Tag: Grange Procedure

Communication Shorts 5-1-2025

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!

May Bulletin Reminder!

Deadline for May Columns is the 14th! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Summer Events and Programs

Don’t forget to submit your summer events and programs–ideally at least one month in advance!

Recent Degree Day

The first Four Degrees were conferred on several dozen candidates! We’re waiting for some additional information and photos–coming soon!

Subscribe to the Site!

It’s easy and risk-free! With the recent influx of new members and degree recipients, we should see some new subscribers! Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Copy and share that link with new members!

Consider this Idea!

Sometimes, simple is best! We’re intrigued by Vassalboro Grange’s weekly “Coffee on the Porch.” (We also like their one-page flyer listing all their summer events!)

Think about this!

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, and summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” 

 William Shakespeare

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.

Communications Column – April 2025

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Whazup?

Ironically, our Grange fiscal year starts in the fall but for many Granges, their program year starts in the spring! If you attend this year’s Degree Day, you’ll also discover that conferring the First Degree takes place on a farm in the springtime. April is traditionally celebrated as Grange Month. So maybe it does all start here.

One way we find out is by answering the question “Whazup?” For those uninitiated in contemporary contractions and lingo, the question facing us is “What’s up in your Grange?” We could further complicate it by creating a series of questions:

  • What has happened (projects, programs, celebrations) in your Grange recently?
  • What is going to happen (projects, programs, celebrations) in your Grange in the future?

“Inquiring minds want to know…” is a phrase attributed to the tabloid newspaper “The National Enquirer” in the 1970s. In its original form, it was spelled enquiring, making it a catchy slogan that reflects the value of a curious mind that wants to know as much as possible.

Some of you will remember when the Maine State Grange published a bit of a print tabloid newspaper. Most Granges had a correspondent who submitted a version of whazup in their Grange. Sometimes the results were a bit “gossipy” but generally included short summaries of recent meetings and activities. It worked because it was informal and simple. It worked because it kept members around the state feeling connected.

As we spring into a new year, it’s tempting to suggest every Grange needs a correspondent—someone who is at least informally interested in proactively answering those whazup questions. The MSG Website is committed to serving, sharing, and connecting local Granges. That also means local Granges need to connect with us! Inquiring minds DO want to know (including mine!). We don’t need to formalize a program, we just need a few people who are willing to share whazup in our Granges.

There are many ways to do this. You can, for example, submit basic information about your events using the submit tab on the website. The advantage of this route is that the form will ensure you provide all the required information. (How many times have I seen events listed on social media with no location given?) Submitting to the site accomplishes a lot of things! If the event is in the future, it gets listed on the MSG Events Calendar. We’ll also create a post for you. Those posts stay on the site, get emailed to our website subscribers, and are easily shared on social media by anyone who subscribes to or visits the site. If you have a flyer for your event, attach it to an email and send it to webmaster@mainestategrange.org. We’ll take it from there!

If you volunteer to do this for your Grange, you might find the MSG Communications Handbook helpful! That handbook includes information that will help you communicate, publicize, and advertise your Grange. There are tips submitted by Granges and lists of major and weekly newspapers. Lots of helpful information!

We still have close to one hundred Granges in Maine. There should be (and probably are) more events than those listed on the calendar. That’s a great place to start—easy peasy! At least send the basics! We don’t list “regular” meetings—with the exception of Pomona Meetings—but if your regular meeting includes a special program, that qualifies! When in doubt, share it! The more advanced notice you give, the more we can help.

Inquiring minds do want to know. When we recently promoted Valley Grange’s Blanketeering event, we had people come from miles away and produce a record number of blankets. It works. Help us prove it by sharing whazup at your Grange.

The News Is Where You Find It. If you wonder how the Amish (who tend to shun technology and the Internet) stay connected around the country, check out this article.

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

President’s Perspective – April 2025

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

Highlights of State Session

Here we are in April. Do you realize the State Grange Session is only six months away, Friday, October 17, and Saturday, October 18? Black Bear Inn, 4 Godfrey Drive, Orono. You are responsible for your own room reservations (207-866-7120) use code Maine State Grange Group for special rate. I do not have meal prices yet but more information will be coming when it becomes available.

