January 10-12, 2025, in Danvers, MA
2025 NE Leaders Conference
Tag: Grange Activities
Jefferson Historical Society presented Spirit of America Award by Willow Grange
by Paula Roberts, LCN
reprinted with permission
Willow Grange #366 of Jefferson presented the Jefferson Historical Society with a Spirit of America Award on Thursday, Sept. 12.
The historical society has spent years archiving early photos of Jefferson, gathering history, and preserving early artifacts of the town. One of the group’s more recent projects was gathering pictures of older families in Jefferson.
Members have printed a couple of histories of Jefferson and annually make a calendar with historic photos. They also hold open houses each year to display Jefferson’s historic artifacts.
There were 34 members of the historical society present at the ceremony, including 16 who are also Grange members. President Marilyn Speckman accepted the award on behalf of the Jefferson Historical Society from Willow Grange Master Sharon Morton.
The evening’s program was on the history of the Grange, including its set of five stage curtains. The curtains were a gift in 1906 from Grange member Charles M. Davis. The curtains were made by the renowned L.L. Graham, of Brooklyn, N.Y. The grand drape is a scene of Venice, and the other four curtains include a street scene, a kitchen, a parlor, and a nature scene. The stage also has reversible ears for the wings.
The curtains were restored in 2012.
Valley Grange Dictionary Days
Valley Grange is proud to have handed out close to 250 dictionaries to third-graders this year. That puts us well over 4,000 since starting the program several decades ago. Enjoy some photos of this year’s program.
Dictionary Days are fun because learning is fun!
If your Grange is interested in starting a Words for Thirds Dictionary Program, complete the form below. No obligation!
Excelsior Grange Christmas Craft Fair
November 30, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
CRAFTERS – DOOR PRIZES – RAFFLES – WREATHS AND SWAGS
Chili, chowder, beef stew, and dessert will be available for lunch for $5.00
Excelsior Grange is located at 446 Harris Hill Road in Poland, Maine.
40th Annual St George Grange Christmas Fair
Saturday, December 7, 2024
9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Crafts – Raffles – Food
Enjoy great food, including fresh-baked muffins, cinnamon rolls, and free coffee. Please stop by for lunch when we are serving soups, biscuits, hot dogs, and drinks.
4:45 p.m. Live Nativity
5:00 p.m. Public Supper
Enjoy homemade food with family, friends, and neighbors. Adults are $10, Kids are $5, and children under 10 eat free!
Communication Shorts 11-16-2024
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
November Bulletin Available
The November Bulletin is now available. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
Printable ODD Directory Available
ODD Directory provides a printable list of state officers, directors, and deputies with basic contact information. It can also be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
Missing “stuff?”
As we purge older posts and clean things up, you may occasionally encounter missing photos and broken links. Remember, we only maintain two years of posts both to save space and avoid confusion. If what’s missing seems important, please let us know! Mistakes happen.
Recent Uploads to the Website
We continue to add new information to the site! The Program Books and Information Page now features the MSG Bylaws as Revised at State Session and the words to Veterans of the USA from the 2024 Memorial Service. We’ve also added the 2025 Ag Program Book.
Holiday Craft Fairs?
Many Granges offer holiday craft fairs or “makers markets.” Please submit information about yours! We offer statewide publicity and make it easy for you to share information on Social Media.
Grange History Booklet Added
The 150th Anniversary Booklet is a literal treasure of historical information about Granges in Maine, including a complete list of every Grange that has existed in Maine! Check it out!
Consider this Idea!
If you are having any sort of program event, consider offering tours of your Grange Hall. Many folks are interested in learning more about both the Grange and these buildings.
Songbooks for Singing!
Ellie Collins has some Grange Songbooks that are looking for a good home! If you’re interested, contact her or let us know!
Think about this
“When you think you are too old to do something new remember you will never be younger than you are right now.”
James Clear
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.
Exploring Traditions – November, 2024
Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life
All is secure!
By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist
If we are inclined to doubt that the Grange is about a way of life, we might simply pay close attention to the things we say and do somewhat automatically. In one of my teaching assignments, I am responsible for “locking up” the building when I finish. This includes “walking the building” to ensure lights are off, and no one remains inside. Once I’m outside, I “report in” by texting the person in charge. I usually text “All is secure.” In my mind, the words “Worthy Master” accompany my message of assurance.
I then call home to report my progress. I’ll admit that I am on occasion tempted to announce at the beginning of the call, “The labors of the day are complete.”
While the language of the Grange can readily become part of our lives, an occasional pause and reminder to make sure we are living the Grange way of life can be worthwhile. The language helps us. “Let us be quiet, peaceful citizens…” I often stop right there. I like the word “peaceful.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “untroubled by conflict, agitation, or commotion” and offers as synonyms “quiet” and “tranquil.” Those are some tall orders in today’s society, which seems filled with conflict, agitation, and commotion.
