Rural Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Presenter: Monica Kramer McConkey, Licensed Professional Counselor Ms. McConkey has 25 years of experience in the behavioral health field as a counselor, program supervisor and administrator. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Minnesota. Her focus throughout her career has been to increase access to, and remove the stigma often attached to mental health services in rural underserved areas. Register here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SVvxvmJrTam_uLo1jyW4rA

Ann Bercher, National Grange Rep at MSG Convention

Ann Bercher, National Grange Lecturer/Program Director

Ann Bercher will be the National Grange Rep at the 2022 149th Maine State Grange Convention. Ann has been a Grange member for 22 years. She is a member of Sunbeam Grange #2 in Elk River, MN where she holds the office of Lecturer/Program Director. She is currently the State Grange of Minnesota President, having served since She has also held the offices of State Grange of Minnesota Lecturer and Pomona.

Ann served as a Communications Fellow at National Grange Conventions in 2018 and She is currently in her first year as National Grange Lecturer/Program Director. Ann attended Iowa State University and received a B.A. in Landscape Architecture. She worked for 25 years at the Oliver Hudson Kelley Farm in Elk River, MN as a garden and farm interpreter, Assistant Site Manager and Program Manager. She also attended LeCordon Bleu and is a classically trained chef. Ann is currently employed at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum as the Education Culinary Specialist. Outside of Grange and employment, Ann is a member of Plymouth Church in Minneapolis, an avid gardener, inquisitive chef, and in spare time designs and sews quilt tops, and occasionally plays her piano. She has three children (Chris, Ben and Mikaela) and 6 grandchildren (Finn, Theodore, Maverick, Josephina, Silas, and Leona.)

Welcome New Members in Maine!

Note that our source of information is the August 2022 issue of Good Day! magazine… please send any additions or corrections to the webmaster.

Branch Mills #366
Will Armstrong
Angela Haiss
Joshua Haiss
Allison Luciano
Nancy Thomas

East Sangerville #177
Andrew Robinson
Sarah Robinson

Jonesboro #357
Marilyn Dowling
Kassandra Holmes
Mary Vokey
Wayne Vokey

North Jay #10
Breanda Deojay
Sean Hennessy

Norway #45
Kathy Colby
Tonya Gleason
Everett Parlin
Darrell Thibodeau

Castine #250
Paul Norris

Enterprise #48
Judith Gross

Excelsior #5
Rosemary Johnson

Golden Harvest #33
Robert Sibley

Lakeside #63
Lloyd Sweetser

Mill Stream #574
Kristin Thompson
Richard Thompson

Norway #45
Kathy Colby
Tonya Gleason
Everett Parlin
Darrell Thibodeau

Saco #53
Amy Denis
Gordon Frohloff
Tina Giacollo
Kaylinda Libbey

Notes from National – August 2022

Gleaned from an email written by Phil Vonada, National Grange Communications Director

Rural Minds Partnership

Rural Minds is a non-profit focused on increasing awareness and reducing the stigma of mental health issues in rural America. Coming up in September is a webinar that is co-produced by Rural Minds and the National Grange on Rural Suicide Awareness & Prevention. (Information about the webinar will be posted and is available on the MSG Conferences and Dates Page.)

Good Day! Magazine

The latest issue of Good Day! has been sent to print and should be reaching mailboxes soon. Please consider subscribing or purchasing a subscription for their Grange or local schools or libraries. There’s also the option to subscribe to a virtual copy for readers who don’t want a physical magazine.

Grange Fairs Across the Nation

Phil Vonado, National Grange Communications Director, would love to know of any Granges in your state that run or are heavily involved in the organization of community/county/state fairs. He hopes to make this the feature of the October Good Day! magazine and connect with these Granges – especially smaller ones!

A Quarter’s Worth

The next deadline for A Quarter’s Worth submissions is November 1st. Please send these to Ann Bercher (lecturer@nationalgrange.org). (A Quarter’s Worth is the National Grange Lecturer’s Newsletter.)

Phil’s Challenge for August

Words have power behind them, and the words and phrases that we choose to use are very important! Negative words and language can lead to negative energy within yourself and within the Grange as a whole. But how often have you said, “We used to do…” or “We don’t have the people for…”? 

Using negative/negating language can be a hard habit to break. I know I’m guilty of it myself. I encourage you to find a positive spin – “We could try…” or “We’re up to the challenge of…” are good places to start. Allow new members to bring new energy into the organization; give things a try, and encourage new members (and long-time members) to try something new.

When you hear yourself (or anybody else in your Grange) saying things that either take ownership away from a person or an idea, try flipping the language into something affirming. Building people up and encouraging new things is going to help grow the organization.

Please consider this when writing up your reports for this year. Despite challenges or setbacks, let’s look for the positives – and I know every state has done some incredible things this year!

National Grange Convention

156th National Grange Convention will be held at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada, from November 15-19, 2022. Visit the National Grange Website for information and to register. Early bird registrations are open until September 9, 2022.

National Grange Heirloom Program

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Ritual and Declaration of Purposes. Please share “success stories” about the use of the program with us, or if you come up with other innovative ways to incorporate the Program in your Granges. Information and materials are now available on the National Grange Website.

New Member Recognition in Good Day Magazine

Want to see your new members recognized in Good Day Magazine? Anyone who has not been recognized as a new member in the past year can be included. Use this link to share the news. The deadlines for each issue are:

  • November 30, 2022

“Notes from National” is based on a monthly email received from the National Grange Communications Department.

156th National Grange Session is scheduled for November 15-19, 2022 in Sparks, NV

Janice loves the Grange!

