Lecturer’s Column — June 2022

By Margaret Morse, Maine State Grange Lecturer
207 439-0413

June is the time of the year when the theme for the next Grange Year (2022 – 2023) is to be announced. Over the last couple of months, I have considered several themes and thought that I had made the decision on which one to use. However, one Sunday morning while in church listening to the scripture reading a verse from Romans caught my attention. Romans 12:16 is “Live in harmony with one another.” To many, the word harmony has to do with music, which is one of the four parts of a good program. While a single vocalist singing acapella is pleasing to the ear, vocalists singing four-part harmony with instrumental accompaniment fills the room and feeds the soul.  Similarly, to Live in Harmony also may mean members working together for the good of the order. Therefore, even though we might not always agree with each other or agree on how certain things are done I hope that this theme will remind us that we all need to live in harmony.

READING AND WRITING CONTESTS

The Skit Writing Contest is open to all subordinate Grange and Junior Grange members as well as children and grandchildren of Subordinate members. All skits must be original work, include at least 2 characters, and take no more than 10 minutes to present the skit. All entries must include the name of the person submitting the skit, and the Grange including its number, home address, and skit title. Junior Grangers or other children must include their age as of August 1.  

The Poetry Writing Contest is also open to all subordinate and Junior Grange members as well as children and grandchildren of Subordinate members. All poems must be original work. All entries must include the name of the person submitting the poem, the category, and the Grange including its number, home address, and poem title. Junior Grangers or other children must include their age as of August 1.   The categories are Stars/the Universe, Patriotic, Humorous, and Other. Poems do not have to follow any specific format.

The Book Reading Club is open to all subordinate Grange and Junior Grange members as well as children and grandchildren of Subordinate members. The entries must include the book title, author, and number of pages. All entries must include the name of the person submitting the book list, the Grange including its number, and home address. Junior Grangers or other children must include their age as of August 1.  

The due date for the Skit Writing Contest and the Poetry Writing Contest has been extended to September 1, 2022. The entries may be sent via email or by snail mail to my home address.

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Notes from National – June 2022

Reminders

Many contest deadlines are coming up soon! National Grange Lecturer’s Virtual Photo Contest and Communication Department Publicity Item Contest are both due on June 30, 2022. Check recent issues of Patrons Chain and the National Grange Website for more information. Many National Junior and Youth Grange Contests are coming up–check your handbooks!

An Encouraging Word!

Granges are active in 1500 communities nationwide and we are 140,000 members strong. A few states are seeing massive growth in membership numbers, and (more importantly, in my opinion) activity and presence in their communities. Members are joining because they are proud of the work being done by the Grange and proud of the way their members are talking about the Grange.

Phil Vonada, National Grange Communications Director

Grange Foundation Virtual Telethon

This year’s telethon is July 9, 2022. We are seeking sponsorships, testimonies, and talent entries from youth and juniors! Please email Samantha or Mandy if you have questions about the event. Please plan to tune in, starting at noon eastern on July 9, 2022!

National Grange Quilt Block Contest

The deadline has been extended to September 1, 2022. More information is available here.

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.

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:

  • June 30, 2022
  • August 30, 2022
  • 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

Fraternal Concern — Betty Chatfield

Submitted by Master Sherry

Castine Grange #250 would like to invite Grange friends to a Celebration of Life luncheon at noon on June 25 at the Grange Hall on Rt 166A, Castine to honor Betty Chatfield, former member of the State CWA committee and lifelong Granger from Hancock Pomona.

Betty’s family has also asked our Grange friends to join the family, if they would like to, for the graveside service at 10:00 am at Woodlawn Park Cemetery, 598 North Main Street, Brewer.

Read the original obituary here.

Get Counted!

MSG Comm Department Logo
This article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by UMaine Extension Service.

The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land – whether rural or urban – growing fruit, vegetables, or some food animals count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year. The Census of Agriculture, taken only once every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income, and expenditures. For America’s farmers and ranchers, the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future, and their opportunity. June 30, 2022, is the last day to sign up for the 2022 Ag Census. If you have never received a census and are new to NASS surveys, sign up to be counted today. You do not need to sign up if you already receive NASS surveys.

Grange Heirloom — June 2022

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 responses link at the top right and share your comment with us!

