Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
Recycling at it’s best!
Members of the St. George Grange came up with the whimsical idea of having 17 local artists paint some of their vintage wooden chairs and chose Zero to School as the recipient of this CHAIR-ITY fundraiser auction. These ONE-OF-A-KIND works of art represent both the talent and generosity of these artists.
Check out the amazing chairs and the auction, and learn more about Zero to School! Bidding closes on July 19, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
I have been asked to do a presentation on Conflict Resolution at State Session in October. Now matter how solid your Grange seems or how smoothly it is running, there are times of conflict. Sometimes these conflicts are small and repairable, however, there are times when problems escalate and cause furor within. People take sides and interruptions are prevalent. In almost ALL cases, we lose members; never to return. This causes our Granges to spiral downwards, leading to their closures. These conflicts cause severe damage to our Granges, and most can be handled with the right influences. I have been asked to monitor and facilitate these conflicts in the past; not to just “throw water on the fire,” so to speak, but to try to end the conflict if possible. Success is not guaranteed, and members are still lost, no matter the outcome of the resolution. What we need to remember, as members, is to avoid these hurtful conflicts and to take any conflict outside of the Grange Hall to reduce the number of people involved. Many times, these conflicts involve petty issues or personal grievances unrelated to any Grange issues. No one “owns” our Granges; we are a team that must work together to achieve the best results. All of us are unique and have different views; however, we must respect all opinions and do what is right for the order. This is why we vote. If the vote does not go in our favor, we must respect the outcome and work with it as a Grange. Every member has a say, and all opinions should be respected. Should a member walk out or not return because things do not go “their” way? These actions are being disrespectful to the Order, and problems arise. Have a chat with the offender and listen to their story as a sign of respect. Let us try to resolve these issues without bias or prejudice and keep our Granges running smoothly.
I would like to hear of any instances in your Grange of any conflicts (past and present), how you handled them, and the results. Your input will help me with my presentation at State Session. Your views may result in saving a Grange!
By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director
Creating Flyers that Communicate
Microsoft users have probably heard that the desktop program Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 13, 2026. Actually, it would be more accurate to state clearly that it will no longer work. Any files created with the program will no longer open. This creates serious challenges for many.
National Grange addressed this to some extent in the July 10 issue of Grange Today! If you have been using Microsoft Publisher, you may want to read Phil Vonada’s article.
There’s a strong consensus that Canva is a good replacement, and the free version may suffice. I have also found that with some additional learning, other programs in Microsoft Office such as Word and PowerPoint can be adapted.
But this also raises the larger question of how volunteers can easily produce event flyers at no cost. I’ve not vetted all of the options that follow, but they do seem worthy of exploration. Bear in mind, free options have limitations. The goal of offering them is to encourage users to upgrade to a paid version.
Technology is advancing by leaps and bounds — it’s easy to get caught in the trap of trying to keep up. Years ago, it was estimated that most users used only about 20% of a program’s (now called an app, although there is a difference) capabilities. I would hazard a guess that number is even lower today. When “shopping” for an app, keep in mind that you may not need most of what’s offered, unless you’re going to become a digital creator.
A simple flyer containing all the relevant information beats a glitzy one that doesn’t. I’m always impressed by social media ads that omit the location of the store or restaurant.
For the non-digital crowd, one option is to find a digital creator to create a flyer in exchange for promotion. (A credit on the flyer with the creator’s contact information.) While it requires some advance event planning, another option is a contest for kids.
If you’ve found a good resource for creating flyers, let me know so we can share it with other Granges. We’re Grangers. We help each other!
For heavy users, the Microsoft Support Publisher Guide will help with preparing for its discontinuance.
FACT: During a recent seven-day period, the Manchester Grange News Post was the most viewed–over sixty times!
The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) announced that the Maine Coastal Cleanup is returning for 2026 in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup effort.
According to DMR, the September event marks the largest volunteer effort in the state. In 2025, the multi-week event drew 1,287 volunteers who cleaned thousands of pounds of trash and debris from almost 95 miles of coastline.
