Legislative Report, January 2026

By Steven Haycock, Legislative Director
(207) 329-6835

It’s January in Maine, which means it’s cold and snowy and the Maine Legislature is returning to work.   Officially opened on January 7, each party had dueling press conferences at the same time to lay out their priorities for the session.  Why did they have dueling press conferences, because in 2026 in my humble opinion there are no “adults” leading the political parties.  It worries me that politicians’ main goals are stopping the opposite party, even more so than advancing their own plans or agendas.  It’s seeming to me a cultural shift, which applies to most legislative bodies, and Maine is by no means alone, Washington, D.C. is another prime example.  How sad, and how far we’ve fallen from the days when the goal was to advance the common good, not stopping the opposition at all costs.  We have great problems and issues in this State and Nation.  I’m a firm believer that the best possible solution comes when the politicians of both parties work together to create common sense solutions.  “We the People,” are much better off when the Republicans don’t get everything they want and when the Democrats don’t get everything they want.  The best solutions are a combination of both ideas. 

Using Google Gemini A.I. I asked it what the priorities for the coming Maine Legislative Session are and this was the response: Energy Costs & Affordability, Housing Reform, Budget Rebalancing (apparently they found and additional $250 Million to spend), Filling Federal Funding Gaps, Immigration Enforcement, Healthcare Workforce, Tribal Sovereignty, Environment and Industry Support.  These all seem like reasonable areas to address.  The question is will they be able to work together to accomplish some of these issues. 

Healthcare Workforce seems very timely, although I couldn’t venture a clue on how to fix what is obvious Doctor shortage.  Since returning to Maine, my previous Doctor’s office I had closed, when I called to get appointment with a doctor at local office, I was told it would be at least a 6-month wait.  There were more than 8 practitioners at this office, I told them I didn’t really care which one I saw.  I also explained that for me personally I was looking for mental health support, the polite receptionist told me that I would likely be an additional 12 months after my first appointment with my new doctor to be connected with mental health services.  I’m reasonably young and healthy, so I will just have to cope.  On the other side my mother, who has some minor ongoing health issues, was forced to change providers when her Medicare insurance changed.  Her previous doctor was no longer accepted by the plan, and she went searching for a new doctor that took her plan, she called and asked for appointment, the next available appointment was in 2027!!  She has medications that require refills etc., so that worries me.  These are just two simple examples of pending healthcare crisis, without easy solutions.  I’ve been trying to produce a resolution to address this but can’t come up with the “resolve” although I got about a 25 “Whereas” statements I could use.  Any suggestions? 

View from the Farm – January, 2026

Webmaster’s note: The format of this column includes all of the Quill’s Endians participating at various times and in various ways! Phil writes this month’s column.

Rings of Growth

Heather and I had a chance to walk along the shore on Saturday. The trees in those woods along the harbor hold up a mirror, I think, about the people, too, who inhabit the rugged coast of Maine.

A clear, cold January day in the single digits with a biting wind and little snow cover shows the struggles. Some of the trees seem to have taken wrong turns before beating a path toward a “success” that is not wholly guaranteed. One bad storm, one poor year and…
the experiment changes.

The tree becomes forest floor duff. In the meantime, hold on to that ledge with all you’ve got. Send out another root to catch an inch of soil. Nourishment and anchor all in one and a better chance to stave off the inevitable. It’s hard living along the coast.

But the beauty of the struggle is inescapable. The stone, stacked by God to hold just enough back from the open jaws of the Atlantic. The rockweed, placed just so that the tide delivers food for the stretching roots. The crooked, crooked shoreline to offer just enough windbreak to hold on. The clear, cold sky, reading stature and form like an open book, laying the natural history bare for any and all to see.

This winter has come off just right. It’s a reminder that another ring of growth comes with scars from the wind and the waves. This winter also shows us what is necessary for survival. A good roof over sturdy walls. Plenty of laundry layered on a body to be outdoors. Woods to break the wind. A full pantry to keep you. A farmer to fill it. 