Here is an early preview. Friday, we will open in the 6th Degree at 11:00 a.m. (yes eleven), lower to the Fourth Degree; introduce National Rep. Kathy Gibson, Lady Assistant Steward of the National Grange; cover general business and State Master’s Annual Address. At noon, a paid lunch will be available downstairs. 1:30 p.m. is the Memorial Service; followed by Nat Rep; 3:00 p.m. begin resolutions. We close at 5 p.m. 6 p.m. The Banquet Buffet downstairs, tickets are purchased in advance. This year’s theme “Home Grown Roots For Bountiful Harvest.”Awards upstairs after banquet.

On Saturday at 8:30 a.m. we open in the Fourth Degree. 9:00 a.m. is acceptance of budget; full elections of officers, resolutions and reports mixed in with elections. Noon-paid lunch is available downstairs. 1:30 call back to order. 1:45 Conferral of the Sixth Degree and Installation of Officers, business continues as needed.

Current information and details are available on the 2025 151st Convention Page,

Utilities at Grange Halls

Recently I was trying to pay a power bill for a closed Grange and to change another power bill over to MSG for a recently closed Grange to continue with payments. It was quite a challenge to accomplish both. Neither my name nor Maine State Grange was on the service, so the employees could not help me at all (which is not their fault). It was very frustrating on my part, even though I had the account numbers. One account had been set up on line as autopay by a person who is uncooperative and no longer a member, the bank account was closed but the bill kept adding up. The other was a standard set up many years ago, the bills kept up to date, by a member who was recently deceased. One utility asked to have the former person let them know the name and billing address for the new contact, then the new contact had to call in to say they would accept the new bills, but it was still a problem to get it resolved even after I did all that was asked. I mention this to you so you won’t run into a problem with your utilities at some point in the future. Whose name and address is associated with your Grange utility accounts or is it just the name of the Grange on the bills, maybe sent to the Secretary? Should a second contact be added or at least confirm who is on your Grange utility accounts, who can get information and also make changes, or even turn the utility off if needed?

Promoting Your Grange

As we are all involved in promoting Grange membership and growth, we should be advertising ourselves. The name and number of a Grange should be on the building or on the sign at the road AND should include the day and time of the meetings. This way someone passing by or visiting the area will know when you meet.

A display in a front window or a bulletin board on the Grange hall would help us promote ourselves more. We talk about a display in a public area only during Grange Month, but this display would be ongoing year-round. You could list programs and other information in your display. Include activities or projects your Grange is involved with as part of your Grange work, and include contest information for the different committees of the Grange. (Four 2” boards, an old aluminum storm window, a couple of hinges, and a hasp make a very nice outside bulletin board, using plywood or paneling for backing if you wish). It may just spark some interest in someone who wishes to help do something for the Grange, or someone may want to join.

You could also put a board in the hallway, entryway, or on the back of the entry door where the public comes in to wait for suppers, bingo, etc. Once seated, they don’t have the opportunity to look around or read something they see hanging on a wall unless it is close or big, but while waiting in line, they might be nosy enough to be checking things out beside them on a wall close by. Use BIG print, keep it neat and attractive, give some details, add some color, and promote all the different activities, benefits, and programs we are involved with in the Grange. (See the various National and State program books for information.) If you don’t have these books handy, contact someone who can get them for you and use them. Change things around occasionally or add something new so it doesn’t get boring or outdated. The Grange has a lot of great things to offer. Have brochures or sheets of information within easy reach for someone who wishes to pick one up and take it along (most people are more comfortable checking out information in private), or they can read it there while waiting.

Another reason for your display is to remind current members what is happening. You may be surprised by what is available. A lot of halls have a nice bulletin board in the meeting room; be sure to utilize this for your members and visitors who attend. They may have been out when a certain communication came in and did not know about something; it doesn’t have to be the letter itself, but a name and date of event or activity. If they want to know more about it, they can ask. It is surprising how many people do not know or have overlooked something they could have taken part in. We can’t promote membership growth if we don’t promote Grange in Grange.

Helpful Hints From Hallmark® either for display board or standard size paper.
Less is More * A little clip art is snazzy—too much makes a mess. * One or two lettering styles complement the mood of your project—too many different fonts look confusing. * Pack your punch into fewer words and short sentences.

