Tunes at Tranquility

By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director

Like many Granges, Tranquility Grange is located in a somewhat “off the beaten path” rural area. Janice and I allowed the GPS to lead the way to through Lincolnville, Maine. While Grange Halls typically have some unique features, there’s always a comforting sense of familiarity when visiting. It’s not just the building itself; it’s also the people and the fraternal friendliness.

Despite those predictable features, Janice and I found ourselves surprised during our recent visit. No doubt this was because we were there for some “Sweet, Savory, and Song.” The sweet and savory included an opportunity to nibble on some very cosmopolitan finger foods. The song included a lively program of Grange music performed by Katherine Rhoda. Katherine’s program included her voice accompanied by keyboard, Marxophone and violin-guitar (play-by-number American fretless zither sold door to door in the early 1900s), Harpeleik, accordion… and a few I can’t remember the names of!

This program (it’s really much more than a concert) specifically featured Grange songs and shared some of the background and history of the Grange itself. Katherine’s knowledge of music is diverse and deep. But Grangers will quickly respect and admire her knowledge of the Grange. Her historical approach to the program clarified the Grange’s purpose and commitment to change, especially in the earliest days. There were moments when the audience wanted to find a pitchfork and start a march protesting or supporting something.

There were moments when the audience wanted to find a pitchfork and start a march protesting or supporting something.

Walter Boomsma
Katherine is an entertainer, a historian, a storyteller, and more.

One particularly memorable song told the story of Lucy, a young woman who wanted to marry a farmer and had us chuckling. (No spoiler alert-you have to hear it.) Her parents were not supportive because her future husband was… a Granger!

This performance was a joint venture supported by Tranquility Grange and the Lincolnville Historical Society. An even more ambitious goal is the preservation of the hall itself. Erected in 1908, the hall is listed on the National Register, and many members of the Historical Society have joined the Grange. This recent concert is evidence of the determination to preserve the hall, the Grange organization itself, and the history of the ongoing contributions.

Katherine explains, “My hope is that sharing this music and history helps in some small way to cultivate community and to build upon the Grange history of working together for the common good, in keeping with the Grange motto ‘In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity’” She ended her performance by explaining the origins of the Grange Motto and asking the audience to repeat that motto with her not once, but twice.

While the concert ended, working together for the common good to cultivate community continues. In some ways, it may just be getting started.

What I find fun/rewarding about playing in Grange halls is uplifting and celebrating the Grange history of rural people working together for the common good, connecting with folks who are actively involved in their communities, and continuing my own education.

Katherine Rhoda

Katherine has two upcoming concerts scheduled:

  • September 12, 2023, at 7 p.m. at the Conway Historical Society in Conway, NH
  • October 22, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Arundel Historical Society in Arundel, ME

For information about upcoming concerts, visit Katherine’s Website or Facebook Page!

Maine at the National Convention

by Deb Ivers, Maine Host Coordinator

Maine will be co-hosting the Hospitality Room on Saturday, November 18, 2023, with Vermont. The hotel will allow us to bring in homemade goods such as cookies, bars, or snack food. All homemade items must be wrapped or packaged before being sent to NY. Pre-purchased individually packaged food or snack items would also be greatly appreciated. Please contact Rick Grotton if you or your Grange have items to donate.

We will need volunteers to work in shifts in the Hospitality Room that day, along with helping with Registration.

The Northeast states, including Maine, are collecting new, unused socks, hats, and mittens as this Year’s Community Service project at the National Grange Convention. The collected hats, socks, and mittens or monetary donations will be donated to the Community Missions of Niagara, which serves a vulnerable population of individuals in the Niagara Falls community that, through a variety of circumstances, have been underserved, marginalized, overlooked, and challenging in their presentations and behaviors. The hats, socks, and mittens can be handmade or purchased but must be new and unused. These items can be brought to the Maine State Grange Convention in October or arrangements can be made to collect them before the National Grange Convention.

If you are planning to go to this year’s National Grange Convention and would like to volunteer to help on Saturday, please call or text me at (207) 450-0646 or email me. (Click on my name at the top of this post.)

Judi Olson Receives Jefferson’s Spirit of America Award

Submitted by Laurie McBurnie, Willow Grange

Willow Grange No. 366 President Ed Worthley presents Jefferson’s Spirit of America Award to Judi Olson on Thursday, July 27. (Paula Roberts photo, used with permission.)

Judi Olson, of Jefferson was honored with the Spirit of America Award on Thursday, July 27 at Willow Grange in Jefferson. Members of the public joined Grange members for a potluck supper and program to honor Olson on her much-deserved award.

Olson heads up the Jefferson Blessings in a Backpack chapter. She started the weekend meals project at Jefferson Village School in 2011 and has managed the program for the past 12 years. Over the years, her family members have helped with the program. When she first started the program, she had lots of volunteers, but now it is pretty much a one-woman show.

Olson fundraises, purchases food, bags it up, and delivers it to the school. The school puts the food in children’s backpacks in their lockers.

During the 2022-2023 school year, she delivered 37 bags of food a week to the school. The previous school year was her biggest, with 47 children served.

