Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
An email received today from National Grange includes a link to Grange Month Resources. These resources include:
Images are also available for use on social media and there are some printable posters.
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!
When Ocean View Master Larry Bailey reported on their successful Dictionary Day, even he may not have realized the full impact. He subsequently received an email from one of the teachers with an invitation to attend a “Community Meeting” at the school hosted by the third grade. One of the items on the agenda was a “quick thank you for your dictionary donations.”
Obviously, he went!
He was happy to report, “I admit I was genuinely impressed by what I saw and felt. The energy and excitement were palpable, the kids were clearly happy to be part of the program, and the teachers handled the huge crowd perfectly. The young speakers/announcers were great, the music was certainly upbeat and well done. I was especially taken with the videos some of the students filmed. They were classics and made me laugh…especially the one number one winner. Creative is an understatement for all of them.”
School District Superintendent Mike replied, in part, “…thanks again to the entire Grange for supporting our 3rd graders and school! The students and teachers once again did a wonderful job running the community meeting. It’s incredible to see the work our students and staff are doing, often in partnership with community organizations like the Grange!”
These partnerships can indeed be incredible. They connect our Granges with our schools and communities in powerful ways with results that make a difference. Check out the Words for Thirds Resource Page. There’s still time to set up a Dictionary Day for a school near you during Grange Month (April), but you’ll need to get started soon. We’re here to help!
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!
The deadline for the December Bulletin is the fourteenth. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
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.
Grangers are no exception as targets! We’ve seen a few scam emails recently–remember to be a little suspicious, especially during the holidays!
Coming soon! We hope to release what we have so far in the first week of December. You can read our first newsletter here!
Hollis Grange delivered dictionaries to two third-grade classes in two different schools this past week. Words for Thirds strikes again!
When having a meeting in the winter, make the hall look inviting! That includes some outside lighting. Remember, solar versions are available that do not require a wired connection!
Ellie Collins has some Grange Songbooks that are looking for a good home! If you’re interested, contact her or let us know!
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
Laozi
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!
The November Bulletin is now available. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Ellie Collins has some Grange Songbooks that are looking for a good home! If you’re interested, contact her or let us know!
“When you think you are too old to do something new remember you will never be younger than you are right now.”
James Clear
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!
The deadline for submitting information to be included in the November Bulletin is November 14, 2024. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
We’re still looking for any Granges considering or already participating in the Words for Thirds Dictionary Project. Please let us know who you are!
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.
Please remember to use the correct email address for State Master/President Sherry. An older Gmail address is floating around, but it is not regularly checked. Also, she does not maintain any social media accounts, including Facebook.
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. If you submit it before November 15, it will be included in the November Bulletin!
The 150th Anniversary Booklet is a literal treasure of historical information about Granges in Maine, including a reasonably complete list of every Grange that has existed in Maine! Check it out!
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.
Ellie Collins has some Grange Songbooks that are looking for a good home!
“If you don’t know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere.”
Henry Kissinger
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!
Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
Remember, complete information is available right here on the website!
We’ve seen a recent uptick in visits to the Scholarship Information Page. If your Grange offers scholarships, please visit this page and make sure the information is current and correct!
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. If you submit it before November 15, it will be included in the November Bulletin!
Those we’ve received are listed on the 2024 State Session page and have been added to the Program Books and Information Page.
Plan some sort of simple gathering during the holidays. I wrote a “Special Report” last year about a community event we attended last year on Christmas Day. I was surprised at how many were there and what a great time it was.
“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.”
Sharon Salzberg
We’ve opened the 2025 Website Event Calendar. Don’t forget to submit your dates!
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!
October Bulletin columns and information are due by October 14th. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
On October 9, 2024, the Fifth Degree will be offered at Danville Junction Grange at 7:00 p.m. Contact Maynard Chapman at 207 312-5591 for information or to join.
Remember, complete information is available right here on the website!
For most Granges, it’s “Words for Thirds” season! Look for some exciting news about this program here in Maine!
Those we’ve received are listed on the 2024 State Session page. We’ll be adding them to the Program Books and Information Page soon.
Always have some kind of handout available at every event–even if it’s just a simple business card listing your meeting schedule.
“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”
Henry David Thoreau
We’re opening the 2025 Website Event Calendar. Don’t forget to submit your dates!
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!
The September Bulletin is available. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
Our undercover reporter tells us that 200 COVID and/or flu vaccinations were administered at the booth in front of the New England Grage Building. The program continues through September 29th. For more information see this post.
As noted in this month’s Exploring Traditions Column, flags and holders are available from the Monroe Grange Store. Many Grange-related products available—even the hard-to-find stuff! They can help with fundraising programs, custom-printed apparel, promotional items, awards, signs, and banners. Check out the Grange Store!
A page dedicated to the 2024 State Session has a “packet of information” that includes the forms necessary to reserve meals. It even includes deadlines for reserving and submitting information! This page is currently getting lots of visits!
Annual reports and program books are coming due.
Think about “rebranding” your potluck into a community event. Encourage residents to meet and greet each other and build the community. Welcome, children so it’s a family event. Request participants bring food, hot or cold, to share. Make available bottled water, paper goods, cups, tables, games, and music. Include activities like face painting, corn hole, drawing, and dancing.
Doing things is not the same as getting things done!”
Jared Silver
Submitting news can be as simple as a photo and “cutline.” A cutline is a brief description–longer than a caption–to accompany the photo. Let’s prove that the Grange is alive and well in Maine! (Photos should be submitted as an attachment to an email.) We get inquiries from people looking for active Granges!
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!
The September Bulletin Deadline is September 14, 2024. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page.
Danville Junction Grange will resume Bingo at the Grange Hall on Saturday, December 7, instead of in September, as previously mentioned. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.
This is just a reminder that the Monroe Grange Store has many Grange-related products available—even the hard-to-find stuff! They can help with fundraising programs, custom-printed apparel, promotional items, awards, signs, and banners. Check out their Grange Store!
A page dedicated to the 2024 State Session now has a “packet of information” that includes the forms necessary to reserve meals. We’ve recently posted a copy of the 2023 Journal of Proceedings, a record of last year’s convention.
Get your entries in! Officers and directors note that annual reports and program books are coming due.
Where’s your Grange’s Cornucopia? What’s it look like? It just might be time for rehabbing your “horn of plenty” and having it prominently displayed somewhere in the hall. H-O-P-E!
“Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you into trouble.”
Frank Tyger
Submitting news can be as simple as a photo and “cutline.” A cutline is a brief description–longer than a caption–to accompany the photo. Let’s prove that the Grange is alive and well in Maine! (Photos should be submitted as an attachment to an email.) We get inquiries from people looking for active Granges!