Follow the “Rules of Threes” *Arrange graphic elements in groups of three for the best visual balance. * For example, three photos printed on one page are more interesting than two or four. Oddly enough, the human eye prefers odd-numbered images. * Feature only three ideas in your message. The human mind easily grasps concepts in sets of three.

Think “Z” *the eye travels in a Z-pattern from the top to the bottom of the page. *Put the most important stuff at the top to grab your reader’s attention. *Build the reader’s interest through the middle, then drive your point home with a dominant element at the bottom of the page.

Finishing Touches *Enclose a photo or some colorful, shaped confetti. Seal special invitations with old-fashioned sealing wax. *Decorate a special scrapbook page with leftover sheets. *Creating a poem, award, or certificate? Present it with a flourish: Roll it up scroll-style. Tie it with a satin ribbon, gold cord, or strand of raffia. Be creative.

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. 

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?

President’s Perspective – February 2025

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

Procedures and NE Leaders’ Conference

The Ritual, bylaws, rules, and regulations of the Grange MUST MUST be followed by everyone, not just a select few. Every regular Grange meeting must be opened in full form to conduct any business, whether voting on finances, changing your by-laws, conferring degrees, conducting the obligation ceremony, or discussing activities, etc. The Grange Ritual (the set pattern that we do things at each meeting), opening the Bible, the Prayer, the Grange Salutation, and the Salute to the Flag must be done at every regular meeting, even if you are meeting in homes or by Zoom. It may seem outdated or unnecessary to some, but it is part of this Fraternal Organization and to be considered a Grange, to use the term “Grange” certain requirements must be carried out. Some things have been modernized and simplified, but the basics are still there. If you are a longtime or new member and want changes to be made, there are set processes in place to make that possible. The Manual, National & State Bylaws and Guidelines are available to help you with the process. Let’s make the effort to be part of it whether in person or by use of technology.

To request funds being held in custodial accounts by Maine State Grange, mail or email your request to the State Office. The State Master/President approves it; then it will be forwarded to the State Treasurer for the issue of a check. Invoices and/or estimates must be included with the request. Checks for building repairs, etc., will be made out to the contractor and mailed to the Secretary of the Grange requesting the funds. Remember, mail does take time; you can’t expect to get the check the same day you request it.

The Maine Grange Foundation, Inc., is a 501c3. It can be the fiscal sponsor for grants when requested and can receive tax-deductible donations on behalf of a Grange. (After the grant/donation check clears, we will issue a check to the appropriate Grange.) The Maine Grange Foundation, Inc. is a separate financial entity from the Maine State Grange, which does not have the 501c3 status. There is definitely a difference between the two.

The Northeast Leaders Conference was hosted by Massachusetts early in January and attended by 65 enthusiastic members. Maine was represented by Missy Baldwin, MSG Lecturer; Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service & Family Health & Hearing Director; Brenda’s husband, Joe Fallo; Past MSG Master Vicki Huff; and myself. The Northeast State Masters/Presidents & Overseers/Vice Presidents (the Northeast Connection group) and New England Grange Building Trustees met several times during the weekend. As the weekend progressed, interesting and helpful workshops were presented to the group. Finding Hidden Potential and Empowering Members and Aligning Your Strategic Plan to Your Core Values. Also included in the weekend was a wonder-ful tour of the Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School located close to the conference center. Everyone attending could sit in on whichever meeting or break-out group they chose. State Lecturers, Youth, and Chaplains groups started planning their respective Northeast Conferences and Activities. Community Service, Family Activities, Women’s Activities, Agriculture, Membership, Information/IT, and others met as a large group, having good discussions on activities for their states and ideas all could try. Junior Directors and interested members met to discuss the craft for display at the Big-E in September at the New Eng-land Grange Building. The Junior craft for 2025 will be Egg Carton Craft and for 2026 will be Bird Houses. Next year’s conference will be hosted by Vermont.

Communications Column – January 2025

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

New Developments

You’re probably aware of our new resource page(s) for the Words for Thirds Program. We’ll officially release on January 18, 2025, but it is a work in progress. Some resources, such as label templates and sample press releases, have already been accessed and used. There are still a few things “coming soon,” including an interview with Mary French, Director of the Dictionary Project. In addition to making life easier for Granges participating in Words for Thirds, we are determined to get more Granges in-terested in the program. As most know, I have been directing Valley Grange’s program for close to twenty years and I’m excited and happy to work with and assist Granges who are interested!

