Friends, Family, Community ~ Growing Together
Queen City Grange #30
August 18, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Please disregard the letter just received by your Grange! The confusion about registration fees has been resolved. We do not have to pay it!
Queen City Grange #30 is pleased to announce that we are sponsoring a one day bus trip to Cromwell, CT. This will take place on Saturday, November 15, the day that the 7thDegree will be conferred. We know that this will be a fun trip for all that can go.
The cost per person for the bus alone will be only $69.00 . If 41 to 54 persons reserve places, proportionate refunds will be made on the bus.. If 80 to 108 make reservations, there will be two buses, with similar refunds. Please note, that reservations, with full payment, will be accepted on a "first come, first served" basis. If the minimum number of 40 is not reached for one bus by October 10, the trip will be canceled and all checks returned. If 80 reservations are not reached, the second bus will be canceled and those checks returned. Please note that all meals, driver tip, and 7th Degree fee of $20.00, will be up to the individual. 7th Degree applications can be submitted at the hall prior to the Degree.
Steven Haycock
The North East Region will be hosting the National Grange in November 2008. The convention will take place in Cromwell, CT from November 11-15. All of the North East States, ME, CT, NH, VT, RI, MA and NY will all have important roles during the convention. Each State has been given a day to be the host of. Maine's day is Tuesday. Many voulenteers will be need that day. If you would like to voulenteer please contact the State Grange office at 1-800-464-3421 or by e-mail MAINESTATEGRANGE@verizon.net. For more information please click on the link below.
David COlby Young
We have talked about offering the Maine Granger online for about a year now. Well near we go. It will be offered in what is called a PDF and you will need a special reader to view it.
Steven Haycock, Publicity Director Granger04071@aol.com
Maine State Grange
146 State Street
Augusta, Maine
1-800-464-3421
www.MAINESTATEGRANGE.org
Friends, Families, Communities, Growing Together
For Immediate Release
August 5, 2008
Contact: Steven Haycock,
Publicity Director, M.S.G.
207-998-2783
Granger04071@aol.com
Farmington, Maine – On Tuesday August 5, 2008 the over 160 attendees of the Northeastern Grange Lecturer’s Conference gathered together for Northeast Night. The highlight of the evening activities was the annual Regional Talent Contest. Participants this year were Brittany Duprat from Vermont with a Clarinet Solo “Pachelbells Canon”, from Rhode Island Marie Robidue singing “Tell Me Why” from the musical “South Pacific” in French and English, from Connecticut Ron Purinton & Dan Muthler with a medley of patriotic songs on the harmonica and flute, and from Maine Ellen Heigham who played Tschalkowsky’s Concerto #1.
While judges tabulated their scores the audience was entertained by one of the Maine State Granges living treasurers Hazel Small, 96, who played the piano beautifully.
The Grand Prize winner of the talent contest was Ellen Heighham of Maple Grove #148 Grange in Sebago, Maine; she will be representing the North East region at the 142nd National Grange Annual Convention in Cromwell, CT this November and received a $100 prize. The other participants will receive $50.
Steven Haycock, Publicity Director
Publicity Thoughts August 2008
Let’s start with the Clip & Win Contest, well this is a little embarrassing, I can’t seem to find a copy of the rules handy, and the link on the website is not working. So, that being said, I believe that the entries must be postmarked and sent to my home by September 15. I would also like to let everyone know that this contest will continue next year and you can start clipping your article beginning Oct. 1st. I want to let people know that I’m in the process of trying to create some publicity posters to be hung in your Grange for a reasonable fee. Hope to have them for State Grange.
I’m looking for positive stories about your Grange, to make our website more fresh looking. We want there to always be a new story on the website, so people who are repeat visitors are always seeing something new. So if you could send me some stories by e-mail at Granger04071@aol.com, or by snail mail 174 North Raymond Road, Raymond, ME 04071. Another tool to get information out to people is the e-mail list. I’ve been trying to send out more messages lately. From information I find on the National Grange website to some reminders of upcoming events. If you would like to be added to the list, please send me your e-mail address. Also if your e-mail changes please let me know. The information that is sent out on the e-mail list is not always being sent out to Granges, such as National Grange Action Alerts and some reminders. So please be sure to share the information with your fellow Grangers. I’m going to be looking into to making some Grange buttons that members can wear on Election Day. This year could have one of the largest voter turnouts in recent history; we need to try to take advantage of it, even in a small way. This is also the time of year when we directors put our hand into the “magic hat”, and try to create a program for our depts. for 2009. I would like to ask for your help in creating mine. Please send me your ideas for publicity. I will need your suggestions as soon as possible so I can get the book printed on time this year.
