Communications Column – May 2024

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Our April Column discussed “boosting” the Grange. One obvious way of doing that is to promote your events thoroughly. Since I’ve recently had some questions about posting events on the website and in the calendar, let’s continue the theme!

When you submit information about an event…

For example, the deadline for the May Bulletin was May 14th.  As long as space permits, I include the entire website calendar (the following month [June] through December) in that (and every) Bulletin. I usually complete the Bulletin a day or two after the deadline and post the PDF on the website. I also send it to MSG Headquarters for them to print and snail mail a copy to all Subordinate Grange Secretaries. The way the local secretary handles it is very individualistic. Many bring it to their next meeting. That’s where it gets tricky. Using Valley Grange as an example, we’ll be meeting on June 19th, so you can see how most of the June events in that Bulletin will be over by the time it reaches some people.

For the website, I usually post events within 24-48 hours of receiving them. I probably should note that we don’t post “regular” meetings. I love to create an individual post for events when there’s sufficient information. If you use the submission form on the website, it prompts you for what to include. If sending an email is easier, by all means do so—if you send an email, you can attach a copy of any flyers or other visuals. Visuals help me create an actual post for the event!

Once your event is posted on the MSG Website, it’s easy-peasy to share that post to Facebook–or lots of other places! Go to the bottom of the post and click the button!

Find the button representing how and where you want to share a post.

Hopefully, this shows the value of posting your events to the website:

  • Your event information is posted and available almost immediately after submitting it;
  • Your event may include illustration–for example, we have standard logos for events such as public suppers and yard sales;
  • Your event information is easily discovered by people searching for Grange activities;
  • Your event is easily shared by anyone on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc.;
  • Your repeating events are listed as such on the MSG Event Calendar;
  • Your event gets statewide and national exposure.

To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.

Leonard Bernstein
Tell us why you love the grange
Submit an Event or News

► FACT: So far this year, nearly 3,000 people have visited the MSG Website!

Quick Tip — Community Events!

Cool Idea

One of the software providers for our website recently blogged some ideas for community events that will draw people in.

  1. Game night
  2. Food festival
  3. Farmers market
  4. Community cleanup
  5. Arts and crafts exhibit
  6. Seasonal or holiday events
  7. Marathons
  8. Wellness and fitness
  9. Movie night
  10. Hobbies and how-to workshops
  11. Swap meets
  12. Guides and tours
  13. Sports
  14. Talent show
  15. Unique, community oriented festivals

What are you going to do this summer? Don’t forget to submit your events to the MSG website calendar!

Danville Junction Grange Yard Sale

Saturday, May 25, 2024 – 9:00 am until 1:00 pm

Attic treasures, books, RADA cutlery, baked goods, beans and chili (to go), pick your prize raffle, 50/50, plants and more.

Tables are available for rent, $20 each. For more information or to rent a table, contact Maynard Chapman at 207 312-5591.

Danville Junction Grange is located at 15 Grange Street, right off Route 202 in Danville.

Flowers in Your Garden?

Guest Ag Article by Nate Pennell
MSG Executive Committee Member

Some flowers in your vegetable garden will be very helpful to attract native pollinators and other beneficial insects.  Marigolds are one example. Try several of your favorites. Pansies are great for early gardens and will last all summer and into fall. Try a few glads. Some of the most productive gardens in Maine, include flowers. Always try to produce enough for your family and some to give or sell to others.

Community gardens are also very popular. They grow for many in their community and enjoy doing it.  It is very easy to enjoy what you do when you do for others!

Raised Beds for Farming

Warming the soil in raised beds before you plant in Maine, it needs to be done in March and April, or early May up north. Adding some compost and additional soil if needed, will insure a successful crop. Raised beds can be replanted with lettuce, greens, radish, and other quick growing items. If you do not have very successful crops at any time, be sure to take a soil test! The University of Maine Soil testing service can get you results in a couple of weeks. Soil and Water Districts across Maine as well as your local Cooperative Extension Office can assist and guide you. Other ideas that can work for you are window boxes, door step planters, and small gardens, especially for the elderly.

Happy gardening this year and next!

Ag Committee Report – May 2024

By Roberta Meserve, MSG Ag Director
(207) 998-3857

A big Thank-you for those who provided fudge in March for the Legislators. They loved it.

The Agriculture Committee met in Augusta on May 10, 2024 to discuss Agricultural Scholarship applications. We awarded scholarships to these applicants:

  • Samantha Bissell, Palmyra, Nokomis H.S.
  • Hannah Dean, Ripley, Dexter H.S.
  • Cooper Dellarma, Solon, Carrabec H.S.
  • June Foyt, Monmouth, Monmouth Academy
  • Madison Shaw, Saco, Old Orchard Beach H.S.
  • Ryleigh Turgeon, Buxton, Bonny Eagle H.S.

Each recipient will receive $500.00.

Grange Agricultural Enterprise Award   Application deadline date August 1.

Applicants must earn at least a portion of their income from their Agricultural Enterprise.