This year’s campaign is scheduled Sept. 5-19; and volunteers are being sought from Surry to Portland. For more information about volunteering, or to register your own cleanup effort as a cleanup coordinator, visit DMR’s event website.
Participation could be a great fall community service project for Grangers and Junior Grangers. Volunteers support this effort by adopting a location and soliciting others to join them in cleaning up the trash from their location of choice and help to keep our coast and ocean trash free!
Danville Junction Grange will be holding an indoor/outdoor yard sale on Saturday, July 25th from 9 to 1. Danville Grange is located at 15 Grange Street (off Rts. 202/100) in Danville.
The sale will feature a cooked food table, raffles, attic treasures, RADA cutlery, plants, books, and more. Outside tables are available for rent. For more information or to rent a table, please contact Norma at meserve1965@gmail.com or 583-7211.
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
There was a previous column where the Grange was compared to a four-story building. The Subordinate or Community Granges were on the bottom floor, followed by Pomona, State, and National Granges. However, there are many cracks in our foundation, which have a name: Membership. If our membership problems are not resolved soon, the foundation will give way to a big collapse. Granges that don’t improve their membership collapse first, and as your membership dwindles, there are no replacements.
Our Youth and Junior Granges are nonexistent, with scattered pockets of younger members around the state. How do we survive without this foundation? Who will replace us if we cannot continue or pass away? It is a scary thought, but in reality, it is true. We have no organized leadership among our younger members. Even within our total membership, not many want to lead, and there are “social Granges” that do not follow the rituals and traditions of the Grange. Those granges will, and have, dampened our reputation. They hide behind the Grange name with no respect. When they lose their meeting places, they will be the first to wonder what happened.
We all need to “repair” those gasping cracks in our foundation before it’s too late. Many Granges cannot meet since they cannot make their seven-member quorums. We need a state-wide revolution to work together and beef up our future before we don’t have one. Scared? Yes, I am scared, and you should be, too. I understand that it is difficult, but we need to try harder. Are you with me?
By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director
Summertime Communications and Thinking
That it’s summertime affects communication in both positive and negative ways. longer days and vacations promote casual, authentic connections, extreme heat often reduces language complexity and lowers frustration tolerance, which can quickly lead to irritability and conflict. As is often the case, we have some “good news, bad news.”
Summer may encourage a shift from rigid, formal routines and habits. In non-professional (work) environments, productivity may decrease as people are inclined to take extended breaks or at least become more focused on time off. It’s simply more challenging to get things done, particularly where collaboration is necessary. Just scheduling meetings can become challenging.
On a personal level, communication may become more relaxed and personal. I admit that I’d much rather be writing about my fall travel plans than work topics or Grange business.
A secondary point is how the environment influences communication. When I was working in organizational design and development, one CEO required executives to keep a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers and pajamas at the office. The dress code for many meetings required wearing them. He suggested, “It’ll be difficult to take ourselves too seriously if we’re all dressed like that.” He thought it would help them take the agenda seriously. He wasn’t as crazy as he sounded at first.
The summer weather is certainly part of the environment. Studies show that prolonged exposure to heat and dehydration causes physical discomfort, which lowers frustration thresholds and increases the likelihood of anger or miscommunication. Bear that in mind when you’re meeting on the second floor of your unairconditioned Grange hall.
Maybe we should move the meeting to a picnic table at the local ice cream stand. A change of environment not only improves communication, but it also changes thinking and experience. Perhaps instead of fixing the broken pencil sharpener, we might ignore it and look for a different way to sharpen a pencil
Don’t be threatened by the idea of questioning assumptions, breaking conventions, and exploring unconventional perspectives to solve problems. While the fraternal and ritualistic aspects of our Order have huge, almost immeasurable value, even the founders saw the value of breaking out of traditional thought patterns. If we look at the major accomplishments of the early Grange, they reflect creative thinking for their time. If we remember the lessons of the first four degrees, they align with the seasons. The common thread is change and growth. The farmer’s life adapts to the seasons.
Our thinking, communication, and activity are deeply intertwined. We can’t always control the change of environment (whether it’s the season or something else). Someone wisely said, “The best thing to do when it rains is to let it.” By being aware of the changes happening around us, we can make life more interesting and enjoyable.
