Membership Moments – May 2024

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

Spring has sprung and warmer weather has us out and about and ready to plant our crops.  Enjoy the wonders of Nature as the seed becomes a healthy plant, then bearing fruit. We are grateful for all the resources that Nature provides so we can have a bountiful harvest.

I am pleased to hear that the Degree Days in April were successful as well as Granges that recruited new members. I know of fifty, yes fifty, new members who saw the degrees or were obligated last month.  Our Grange had 2 who were obligated. Out of the fifty new members, three Granges alone totaled 36; Fairview (Smithfield) had 18, Meericoneag (Harpswell) had 10, and Androscoggin (Greene) had 8. I am also aware that Deering Grange (Portland) took in 4 new members! Keep up the good work!

The new members will need proper training in the ritual and floorwork. Please offer to help mentor them and provide them with the resources and information they can use to become active in their communities. In previous columns, it was explained how your Grange can help these new members. For a quick review, remember to greet them and make them feel welcome, listen to their ideas, get to know their interests, and have an active Grange for them to be able to participate in events. I am available to attend and mentor if needed. Membership takes work, but we are well equipped to handle the task with ease. Enjoy!

The Chaplain’s View – May 2024

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

The Meaning of Trust
  1. Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
  2. An arrangement whereby a person (a trustee) holds property as its normal owner for the good of one or more beneficiaries. (A trust was set up)

We trust our leaders in the Grange that they will continue to follow the By-Laws and improve communication in their leadership roles.

We trust financial institutions; that is why we use them. Therefore, shouldn’t we trust in one another as God trusts us? If you believe in God, then you trust in God

Justice and judgment are the foundation of your throne; kindness and truth go before you.

Psalms 89:16, Catholic Bible Publishers 1972-1973 edition

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; in all your ways be mindful of him; and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Catholic Bible Publishers 1972-1973 edition

Valley Grange to Honor Community and County Dispatchers

Valley Grange is located at 172 Guilford Center Road in Guilford, Maine

Guilford—Valley Grange in Guilford has announced their annual Celebration of Community, which will take place on Friday, May 17, 2024, at the Guilford Grange Hall. The event includes honoring one or more Community Citizen(s) of the Year. This year, the Grange will honor the Piscataquis County Emergency Dispatchers. The event celebrates the strength of rural communities with a potluck supper at 5:30 pm, followed by a program featuring a presentation of certificates of recognition at 7:00 pm. The program includes an opportunity for guests to share testimonials and appreciation.

Program Director Walter Boomsma noted in announcing the celebration, “We always try to honor people who have their boots on the ground and give of themselves to strengthen and build our communities. These too often unsung heroes are a lifeline for our communities. The event itself brings neighbors and friends together. Even the meal demonstrates the strength and value of our communities. In the truest sense, the communities prepare the potluck supper by bringing dishes to share.”

911 dispatchers are the vital link between individuals in distress and the emergency services they desperately need. Their ability to gather crucial information, provide life-saving instructions, and coordinate emergency response teams makes them invaluable assets to their communities. They embody compassion, professionalism, and resilience, serving as the first responders in every emergency call. They work behind the scenes, gathering crucial information, providing life-saving instructions, and coordinating emergency response. Valley Grange is honored to offer this opportunity to recognize their compassion, professionalism, and resilience.

“When you think about it,” Boomsma noted, “every citizen and visitor benefits from the work these people do daily. This is a chance to thank them in person and maybe shake hands and give a hug.” Community Service Chair Mary Annis adds, “This is always such a great evening as we enjoy the chance to connect with each other, share a great meal, and celebrate our rural lives.”

Additional information about the event is available at http://valleygrange.com and on the Valley Grange Facebook page.

Valley Grange Event

Grange Heirloom — May 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.

Maine State Grange Anniversary Celebration

You’re invited to the Maine State Grange 150th Anniversary Celebration on June 29, 2024, from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. There will be a short program at 2:30 pm.

State Grange Headquarters is located at 146 State Street in Augusta, Maine. Please park between the Grange and the bank and use the side entrance.

