Tag: Grange Procedure

Communication Shorts 3-30-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

April Bulletin Coming Soon!

The April Bulletin deadline is April 14, 2025. Submit those posts and columns now! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Scholarships Are a Hot Item

Our scholarship page continues to get hit pretty hard! One reason might be that we’ve arranged for the Ag Scholarships to be listed on the FFA (Future Farmers Association) website!

990 Filing Scams

In the most recent issue of Grange Today! The Connecticut State Master alerted us to scams relative to filing 990s. This is most often handled by State Secretaries, and any questions and concerns should be addressed to MaineStateGrange@my fairpoint.net.

Degree Day, April 27, 2025

Have you made your arrangements? Don’t forget to work with Maynard Chapman (207) 312-5591 if you have questions or are bringing candidates.

State Convention, October 17-18, 2025

A very preliminary page of information is now available on the website….it includes location and general information. This page will grow as additional information becomes available!

Consider this Idea!

Are you thinking of spring cleaning? Would the community help with raking and landscaping? Make it a party! Don’t forget to make sure your 911 address number is visible. It’s also to list some emergency contact phone number, usually with a card in the window of the door.

Think about this!

“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.”

 Albert Einstein

Online Directories Available 24-7

  • 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 consult these directories often.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.

Fifth Degree Offered in Richmond

Sagadahoc Pomona will have our annual Fifth Degree at Enterprise Grange #48, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, with a potluck supper at 6:00 pm and a meeting at 7:00 pm. Candidates from other Pomonas are welcome. Please bring your entry form signed by your master or secretary. For more information, contact Marilyn Stinson at 207-737-2611 or marilynstinson41@gmail.com. Enterprise Grange is located at 15 Alexander Reed Road in Richmond, Maine.

Communication Shorts 3-16-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

March Bulletin Available!

The March Bulletin deadline is now available. Submit those posts and columns now! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

National Grange Contest Updates

In a recent issue of Grange Today! (see page 8), National Grange announced a number of changes to contests, including some that are dropped altogether. Directors and Chairs in Maine will be reviewing these to see what impact there might be on Maine Contests.

Degree Day, April 27, 2025

It is possible that a few flyers/posters were distributed with an incorrect start time! The correct start time is 1:00 p.m. Sorry for any inconvenience!

State Convention, October 17-18, 2025

You should know that it became necessary to change the dates for MSG State Session due to conflicting events at UMaine. Make sure your calendars are correct!

Consider this Idea!

How about a “swap meet?” These are gaining popularity–in simplest form, they are topical with an opportunity for like-minded folks to exchange excess supplies. Use your imagination: craft and sewing supplies, gardening things, music and instruments…

Think about this!

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!'”

 Robin Williams

Online Directories Available 24-7

  • 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 consult these directories often.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.

Maine Maple Sunday

March 23, 2025

Reprinted with permission from an enewsletter published by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin.

The Maine Maple Producers Association has announced the 42nd annual Maine Maple Sunday weekend. Set for March 22-23, sugar houses across the state will offer events, games, activities, sugarbush tours, music and much more. 

Over 100 sugar houses, farms and orchards are participating in this year’s Maple Sunday weekend at locations across the state. This is a great way to celebrate our Maine maple producers while enjoying a sweet treat!

Some locations will be open for activities on both Saturday and Sunday, while others will only be open one day, so be sure to double check with each sugarhouse before heading out!  For a list of participating locations, visit the Maine Maple Producers Association website.

President’s Perspective – March 2025

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

Non-members at Meetings

A question has been asked about non-members visiting or sitting in a meeting of the Grange. There are a couple of sections in The National Grange Digest of Laws 2025 edition that deal with this question.  

Chapter IV  BY-LAWS OF THE NATIONAL GRANGE OF THE ORDER OF PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY

4.10.4 Authority of Masters 

The Masters of Subordinate and Pomona Granges are answerable to the Master of the State Grange having jurisdiction over said Subordinate or Pomona Granges. 

The right to make Rulings, as to Grange Laws and Usage, is vested solely in the Masters of the various Granges of the divisions of the Order.

Chapter XI  CODE OF RITUAL, DEGREES, AND REGALIA

Grange Meetings

11.8.11 Non-members may be allowed to observe the opening and closing ceremonies of the fourth degree and all aspects of a business meeting conducted in the fourth degree. Any member may object to the presence of non-members during balloting on candidates or balloting on accepting reinstatement or demits into Grange membership. 

