E-Newsletter December 19, 2012

Connecticut State Grange Foundation establishes Sandy Hook Angels Fund

Connecticut State Grange PresidentFriday, Dec. 14, 2012 will forever be known as one of the most senseless and saddest days in Connecticut History.  Our thoughts and prayers go to every victim, student, faculty member, citizen of Newtown, first responder and law enforcement personnel.The shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School took the lives of 20 children and 6 adults for no known reason.  As time passes and investigations continue there will be answers.  Until then, I ask all Grange Members in Connecticut and across our Nation to unite in prayer and send our support to the families and community as they begin the painful process of dealing with the events of yesterday and yet to come.   As of the writing of this letter, there has not been any known Grange family affected by these events.The Connecticut State Grange Foundation has established a fund to help the families of the victims and students during the most troubling time in their lives.  All funds will be forwarded to the Newtown Youth and Family Services and the Newtown Parent Connection.  All donations are to be made payable to the Connecticut State Grange Foundation, Inc., earmarked for the Sandy Hook Angels Fund and mailed to Connecticut State Grange Foundation, Inc., PO Box 1393, Glastonbury, CT 06033.

As a parent I cannot imagine the pain this community is experiencing, a pain no one should experience.  Our Grange family can offer comfort and support through our prayers and thoughts for those who have lost loved ones during these most troubling times.

Membership Growth Vital in 2013, Grangers asked to take Pledge 

As many of you have heard from your State Masters returning from National Session, all Granges must focus on membership recruitment and retention in 2013 in order to thrive and grow our organization.

As part of this effort, the Membership and Communications Departments have created an online Pledge that every member should be encouraged to take.

This pledge can be completed anytime in 2013, but we encourage members to take part early.  In it, it asks each member to say the number of people they will ask to join the Grange in 2013.

The pledge may also be printed and distributed to Grange members, then sent back to the National Grange, c/o Amanda Brozana, 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006.

As members complete the pledge, their names, Granges and number of people to be asked will be listed on the National Grange website as well as the National Grange Facebook page.

Take the pledge and begin fulfilling your commitment today!

State Granges to update Rosters, Grange information

This week, National Grange Leadership/Membership Director Michael Martin began the process of requesting information from State Granges related to local Grange leadership and meetings.This information will be used to enhance the accuracy of the National Grange “Find a Grange” and website program, as well as the local Grange mailing list for the Grange Month packages from the National Grange.

State Granges often struggle with gathering information from local Granges about meeting times, dates and places; contact information for Masters, Secretaries and Lectures and much more.Please take time to assist your State Grange by forwarding your most current information to them. Make sure to identify the zip code of the community you most serve if you do not have a standard meeting place and provide contact information so those who may wish to visit your Grange meeting can learn more.Secretaries should begin receiving Grange Month packets in February, but many were returned last year, so State Granges are asked to provide the correct mailing address for a Secretary or other responsible member of a local Grange in order for packets to be sent.If a State Grange cannot provide information for a local Master or Secretary, packets will not be mailed to the Grange from the National office, but will be available through the State Grange, which may delay the materials, so it is important that you provide the most accurate, up-to-date information possible.You are also asked to provide an email address for someone in your Grange. If your Master, Secretary or Lecturer do not have email, please find someone in your Grange willing to receive and distribute Grange information to your membership and provide that information to your State Grange.

Writing, Photo Essay Contest open to all Members for 2013; selected winner to appear in 150th Anniversary book

The National Grange just celebrated its 145th birthday on December 4, but that’s not the big number in our minds.We’ve already begun preparations for the 150th Anniversary in 2017 and as part of that, plan at least one book to celebrate the Grange’s Sesquicentennial.We are asking Grange members to submit content for the book that will be published, including essays that will become chapters.  Essays may be accompanied by photos.We are also seeking photo essays.  Photo essays are used to present an idea or story through photos and few words.

Written Essay Contest

The National Grange Communications and Youth Departments will establish new topics each year from 2013 to 2016 and selected essays will appear in the planned 150th Anniversary Grange history and culture book that will be published in 2017.Each essay must be submitted electronically, must be at least about 1,500 words in length and no more than 5,000 words. They must be well-written and submissions must include an entry form.Entries must be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font with 1″ margins all around. Entries should include a single “cover page” with your name, Grange affiliation and the title of your essay. Entries must not include headers or footers with identifying information.These must be well-written documents that will be meaningful for future generations of Grangers to read and to which they can relate. They should provide a significant sociocultural history of the Grange from a community or personal level and be in good taste.

Up to three high-quality digital photos (or scans of original photos) may be submitted with the essay/anecdote.  All photos must include a caption noting the people in the photo and as much other information as possible. All photos must be accompanied by a photo release form if they include human subjects. If subjects are deceased, a family member must complete the release form. Submissions with photos will receive a maximum 5 point bonus in judging.

All winners must be available to answer any questions or provide minor manuscript edits after submission and judging.

This year’s topics are:

• Love/Marriage in the Grange
• The Grange’s impact on a community (a specific project or historical view)
• The Greatest Granger I Ever Knew

Up to three authors may appear on each entry.  No author may enter the same category twice.

The first place winner in each category will receive $300 and will see their submission published in the book. Second place winners in each category will receive $150. Third place winners in each category will receive $100. A “best of show” winner will be designated and will receive an additional $100 prize. All other entrants meeting the criteria will receive certificates of participation.

Photo Essay Contest

Photo essay submissions for this contest should visually capture some element of Grange culture – be it an event; a general Grange activity such as a meeting; a Grange value such as family, community service, activism, etc. – and the attached entry should illustrate how these images are indicative of a larger Grange culture and “norm.”

To enter, you must submit a contest entry form, along with 3 to 5 digital, high quality (300 dpi) photos along with full captions (names of any people in photos; place and date it was taken; what was going on in the photo) and a 250-500 word well-written essay that offers insight into the event/activity portrayed in the photos.

The essay must be titled and captions must be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, with 1″ margins all around. Entries should include a single “cover page” with your name, Grange affiliation and the title of your photo essay.  Entries must not include headers or footers with identifying information.

Captions must clearly indicate what photo they are referring to, preferably with the photo’s file name.

All individuals identifiable in the photos must sign a photo release form for your photo essay to be judged.

The first place winner will receive a $100 prize. The second place will receive a $75 prize. The third place will receive a $50 prize. All other entrants who meet the criteria will receive certificates of participation.  Selected photo essays will appear in the 150th Anniversary Grange history and culture book.
Other Details

Any Grange or Junior Grange member of good standing may compete in either contest.  Members may submit no more than two photo essays and may submit no more than one entry in each essay topic category.

Both contests will be judged by committees selected by the National Grange Communications Director. The committees will include at least four Grange members and one non-Grange member.

The postmark deadline for both contests is Sept. 15, 2013.

No entry or winner is guaranteed publication in the 150th Anniversary book.