E-Newsletter February 20, 2013

Welcome New Grangers

Nathan Strawder, President of the Kansas State Grange invited me to facilitate a G.O.A.L. Seminar (Grange Outreach for Active Leadership) at Cadmus Grange. Seven of Kansas’ 13 Granges were represented at the G.O.A.L. Seminar. They were all fully involved in the training. Afterward, members said they would go out and ask someone to join their Grange and they would not be afraid to be told “No.”.

The night before the G.O.A.L. Seminar, I was invited to dinner with members of Gardner Grange #68. They lost five members through death and a family moving out of the area and were trying diligently to replace those lost members.

I was pleased to see three potential members at dinner. They actually filled out their applications at dinner and Sister Linda Rothwell, who had asked these three to join, presented their applications to Secretary Lois Barber. I was impressed that they would vote on three new members at their meeting in two days.

I flew back to Pennsylvania the day before the Gardner Grange meeting and was absolutely thrilled to see the following post on Facebook, “We are so excited to announce that we gained 10 (yes TEN) new members tonight!! And five of them are Youth!”

New member, Ken Keltner, Jr. shared, “I was very impressed with all that our local Grange does for the community. I also like the resolution process for addressing our representatives. Mom also had a good time and is looking forward to further meetings. My daughter Alexandria was pleased with the junior Grange activities and would like to assist. All of us are trying to get more individuals to join as we feel it would be a great asset to our local community.”

Gardner Grange membership director, Linda Rothwell offers her thoughts, “For the last 10 years or so our members have been passing away one by one. We got three new members by demit last year, but meetings were still only averaging eight to 10 people attending. As Lecturer and Membership chairman, I felt I needed to really push our members in asking people. I think people are hungry right now for things like the Grange, where Faith, Family, old fashioned Values and Patriotism prevail.

So, not only has Gardner Grange replaced five members they lost, but took action to achieve a net gain in membership. Congratulations to Gardner Grange #68 in Kansas for their success.

13 Second Campaign

We’re three months into the 13 Second Campaign and it continues to be a success. Many of your fellow Grange members have taken 13 seconds out of their day to reach out through social media. This small effort has already yielded great interest from people who otherwise may not have known about the Grange or about the significance of the Grange on communities across the country.

There has even been a great effort on the both the National and Junior Grange level. Tracey Hanson wrote, “yesterday at Junior Grange I saw the older kids helping the younger ones make bird feeders- without being told to. I saw our members welcoming new friends and including them in everything- without being told to. I saw the older kids helping to prepare and pass out snack- without being told to. I saw our Master/President, who was once one of the quietest kids, take charge of the meeting with authority. Ask me how your kids can be a part of and grow with the Junior Grange. #13seconds “

Tracey’s post was followed by a friend wanting to know how to get involved in a place that sounded “very interesting and enriching.”

That same day, Debbie Gegare posted, “Want to make your community a better place? Consider joining the Grange. No matter where you live, I can help find one for you. Ask me how. #13Seconds” Debbie’s post was simple and to the point. Her post yielded two immediate responses from friends wanting to learn more.

The 13 Second Campaign is as simple as that! Imagine if everyone could reach even just one potential new member a month. The Grange’s growth would be exponential! Continue posting your 13 Second Campaign ideas and let’s grow the Grange!

Grange Growth in New Hampshiire

By James Tetreault
President, New Hampshire State Grange

Grange Growth in New Hampshire is a reality.  Just last week, we submitted the Charter Application for Manchester Community Grange. The City of Manchester has not had a Grange for well over 10 years and we are excited to bring the Grange opportunity to Manchester.

So what other opportunities are we exploring?  We have an informational meeting scheduled in one Community, another scheduled for a different community in the Spring and at least three inquiries about starting new Granges in three other communities.

So what is the outcome going be? I believe that by the end of 2013 the New Hampshire State Grange will have five new Granges and a new gain in membership for the first time in 70 years.

Exciting New Member Benefit

I am very excited to announce a brand new member benefit, The National Grange Online Shopping Mall and Toolbar, to all of our Grange members. This benefit allows you to help yourself and help the Grange by doing what you are already do online: shop. This mall has over 800 well-known retailers, such as Kmart, Sears, Cabelas, Walgreens, Petsmart, Kohls, Walmart, Jo-Ann, and so many others. This is free and easy to use. When you buy something through this portal you will earn up to 15% cash back which will be put into an account for you and you will be eligible to receive cash back through PayPal or through a check. See how easy it is by visiting the website. This is just one of many new member benefits coming to our Grangers in 2013. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me, Samantha, at sj******@************ge.org or 888-4-GRANGE ext. 109.