The application form approved by the Maine State Grange Agriculture Committee must be used. The form is available here.

Awards: The winner will receive $100 cash prize and will be invited to showcase their enterprise at the State Grange Annual Session in October of that year, and share display space with the MSG Agriculture committee at the Agricultural Trade Show the following January at the Augusta Civic Center, at no expense.   The sponsoring Grange will also receive a $100 cash award.     

The Patrons Chain 5-10-2024

Articles in this edition include:

  • Massachusetts Agriculture in Action Expo Showcased State’s Vibrant Farming Community
  • Member Satisfaction Survey
  • Presidential Prompt
  • National Convention Registration is Open
  • Grange’s Affordable Connectivity Program grant effort ends
  • Coming Soon… Grange Today!
  • Programming Notes
  • Analysis: The Myth of Rural Voters’ Power in the House of Representatives
  • Register for the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference
  • Grange Supply Store: Emblem Patches
  • Grange Member Benefit: Nationwide Pet Insurance 

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

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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.

Quick Tip – What if…?

Cool Idea
Share your thoughts and ideas with other Granges!

In a recent post, Seth Godin reminded us that some restaurants keep a photo of the local food critic in the kitchen. That way, if someone notices that person in the restaurant, everybody bends over backward to make things right.

But why not try to get things right even if the critic isn’t there?

What if we conducted every meeting as if there were a dozen potential new members sitting in the back? Or do we ask the gatekeeper to warn everyone, “We have guests!”

For that matter, there’s a place in the opening for honoring “special guests.” Traditionally, that means someone from “higher up” in the Grange. Maybe the steward should at least announce ALL guests, regardless of their status.

Quick tips from Granges and Grangers are always welcome… on any topic that might improve or make things easier for other Granges. Use the submission form or email yours to the webmaster for consideration!

President’s Perspective – May 2024

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

WELCOME to our 37 new members who received their degrees at last month’s Degree Days. The first held at North Scarborough Grange conferring all four degrees on ten candidates from North Scarborough, Deering, St. George, Hollis and White Rock. Thank you, officers from Cumberland and Androscoggin Pomonas for filling the chairs, nice job everyone. Thank you, Yvonne Johnson for putting things together. The second held on Maine State Grange’s 150th Anniversary April 21 at the State Grange Home in Augusta. Candidates were from Danville Junction, Excelsior, Mill Stream, Farmington, Androscoggin, Cambridge Valley, St. George, Victor, and Merriconeag. Thank you to the officers from Androscoggin and Cumberland Pomonas for taking the office parts, super job everyone. Thank you to Maynard Chapman, Chief Deputy for getting things organized. Thank you to the folks who attended the two meetings just to view the Degrees.

Reminder dates:
June 1, 2024 Maine State Grange Yard Sale at Manchester Grange
June 21 -23, 2024 North East Lecturers Conference hosted in Norwich, Connecticut

RESOLUTIONS are due to the State Grange office by August 15 — email or standard mail. 

MAINE STATE GRANGE ANNUAL SESSION dates set for October 18 and 19 at the Auburn Masonic Lodge in Auburn.  Details coming out soon.

PROCEDURE FOR ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Maine still uses paper ballots for each officer and should be held in June. The committees are named by the elected Master ASAP after elections.

  1. The Master will appoint tellers to count the ballots.
  2. Master will say:  “The Chair awaits presentations of names for the office of…..”  and will repeat the name presented and ask, “Are there any others?,” asking a total of three times, repeating the list of names for that office each time. A person may decline or withdraw their name for the office, if they wish to, at the time their name is presented and does not have to give a reason for declining.
  3. The Master will repeat the names and say “You will prepare your ballots for the office of ….” After a brief pause, the Master will instruct the Assistants to collect the ballots and may excuse the Assistants from carrying their staves. You do not have to ballot if you do not wish to.  If you want to cast your ballot, but do not want to vote for one of those names presented or any other name,  you must write the word “Blank” on the ballot to be counted in the total.
  4. After the Assistants have collected the ballots, the Master will declare the ballot closed. The ballot is then given to the tellers and the Assistants return to their seats.
  5. The tellers will count the ballots and make the report to the Master. 
  6. The final choice is announced by the Master, “By your ballot, you have elected ___________ to the office of ____________.” and the results are recorded. Once a majority has been reached,  the Master will  ask the person “Brother or Sister ____________, do you accept the office of ______________.   If they decline or if there is no majority of the ballots cast, the Master will say, “Since we have no majority, you will prepare your ballot for the office of _____________,” repeating all names listed. You will proceed to ballot once again on the same office until a majority is reached.  The ballots are then thrown away after the result is given by the Master.  The same procedure is followed for each office.
  7. Upon completion of the election, the tellers are excused with thanks.  
  8. After the election of the Subordinate or Pomona Grange, the Secretary will provide Roster info for the meeting day and time, the Grange address, and name, address, phone & email for the Master, Lecturer, Secretary & CWA Chairman to the State Grange as soon as possible.      

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