Heather and Phil Retberg and their three children run Quill’s End Farm, a 105-acre property in Penobscot that they bought in 2004. They use rotational grazing on their fifteen open acres and are renovating thirty more acres from woods to pasture to increase grazing for their pigs, grass-fed cattle, lambs, laying hens, and goats. Quill’s Endians are members of Halcyon Grange and publish a newsletter for their farm’s buying club of farmers in her area and generously permit us to share some of their columns with Grangers. Visit the Quill’s End Farm Facebook Page for more information.

Membership Moments

Rick Grotton

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

I will be attending the annual Agricultural Trade Show in Augusta this week to talk to people about grange and to try to get some new membership. Each year I attend, emblazed in my Grange attire, either wandering around talking to the vendors or seated at the Maine State Grange booth, enticing new membership and explaining what Grange has to offer. People from all over the state attend and check out the agricultural exhibits, eager to find new ideas or products to help with their gardens and food production. Events like these offer a great opportunity to add new membership. We have people sign up who are interested, and the list is passed to Granges based upon the geographical location of the person’s residence. Applications and other information are readily available. 

By attending this event, I am achieving three things that are mentioned in my columns over the years as in the following:

Visibility, by letting yourself be shown and making yourself known.

Approaching others and having pleasant conversations about Grange. 

Wearing clothing that proudly displays Grange emblems and creates conversations such as, “My parents (grandparents or myself) used to belong to Grange” and “Do Granges still exist?” 

I encourage all members to attend any kind of event in their jurisdiction where there may be interest in Grange membership. There are so many people who have not heard of Grange, so get out there, make yourself visible, talk to others and wear Grange apparel!

Fraternal Concern – Edith Cunningham

Submitted by Sherry Harriman, MSG Master/President

Our Grange family has once again lost a lifelong member.

Sister Edith Cunningham of Oakland passed away December 31, 2025. She is a former Musician of the Maine State Grange.

Services will be held January 17, 2026, at the United Baptist Church in Oakland at 2:00 with a time of visiting after the service. Edith’s family would like to invite all to join them. If you can’t attend the service, please share a memory at edoakland@myfairpoint.net.

Obituary submitted by Mary Colson, Benton Grange #458

OAKLAND – On Dec. 31, 2025, Edith Sturtevant Kerr Cunningham, passed on from this life to meet and spend eternity with her Lord and Savior.

A forever resident of Oakland, she graduated from M.L.Williams High School, Coburn Classical Institute, was an alumnus of Colby College and graduated from Bliss College. She was a Grange Member for 87 years and a former Maine State Grange Musician.

Predeceased by both parents; and husband, Ted Kerr and husband, Alfred Cunningham; brother, Eugene Sturtevant.

Funeral service to be held Jan. 17 at 2 p.m., at the United Baptist Church, Oakland, followed by a gathering with everyone in the vestry for a time to share remembrances, old and new memories, and celebrate her 103 years of living

Tax Season Is Arriving

Reprinted with permission from an enewsletter published by Maine Representative James White.

The 2025 tax filing season in Maine begins January 27, 2026, with returns due by April 15, 2026.  Maine Revenue Services (MRS) has updated its filing guidelines this year, including the introduction of the IRS Direct File System, which allows taxpayers to file their federal and state returns directly with the IRS for free.

Additionally, due to last year’s state budget process, the tobacco tax increase in Maine by $1.50, from $2 per pack to $3.50, became effective January 5, 2026. For more information, including filing instructions and resources, visit the MRS website

From the Deacon’s Bench

By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

  Matthew 5:4

Happy New Year to one and all! I hope you had a very nice and rewarding Christmas season. Please remember that the season just doesn’t end on the sixth of January.

The Lord God did not want us to just worship Jesus’ birth; He wanted us to carry the feeling of love into the world every day. He wanted us to help the downtrodden. By helping those who are mourning, you will be helping yourselves.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Benediction: “Gracious Father, help us to be better people. Teach us to learn how to help those who are sad and mourning. Amen.”

Thought for the month:

“May good luck be your friend in whatever you do, and may trouble be always a stranger to you.”