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.

For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.

Jonesboro Grange Does It!

Resources for Granges

produced by the
Maine State Grange Communications Department

Unfortunately, we experienced some audio issues during this interview, but they won’t keep you from experiencing the energy and enthusiasm that exists in Jonesboro Grange and, more importantly, their community! This Grange has grown in size and attributes much of its current success to the pandemic. Discover their win-win approach to activities and programs and how they partner with community organizations.

Visit the Jonesboro Grange Facebook Page

Check out:

  • More Resources for Granges — Program Information and Inspiration
  • Program Books and Information –Information arranged by committee and topic.

St. George Grange Public Suppers

St. George Grange has started our Summer Public Suppers. We will host suppers on the 2nd Saturday of each month until October. We always start at 5 pm (even though people start arriving at 4 pm). The supper in October will include our Fall Craft Fair that day. We take November off and then on December 3, 2022, we will host the 40th Annual St. George Grange Christmas Fair! A wonderful community event.


PUBLIC GRANGE SUPPER
ST. GEORGE GRANGE
WILEY’S CORNER
SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022 @ 5 pm

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

Adults $8.00 Children $5.00
(Under 10 yrs. Free)
Cooked food donations for our suppers welcome
(Casseroles, salads, desserts, etc.)
Thank you!
For more info. call 372-8904 or 372-6768

Seaside Grange Rummage/Bake Sale

Seaside Grange #567 of Corea – July 9, 2022

The members of the Seaside Grange #567 of Corea will hold their annual Rummage & Bake Sale on Saturday, July 9, 2022, from 9 AM to Noon at the Grange Hall, 64 Crowley Island Road, Corea, Maine.

donuts and bagel display
Photo by Igor Ovsyannykov on Pexels.com

In addition to scrumptious baked goods, this year’s sale includes lots of great furniture, household items, artwork, antiques, craft supplies, toys, puzzles, and plants, plus a clothing boutique and a Silent Auction of special treasures! Proceeds from the sale help to cover Grange expenses and a portion will be reserved to support local charities.
Inquiries to Seasidegrange@gmail.com

Notes from National – May 2022

Reminders

Regional Leadership Conferences are coming up soon… National Grange Convention registration will be opening soon… 2022 Communications applications are now open–any and all ages welcome! Check recent issues of Patrons Chain for more information.

National Grange Virtual Photo Contest

Remember the deadline is June 30, 2022. Submission guidelines are available on the MSG Website.)

National Grange Convention

156th National Grange Convention will be held at the Nugget Casion Resort in Sparks, Nevada from November 15-19, 2022. Visit the National Grange Website for information and to register.

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:

  • June 30, 2022
  • August 30, 2022
  • November 30, 2022

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

Coming up in June…

  • June 1, 2022 Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow — a discussion of the Grange’s contributions to our Maine Communities at the Waterboro Historical Society, starting at 7 pm. More information here.
  • June 2, 2022, Piscataquis Pomona meets at 7:00 p.m. at Wayside Grange in Dexter. Contact Pomona Master Bill Bemis for more information.
  • June 3, 2022, MSG Ag Scholarship winner(s) will be announced.
  • June 4, 2022, Maine State Grange Yard Sale at Manchester Grange, 8 am – 1 pm. Contact Fundraising Chairperson Norma Meserve for more information or see this post.
  • June 14, 2022, MSG Bulletin Deadline — columns and articles due.
  • June 17-19, 2022, Eastern Regional Conference in Delaware. Contact MSG Master Sherry Harriman for more information.
  • June 18, 2022, Touch A Truck at Jonesboro Grange, 57 School Road (Elementary School Parking Lot), 10 am – 2 pm. More information here.
  • June 24-26, 2022, Junior Grange Summer Campout at Maine State Grange Headquarters. Contact Junior Directors for more information.
  • June 24-26 Jonesboro Grange Crush Cancer 5K Run at the Municipal Landing in Jonesboro. More information here.
  • June 30, 2022, Deadline for most National Grange Contests.

This information is from the Conferences and Dates Page. We do our best to list conferences, regional events, state meetings, Pomona meetings, and local Grange events with dates and links to information! Please remember, we can’t post what we don’t know.