State Master/President’s Comments: As a visitor, they would not be allowed to participate in discussions on motions or vote on any issues to come before the Grange. If they are there for a presentation or as a speaker, then that is a different situation.  An additional question along the same line is how many times may they visit without becoming a member? There is no specific timeframe outlined in the by-laws, however, as Master/President of the Maine State Grange, my opinion or ruling would be — not more than three (3) visits to check things out. They should not be allowed to visit indefinitely without membership.

Membership numbers. Each Grange is required by the By-Laws of the National Grange to maintain a minimum of 13 members to retain your Grange Charter. It is up to each Grange to keep that minimum, and it is up to you as members to ask others to join your Grange. The Maine State Grange cannot get you Grange members. 

A Degree Day with the first Four Degree Ceremonies being fully conferred, will be held on April 27, starting at 1:00 pm at the State Grange building at 146 State Street, Augusta.  You must have submitted an application to the local Grange you wish to join or you must have already been given the Official Obligation Ceremony or Official Welcome Ceremony to view the Degrees. The word Degree refers to the level of the Grange, the first Four Degrees are for the Subodinate/Community level with lessons based on Agriculture and the seasons of the year. If you are already a member, you are welcome to attend the degree. We hope to see a good group of candidates again this year and many members too. 

Communication Shorts 3-1-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

March Bulletin Available Coming Soon!

The March Bulletin deadline is March 14th! Submit those posts and columns now! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

National Grange Contest Updates

In the most recent issue of Grange Today! (see page 8), National Grange announced a number of changes to contests, including some that are dropped altogether. Directors and Chairs in Maine will be reviewing these to see what impact there might be on Maine Contests.

Grange Month!

Time’s a wastin’! As noted earlier, the National Grange did not release the traditional resources such as sample press releases. If I can help you and your Grange with publicity for the month, let me know! But don’t forget, every month can be Grange Month if we remember to celebrate!

A Favorite Poem

“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!"

Nikhil Sharda

Is your Grange a codfish for a hen? Can we hear some cackling? What’s your news! When’s your next event?

Words for Thirds

We continue to add to the resource pages. Most recently, we’ve added an article describing how to do a “Dictionary Race‘ with the kids when you hand out dictionaries. It’s fun! Everybody wins!

Consider this Idea!

Have you considered planning a spring spruce up for your hall? Make it a community event! Plan the activities so people can choose what to help with… and don’t forget to include a rain date! Make it a cabin fever reliever! Think big! Invite contractors! Take before and after photos!

Think about this!

“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”

 Bryant McGill

Online Directory of Granges

Our online directory of Granges has been updated based on the current roster. As time permits, we’ll be adding additional contact information. Our goal is to have at least two contacts available for every active Grange!

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! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.

Coming Soon! Degree Day 2025!

What a great way to end Grange Month–a celebration of membership and Grange Tradition that includes the ritual of the First Four Degrees!

This should be on the calendar of every Grange in the state as a potential activity! To keep things manageable, select someone in your Grange (usually the Master/President) to organize a “carpool” to MSG Headquarters on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Remember, the Degrees aren’t just for new members! When these days were more common, it was not unusual for a group to join whoever had the biggest vehicle for a trip to the hosting Grange and an opportunity to discover (or rediscover) what the Grange Way of Life is all about.

While a “reservation” isn’t required, it will facilitate planning if we can have some idea of how many are attending. But first we need to get the word out!

We have two posters/flyers available for you! Downloading is easy-peasy. Just click the link!

Both are also available in the Communications Section of the Program Books and Information Page.

Since it’s already close to the end of February, there’s not much planning time left! Print and distribute flyers (especially to new members) and see what you can put together!

Additional information is available from Chief Deputy Maynard Chapman. Send him an email, or call and leave a message at 207 312-5591. It wouldn’t hurt, certainly, to ask him what you can do to help!

Communication Shorts 2-15-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

February Bulletin Is Available!

The February Bulletin is now available! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Scholarship Updates

We have finished updating the Maine State Grange Scholarship Page! You can always add or change information by contacting us, but we won’t be nagging you for a while.

Online Directory of Granges

Our online directory of Granges has been updated based on the current roster. As time permits, we’ll be adding additional contact information. Our goal is to have at least two contacts available for every active Grange!

Words for Thirds

Congratulations to Ocean View Grange — what a fantastic success story goes with their recent Words for Thirds Project!

Consider this Idea!

At least one Grange in Maine has had great success with using a “sign up” system for keeping their hall plowed. They number storms and people with plows pick which storm number they will handle.

Think about this!

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

Edith Sitwell

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! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.

