from Katherine to perform a Grange-themed concert at your location. For those planning an anniversary celebration or open house, this could be a good fit! For more information, contact Katherine through her website.

Consider this Idea!

There appears to be a growing trend towards informal social events. For example, in Abbot a group of people meet weekly to play board and card games. There’s not a lot structure and work involved. Sometimes, the best ideas are the simplest.

Under Consideration – Online Grange Directory

We are considering a change to the online Grange Directory. Instead of listing one contact, we may include two: the master and the secretary. This will double the odds of interested people reaching someone and getting a response. If you have any thoughts about this, let me know!

Submit News! Be “famous”

Submitting news can be as simple as a photo and “cutline.” A cutline is a brief description–longer than a caption–to accompany the photo. Let’s prove that the Grange is alive and well in Maine! (Photos should be submitted as an attachment to an email.) We get inquiries from people looking for active Granges!

Online Directories Available 24-7

The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!

Another Scam Alert!

I’m still working on this one… an email came through the website containing the following:

I am having my party in May, I want it to be held at your venue, with 50 guests invited. I’m flexible with the date. Before we proceed with our request, please
answer the following question below;

Do you accept credit cards or check payment?
Can you work with our official band performing for the event regarding payment to them?

Those with a dose of caution will immediately note several red flags:

No venue is given–where do they intend to have it?
No information is offered about the host or the nature of the party.
The only questions are regarding payment. No questions regarding the facilities?
While I didn’t include it, the end of the email suggested urgency due to the fast-approaching date.

Mostly out of curiosity, I replied to the email requesting more information, noting that the Grange does not assume financial responsibility for providers at events. I’ll be surprised if I hear from “Kirk” again.

I’ve shared this to alert Granges who are renting their halls to be cautious when making financial arrangements. Doing your diligence is the mark of a good steward!

View from the Hill – April 2024

This monthly newsletter written by Burton Eller, National Grange Legislative Director, covers “what’s happening” in Washington on various topics of interest to Grangers.

View Updates

The Patrons Chain 4-19-2024

Articles in this edition include:

Two Grange members seated on national advisory groups
Using the Reaching Rural Surgical Seniors program
Introducing The Grange Hall podcast
Middle Branch Grange seeks support after fire
Join the Lecturer’s Forum
Save the Date: Registration Opens May 1
Climate change is shifting how and when we prepare our gardens
SHIPmates applications open for second class
Be part of the Grange Story – apply for the Communication Fellows
Grange Supply Store: People, Pride & Progress
Grange Member Benefit: Lenovo

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to the Patrons Chain!

Read THE Current Issue

Subscribe to Patrons Chain

Communication Shorts 04-16-2024

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!

April Bulletin Available

The April Bulletin is now available for downloading and printing! You can find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Staying Safe

Just another reminder not to automatically respond to email or text messages that “don’t sound right.”

National 9-1-1 Education Month

April is being observed as National 9-1-1 Education Month, an observance designed to ensure that the public is ready to access help during emergencies.

NHTSA: National 911 Program and Know 911

This is also an excellent time to make sure you know the 911 address for your Grange Hall–it’s usually also the GPS address. Post in around the hall so if there’s an emergency, you can provide it to the dispatcher!