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!

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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!

St George Grange Community Suppers

St George Grange #421 is located at Wiley’s Corner in St George, Maine

Come enjoy a variety of homemade food, freshly baked bread, biscuits, desserts, coffee, and cold drinks with neighbors, friends, and family.

Adults $10.00 Children $5.00 (Under 10 yrs. Free)

Cooked food donations for our suppers welcome (Casseroles, salads, desserts, etc.)

Our first supper is May 11, 2024, at 5 pm. We will be having monthly suppers now through October 2024.

Parkman Grange to Award Scholarships

Parkman Grange is located in Parkman Maine

Wanted: Applicants for the 2024 Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarship. All SAD 4 Residents are eligible!

The Parkman Grange is announcing plans to award 2024 Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarships to one or more deserving SAD 4 graduates continuing their education beyond high school. The Grange awarded $500 scholarships in 2023 to Matthew Chadbourne, Sangerville, a Social Work major at the University of Southern Maine; Mercy Harper, Sangerville, a Criminal Justice major at Husson University; MacKenzie Kain, Parkman, an Early Childhood Education major at Kennebec Valley Community College; and, Merrilee Levensailor, Guilford, an Accounting major at the University of Maine Augusta. 

This is a call for qualified applicants for the 2024 Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarships. Applicants must be SAD 4 residents, must have successfully completed at least one term of post-high school education, and be enrolled for the upcoming term. Application packages may be picked up at the Parkman Town Office or from the bulletin board on the porch of the Grange Hall. Completed applications must be submitted to the Parkman Town Office or, if mailed, postmarked by July 12, 2024, with no exceptions. Winners will be announced in August.

Minnie Bridge (1909-2011) was a lifelong resident of Parkman, a retired schoolteacher, and a life member of the Parkman Grange. In her memory, the Grange established the Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Scholarship Fund. From this Fund, the Grange annually awards one or more $500 scholarships. To date, the Grange has awarded $15,000 in scholarships. For more information, contact Sue Manchester at (207) 717-6248.

Introducing Grange Hall Podcasts

“The Grange Hall” podcast, a new platform that delves into the rich history and future of the Grange, has officially launched! This exciting venture was announced in November and made its web debut during Grange Month.

Join hosts Meagan McDonald (WA) and Philip Vonada (PA) as they interview Grange members from around the country about their Grange story, their Grange’s history, and where they see the Grange going in the future – and anywhere the conversation goes in between.

The Grange Hall aims to welcome diverse voices within the Grange, highlighting local members who are “movers and shakers,” making big moves in their Granges and maybe across the country.

Remember, this podcast is not just for current Grangers! We extend a warm invitation to share this podcast with friends, family, and anyone who may be interested in or curious about the Grange. We also hope that current members will listen and be inspired by the incredible things that are happening in Granges around the country.

The first podcast was released on April 17, 2024. National Grange plans to release a new episode every other Wednesday.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, or iHeartRadio. You can also listen on the National Grange website, on PodBean, or watch the video version on YouTube!

Do you know a Grange member who you believe would be a “good fit” for the podcast? Email your suggestion to grangehallpod@gmail.com and explain why they should be featured. Please include your Grange, State, and contact information for your suggestions.