FACT: In the past twelve months, there have been over 20,000 views of the MSG Website.
Every Monday, at 7 PM, St George Grange hosts Music Night. Enjoy live music, bring a musical instrument and play, or get up and sing.
Every Saturday, 10 AM-4 PM, Kennebec Valley Grange hosts a flea market that fills two floors. Details here or call Diane Pinkham at 207 314-5135 FMI.
When submitting an event, please include:
By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director
Website Update
“The only way to escape hardship is to keep moving forward.” Some will recognize this as a “family-friendly” paraphrasing of a quote attributed to Winston Churchill. Over the last month or so, I’ve found it necessary to keep reminding myself, “This too shall pass.”
We’re not quite out of the woods, but the clearing is in sight! (I seem to be full of metaphors and pithy sayings this morning.) There are probably some important lessons to be learned from the entire experience.
After nearly two decades of using the same host server, it became clear that things weren’t working. Well, it became clear to me. The host server folks didn’t see it that way!
I could probably make your eyes glaze over if I told the whole story and shared the many frustrations and roadblocks. The site is now fully migrated to a new server. Yay!
We can breathe easier, but we need to keep moving. It appears the major remaining difficulty is that a number of images disappeared during the move. Fortunately, I’m a bit of a packrat, so all is not lost. I will continue to replace them as I find them. If you experience any difficulties with the site, please let me know!
Forward momentum also demands that we continue to develop the site with news and resources. Thanks to the Granges who share news of events and accomplishments. Our future largely depends on what we do, not on what we say. If you can stand another pithy saying, society would tell us, “What you’re doing shouts so loudly we can’t hear what you’re saying.” Tell us what you’re doing! If local Granges don’t share their news, it’s the same as announcing that you’re not doing anything.
One thing I really like about the new server is that it is focused on WordPress, the platform we use to develop and maintain the site. This promises some great future developments and efficiency.
As a bit of an aside, I confess that A.I. (artificial intelligence) caused some frustration during the migration. But it was also profoundly helpful at times. So much of life is about stewardship and making good use of the tools we have available and the opportunities they create. Is there really such a thing as a “bad” tool?
The website itself is a tool. One way to use the site efficiently is to subscribe so you receive a weekly summary of posts. While site visits declined during the critical period of outages, the number of subscribers did not. In fact, our subscriber count continues to increase. Slow and steady wins the race. (Are you counting the pithy sayings?)
To so many, thanks for your support and patience! If you have ideas or needs, communicate them. Together we can do great things!
FACT: It didn’t take long to receive an email from the new server that we’d passed 500 site visits!
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
One of the best parts of being on the State Membership Committee is the pleasure of awarding longevity certificates to members and certificates of appreciation to community individuals who have done outstanding work to improve the lives of those around them. The positive energies are felt throughout the room, and their imprints are embedded in the walls of the Grange Halls. Listening to the recipients as they give their acceptance speech and watching their faces as their eyes sparkle, their positive energies emerge from their voices, and feeling their gratitude as it flows freely from their person gives me a warm, happy, proud feeling. It makes me grateful and proud to be a Grange member. Whether the recipient is receiving a 25-year or an 80-year certificate (yes, it is true), the responses all resonate with the same happy feelings, with good memories of their Grange membership. You can tell that being a Grange member has had a grand impact on their lives and the lives of their family and friends. I certainly can relate to that reasoning. The family of the recipients who attend but are not Grange members also listen with awe and gratitude while their family recipient is truly immersed in good thoughts and projects, conveying such feelings to the audience.
Utilize your Halls to give awards to non-members who are outstanding in your communities. There are many people doing positive things, and they are mainly overlooked. Recognize them and offer your thanks and appreciation for what they have done for the community and for the Grange. This ceremony will bring people to the Grange building, and for many, it will be their first time in a Grange Hall. The families of those recipients will learn what the Grange does. Usually, when I host such an event for non-members only, I give them a brief history of the Grange before giving awards, so they become aware of their surroundings.