While at family camp out weekend we were all saddened to here of the death of John West of New Hampshire, current Chaplin of the National Grange. I can’t remember of when I first met John, perhaps at Lecturers Conference years ago. He always had a smile on his face and useful advice to offer. In recent years John was always telling me how much he enjoyed these publicity columns. It was very nice compliment. As happened far too often in our organization we’ve lost another great granger to the Great Grange above. As the next issue of the Maine Granger won’t come out until mid October I look forward to seeing everyone at State Grange.
Steven Haycock & Sherry Harriman
Maine State Grange
146 State Street
Augusta, Maine
1-800-464-3421
www.MAINESTATEGRANGE.org
Friends, Families, Communities, Growing Together
For Immediate Release
August 1, 2008
Contact: Steven Haycock
207-998-2783
Granger04071@aol.com
Augusta, Maine – Beginning August 4th Grange Lecturers and others from across the Northeast will be gathering at the University of Maine at Farmington for the 93rd Annual Northeast Grange Lecturer’s Conference. Over 160 full and part time participants (with more than 70 members from Maine) will assemble to share ideas & concepts to bring back to their local Granges. In the Grange organization, Lecturers are responsible for providing education, information & entertainment to the Grange membership.
Sue Hackett, Junior Director
Grange Leadership Camp is coming up fast - it starts on August 17th and ends on August 23rd. If you haven’t registered yet it is too late and you will miss a very good time. You can still come to the model meeting which will be at 9:30 am on the 23rd. After camp the next event will be the squash judging at State Grange on Saturday morning, October 25th at 8:30 am sharp. Remember this contest is open to all ages so bring your best squash to State Grange for judging. The juniors will be taking part on Saturday morning. Come see what they will be up to! Grace Dunstable and I attended Saturday’s activities of the Northeastern Regional Youth Conference. Grace received first in the Manual Spelling contest and second in her age group for Public Spelling. I attended meetings for the Junior Directors. Family camp out weekend has come and gone and with it the judging of the junior contests. Winners are: Nature Crafts: 5-7 First Gary Faulkner, 8-10 First Katelyn Lovejoy, Second Bobby Faulkner, 15-21 First Brittany Bean, 22-35 First Holly Meserve. Creative Art: 12-14 First Holly Herrick. Valentine Decoration: 8-10 First Katelyn Lovejoy, Second Bobby Faulkner, 11-14 First Holly Herrick. Creative Writing: 9-11 First Bobby Faulkner, 12-14 First Holly Herrick. Jam Muffins: 5-7 First Gary Faulkner, 8-10 First Katelyn Lovejoy Second Bobby Faulkner 11-14 First Holly Herrick Scrapbook Craft: 8-10 First Katelyn Lovejoy 11-14 First Holly Herrick 22-35 First Holly Meserve 36 & Up First Sharon Manley Second Ellie Collins. I would like to thank all of our judges for getting up early and judging the craft entries. We still have Memorial Flags for sale. If you wish to purchase one or more please give me a call and I will see that they get to you. They are expensive to mail so I will try to deliver them or have someone in your area deliver them. They are $4.00 a piece. The State Grange has flag holders for sale, call headquarters for them. Junior Deputies have red Junior Grange sports bottles to pass around at Grange meetings to collect donations for the junior fund. Please be generous. Thank you! Has your grange thought about organizing a Junior Grange? You would have the rest of the summer to work on projects and activities. Think About It!
The National Grange
Local Granges Urged to Consider Complete It. Connect It -
TV Converter Box Coupon Sign-Up Drive
July 22, 2008
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is encouraging local organizations to host public events focused on urging consumers who want converter boxes to apply for coupons.
Background
Big changes are coming to your television, but they have nothing to do with summer re-runs or the new fall season. These changes involve the transition to digital broadcasting on February 17, 2009. Congress ordered the change to all-digital broadcasting to free up channels for police, fire, and emergency personnel. According to the Federal Communications Commission, the agency that oversees the nation’s airwaves, the digital transition offers benefits beyond public safety: it will open the door to new wireless services for consumers, allow TV stations to offer better picture and sound quality, and enable TV stations to broadcast several programs at the same time.
Ed Luttrell, National Grange Master
National Master's Message
Is Your Glass Half Empty? Or Half Full?
Are you tired of negative news and negative people telling you what is wrong with our country, our economy, and our Grange? Forget the times we live in! We need to start living in the time we want.
A good example of this is two Grangers I know. One talks of all the great things happening at their Grange, and the other talks of the problems that they face at their Grange. One speaks of challenges, while the other complains of competition. The first views the State Grange as a resource, and the second complains about how they never help. Two completely different views, and both members belong to the same Grange. In fact, they are friends.