I’ve recently been working with the AARP Fraud Watch Network to add another resource to the MSG Website. We’ll post a weekly Fraud Watch Alert on specific types of fraud and scams. These will serve a dual purpose. First, Grangers will have access to concise information for their use. Second, the information can be used in lecturer’s programs and as FHH reports. As a bonus, these posts will have buttons at the bottom, making it easy to share them on social media or by email. Links are also provided, giving access to an AARP speakers’ bureau.

(Speaking of scams, stay suspicious! I’ve personally been getting hit with a lot of phony emails that look like they are from companies like United Health Care, Bitdefender Support, PayPal, Delta Airlines, FedEx, etc. They often are identified as “FW” (forwarded) in the subject line. Most have an attachment (which I do not open) and an offer of something free. When in doubt, don’t!)

The underlying development for the Words for Thirds Resources and AARP Fraud Watch Alerts is a more structured editorial plan for the website. We want the site to be resource-rich, engaging, and useful. As a reminder, every member is a reporter and potential contributor. Submit your news and events, but don’t hesitate to go beyond that. If you’re a lecturer, consider submitting your program ideas and tips. Tell us about your Community Service activities or how your Grange is improving Family Health and Hearing. Thanks to several “reporters,” we’re now working on some information regarding Grange Hall insurance that will be shared soon. I can’t do these things alone. That’s one reason I’ve adopted the slogan, “We’re Grangers. We help each other.”

► FACT: In the past week, the most visited posts and pages were the Grange Directory, Program Books and Information, Words for Thirds Resource Page, and Grange Scholarships.

Tell us why you love the Grange
Submit an Event or News
Find the button representing how and where you want to share a post.

President’s Perspective – January 2025

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

Degrees in your Grange

There have been questions about the Degree Days and who can do them. Any Grange may confer all Four Degrees in one day, at any time during the year, but permission is required from the State Master beforehand. However, each Grange is entitled to confer the Degrees in their own Granges at their own convenience. To “confer degrees” means initiatory ceremonies giving instruction and information about the Grange. You may confer 1 or 2 degrees at one meeting, then confer 1 or 2 more at the next meeting, and so on until you complete all Four Degrees. (The word Degree refers to a level of the Grange and is based on the four seasons and agriculture. The first Four Degrees bring you into Subordinate or Community Grange membership.) The meeting must be open in full form for any balloting and conferral of any Degree. The candidates must be balloted on prior to the conferral of the degree. Following the Grange Manual. (2023 is the newest version but the Degrees in all the manuals are the same.) The Degrees are very impressive if done from memory, but this may not work for everyone. Have each officer read the part for the office where they are seated, marching candidates are encouraged but it can be done with everyone seated, follow the instructions as you go along. Everyone can participate in this manner and learn the lessons of the Degrees at the same time.

Have a safe winter. Check on your neighbors and give a hand wherever you can.

Quick Tip – What if…?

Cool Idea
Share your thoughts and ideas with other Granges!

In a recent post, Seth Godin reminded us that some restaurants keep a photo of the local food critic in the kitchen. That way, if someone notices that person in the restaurant, everybody bends over backward to make things right.

But why not try to get things right even if the critic isn’t there?

What if we conducted every meeting as if there were a dozen potential new members sitting in the back? Or do we ask the gatekeeper to warn everyone, “We have guests!”

For that matter, there’s a place in the opening for honoring “special guests.” Traditionally, that means someone from “higher up” in the Grange. Maybe the steward should at least announce ALL guests, regardless of their status.

Quick tips from Granges and Grangers are always welcome… on any topic that might improve or make things easier for other Granges. Use the submission form or email yours to the webmaster for consideration!

Important Stuff!

Degree Days and Major Events
  • April 25, 2026, ODDs (Officers, Deputies, Directors) Workshop and Ice Cream Social, 2 PM – 4 PM at MSG Headquarters. FMI Contact Master Sherry.
  • April 26, 2026, Androscoggin Pomona Grange Degree Day at Manchester Grange. For more information.
  • April 29, 2026, Sagadahoc Pomona will be meeting, but Degree Work has been canceled.

The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330. The email address is mainestategrange@gmail.com.