President’s Perspective – July 2024

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

Richard and I had a good time as part of the Maine group that attended the NE Lecturers Conference in CT. A variety of workshops were presented, activities, entertainment, tours, food, and friends.

The 150th Anniversary was a success, with about 55 Grangers and 10 Juniors attending. Thank you for coming, and thanks to all who helped in any way: cleaning, changing light bulbs, setting up tables, bringing food, setting up, taking part in the program, clearing away, and saving me some goodies. Thank you, Juniors, for weeding and sprucing up the memorial garden as a Community Service activity. It was a very casual afternoon with lots of visiting, reminiscing, hugs, and a wide variety of yummy, yummy sweets & snacks! Everything was done downstairs throughout the house (the chairlift was out of order). Souvenir 150th booklets were printed for our guests to take, listing all 593 Maine Granges, when they were organized & closure dates; all State Officers & dates they served; Annual State Sessions dates & places; National Sessions in Maine; and Maine Grangers who served as National Grange Officers; and assorted moments in State Grange history. Special 150th pads of paper were also passed out.  I would like to do the same thing in the north or Downeast.

There were posters, memorabilia, assorted photo albums, and other unique items to look at. The attendees participated in a meet the officers scavenger hunt to fill in a questionnaire with the name of a different officer for each question. Richard and I were very disappointed we couldn’t be there because we had been exposed to Covid on Wednesday.

Mike Griffin was MC for the program which consisted of a welcome by Darrell Huff, Moments in History by Missy Baldwin., membership information by Sharon Morton. Jim Owens. talked about the officers albums he has custody of, the Juniors performed a song, the officer questionnaire was reviewed with much laughter, several folks gave some of their experiences, door prizes were drawn and “It’s A Good Thing To Be A Granger” was sung by all. Thanks for making the day a success.

Since we are already in the middle of July, it’s time to start mentioning the State Grange session. One final reminder: You have less than one month to get your resolutions into the office by August 15 by standard mail and/or email. Resolutions must be read and voted on in your Grange before submitting them to the State for consideration.  

The 150th Annual State Grange Session is Oct. 18 & 19 at the Auburn Masonic Hall, 1021 Turner St, Auburn. Delegate registration, full schedule, meal, and motel information will be sent to the Granges soon. The Residence Inn (207-777-3400) in Auburn has agreed to give us a discount this year. You must ask for the Maine State Grange Annual Session group rate.

Friday, October 18 – 1:00 p.m. opening & business. 2:00 State Master’s Address.  2:45 Memorial Service,  3:45  Resolutions and National Grange Rep. guest speaker,  6:00 p.m. Banquet by Pine Cone Eastern Star Chapter here in the Masonic Hall – tickets purchased in advance. Awards will be presented upstairs after the banquet:  Junior Presentation, Community Service, Family Health & Hearing, Membership, Educational Aid and Howe’s Nurses Scholarships, CWA and other awards.

Saturday, October 19– 9:00 a.m. opening, acceptance of budget, election of officer(s), resolutions and reports mixed in with election as needed & installation of officers, 12:00 Ag Luncheon – tickets purchased in advance. 1:30 Call back to order – business continues. Saturday Oct 19 — 2:30 p.m. Conferral of the Sixth Degree($10 fee for 6th Degree candidates) (must have had the 5th Degree or 5th Degree Obligation to take the 6th Degree).

Junior Report — July 2024

By Betty Young
207 786-2120
Terry LaCombe Stevens,
207 356-2492
Co-directors

Maine State Junior Grange met at Headquarters in Augusta during the Sesquicentennial Celebration. It was a busy day of birdhouse crafting, pizza, chocolate, singing, and working on the Jr Garden. Thank you to our Junior Grange Alumnus William for the chocolate and helping supervise. (We have an open spot at camp if you are available.) We plan on continuing the
garden work in September.

We had planned on meeting at Tranquility Grange in July, but members will go to Enterprise. Members who are able to volunteer at Enterprise Grange on July 20th should contact Junior Committee Member Marilyn Stinson. Enterprise Grange has a fun day planned for the community and would welcome adult and Junior volunteers or game participants.

