By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director
A Few Reminders and Ideas
Seth Godin recently posted about how easy it is to win the race to the bottom. “We can justify most moves to the bottom while they’re happening, but the problem with this race is that you might win.” Even doing nothing contributes to winning the race to the bottom. The opposite is not necessarily a race to the top. As Seth points out, if we resolve not to continue the race to the bottom, we’re committing to a climb, not a race.
We have a few things to help you on your climb.
Your New Communications Handbook… Recently completely updated, it replaces the former annual additions and includes a lot of resources to help you improve your messages to members and your communities. It’s an easy download from the website and the pdf includes a number of clickable links to even more resources. The price is right. It’s free for the taking. If your Grange is still not comfortable with technology, you can request a printed copy from the Maine State Grange office.
Your Local Grange Library… A number of Granges have established Little Free Libraries or Box Exchange Boxes. (How are you maintaining them during the winter months?) Your Grange should also maintain a self-serving library of forms, program books, etc. that ideally is available to your members. Many of the suggested contents are available on the Maine State Grange Website, but having them readily available locally makes sense!
Your Annual Reports and Program Book… Don’t skip over this one! While we often apply these to state directors and officers, your local Grange can do both. Some Granges write a report and submit it to the town clerk for inclusion in the town’s annual report. We are, after all, community Granges! A program book might summarize your work and include a directory of officers and members.
Your Publication of Events… We’re still working to make this easier and more effective! Submitting events to and through the website is now easier than ever. The format will also help you ensure you are including complete details. We’ve also developing a new “breaking news” logo we can use to further your public awareness. Don’t forget my decades old truism. “It’s easier to make news than it is to write press releases.” (See the Communications Handbook!)
And speaking of climbing, consider this poem by Edgar Guest, published in the Detroit Free Press (March 4, 1921) and now in the public domain.
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
And the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems
To a faint and faltering man.
Often the struggler has given up when he
Might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems afar.
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit.
It’s when things seem worst that
You musn’t quit.
FACT: Nearly one-third of visits to the MSG website happen as the result of a Google Search!
