Help! Help!

By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director

If your name is “Martha,” I did ignore your cry for help. Let me explain why.

I recently received two “blank” (no content) emails from Martha with the subject, “A Cry for Help.” I successfully ignored the first one, but the second one a few minutes later made me concerned enough that I was tempted to reply, at least to find out who Martha was and what the problem might be. I did not. That seems counter to my desire to be a helpful person.

Before you judge me, stop and think. This has all the markings of a scam. Scams often include urgency, so people do not have time to think. They also appeal to our curiosity and an instinctive desire (for many but not all) to be compassionate and caring.

I’ll admit, a day later, I’m questioning myself. But my thinking brain is saying that if Martha was in immediate danger, she probably wouldn’t have sat down and typed an email to someone she didn’t know. (The email was addressed to the webmaster, not me personally.) If it wasn’t an emergency and she wasn’t in immediate danger, a sentence or two describing the need would have made sense. She was more interested in a response, not help.

That’s why spam callers rarely leave a voicemail.

I share the story as a “public service” in the form of caution and a reminder that you shouldn’t let your emotions or instincts get ahead of your logic and self-protection. I took a first aid course many years ago. I can brag that I only got one question wrong on the final exam. It was something like, “Who are you primarily responsible for when you arrive at the scene of an accident?” I instinctively triaged and selected the most injured.

The correct answer was “Yourself.”

Shortly after, I happened on the scene of an accident and saw a good samaritan nearly get hit by a car because he threw caution to the wind and was more concerned about getting to a victim than his own safety. You aren’t putting your own safety ahead of the injured; you’re doing the right thing.

Think.

Reports and Program Books

Annual Reports and Program Books are always available on the Program Books and Information Page when we receive them. Reports are also included in the delegate packages distributed at the State Convention. For your convenience, there is a list what we’ve received so far–if you click the name of the report or book, it will open in a new window where you can download and print it.

Annual reports are for the year 2022-23 and summarize activities and accomplishments. Program books are for the year 2023-24 and include contest information and other resources.

Annual Reports

Program Books

Notes from National – October 2023

  • Please subscribe to the National Grange’s Good Day! Magazine. Just $16 a year gets you access to our print or digital subscription. Learn more about the magazine at http://www.nationalgrange.org/goodday or the digital issue at http://www.issuu.com/grangegoodday. The October issue is in mailboxes across the country, and additional copies are available through the Grange Store.
  • Subscribe to the Patrons Chain and View from the Hill at http://www.nationalgrange.org/subscribe. These newsletters are released every Friday, containing information about National Grange programs, events, and more.
  • Are there topics you would like to see covered in a future Zoom from a National Grange staff member or department director or officer? Please let us know! We’re always working to ensure our topics are in line with what our members want or need to hear from us.
  • Many National Grange events have been recorded and archived – if there’s something you missed and would like to see, please visit the National Grange YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/nationalgrange. 
  • Follow National Grange on Social Media! We’re on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and more!

We hope to see you “at” some of our Events!

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

Membership Moments – October 2023

By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915

Brothers and Sisters, for many months now, this column has been giving to you ways to approach gaining new members. Hopefully, this advice has worked well with your Grange.  Just remember the following:

There is no “I” in Grange or in team. No one should be a dictator or make rules based on their own ideas. This causes animosity and disrespect. Everyone has a duty, and all members are important no matter the office held. WE are the Grange, and our ideas need to be heard and discussed. Otherwise, we will be losing more Granges.

Be active. Plan events and help your community. Let people know you are alive and well.

Let the committees do their work. If you are the Master/President of your Grange, please do not give committees an agenda. Let them come up with ideas to present at meetings. The Master/President is a facilitator, not the ruler. This applies to all levels of the Grange. Do not overstep your authority. “My way or the highway” is absolutely unacceptable and should be avoided. Anyone who rules this way does not have the interest of the Grange in mind. Let all members become involved. Not all of us are leaders and those who do lead need to do it for the  Good of the Order (GOTO), not because they say so.

We need to develop new leaders and inform them of the rituals and traditions of the Grange.

Stay positive. Keep doing your good works.

Help one another. Teach your new members and welcome them. Answer their questions.

Visit other Granges and work with them. The days of visitation and mentoring have faded and need to be revived. Share with other members your successes, and if a Grange is struggling, it is the duty of the Pomona to help them. It seems like Granges are “doing their own thing” and do not visit or attend State Grange. We need every one of you to keep us alive.

Resolutions are an important part of the Grange procedure. Instruct members on how important it is to come up with resolutions and how to write them. Confer with your Deputy on instructions for floor work and other procedures. It is their duty to help you.

Major changes are happening to us, and we need to keep up and change too. We are severely lacking youth and younger members. Focus on bringing them in as members.

Remember, each and every member is vital to our Grange growth, and membership should be your major priority. Bring ’em in, feed ’em, teach ’em, and enjoy your meetings. It is what a good Grange member is expected to do.

President’s Perspective – October 2023

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

I want to say a huge THANK-YOU to the Secretaries who have already made the corrections and updates and returned their lists to me for the new database. 