Highland Lake Grange is hosting the 2024 Junior Grange Overnight Camp on August 3rd-5th! Kathy Gowen is a past Junior Director and does a fantastic job planning and making Junior Grange fun. If you are interested in helping, enrolling a child, or donating to our camp, contact a co-director, Kathy Gowen, or Maine State Grange. Our 2024 Junior Grange camp is free and open to all children.

Next Year, the Maine State Junior Grange has plans to meet quarterly instead of every month and will include a Youth Grange member age14+. They will meet at the same time as the Junior Grange; however, they will have the Youth Grange Program and work with two leaders autonomously. Contact co-director Betty or Terry with any questions, concerns, or comments. We are always looking for new Junior members and committee members. We use Safe Gatherings Background Checks for adults working with our Juniors/Youth. If you would like to host JR/ Youth Grange next year, please contact us. We will help you plan the event and arrange all the details, or you can plan the day. We will enjoy the time at your Grange, with or without new children. Our team would enjoy installing your Jr Plus One(s) and Youth.

Stay cool and safe, and don’t forget to like our Facebook page.

Junior Grangers get some work done and participate in the Sesquicentennial Celebration

New Maine Members!

According to Good Day! magazine, the following Maine Granges took in the following (more than fifty!) new members.

Bauneg Beg #382
Pam Gerry

Cambridge Valley #582
Gail A. Watson

Fairview #342
Mika Levitt
Nicole Vera

Jonesboro #357
Janice Philbrook

Merriconeag #425
Jim Alexander
Jan Davis
Abigail Hight
Will Hight
Elizabeth Manning

North Jay #10
Angelia Courchesney

Norway #45
Dennis Fenney
Jeffrey K. Windom

Saco #53
Pamely Beckley

South Sangerville #335
Warren Nuite

Tranquility #344
Diane Berenzy
Lee Cronin
Dwight Emerson
Wade Graham
Elizabeth Hand
Jany Hardy
Stephen Hardy
DeAnna Hartel
Alan Larson
Sandy Lehman
Diane O’Brien
Robert Olsen
Pat Shannon
Jack Silverio
Susan Silverio
Cyrene Slegona
Cheryl Wienges
Karen Womer

Trenton #550
Robert Alison
Greg Askires
Joanna Dotts
Lynn Gregonel
Bing Miller
Teryn Miller
Mary Turner
Cecila Zaveskotis

Union Harvest #591
Deborah Bailey
Beatrice Martin
Jeffrey Todd

Victor #49
Margaret Blair
William Blair
Donald Green
Joyce Green
Samuel Green
Adam Lerette
Joe Robles
Lisa Robles
Richard Tompkins
Sherry Tompkins
Mark Williamson
Sabrina Williamson

Winthrop #209
Robert Faucher

Grange Heirloom — July 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.

Happy Fourth!

The Fourth of July – also known as Independence Day or July 4th – has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941; yet the tradition of Independence Day celebrations dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolutionary War.

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Britain. Two days later, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

The Declaration of Independence allowed Congress to seek alliances with foreign countries, and the fledgling U.S. formed its most important alliance early in 1778 with France. Without France’s support, America might well have lost the Revolutionary War.

The war waged by the American colonies against Britain, which began more than a year earlier in April 1775 at Lexington and Concord near Boston, would eventually end when British forces surrendered in Yorktown, Virginia. Yet the Declaration and America’s victory had far-reaching effects around the globe as other nations saw a small novel nation win its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.

From 1776 to today, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. This year’s Independence Day celebrating the nation’s 248th birthday will be on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter by Senator Stacey Guerin, Maine Senate District 4.

The Chaplain’s View – July 2024

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

The Ten Commandments

One of the Ten Commandments is to “Love our neighbor as ourselves.” I would like to think we all follow this commandment! Here is only one example

If someone is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him—how can God’s love be within him? Little children let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. Then we will know for sure. By our actions, that we are on God’s side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.

            But if we have bad consciences and feel that we have done wrong, the Lord will surely feel it even more,*for he knows everything we do. But dearly loved friends, if our consciences are clear, we can come to the Lord with perfect assurance and trust, and get whatever we ask for because we are obeying him and doing the things that please him.

1 John 3:17-22 (The Living Bible)

I can think of a time when I could have helped someone out and chose not to. I certainly felt awful about it and wished I had it to do over again, but I don’t. So, I have asked for forgiveness and know that God has forgiven me. We can all learn a lesson from this.    

