President’s Perspective – January 2023

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

Successful Granges are led by people who are:

  1. Willing to make trade-offs
  2. Work for the goals
  3. Effective communicators
  4. Sensitive to the group
  5. Good at integrating various interests and priorities
  6. Creative and adaptable
  7. Positive role models
  8. Acknowledge other people’s efforts

The responsibilities of a leader are to:

  1. Listen
  2. Contribute but not dominate
  3. Show enthusiasm
  4. Put the group at ease
  5. Promote teamwork
  6. Discourage criticism
  7. Focus on the task, not the personalities
  8. Be fair
  9. Give recognition

Junior Report – January 2023

By Betty Young
207 786-2120
MSG Junior Director

The Junior Grange will finally meet Saturday, January 14 at Danville Jct Grange. We will practice the Ritual, take in a new member, choose officers, and learn about contests. We will plan for the rest of the spring then after lunch go our separate ways for another month. I hope to gain more members so if you have children or grandchildren between 5 and 14 encourage them to check us out. Besides monthly meetings, I hope to plan some fun things.

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Lecturer’s Column – January 2023

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

New Category of Winter Photos

Are you the type of person who is always taking pictures? This year one of the categories for the photo contest is WINTER. So, although our state session is almost nine months away, now is the time to take photos for this category. Often when people think of pictures of winter in New England, what first comes to mind is landscapes taken either during or soon after new snow has fallen. However, there are so many other photos that could be taken, such as kids or pets playing in the snow. Photos of people skiing, skating, or involved in other winter sports might also make interesting photos. Just remember that all entries in each category will be judged against each other based on the following: Composition and arrangement, Interest, Presentation, and Technique. So, pick up your camera and see what interesting photos you can take.

Sagadahoc Pomona Lunch Canceled

Sagadahoc Pomona Annual Lunch-out on MLK Day (Jan 16, 2023) is canceled for this year. The Award for Public Service will be presented at our May meeting at Topsham Grange. That is also our guest night when other Granges and Grangers are invited to fill the chairs and participate in the program.

Plan to join us on May 31, 2023, with a potluck supper at 6:00 and a meeting with a program theme of “Harmony” at 7:00.

Contact Marilyn at beedlehill@twc.com or 207-737-2611 or Ben at 207-699-6466 for any questions or more information.

Dorothy loves the Grange!

I love the Grange because it gives me an opportunity to meet new people as I join others in creating and doing community events. It’s the giving and learning .

Dorothy St Hilaire, Winthrop Grange #209

CWA Report – January 2023

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

Committee on Women’s Activities

Happy New Year, Everyone!

 I hope that you all enjoyed the holidays with family and friends. I found out a few days before Christmas, that my neighbor, who is in a wheelchair would be alone. I cooked the meal and took it over to her apartment, where we enjoyed our meal and then I did the dishes. It made me happy that I could do something special for her.

 I am hoping that you folks are working on entries for the contests. There are so many things we can do inside on cold or snowy days.

I am praying that you are all healthy and safe.

Webmaster’s Note: Did you listen to “Dropping by with a Pie?” Dropping by with a meal is a great version of it! Nice job, Margaret!

Highland Lake Grange Honors Westbrook Officers

Officer Tony

Highland Lake Grange is proud to support the Westbrook Police Department K-9 unit. Joann Levesque, our Community Service chair, presented Officer Colby Clarke and Tony with items purchased by the Grange for the K-9 unit. Many more items are on the way! The success of our turkey supper fundraisers helped finance this project. Colby and Tony attended our meeting and educated our members about K-9!

Joann Levesque, Officer Colby Clark, and Officer Tony

Jonesboro Grange Honors Local Citizens

Check out the front page article in the Machias Valley News Observer!

Firefighter Phil Roberts, East Machias teacher Morgan Swan, and Jonesboro Grange President John Cox Jr. were honored with state and national awards. Photo by Cindy Rossi.

Communication Shorts 1-8-2023

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!

January Bulletin

The January Bulletin is in the works! Officers and Directors, remember that columns and reports are due January 14th. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

National Grange Zoom Membership Meeting Canceled

The Zoom Membership Matters Meeting scheduled for January 10th has been canceled.

Got a Minute? Got a Pie?

You’ll enjoy spending a minute listening to this podcast “Dropping by the with a Pie” posted by Plain Values Magazine.

Grange Month Is Coming!

Even without counting on your fingers, you know Grange Month starts in just over two months! What’s the plan? How will your Grange celebrate?

Website Progress

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. The Secretary’s section of that page is now complete!

Pomona People!

We do list Pomona Meetings on the website calendar–please send the dates and times of your Pomona Meetings!

Do You Love the Grange?

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!

Ideas for Granges

Could you adopt a theme or slogan for the new year? Did you see the recent “Quick Tip” regarding starting a life skills series?

Thought for You…

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

Edith Sitwell

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!

Do You Have FOMO?

“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.