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



NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 202​5 GRANGE NEWS

State Session
I would like to give a big thanks to Region II for hosting a fantastic Annual Session of the Michigan State Grange. Much appreciation to Burns #160, Gratiot #1898, Studley #1174, Kinney #754, and Maple Leaf #940 Granges.

I would like to thank all the delegates and members for their continued commitment to attending and setting policy for the ensuing years. I appreciate your attention to reviewing the Legislative Policy on the floor and your help in making the updates. While we didn’t get through it as much as I thought we would, we certainly made great progress in the start of it. I would like to thank Rich Hazen for taking on the task of selecting a committee to continue reviewing the policy to bring suggested updates to the next session.

Congratulations to all the winners in the Department contests. I didn’t envy the judges on the hard task they had before them!

Connie (and I) would personally like to thank Rich Hazen, Oz, Jeff & Nancy Swainston, Randy Cebulski and Tim Johnston for unloading the trailer into the storage unit so that task wasn’t left up to her, Marc and myself.

While I’m guessing everything is right in the world as there were so few resolutions, we did pass three of them with two of them going onto the National Session. Resolutions are where our Grange policy starts, at the local Granges, to the State Grange and then to National. This is truly a grassroots organization.

National Session
As I write, Connie and I are in the process of getting ready to attend the National Session. This is definitely a first for the National Grange and will be an interesting adventure to have the session during a cruise. During the four sea days, we will be in session all day reviewing the resolutions and the present policy that the committees have been working on throughout the year over Zoom. While it’s no surprise we are not thrilled about this new venture, I’m hoping the work of the National Grange will continue without interruption.

This will also be one of the times that the Seventh Degree is not held in regular form at session. Instead, the newly videotaped Seventh Degree will be shown in place of the full production. The past couple years, the Seventh Degree has been slightly modified to be done without the costumes and will probably be the future way of putting on the Seventh Degree.

Holidays
As the holiday season approaches, I hope everyone stays happy and healthy. From Connie, the boys and myself, we wish you Happy Holidays.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 GRANGE NEWS

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.