Her food bags contain two breakfast items, like cereal or granola bars, and two entrees, such as soup, canned spaghetti, mac and cheese, canned chicken, tuna or ham, peanut butter, or Vienna sausage. She also includes a couple of snacks like fresh or canned fruit, applesauce, crackers and cheese or peanut butter, and snack bars.

Olson keeps her inventory in a room in her basement. She has accounts at Walmart and Sam’s Club. All the money she raises goes into the Jefferson Village School Blessings in a Backpack account at the two businesses.

“It is quite convenient,” she said.

She raises $3,500 annually for the Blessings in a Backpack program at JVS.

During the program, Worthy Master Ed Worthley presented Olson with a plaque noting her award. Lecturer Paula Roberts gave her $238 raised from a  pie auction, lecturer’s march receipts, and donations.

The Blessings in a Backpack program is a nationwide project that feeds children throughout the United States. The program started in 2005, and there are now 1,000 programs throughout the United States. Since 2009, Blessings in a Backpack has grown from feeding 9,022 to 89,579 kids a year.

Olson said the most rewarding part of Blessings in a Backpack is feeding hungry children.

“When they go back to school on Monday, their brains will be working, and they will do well in school and go on to college and get a nice job,” Olson said.

Website Report

Website visitors may have noticed the MSG Website was “down” for a few hours late Monday night (8/21) through early Tuesday morning (8/22). This was an unanticipated “glitch” due to some miss-timed software updates. We are sorry for any inconvenience! All is restored and well!

Back to School…

Reprinted from an e-newsletter published by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4

As students, parents, and teachers are all gearing up for the start of another school year, it is a good time to remember to keep an eye out for students walking to and from school and students getting on and off school buses.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the school bus is one of the safest vehicles on the road; however, the risk is greatest when children are approaching or leaving a school bus.

Keep in mind these simple rules:

  • Yellow flashing lights on a school bus mean slow down because the bus is preparing to stop.
  • Red flashing lights mean stop. Students are getting on or off the school bus. Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving.
  • Be ready to stop for a school bus as they make frequent stops.
  • Watch and stop for children who cross in front of the bus when the bus is stopped.
  • Be prepared for school buses stopping at all railroad crossings.

Best wishes for a great school year!

Parkman Grange Scholarships Awarded

The Parkman Grange awarded four MSAD#4-area college students Minnie Welts Bridge Scholarships of $500 each for the 2023-24 school year. Winners this year were: 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. Awards were made at the ninth Minnie Welts Bridge Memorial Supper on Saturday, August 12th, where approximately 40 diners enjoyed smoked pork loin, potatoes, and a variety of salads and desserts. With these four, Parkman Grange has awarded $15,000 in scholarships.

2023 Minnie Welts Bridge Scholarship Winners Matthew Chadbourne and Mercy Harper with Parkman Grange Master Sue Manchester. MacKenzie Kain and Merrilee Levensailor also received Scholarships but were unable to be present.

2024 Maine Ag Trades Show

Participation Interest Form Now Open

Reprinted from a UMaine Extension Newsletter.

Are you an agricultural business, producer group, organization, or service provider who would like to participate in the 2024 Maine Agricultural Trades Show? Would you like to give a talk, host a meeting, rent space, offer business advising, have a booth, or sponsor a portion of the 2024 Maine Agricultural Trades Show? More info here including how to apply.

MSG Convention Information

Celebrate the 150th Annual Session in Auburn

Are you making plans to attend the 150th Maine State Grange Convention? Your Communications Department has created a special page with tons of information you’ll want and need.

  • A list of important deadlines
  • A basic schedule for the two-day event
  • A link to an Information Packet that includes the form used for meal reservations
  • A list of motels in the Auburn Area
  • Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Convention.

Note that delegates must be registered by your Subordinate or Pomona Grange Secretary. Non-delegates are welcome to attend and can speak to resolutions with the permission of the delegate body. Non-delegates do not need to register to attend! Non-delegates who intend to attend meals must make reservations by October 5, 2023

Visit the 2023 MSG Convention Page

From the Deacon’s Bench – August 2023

By Clay Collins, MSG Chaplain
207 837-0564

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.”      

Ephesians 5:15-16

Here it is August already! Where has the time gone? May all of your plans be accomplished, and you have a great time with your family and friends.

I was talking to a friend of mine a while ago gave me the following poem. It was attached to a figurine of an owl that was purchased at a county fair that he attended recently. It seemed very appropriate in these times.

There once was an owl
Who perched on an oak;
The more he observed
The less that he spoke.

The less he spoke
The more that he heard;
There’s wisdom for sure
We can learn from this bird!

As you go through life
Remember you know
What you know;
When you listen and watch
You’ll continue to grow

Until the next time, I am continuing to pray for good health for you and yours, and remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Don’t forget to thank a Veteran for his/her service in the defense of our country and pray for their safe return to their families!

Benediction: “Gracious Father of us all help us to spend less time thinking of ourselves, and more time thinking of You and Your many wonders. Amen.”  

Thought for the month:

May good luck be your friend in whatever you do and may trouble be always a stranger to you.

An Irish Blessing for Health and Prosperity