Grange Banner Sale

Does your Grange hold events in your community where you have to deal with hanging banners? Well, Deluxe Retractable Banners are now on sale for $175 through March 31^st. These banners stand at 80 inches tall and 31 inches wide and are easy to transport and setup. These convenient banners will make your booth or table at the next community event very noticeable.

Don’t worry if you aren’t sure how to design your Grange’s banner. In an effort to create consistent branding, the National Grange will work with you to create a design that fits your Grange’s needs.

Anyone interested in ordering a banner for his or her Grange should contact Communications Director Amanda Leigh Brozana by March 15 in order to have designs completed and order placed by March 31. Banners must be picked up within 5 days of completion from the purchaser’s local FedEx Office location.  The National Grange will bill those ordering for their purchase after pick-up.

Bethlehem Grange – Life Skills Class

Bethlehem Grange in Selkirk, New York recently held its first “Life Skills Class.” This class focused on what it takes to properly and easily balance a checkbook, write checks and reconcile any errors found. These are skills that sound simple to some, but not everyone knows how to do.

Bethlehem Grange hopes to hold a life skills class about once a month from now on. There are already many ideas in the works for upcoming classes including writing a resume/cover letter, practice interviews, container gardening, budgeting, simple mending, cooking, car care, de-cluttering and household repairs.

Consider what skills you and your fellow Grangers could use some help with and start a life skills class of your own! Brushing up on life skills like these can really simplify your life and the lives of your fellow Grangers.

Grange Book

Recently, as Linda Barber was going through some of her grandparent’s things, she came across a piece of Grange history. She found a wooden book bound in a leather string with a copper Grange seal on the cover.

Barber’s grandfather, Jesse Butler, was the Grange Master from 1957-58 at the former Ranchito Grange #654 in El Monte, Calif. This book found among Butler’s belongings served as a yearbook of sorts dating back to August 30, 1937 and ending in 1960.

Each entry included a photo of the Grange Master at that time and a list of the officers. Throughout the term notes were written about major events such as birthday parties, socials and achievements of the Grange.

As we approach the 150^th anniversary of the Grange, artifacts like this book are welcomed and appreciated. Local Granges who wish to donate artifacts for preservation should contact their State Grange first to learn about state historical programming.

Orange Tree

Our National President, Ed Luttrell took the time to visit the parent naval orange tree that was donated by one of our founders, William Saunders.  The orange tree resides in Riverside, California and is one of the two trees given by Saunders that helped jump start California’s successful citrus industry. Revisiting the tree is a great reminder of the impact the founders of the National Grange have had on this country.

Developing the Leaders Around You

In order for our Granges to be strong, community-based family fraternities, we must continually be on the lookout for the next generation of leaders in our Subordinate Granges. Based on the research of John Maxwell, known as America’s expert on leadership, I will explore several parameters of leadership in order to help each of you find the leaders within your Grange.

According to Maxwell, one of the key questions we must ask ourselves is, “Am I raising up potential leaders?” Do I always have my “feelers” out to notice leadership potential; and am I ready and willing to mentor and nurture those skills in others? In order for our Grange to remain strong and grow, it is imperative that we acquire and keep good people. If we wish to develop leaders, we must:

• Appreciate others for who they are
• Believe they will do their very best
• Praise their accomplishments
• Accept our responsibility to them as their leader

“Leaders create and inspire new leaders by instilling faith in their leadership abilities and helping them develop and hone skills they don’t know they possess,” said Maxwell.

As a leader in your community Grange you must be an environmental change agent. You must act more like a thermostat than a thermometer. These two instruments are easy to confuse, however, they are quite different. A thermometer is passive; it records the temperature of its environment, but cannot change it. A thermostat is active; it determines what the environment will be.

The attitude of the leader, coupled with a positive atmosphere in the organization, can encourage people to accomplish great things. Water boils at 212 degrees, but at 211 degrees it is just hot water. One extra degree can make the difference between a pot of languishing liquid and a bubbling caldron of power. As a Grange leader, are you a thermometer or a thermostat? Can you turn the “temperature” of your Grange up that one degree that will make a monumental difference in your community? I challenge you to make an attempt.

Broccoli-Cheese Soup