Reporters Wanted!

Stick figure press

No worries! It’s not THAT difficult!

With all the great Grange events around the state this summer, we should be able to show our communities the opportunities the Grange offers and how successful our programs and events are!

You won’t earn cash, but you will get credit. Consider yourself appointed as a reporter for the Maine State Website.

Smartphone photos are welcome for posting. Send them by email to webmaster@mainestategrange.org. Include at least a few details–think of it as captioning your photo so we know what it’s about. Remember the “who, what, where, when” basics.

We’ll try to keep this simple but here are a few guidelines.

  • Photos of children require the written permission of a parent or guardian to publish. A form is available here. The fact that the child is with a parent is not sufficient.
  • Courtesy and respect are important! Even with adults, explain that you’d like the photo posted on the website.
  • One of the common rules of press/media photography is “no feet! When taking a posed photo of a group, move in close and try to shoot above the waist. Time permitting, we’ll crop and edit if needed.
  • Additional information is available in the MSG Communications Handbook.
MSG Communications Department

Of course, written stories without photos work, too! We’re here to help! Send us what you have and we’ll write, edit, and let you know if we need additional information. Let’s show off the Grange!

The codfish lays ten thousand eggs,
The homely hen lays one.
The codfish never cackles
To tell you what she's done.
And so we scorn the codfish,
While the humble hen we prize,
Which only goes to show you
That it pays to advertise.

Grange Today! 6-14-2024

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

  • Presidential Perspective
  • National Grange Hosts Webinar about Supporting Patient Access to Non-opioid Pain Medicines
  • Potlucks: Summer Fun can be Sustainable
  • Updates to National Grange Youth Programming
  • Oregon State Grange Elects New Leader
  • Community Service Department Updates
  • Celebrate Junior Grange Month
  • View from the Hill
  • Take Action on Obesity
  • Grange Store & Benefits

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to the Patrons Chain!

Read THE Current Issue
Subscribe to Grange Today!

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

1st Annual Northeast Chaplains’ Worship Service

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Lunch at 12 noon, followed by worship service at 1:30 pm.

Vermont Grange Center
308 West Street
Brookfield VT

RSVP for Saturday Lunch to Ruth Hovey-Sicely of the Vermont State Grange. Reservations must be made by July 8, 2024.

Stay the weekend at the Grange Center!

  • Camper hookups and cabins are available
  • Meals available courtesy of Vermont State Grange

For reservations, contact Ruth Hovey-Sicely 802 223-7961 by July 8.

July Events

  • July 5, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
  • July 5, 2024, Community Potluck Supper at Trenton Grange, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
  • July 6-7, 2024, Community Bazaar (crafts, farmers’ market, yard sale…) at Trenton Grange from 9 am until 2 pm both days. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
  • July 11, 2024, Blood Drive at Harraseeket Grange in Freeport, 12 – 5 pm.
  • July 12, 2024, Parkman Grange’s Minnie Bridge Scholarship Deadline. See this post.
  • July 12, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
  • July 13, 2024, Excelsior Grange Anniversary Celebration includes a yard sale, activities for kids, public supper, and contra dance! See this post.
  • July 13, 2024, St George Grange Community Supper at 5 pm. Adults $10, Children $5, under 10 free. For more information see this post.
  • July 14, 2024, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
  • July 19, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
  • July 19-21, 2024, NE Youth Conference in New York.
  • July 20, 2024, Jonesboro Grange Luau and Craft Show. For more information, see this post.
  • July 20, 2024, Wayside Grange Variety Show featuring Timberdoodle. Doors open at 6:30 pm. More information at Wayside Grange & Theatre’s Facebook Page.
  • July 20, 2024, Junior Grange Meeting at Enterprise Grange. Contact Director Betty Young for more information.
  • July 26, 2024, Trenton Grange Farmers Market, 3 pm – 6 pm. 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Vendors contact Beth Warner at 207 664-4164 or zeppa@ aol.com. Free admission. (Vendor/booth fee).
  • July 27, 2024, Regional Church Sunday at the Vermont Grange Camp.

What’s happening at your Grange? Submit your event for publishing on the Maine State Grange Website! It’s not much of a party unless you invite people!