In addition to updating the instructional guidelines, roster, state session & budget and other items I work on, I have worked on getting a new database completed. I typed in all the information for our 82 Granges, 2,359  names, addresses, and other information into a more user-friendly format that can be accessed without the internet. The basic information has been compiled, and copies sent to the Grange Secretaries for corrections, additions, and deletions. Yes, I can hear the grumbles but it needed to be done. if I am spending this much time putting it back together from older versions provided by the State Secretary, your assistance is greatly appreciated. Each of you, as an individual member can help by checking your information, is your name spelled correctly, is your address up to date, if not, then please correct whatever may be required.  I am most interested in the date you joined the Grange, and the Granges you have belonged to, many of the dates or previous membership in a different Grange (because of closure or consolidation) are not listed. Some are listed as Golden Sheaf members (50 years of continuous membership) but do not list the date of joining or where. Most Granges exempt all Golden Sheaf (50-year) members from paying dues to their respective Granges and the Maine State Grange does not charge dues on any Golden Sheaf members but the Maine State Grange must still pay dues to National on them.  Golden Sheaf membership attained before Jan 1, 2001, the Maine State Grange does not pay dues to National Grange on those members. Golden Sheaf membership attained after Jan 1, 2001, the Maine State Grange must pay dues to National Grange on those members. 

September and October is the time of new Grange year beginnings with installations, setting goals and making plans for the coming year. This is the time of year for year end wrap-ups such as your annual audit, reports to be submitted and evaluate your goals, what was successful and what was lacking. There are very few Installations Teams or Installing Officers traveling, so I encourage each Grange to do their own Installation. There is an Alternative Installation Ceremony (half the words) in the new Manual which can be read with one or two people in charge and working with the members present.

Congratulations to all the Officers and members, I wish you much success for the coming year. 

Public Lunch in Madison, Maine!

Kennebec Valley Grange is providing a “take out lunch” on Saturday, October 28, 2023, from noon until 2:00 p.m. The menu includes ham, baked beans, a variety of casseroles, biscuits, and apple crisp with real whipped cream for dessert. The cost is $10. This is their annual fundraiser to benefit the Carroll Dean Memorial Agricultural Scholarship Fund.

For additional information, contact Diane Pinkham at 207 314-5135.

The Kennebec Valley Grange Hall is located at 560 Main Street (Rt. 148) in Madison, Maine .

CWA Report – October 2023

By Margaret Henderson, Director
Committee on Women’s Activities
207 948-2762

Committee on Women’s Activities

The fall colors were beautiful until the wind and rain took them away. I had received a list of winners from the Big E, and the next day, I received another email that said to disregard that list; it was the wrong one. So, I am still waiting for the updated list and the entries to come back. I am hoping they will be here before State Grange so that I can get them back to the people who entered them. I am looking forward to seeing many of you at State Grange.

Fraternal Concern – Wesley Ryder

It becomes my sad duty to inform you of the passing of Wes Ryder on October 7, 2023. Wes was a past Master of both Stevens Mills and Danville Junction Granges and served as a Maine State Grange Deputy. Wes was also known for his poetry and description of the Grange as a place for Friends, Family, Food, and Fun.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation in his honor to the Danville Junction Grange #65 Scholarship Fund can do so by sending it to 48 Pond Road, Raymond, ME 04071.

A private burial service will be held at Mt Auburn Cemetery. Arrangements are by Funeral Alternatives, and a full obituary is available here. You can also sign the guest book with your message and memories.

When I spoke to Glenys, she shared, “Grange has always been a huge part of Wes’s life.  He was born into a Grange family, and when he joined at fourteen, he became very active at both the Subordinate and Pomona levels.  Later, he enjoyed being a deputy of the Maine State Grange.  He loved going to Lecturer’s Conferences and state conventions.  His proudest moment, however, was when he received his 70-year Membership Certificate!”

Cards for Glenys can be sent to Glenys Ryder, 1267 Old Danville Road,
Auburn, ME 04210.

Exploring Traditions – October 2023

Meandering Around the Grange Way of Life

It’s Not in the Manual…

By Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist

Many of our Grange Traditions aren’t covered in the Manuals we often refer to for help with the Ritual. But they are no less important.

I recently called attention to one that happens during many Grange Meetings when the Master asks, “Are any members in sickness or distress?” Typically, the Chaplain reaches for a box of cards, and when the answer is affirmative, one is passed around for members to sign.

Like many traditions and rituals, this part of the meeting can become almost automatic. Occasionally, we ought to stop and remember this portion of our meeting strongly reflects our fraternal nature in a very visible manner. A fraternity demonstrates friendship and mutual support within a group. Sending a card does that.

A hospice nurse recently did some listening and some research. She has a 94-year-old patient who “talks about the Grange and his 70+ year membership on a daily basis.” She found me through the Maine State Grange Website and wondered if the Grange might “have some information” or be willing to reach out to him. (His circumstances are such that he is separated from his family and Grange.) I immediately thought of our Chaplain and her box of cards. Then I realized we could start a card shower for him.

When I finally went off autopilot, I decided to write to him and send him a copy of my book, “Exploring Traditions.” I also leveraged my position as Communications Director to “get the word out” that we had a brother in “distress.” Let me share with you the email his angelic hospice nurse sent.

I cannot thank you enough! I had the pleasure of personally delivering the book and letter to him! Along with it was a handwritten card from the National Grange! He loved these gifts! Our team (social workers, chaplains, volunteers, nurses) now get to sit with him and read a section of your book to him with each visit! He so much appreciates all of this! Thank you again! 

One (Grange) team helps another (Hospice) team. Or maybe those two teams become one team that demonstrates friendship and mutual support. I hope, for a moment, you can picture that nurse sitting next to our brother’s bed, reading about the Grange Way of Life to him. Perhaps his eyes are closed and there’s a smile on his face as he remembers seventy years of meetings, programs… and being a Granger.

“As we in form thus enclose you within a sacred circle, so does this Grange in the name of our noble and beneficent Order pledge to you a pure friendship, enduring through life to shield you from harm… let us ever hold fast and firm our obligations of Fidelity.”

from the Altar Circle conducted during the Fourth Degree

So be it.

Original Valley Grange Article
“Got a Stamp?” Post on MSG Website

Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 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.