While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.

Grange Today! 1-9-2026

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

  • A New Year’s Resolution for your Grange
  • Growing Skills, Growing Futures
  • Grange Heirloom for January
  • National Grange welcomes back Youth Director
  • Pet Food Drive: A Share Your Project’s Story Submission
  • Have You Been Affected by Affordable Care Act Changes? We Want to Hear From You
  • Make Project Sustenance part of your Grange’s 2026 Resolutions
  • Support the Grange Foundation through the Common Routes Challenge
  • Granwest: Modernizing for Western Communities
  • Recipes from the Heartland
  • Advocacy Alert: Pass the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection screening Coverage Act
  • Digital Therapeutics Offer Hope to Rural Residents
  • Member Benefit: MemberDeals
  • Grange Store: Grange Jewelry

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!

Read the Current Issue

Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.

Fraud Watch- Fake Jobs, Real Losses

MSG Communications Resources Logo
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

If your New Year’s resolutions include finding a new job, work-from-home opportunities may sound appealing. While many remote positions are legitimate, some aren’t what they appear to be. Criminals often pose as legitimate employers on job boards, social media, or send unsolicited texts, promising easy money, flexible hours, and a quick hiring process.

What they’re really after is  personal information or our  money by asking  to pay upfront for “training,” purchase expensive equipment, or provide sensitive details—such as your Social Security number—as part of the application.

Be cautious of sudden, unusually high-paying opportunities that require little to no experience. Avoid sharing personal data until you’re certain the job offer is legitimate and take time to research the company by searching its name along with the words scam, complaint, or fraud. If you see concerns from other job seekers, consider it a clear red flag.

More Topic Resources

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

AARP Fraud Watch Network

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out the AARP online form or email me@aarp.org.

President’s Perspective – January 2026

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

The following is an overview of items that should be stressed at all meetings, following the manual (the most current version of the manual is 2023, but whatever year your manual is, it covers the needs of your meetings.) You may wish to add to or subtract from this list. We fully realize that conditions and situations vary with the different Granges.