The way we end our meetings is meant to ensure “all is secure,” but it goes beyond closing the Bible and implement case to include the assurances offered by the Grange Way of Life. We are also reminded that we “place faith in God, nurture hope, dispense charity, and are noted for fidelity.” These are the qualities that drive us to “add dignity to labor, and in our dealings with our fellow men be honest, be just and fear not. We must avoid intemperance in eating, drinking, and language, also in work and recreation, and whatever we do, strive to do well.”
I can imagine leaving a Grange meeting years ago, riding home and unhitching the horse, and achieving another “all is secure” at home and in the barn. The animals are settled in for the night. The labors of the day are complete. All is secure. The farm and home are quiet and tranquil. The world we are in is at peace.
Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.
Membership Moments – November 2024
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
Please read the membership (and other) columns in the Bulletin at your regular meetings so that all will know what is happening.
Your help is needed to form a strong, viable State Membership Committee with a purpose and goals in mind. Since we are all responsible for increasing our membership in our Granges, I am reaching out to those interested in becoming a State Member-ship Committee member. It cannot be done with a one or two-person committee. Goals need to be set and a structured system set in place. The State Master, the State Membership Director and State Officers are NOT responsible to bring you in new members, they have their own Subordinate and Pomona Granges to work with. The duty of the State Membership Director is to communicate to you when there are degree days or conferences, information from the National Membership Director, announcing and participating in the monthly ZOOM meetings sponsored by the National Director, overseeing the Membership contest, holding workshops and area meetings to provide current membership with tools and suggestions to increase membership and countless other duties. Communication is the BIG key here as the plan is to have a contact in each Pomona that can communicate the ideas to each member of their respective Granges, very simple. The ideas will come from YOU, the member. We need your suggestions, ideas, and thoughts. What do you do to attract members? What makes your Grange successful? What do you want to know? What tools do you need? The Committee needs your ideas as well as the answers to those questions. So, for the good of the order (GOTO). Remember that? Your input is needed. Let’s have fun with this. I do have a number of ideas to get started but I need help!
The Membership Committee challenges each member to get at least one new member. Whether they join your Grange or another is irrelevant. Maybe we should keep count of how many members are responsible bringing in at least one new member. However, that takes contact persons around the state!!!. I will be stressing this challenge to more Granges as I visit.
Are there any new businesses that have arrived in your community or surrounding area? Or even existing ones that could use publicity? What a great way to gain members! Introduce yourself to the owners as a Grange member and ask if there is anything that could be done for them in the community. Invite all business owners to a special Grange celebration honoring the community. Maybe assign each business a table so the community can see what is offered. That makes the Grange an integral part of the community and business growth. People will remember the name “Grange” just by those gestures. It seems like a ton of work to assemble a big event like this. However, it can be done, and with the help of Grange members and others, it will be rewarding. Try it by yourselves or with area Granges.
Ag Committee Report – November 2024
By Roberta Meserve, MSG Ag Director
(207) 998-3857
It’s been a pleasant fall so far in my neighborhood. Hope it lasts a while longer.
Thanks to all who donated prizes to our successful raffle at the State Session and to all who purchased tickets. Special thanks to Bob and Agnes Nelson for their help manning the raffle table.
State headquarters was the location for the annual meeting for Maine Ag in the Classroom. They presented a donation to the committee to cover one Ag Scholarship. Dinner was prepared and served by members of the committee and friends. Thank you, Agnes, for your expertise in getting the meal together, and to all who helped with setup, prep, carrying everything up and down the stairs, and clean up.
When doing your holiday (or anytime) gift buying, remember to shop locally and support Maine agriculture. Consider a CSA purchase, gift card or certificate to a neighborhood greenhouse, farm stand/farmers’ market, or local seed catalog. Check out the every growing number of small shops selling artisan cheeses, soaps, syrups, jams, pickles, and many other items.
Have a thankful and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday.
Community Service/FHH – November 2024
By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193
The Community Service Committee would like to thank all Grangers (Community Service Chairperson, committee members, individuals, and groups) and non-Grange members (groups, citizens and individuals) for their hours of community service and supporting the Grange.
Community Service Notebooks
These notebooks are a report of the Community Service Projects usually one to two pages (three if absolutely needed) for each project. The 1-2 pages will describe the project, planning involved, advertising for project, pictures of project, recognition and thank you.
Ten notebooks were submitted. A certificate of participation recognition was presented to each Grange. Monetary awards were given to the first four places.
10. Willow Grange #366
9. Evening Star Grange #83
8. Hudson Grange #457
7. Valley Grange #144
6. Maple Grove #148
5. Jonesboro Grange #357
4. Saco Grange #53, $50.00
3. Highland Lake Grange #87, $150.00
2. Lakeside Grange #63, $200.00
1. Enterprise Grange #48,$250.00 (Enterprise Grange Notebook goes on to National Grange, representing Maine State Grange.)
Marilyn Stinson of Enterprise Grange was selected as Granger of the Year. Granger of the Year chooses a cause to receive a $100 donation. Marilyn selected the Home for Little Wanderers.
Highland Lake Grange #87 was awarded $50 as the winner of the FH&H Contest.
For a complete report, see the 2023-24 Community Service Annual Report of winners.
Thank you all for participating in the Community Service Programs! Congratulations to all participating Granges and winners!