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.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 GRANGE NEWS
Welcome to fall
Grange Revival
Welcome to fall
This fall we will convene in the City of Owosso at the Comstock Inn and Conference Center. We will be joining together in fellowship, decision making, celebrating, and setting forth the Legislative and Grange policy for the upcoming year. This year we will have recommendations from the Bylaws Interim Committee as well as a legislative policy review committee that needs to be acted upon. There will also be a recommendation from the Fifth Degree Committee about what that will look like at future conventions. There are also several study groups at the National Grange we need to discuss so that Connie and I have a clear image of the way to vote from our delegate body. And of course, celebrate our own achievements within our Granges and members with the state contests.
Non-Partisan
We are asked by the National Grange to remind our members of our longstanding and unwavering commitment to being non-partisan. It is in our Constitution, Declaration of Purposes and in the National Grange Digest of Laws, that we are not and must not become a partisan or a party organization. This includes but is not limited to the oral reports that are given at Subordinate Grange meetings on up to National grange meetings, social media, and anything done in the name of the Grange. If you have any questions, please ask.
National Grange
The National Grange has revamped its website, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to visit the website and check out all the changes and modernization that have taken place. Every site managed by the National Grange has been updated including the National Grange, The Grange Foundation and the grange.org websites.
Grange Revival
The Revival held this past July in Torrey, Utah consisted of about 80 participants. Connie and I unfortunately couldn’t attend this year with the National Session Cruise taking up most of our vacation time, but we saw many pictures posted by members that did attend, which the common theme of the pictures were rock formations. I’m not sure if any members from Michigan made it. They did release the location of the 2027 Grange Revival, and this one is closer and has more to offer as far as sightseeing. The 2027 Grange Revival will be Bryson City, North Carolina at Deep Creek Tubing and Campground July 19-24th. Campsite/Cabin reservations cannot be made until January 1, 2027, but the Revival registration is open.