Suggestions and Instructions for Grange Procedure

  1. Following the manual, instruct proper procedures for Opening and Closing in full form. To open in “full form” means to follow the prescribed Ritual / instructions in the Grange manual, for either traditional or alternative opening which includes opening the Bible, opening the implement case and the Salutation given (prescribed hand salute), Salute to the Flag, and the Charter in the hall. Business cannot be conducted outside the meeting then announced to the rest of the membership. All must have the opportunity to discuss and vote on all issues.
  2. The word “Ritual” means a set routine/pattern of conducting the meeting each time you meet.
  3. Your Grange is required to meet at least once a month and open the meeting in full form. You may meet more than once a month as desired, but must open in full form every time.  (A minimum of 7 of your members must attend for a quorum to hold a legal meeting.)  
  4. Stress the importance of beginning meetings on time and ending at a reasonable time.
  5. If only 7 members are present the following Officers are to be filled:  Master, Overseer, Steward, Assistant Steward or Lady Assistant Steward, Chaplain, Secretary and Gatekeeper.
  6. Prospective members may sit in on a meeting, but do not count toward the quorum.
  7.  Emphasize the importance of committing parts to memory, (but not required) especially for Opening and Closing, the Obligation Ceremony and Degrees when conferred.
  8. Demonstrate Grange Salutation. Demonstrate the Voting Sign.  (Read the specific instructions from the Code Book on how to make the Signs and Salutation properly.) Encourage and assist with reading from the Code Book.  (The secret work of the Grange) 
  9. Demonstrate Flag Presentation, Balloting, & Draping the Charter. Do you need instructions?
  10. Stress the importance of prompt advance payment and collection of dues. Encourage the Secretary and the Grange to make every possible effort to retain a member. Delinquent members should have 3 notices, one a personal contact, before they are suspended. Suspension may only take place upon vote of the Grange at a regular meeting.
  11. Granges are to keep their by-laws up to date, in writing, (a copy to be on file at State Office).  Changes may be made after the initial reading of the proposed change, the vote is taken at a subsequent regular meeting, opened in full form with a quorum. Changes must be made with a 2/3 vote of those present and voting of the Grange. After the vote to adopt, the changes must be submitted in writing to the State Master for approval. Are your by-laws up to date? Does MSG office have a copy?t write out the current section of the by-law(s) and write out what changes are to be made.
  12. All funds go through the Secretary regardless who is holding the money, and should be reported by a specific committee or under “Bills and Accounts” at every meeting. All Grange and committee accounts are to be audited at least yearly by either the finance committee or the Executive Committee of the Grange. All Grange accounts should have at least two (2) signers, from different households, on each account and all persons who handle monies are required by our by-laws to be bonded. Do you have a plan for fundraising? What are your goals and needs?
  13. The minutes of the meetings must be read and adopted at the same meeting or adopted at the next consecutive meeting as the third order of business, while open is full form. The minutes of open meetings are included in the next meeting minutes. 
  14. When you ask “Have reports to Pomona and State Grange been duly and promptly made?” This covers quarterly dues reports but also includes year end reports of committees, requests for roster information, survey and any other information requested  by Pom or State Grange.
  15. Are your Committees active and reporting? After elections are completed, the Master selects or appoints the chair for the needed committees, the appointed chair takes over upon Installation of officers and they remain chair until the next election & installation. The Master can appoint their committee or the Chair can make their own selections.
  16. The Gatekeeper may come into the hall after the completion of the Flag Presentation during the Opening after the Master has rapped the gavel to seat the Grange. (The Gatekeeper should go to the anteroom during the opening ceremony to take the outer gate password from members who arrive late and when candidates go out at the start of the degree.)
  17. Balloting for candidates may only be done at a regular meeting with a quorum present. Presentation of applications, balloting and obligation/degree work may be at the same meeting.
  18. Candidates who are waiting for obligation/degree work may come into the hall for the opening.
  19. The Grange must be opened in full form for Degrees, Obligation Ceremony and Welcome Ceremony, even at a separate Degree Day where all degrees are done on the same day.
  20. The Obligation Ceremony and Welcome Ceremony may be used in all Granges, but full Degrees (degree means a level in the Grange) are recommended to be viewed or read thru by the Grange. However, since it is harder and harder to get a team together or to take your candidates somewhere else, encourage the Grange to read aloud through each Degree, even one degree at a time at 4 different meetings. This gets everyone involved and is less overwhelming than viewing the degrees all at once. Don’t keep the prospective members waiting. *(There is a Pomona Obligation Ceremony also.)
  21. Installation of Officers may be handled by your own Grange.  Encourage joint installations. There is an alternative Installation Ceremony now available for use, it is about half the length of the original ceremony, but still gives the Officers duties and instructions. The Installation Ceremony could be more informative to the members and the Officers, if each Officer take turns reading the charges at other times besides the Installation meeting.  It could be spread out over several meetings giving more time to absorb the messages.
  22. Encourage community service and participation in the Community Service contest; at least send in the Community Service Report form, even if you are not doing a lot.
  23. Encourage participation in various contests, attending other meetings, conferences, etc.
  24. Encourage the Grange to send a listing of upcoming meetings and events for the Maine Grange Bulletin and website, at least two months in advance with reminders. And report afterwards. *Encourage members with internet to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website.
  25. Encourage Open House and Booster Night meetings during the year or Grange Month as good Grange promotion. Promote good publicity — Grange newsletter, press, radio, etc.
  26. There are many published items to help in your work, items may be requested on the National Grange Website or the Maine State Grange website.
  27. Encourage your membership to get involved with Junior activities (includes ages 5 – 14) even if the Grange does not have a Junior Grange. Children and Grandchildren may join the Junior plus 1 program. Handled at the Subordinate Grange.
  28. Guest speakers and visitors are welcome to sit in on a meeting even during the full opening. Prospective members may attend a meeting.

                 ~ ~ ~ We wish you much success.  ~ ~ ~

Grange Heirloom — January 2026

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.

Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!

For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.