Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
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
I know it’s late notice, but just yesterday afternoon, I received “Ten Tips for Tackling the Holiday Blues” from our partners at Rural Minds. You may have already seen it up on Facebook this morning, but we would love to have the information shared with members of your State Granges. The holidays are not an easy time for many people, and this one-page resource on mental health during the holidays may be helpful to see.
Webmaster’s Note: It’s been posted separately on the website–feel free to share on social media or via email.
As a reminder, Phil Vonado, National Grange Communications Director, led a Zoom-torial on “How to Create a Facebook Page,” which also included some information on the free design website Canva, as well as how to create a Facebook Event. This video is now available on the National Grange YouTube channel and can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/-F3iqXyN5Lo. (We’ll be adding this link/video to the Grange Resources Page.)
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.
“Notes from National” is based on a monthly email received from the National Grange Communications Department.
On December 12, 2022, Philip A. Herbert, Past Master of the Maine State Grange, passed away at home at the age of 90. Phil was a Past National Delegate, Chief Deputy, Deputy, and Executive Committee member of the Maine State Grange. Phil became a member of the Old Town Grange in February of 1971 and continued his Grange journey. He served as Master, Treasurer, and other positions of his Subordinate Granges. He also served as Master at the Pomona level and various positions there. Philip is survived by his daughter Jodie Ann (Herbert) Dowling of Alton, his son Paul Arthur Herbert of Las Vegas, NV, and daughter Connie Marie (Herbert) Hawes of Hudson, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to Connie Hawes, 422 Hudson Hill Rd, Hudson, ME 04449.
Burial will be held in the spring. View the complete obituary here.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Old Town Animal Orphanage, PO Box 565, Orono, ME 04473.
by Walter Boomsma, Guest Columnist
I was more than a bit saddened to learn recently that an exciting Granger from a Grange that’s experiencing amazing growth was strongly criticized for “trying to change the Grange.” On a parallel but personal track, a long-standing holiday tradition has pretty much ended due to changes in circumstances. I find myself left to consider how much a tradition changes before it’s actually no longer a tradition. And, while I would never propose to limit the value of tradition, I understand the importance of perspective. Consider with me for a few minutes what the Grange would be like if there had been no changes to our traditions.
How far back do you want to go? A handful of us recently contemplated some of the features of the Grange in its early beginnings. We rightfully brag about the early recognition of women as having equal status. But much like the “Animal Farm” fable by George Orwell, it seems “all women were equal, but some were more equal than others.” And, before we get too excited about that equality, let us consider that under the traditional rule, it would be possible to have every office in the Grange filled by women. But it is not possible to have every office filled by men. At a minimum, the three graces (Pomona, Flora, and Ceres) are supposed to be filled by women. Rumor has it that the “lady assistant steward” position may be changed to eliminate the word “lady” and simply have two assistant stewards.
We can—and perhaps should—debate the value of changing labels, but always remember that change is hard—even good change. Anyone who has ever quit smoking or eliminated an unhealthy habit will attest to that.
“In essentials, unity.” One of the characteristics of early Grangers seems to have been a willingness to discuss and debate. So we might raise another question. What are the essentials? Is it essential to have a lady assistant steward, or would two male or female assistant stewards be just as effective?
It’s entirely possible that asking the questions is more important than determining the answers. I remember being at the beach with my oldest daughter when she was a precocious three-year-old. She was quite impressed by the flocks of seagulls and would point to them and yell, “Birds, Daddy! Birds!” I would gently suggest that they were seagulls. After several of these exchanges, it became apparent that my desire to teach would not be accepted. She replied, “You can call them seagulls. I’m going to call them birds.”
“In non-essentials, liberty.” I admire her confidence and resilience. She can call them birds. She’s not wrong.
We often refer to the Grange as a “grassroots” organization. We have strong roots, and we grow from them up towards the sun. We are not a “top-down” organization. Being a fraternal organization simply means sharing some fundamental values and, perhaps even more importantly, some fundamental purposes.
“In all things, charity.” Personally, I’ve never been a big fan of “for the good of the order.” Who decides what is “good?” A recent example was the change of titles at the National Level, whereby the Master is now the President, etc. I understand the reasoning for the change, but I also understand the value of the traditional roles of the Master. So how much can we change the traditional officer titles without losing the tradition and, more importantly, the value of the tradition?
Before we criticize people who seem to us to be intent on “changing the Grange,” we might do well to consider that changing can be a tradition. Students of the history of the Grange are likely to recognize that one reason the Grange is still relevant after a century and a half is that Grangers have been willing to adapt to the changes in society without sacrificing fundamental values and purpose. The Grange Way of Life includes that willingness.
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.
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!
The December Bulletin is finished and ready for downloading and printing! Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.
In an ongoing effort to make our online directory of Granges accurate, a printed copy of the current directory is being mailed with the December Bulletin. Please check it or the online Grange Directory and ensure the contact person and information listed is correct. Email any changes!
We continue to work on the site… while current postings and columns are a priority, we’re also bringing the Program Books and Information Page up to date and in compliance. If you need something and can’t find it, let us know! This has truly been a huge project, but, as the saying goes, “We’re gaining!”
We do list Pomona Meetings on the website calendar–please send the dates and times of your Pomona Meetings!
The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!
Could you adopt a theme or slogan for the new year?
What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.
Vern McClellan
“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!
Note that when you subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website, we do not share your email address with others and only use it to send you–at the most–one email per day when new information is posted.
By Betty Young
207 786-2120
MSG Junior Director
Hello fellow Grangers. My name is Betty Young, and I am the new Junior Grange Director.
I originally joined in 1974 during the state grange centennial and took six degrees in one day at the Augusta Armory. After my second daughter was born, I took a demit and rejoined in 1994 when she was old enough to join. I have held several different offices in Subordinate and Pomona and am currently Chaplain of Androscoggin Pomona. I was approached this summer about taking on Junior Director since the previous directors were stepping down. Initially, I was reluctant but was concerned that the program might not continue so at the state session I told Sherry I will try.
My daughter has four children the youngest just turned five and will join as soon as we can have a meeting in person. I am looking forward to encouraging our members to participate in the CWA contests and earning badges.
.
Due to the weather forecast, the Junior Grange Meeting scheduled for this Saturday, December 17, 2023, has been canceled. Contact Junior Director Betty Young with any questions!
By Heather Retberg, Quills End Farm
The cold of December arrived this week, and with it a reprieve from the mud that has plagued us on the ridge for a couple of months. In warm and wet October and November, the coming cold seemed impossible, like the present was to remain that way forever.
No matter the season, I make adjustments that seem permanent. I don’t think of feeding hay in June, even though that is when it is made. It seems then that the grass will last forever. I gleefully move the cows through the fields and watch the beauty of ruminants being ruminants.
The wisdom of the seasons thwarts my complacency, however, and moves everything along as should be. And so I adapt. After a couple of days, what was new becomes normal and lends a sense of permanence in an impermanent world.
For now, the cold invigorates me and keeps me mud-free as I tend to the hogs. This is fantastic. For now, the cold also adds time to the day, as hauling water, setting up feed, and tending critters takes more time and care than in the summer and early fall. This calls me to patience.
Finally, the season seems as it should be. December ushers in the cycle of dormancy to our lives with its refreshing starts to the days, its stunning late sunrises and way too early sunsets to bookend the light and the darkness.
Editor’s note: Phil continues to write “View from the Farm” while Heather recovers from her surgery. Send her a card/note at Quill’s End Farm, 192 Front Ridge Road, North Penobscot ME 04476
Heather and Phil Retberg and 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.