A fellow Granger is never a stranger. There is an immediate bond between Grangers. We are part of a long and honorable tradition. Through Grange Programs, I can serve my community in ways I cannot do alone.

Janice, Valley Grange #144

Exploring Traditions — August 2022

Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life

by Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

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Awaking and Acting…

A book I often refer to is “A Fair Field and No Favor” by Stanley Howe (Copyright 1994 by the Maine State Grange). It’s described as “a concise history of the Maine State Grange,” and for those interested in the history of the Grange in Maine, it’s worth searching for in used bookstores or Amazon and eBay. (There is currently at least one copy available on eBay for about $30.)

One of the many interesting illustrations is a letter sent from the Maine State Grange Executive Committee to all Subordinate Granges in July 1911. It reads, in part:

“…the time has arrived when the Grange should actively oppose a movement, already well underway, for the elimination of the prohibitory amendment from the Constitution of our State. We believe that it is but a movement toward the open saloon, which exists solely that it may fatten on the lifeblood of our boys by the licensed sale of that which is not food, which cannot promote love of home, which destroys habits of industry, thrift and economy, and which prevents a high conception of citizenship.”

Wow. We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? This is not an appeal to revive the temperance issue. Unfortunately, I can’t recall the source, but I do remember reading that those who had a business interest in alcohol were considered ineligible for Grange membership. Yes, times have changed.

And while Grange Policy on several issues has changed, it is also interesting to note what hasn’t changed. That same letter goes on to proclaim:

“…the Grange stands upon the side of and is pledged to the support of those things which stimulate habits of frugality, industry, honesty, and faithfulness to home, a truer conception of patriotism and a broader manhood and womanhood…”

The letter recommended “immediate action” and suggested Subordinate Granges “organize in a way which shall best meet conditions of your locality,” pointing out that “Active aggressive work means success.”

That’s sound advice, and successful Granges are following it, stimulating habits of frugality, industry, honesty and faithful to home. We are—or ought to be—promoting a truer concept of patriotism and broader manhood and womanhood.

The letter further recommended “appointing a committee for the purpose of canvassing your town to awaken interest…” While this letter was written specifically regarding temperance, the early 1900s included issues such as changes in the distribution of school funds, increased licensee fees on automobiles, commercial fertilizer inspections, changes in school funding, road improvements, and female suffrage.

While there are obvious hazards to taking strong positions in the political arena, there was very little doubt over what the Grange cared about a hundred years ago. The “active aggressive work” of the Grange was based on those values.

Both personally and as community Granges, knowing what we value and taking action will not only support what we value, it will energize us individually and as an organization. History proves that and we are proving it today. Several examples come to mind.

Victor Grange in Fairfield values other community organizations and provides meeting and event accommodations. Highland Lake’s recent program reflects its value of veterans and the community. Ocean View Grange in Martinsville values their hall and recently painted it in anticipation of more community programs.

The questions we face are simple but not easy to answer. First, as a Grange, what do we value? This goes beyond mission statements and declarations of purpose. These have their place, certainly, but tend to be lofty ideals. What matters in our community? I will never forget being at a Halcyon Grange meeting. A young family walked in and since I was closest to them, I introduced myself and learned they’d never been to a Grange meeting before. I asked them why they decided to come. They replied, “We are starting a small farm and we heard this is the place we have to be for support and help.” Anyone familiar with Halcyon Grange knows they care about small farmers.

The second question is, what must we do to support and grow what we value? It should be noted that these are not one-time questions. The actions we take become easier when like-minded people are involved. And while our fundamental values do not change much, the emphasis may shift. Overall, the Grange as an organization is an example of that. That’s an important part of the Grange Way of Life.

Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-sixth edition of the 2013 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.

View from the Farm — August 2022

By Heather Retberg, Quills End Farm

There are times, months, years when there is loss. Most of Maine is in a state of drought. For farmers, this means all kinds of different things, but none of them are easy, or pleasant, and certainly not welcome. 

Every adversity, it seems, teaches; but in the moment, sometimes just sucks. The best we can do….proverbial lemonade.

Here at Quill’s End, we purchase all of our “off-season forage” from a couple of retired dairy farmers whom we count as friends. They make sure we have top-quality hay and baleage, and we make sure they stay nice and busy during the growing season. This affords an opportunity during drought to add fertility to land that needs it.

We practice what is called holistic or ultra-high density grazing. We try to mimic what large ruminants would naturally do by moving our cows twice a day to fresh grass. Leaving behind the trampled and manured paddocks for a long rest encourages microbial, plant, and insect activity above and below ground. This leads to the creation of more organic matter, better fertility, and more desirable grazing plants. When we are experiencing a drought, the microbial and plant activities slow down but stand ready to resume their work at full speed once they get a drink or two.

Therefore, when a drought hands you a grass shortage, we get to prime the least fertile places we graze by feeding hay in much the same way we graze. The drawbacks are: Hot and on stored feed, cows give less milk. Stored feed must be purchased, trucked, and fed, requiring more money, muscle, and time. Investments, if you will, in topsoil, fertility, and the future. Investments that will allow this farm to feed the community. Investments that we believe (and farmers live by faith) will make a stronger, more resilient community… above and below ground.

Editor’s note: Phil continues to write “View from the Farm” while Heather recovers from her recent surgery. Send her a card/note at Quill’s End Farm, 192 Front Ridge Road, North Penobscot ME 04476

Heather and Phil Retberg together with 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. Heather is Vice President of Halcyon Grange #345 and writes a newsletter for their farm’s buying club of farmers in her area and has generously given us permission to share some of her columns with Grangers. Visit the Quill’s End Farm Facebook Page for more information.