Fundraising Report – June 2024

Norma Meserve, MSG Fundraising Chairperson
207 998-2586

Report of the 2024 Annual State Grange Yard Sale

What a beautiful day it was for the annual State Grange Yard Sale on June 1, 2024. Sunny and warm and people were ready to shop! This event was once again held at Manchester Grange. There were approximately 15 tables rented, including the Lions Club, which once again sold breakfast and lunch. The State Grange Fundraising Committee had a table with sales items available as well as a 50/50 and a Raffle for two $100 VISA gift cards. The winners of the gift cards were Gailene Friedly of Golden Harvest Grange in Carmel and Karen Gagne from Danville Junction Grange in Danville. The winner of the 50/50 was Dana Long from Vienna. Overall, it was a very successful day. We raised over $400. I would like to thank all those Granges and Grangers who sold raffle tickets ahead of time for us.

Your help is greatly appreciated and the Fundraising Committee couldn’t make these events successful without your help. I would also like to thank Manchester Grange for again hosting us, and a special thanks to Linda Cobb, who was very accommodating in meeting us and the renters at various times to set up.

Until next time, have a great summer and I hope to see many of you at Headquarters for the State Grange’s 150th Anniversary celebration on June 29th.

Answer This Question!

Line drawing with questions

I have been thinking about ways to give back to my community, and I am curious about what the Grange Halls’ main functions are today. There is a great deal of information regarding the history of the Grange Hall but not much about what the purpose is today. I have talked with a Grange member and know that they provide educational scholarships and hold public suppers to raise money but beyond that I am not sure.

Website Visitor Lisa

(Answer provided by Walter Boomsma, Maine State Grange Communications Director. But local Granges should also be providing their own answers. Make your interests, events, and programs known.)

Thank you for your question and desire to give back to your community. The answer to your question is an example of how sometimes an organization’s greatest strength is its greatest weakness.

The Grange is a grassroots organization and, therefore, a very diverse organization. In a general and national sense, the Grange has a “Declaration of Purposes,” but within that framework, local Granges tend to have different focuses and interests. A correct but not very helpful answer to the question could be “It depends.”

For example, I can think of Granges that are focused on being a community center and providing a home to community resources and hosting events. A number of Granges sponsor a “Words for Thirds” Program by providing personal dictionaries to third graders in local schools. Some Granges provide entertainment ranging from concerts to open mics and craft fairs. Given the Grange’s strong agricultural roots, some Granges focus on supporting farms and farmers in their area. Knitting and sewing activities and classes are not uncommon. It really does depend on the interests and commitments of the local members.

That variety means a local Grange is open to new programs and ventures. I’ve occasionally said, “If you have a passion, we have the place.” Originally, the Grange was about supporting and strengthening the American Farmer. Our purpose has expanded to supporting and strengthening our communities and residents of all ages. Any member with an idea for doing that can expect an opportunity to use the hall and Grange resources to achieve a greater sense of community.

An eye to the future would see additional possibilities that go beyond the physical Grange Hall as technology expands the definition of “community.” When the Grange first formed, farm families hooked up their horses and wagons to meet at Grange halls both for socializing and for learning together. The community was defined by how far one could comfortably travel in a horse and wagon. While the local and in-person aspects will always be a bedrock of the Grange, the impact of a local Grange program can readily and quickly reach much farther.

We need to keep asking what we can do and what we want to do while honoring our motto: “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things charity.”

The Chaplain’s View – June 2024

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

The Eight Beatitudes
  1. Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  2. Blessed are the meek; for they shall possess the land.
  3. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.
  4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice; for they shall be filled.
  5. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.
  6. Blessed are the clean of heart; for they shall see God.
  7. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.
  8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for the sake of justice; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Good Will Publishers Inc. Copyright 1961

The beatitudes, how many of us truly understand these?  We all have different understandings.

This is one of my understandings: As God’s children, I would like to think that we walk in love serving others, by feeding the hungry, helping the fatherless and widows, clothing people in need, and listening as God does to his children.

Grange Heirloom — June 2024

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.

Community Service/FHH – June 2024

By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193

There has been some confusion and questions regarding our “Coups for Troops” Program. Some of this is because the official program was discontinued some time ago and we are now involved in the “TroopOns” program. We just haven’t changed the name until now!

Troopons is a program in which the Grange participates to help the military and their families.

  • Coupons must be manufacturer coupons only.
  • Coupons that have expired up to six months ago can still be used. 
  • There are four categories: food, non-food, baby and pets.

Group coupons in baggies and label on the outside of baggie:

  • Expired or unexpired
  • Category: food, non-food, baby, or pets
  • Number of coupons in the baggie
  • Dollar amount of coupons in the baggie
  • Please include an email address so troops/family can email thank you.

Send to Community Service Committee:
Brenda Dyer, Director
9 Marial Avenue
Biddeford, ME  04005

The Community Service Committee verifies and documents the baggies, then forwards them to Troopons. Troopons distributes the coupons to commissaries.

Learn more about Troopons here!


PLEASE Keep track of community service hours for each member and non-member involved in each project.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

June is election of officers. Remember, “The office seeks the man and not the man the office.”

Survey – Ag Trades Show

MSG Communications Department

The organizers of the Maine Agricultural Trades Show are looking for input on what you want to see:

  • Why do you attend the show? 
  • What types of business services do you seek?
  • What makes an ideal conference session topic or presentation style? 
  • What is on your wish list for BPC re-certification credit topics?
  • Suggested topics for daily networking and listening sessions

Click here to complete the survey!

View from the Hill – May 2024

This monthly newsletter written by Burton Eller, National Grange Legislative Director, covers “what’s happening” in Washington on various topics of interest to Grangers.

Note this is the final issue of “View from the Hill.” The content will become part of Grange Today! The first issue will be released June 14, 2024.