Communications Column – February 2025

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Facebook and Social Media for Granges

“Not everyone uses Facebook!” Yes, I hear that cry. In fact, most of the Grangers I know personally do not. However, National Grange is becoming increasingly enamored of it, and we do have some Granges in Maine with Facebook Pages and Groups. Therefore, I’m devoting just one column to some essential things you should know. Just this week, I had an inquiry about a message from a Grange received accusing them of a trademark violation. It was a scam. The general consensus is that scams are increasing on Facebook and in general.

One prevalent one on Facebook concerns methods for you to “protect” what you post and limit what Facebook can do with it. In short, it doesn’t work. Since, as a writer, I frequently deal with copyright and intellectual property, I try to explain to people that if you post something on Facebook, you have given up all control of it. The minute you use FB, you’ve agreed to their TOS (terms of service), which no one ever reads. That means you’ve agreed they can use anything you post pretty much in any way FB sees fit. The TOS is effectively a contract between you and them.

Because of this, If I write something that I want to keep the rights to, I only post it on the website I own. I may post a link to the article on Facebook, but not the article itself. That doesn’t stop someone else from posting it. Now, if they do post the article, THEY (the person who posted my article) have violated MY copyright. Facebook is not guilty or responsible. Remember, Facebook has the right to anything posted, and you can’t change that agreement! (One reason they are claiming not to fact-check is liability reduction.)

If this happens, I could sue the person who posted it, but Facebook is pretty much off the hook. The point here is to understand the media you are using and use it responsibly. Simply put, you do not have the right to distribute someone else’s property without their permission. Think twice before posting something you don’t “own” on Facebook or other social media. The simple workaround is to post a link to the original material and not the material itself. Contrary to popular opinion, Facebook is not your friend. They don’t exist just so you can stay in touch with friends. In fact, the more “friends” you have, the better it is for them—even if those friends aren’t who you think they are.

That leads us to a second important point. You really should consider hiding your friend list on Facebook. When you are hacked or cloned (there is a difference), the person doing it is not after you; they are after your friends. When you leave your friend list available to the public, you only make Facebook happy while exposing your friends to more scams. It’s like saying, “These people are my friends—if you pretend to be me, you might be able to take advantage of them!

I’ll admit that I am not a huge fan of social media, but it can serve some great purposes. But it should be used cautiously and consciously. That’s not always easy, and it’s important to remember that Facebook’s and your interests do not always align.

One of the attractions of Facebook is how easy it is to use. I know someone who almost everyday posts, “Does anybody know what the weather will be like today?” I’m always tempted to answer, “Yes! I checked the NOAA forecast!” Easy doesn’t mean safe or smart. You have been warned! (By the way, most scams are easy to fall into; that’s why they work!)

Note the Maine State Grange Communications Handbook includes the National Grange Social Media Code of Conduct and a number of resources and communication ideas.

► FACT: Did you know that the MSG Communications Handbook includes a list of daily and weekly newspapers in Maine with contact information?

Communication Shorts 2-1-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

February Bulletin Is Coming Soon!

The deadline for posts and columns is February 14. If you’re planning to spend that day romantically, submit early! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Scholarship Updates

LAST CALL! If your Grange is offering a scholarship, please visit the page and make sure your information is correct. Send changes either by using the Submit Tab or sending an email. If your listing is clearly out of date, it will be removed soon.

Words for Thirds

Check out the Words for Thirds Resource Pages here. Grange Month in April would be a great time to sponsor a project, but you’ll need to get started soon! National Grange has not yet released any Grange Month material, but we can do a “Our Grange Celebrates Grange Month by Sponsoring a Dictionary Day!” feature!

Loving the Grange

One of my goals for this year is to post at least one reason to love the Grange each month in 2025. The easiest way for you to help make this happen is for you to fill out this simple form. You can answer more than once! Why do you love the Grange?

Community Matters More Voting

Bangor Savings just announced its grant program for this year. As a reminder, only 501(c)3 organizations are eligible. Subordinate Granges are, therefore, not eligible. It’s a great program but writing in a local Grange is a waste of your vote!

Form 5102 Scam

Farms and other businesses may receive an official-looking “Form 5102” requesting a $119.00 payment to register “Beneficial Ownership Interest.” This is a documented scam. (There are requirements regarding B.O.I, but this isn’t one.)

Consider this Idea!

We recently saw an organization announcing a “Muffin Morning.” (I love alliterations, if you haven’t noticed.) It sounded like fun and definitely an easy program because there is no program. All you need are muffins and drinks and give the opportunity for a Koffee Klatch. Simple!

Think about this!

Groundhog Day is the perfect instance of optimism — you either choose to believe the rodent or not. Both options can give you a fantastic outlook for the future.

Anonymous

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! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.