MICHIGAN STATE GRANGE MASTER/PRESIDENT
Christopher D. Johnston
6241 Grand River Road
Bancroft, MI 48414
(989)634-9350 (H) (989)666-6648 (C)
msgprez19@yahoo.com
MICHIGAN STATE GRANGE OFFICE
404 S. Oak Street
Durand, MI 48429
(989)288-4546
msgrange1873@yahoo.com
Christopher D. Johnston
6241 Grand River Road
Bancroft, MI 48414
(989)634-9350 (H) (989)666-6648 (C)
msgprez19@yahoo.com
MICHIGAN STATE GRANGE OFFICE
404 S. Oak Street
Durand, MI 48429
(989)288-4546
msgrange1873@yahoo.com
JULY/AUGUST 2025 GRANGE NEWS
State Session
The interim By-Laws committee will be meeting in the near future to review the changes that may be necessary in the By-Laws to bring them current. I encourage each of you to take some time and review the current policies, see if there are any that need to be updated or changed or even removed and submit a resolution to be presented at the session.
Although it won’t be during the National Picnic Month, the Michigan State Grange Picnic will be held on August 23rd. It will be at North Adrian Grange hall from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Bring a passing dish and plan to have a great time with your fellow Grange members!
State Session
As you all know the state session is right around the corner, well ok it is a few months away. Now is a great time to be working on those resolutions. Remember the resolution process is how we make the changes to necessitate change and growth in our organization and communities.
The interim By-Laws committee will be meeting in the near future to review the changes that may be necessary in the By-Laws to bring them current. I encourage each of you to take some time and review the current policies, see if there are any that need to be updated or changed or even removed and submit a resolution to be presented at the session.
You can find the information on location, meals and schedule on the Michigan State Grange website. Watch your mail for the credential forms coming out soon.
Michigan State Grange Picnic
Apparently July is National Picnic month. This would be a great time to gather with family, friends and the community for fun, food and fellowship. Consider having a picnic this month and opening it up to the public. Be sure to have membership applications available and ask, ask, ask.
Although it won’t be during the National Picnic Month, the Michigan State Grange Picnic will be held on August 23rd. It will be at North Adrian Grange hall from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Bring a passing dish and plan to have a great time with your fellow Grange members!
Rural Life Initiative
Rural Life Initiative aims to foster grassroots community events, wellness resources, and educational sessions, aiming to enhance the quality of life and support local rural identity.
National Grange is launching a new grant cycle to help in building resilient communities across the country. Your Grange can apply for one of 32 grants available by going to the National Grange Website and looking up the Rural Life Initiative. Applications are due July 31st.
Distinguished Grange Award Program
Distinguished Grange Award Program
Connie, as the new National Distinguished Grange Coordinator (she even received an official name tag this week from the National Master,) would like you to consider applying for the National Distinguished Grange Award.
The program year has ended (July 1 - June 30) and now you have two months to get your applications in which are due September 1st. There are only four questions that are requirements and then you need 100 points from a selection of 27 questions with various point values.
She would love to see more Michigan Granges receive this award. Your Pomona and Juniors Granges also have the ability to participate in this award. There are even three ways to submit your application, via email, snailmail or using the online submission on the National Grange Website.
She would love to see more Michigan Granges receive this award. Your Pomona and Juniors Granges also have the ability to participate in this award. There are even three ways to submit your application, via email, snailmail or using the online submission on the National Grange Website.
MAY/JUNE 2025 GRANGE NEWS
Spring has Sprung!!
Spring has Sprung!!
As I drive the country roads, I see tractors tilling the fields and the planters are out planting the seed, sprayers are out fertilizing the wheat crop; I am reminded of the lesson of the First degree, Faith. Every year farmers gamble more than most do on the biggest sporting event of the year. The farmers plant a seed in dirt and pray for rain and heat to help germinate the seed and make it grow. So that hopefully they can harvest enough in the fall to cover their yearly cost of living and to jump start the
next crop year. This is the ultimate leap of faith that can be witnessed each and every spring. The founders of this great organization took a similar leap of faith, when they started this journey that we know today as the Grange. The founders planted the seed and we are reaping the bountiful harvest of fellowship, friendship, unity, solidarity, and a sense of belonging. People join organizations to find a group of people that are mostly like minded, and for a sense of belonging. If they dont find that sense of belonging they will move on to the next opportunity. When we invite people to come join us, make sure we are giving them the opportunity to find their sense of belonging. Together, we can become the seed of the next season of growing the Grange, that the founders tilled the soil for…
Michigan State Grange Annual Picnic
This is your notice to be looking for the upcoming information in the next issue of
Michigan State Grange Annual Picnic
This is your notice to be looking for the upcoming information in the next issue of
the Michigan Grange News about the annual picnic. Last year the picnic was held
in conjunction with the degree day in St Joe County at Burr Oak Grange.
The 7th Degree
After many years of discussion about recording the 7th degree as a stage production for historical purposes, it has been completed. In late March, Connie and I made a trip to Boone County Grange Building in Rockford, Illinois. The equipment from National Grange is being housed in the Grange hall there. The local high school has a full production theater stage that we rented for a weekend, and almost the entire cast of the seventh degree made the journey as well. We met for dinner Thursday evening at the Grange hall and then went upstairs to sort and help arrange what needed to go to the school. On Friday we moved everything, set up the stage, and did a walk through with the recording crew as they got their cameras set up. Saturday, we met at the school, got our costumes on and proceeded to perform, in costume, the Seventh Degree while being videoed. It was a surreal event for those
who have been on the cast for some time to realize we may never wear those fabulous costumes again. Or ever see the hand painted backdrops displayed. As the
National Session this November is being held on the cruise, this will be the premier of the recorded 7th Degree. Future plans for the video have been discussed but will need to come before the Assembly of Demeter to determine its future use.
Until next time….