Memories – Socialize – Get acquainted

The Patrons Chain 5-3-2024

Articles in this edition include:

  • Western Region Leaders’ Conference is #GrangeStrong
  • Member Satisfaction Survey
  • National Convention Registration is Open
  • Tonight: Fellowship First Friday
  • May Grange Heirloom
  • Coming Soon… Grange Today!
  • Rural Minds Webinar: Managing Tardive Dyskinesia in Rural America
  • Grange Hall Podcast: Episode 1
  • Grange Supply Store: Good Day! magazine
  • Grange Member Benefit: Lenovo 

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

Read THE Current Issue
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Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. Occasionally, a weekly issue isn’t sent. For example, the last Friday of the month is usually a View from the Hill week, so the fact that one hasn’t been posted on the MSG website doesn’t necessarily mean we skipped it! You can double-check using the link (Read the Current Issue) above. Effective 2024, we will only maintain one year of issues on the MSG website.

Fairview Grange Success!

Fourteen new members were welcomed to the fold

Fairview Grange in Smithfield recently held a wildly successful open meeting with 42 townspeople attending. Master/president Rick Watson said it was exciting to see that the Grange is important to the community adding, “We discussed expectations, wants and needs along with how the Grange can serve as a community or event center and the collaborative relationship with The North Pond Association. These three groups with different needs can work together to benefit the community.”

Twelve people joined the Grange immediately following the meeting and two more have since decided to join!

The labors of the day are not complete in Smithfield!

Rick also expressed thanks to all who attended, helped set up, or tore down, and especially to those who joined. In addition, he gave a shout-out to Kings Restaurant up the street for sending some desserts and a thank you to the Grange ladies who baked. “You’ll never go home hungry from a Grange meeting,” he pledged.

Those who attended the meeting completed questionnaires asking for input regarding ideas for Grange events and programs and an inventory of the types of activities people would be willing to help with!

Fairview Grange meets next on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 6:30 pm. Visit the Fairview Grange Facebook Page for more information! Fairview Grange is located at 826 Village Road in Smithfield Maine.

UMaine Offers Free Summer Courses

Reprinted with permission from an enewsletter published by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin.

The University of Maine’s Early College summer course registration is still open with over 75 tuition-free online courses available to high school students. Early College students have access to world-class faculty at Maine’s flagship university and the only Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution in Maine.

Qualified high school students can earn up to 12 college credits per year at UMaine and its regional campus in Machias. Live and online classes run from May 6 until Aug. 16. UMaine’s flexible summer schedule includes online and live courses and several unique on-site experiences. Students and parents can visit the program’s website to learn more about the program and eligibility. Those who are ready to apply can do so directly via the Early College portal here. Applications are due one week prior to the course start dates. Seniors graduating in 2024 will not be eligible to participate in Summer 2024 Early College courses. For a complete list of courses and locations, download the program’s online guide.

Note: The online guide can easily be printed for your Grange’s Bulletin Board.

Communication Shorts 04-30-2024

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!

May Bulletin Coming soon!

The deadline for the May Bulletin is Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Keep those cards and letters coming in! You can find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

This Might Be Ironic

A recent “Word of the Day” in The Dictionary Project Newsletter was hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. No, it’s not a fear of hippotamus. It’s a fear of long words!

Katherine Rhoda Concerts

You may have received an offer from Katherine to perform a Grange-themed concert at your location. For those planning an anniversary celebration or open house, this could be a good fit! For more information, contact Katherine through her website.

Consider this Idea!

There appears to be a growing trend towards informal social events. For example, in Abbot a group of people meet weekly to play board and card games. There’s not a lot structure and work involved. Sometimes, the best ideas are the simplest.

Under Consideration – Online Grange Directory

We are considering a change to the online Grange Directory. Instead of listing one contact, we may include two: the master and the secretary. This will double the odds of interested people reaching someone and getting a response. If you have any thoughts about this, let me know!

Submit News! Be “famous”

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!

Online Directories Available 24-7

  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!