JACKIE BISHOP, LECTURER
479 Tuscany Drive
Portage, MI 49024
Tel: 269-365-0401
Cell: 518-222-6622
jacqueline_bishop@hotmail.com
JULY/AUGUST 2024 GRANGE NEWS
Home Made Food Contest
Family Recipe Contest
Summer is Here! Have Fun and Be Safe! Eat Ice Cream!
First, a thank you note. Thanks to everyone that sent my Dad, Roland Winter, cards for his 98th birthday. They came over several days, so that made it even more fun. Since his birthday, he took a fall, ended up in the hospital for four days and is now in rehab at Harold and Grace Upjohn Community, 2400 Portage St., Kalamazoo, MI 49001. His room is 64. He would enjoy cards again.
Banana Splits in Summer
I found an interesting article on ice cream in one of our local monthlies. It discussed who invented the Banana Split? My mouth is watering as I type this! Apparently, this is disputed by several locations. The Latrobe Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania has historical documentation of David Strickler slicing a banana in two, adding scoops of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream, three flavored toppings, and
whipped cream in 1904. Boston, Massachusetts and Wilmington, Ohio also claim to have invented the banana split, with Wilmington holding an annual Banana Split Festival. Walgreens is credited with helping make banana splits popular across the country when they named banana splits to be their signature dessert. I think I might take a day trip to Wilmington during their festival – about a 4 ½ hour drive from
my house.
Lecturer Contests
Several of the Lecturer’s contests revolve around summer activities. All entries will be judged at the Michigan State Grange convention in October. All Lecturer contests are open to Grange members and Grange friends. Asking a friend that you know really enjoys photography to enter the photography contest might just be the nudge to have them consider joining your Grange. Kids younger than 5 may enter all contests. Entries for kids will be judged in two age groups: 1) those 8 years old and younger, and 2) those 9-14 years old. Kids need not be Junior Grange members. We are hoping to see more entries from children this year. You might want to designate a day with kids/grandkids/great-grandkids to take a photo
shoot tour.
Photography contest
All photography classes may be taken in summer months. The classes are: Animals, People, Farm Crops Scene, Sky, and Monuments. Remember that judges tend to like un-posed photos that show some kind of action where possible.
Home Made Food Contest
Classes this year are yeast breads, fruit pie, and canned items. The recipe must be included for the item to be judged. Kids entries will be judged separately from over age 14 entries.
Family Recipe Contest
Since summer is the usual season for family reunions, this might be a great time to get suggestions from other family members what they consider a “family” recipe. An entry in this contest includes the recipe and a description of why this recipe was chosen, who originated it if known, and/or why it is special or unusual to the family. Photo is optional. This contest will be judged on Thursday night when the
Home Made Food Contest entries are judged.
MAY/JUNE 2024 GRANGE NEWS
Mother’s Day/Father’s Day and Graduation Day in 2024
In the past several years, Mother’s Day has taken on a bit different emphasis than in the past. Our culture now recognizes what has existed for some time that “mother” comes in a lot of forms – biological mother, step -mother, adoptive mother, dad acting as a single parent, co-parents, and more. This is a holiday that may be difficult for those women who have not been able to become a mother because of medical issues, and also for those that may have chosen that “mothering” is not desired in their life. It may also be difficult for those who are not and have not been married. Keeping all of this in mind, Granges might wish to have a program to consider these different models, and how the Grange community may support each or some of these different models. Some Granges in Michigan have community service projects that are in this vein.
In the May, 2022 edition of “Oprah Daily”, written by Rachel Mosely, a number of possible greetings to send on this day are below. They fit the variety of models mentioned above. Granges might consider having a greeting card project during Grange or a special meeting to make cards that could include some of these or their very own special greeting. They could be given to their personal “mothers”, or sent to people that might really appreciate the thought and attention.
Several tips to keep in mind for family and friends of the graduate:
Mother’s Day/Father’s Day and Graduation Day in 2024
May and June have plenty of holidays. For this newsletter, I have chosen to write about Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Graduation Day. Remember this column is for everyone, not just Lecturers of Granges.
In the past several years, Mother’s Day has taken on a bit different emphasis than in the past. Our culture now recognizes what has existed for some time that “mother” comes in a lot of forms – biological mother, step -mother, adoptive mother, dad acting as a single parent, co-parents, and more. This is a holiday that may be difficult for those women who have not been able to become a mother because of medical issues, and also for those that may have chosen that “mothering” is not desired in their life. It may also be difficult for those who are not and have not been married. Keeping all of this in mind, Granges might wish to have a program to consider these different models, and how the Grange community may support each or some of these different models. Some Granges in Michigan have community service projects that are in this vein.
In the May, 2022 edition of “Oprah Daily”, written by Rachel Mosely, a number of possible greetings to send on this day are below. They fit the variety of models mentioned above. Granges might consider having a greeting card project during Grange or a special meeting to make cards that could include some of these or their very own special greeting. They could be given to their personal “mothers”, or sent to people that might really appreciate the thought and attention.
Here are a few of those messages:
- Happy Mother’s Day to my personal superhero!
- You’ve been my teacher, my counselor, my guardian, and my confidante. My gratitude to you can’t be expressed in a single day, but I’m still planning to shower you with love this Mother’s Day!
- There aren’t enough hugs and kisses in the world to show you how much you mean to me.
- I never knew you’d become a part of my family, but now I can’t imagine it without you! Thinking of you this
- Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day! I’m so happy that you’re a part of our beautiful blended family!
- Happy Mother’s Day, Grandma! Another day that has me feeling beyond lucky to be a part of your family tree. We might be related through marriage, but we’re bonded by love. Happy Mother’s Day!
- Today is the day to honor the women who made me who I am—and unequivocally, that includes you! Thank you for showing me unconditional love over the years.
And, of course Father’s Day occurs during this same time frame. Many of the same tenets above apply. The greetings above are modifiable to fit this day as well.
For many, graduation day is one that is remembered for a lifetime. It is a celebration of achievement, which everyone needs to have many times throughout their lives. This happy day is often celebrated with parties honoring the graduate, and who doesn’t love the food we enjoy at these parties!
Several tips to keep in mind for family and friends of the graduate:
- Let graduation be about the graduate. When greeting them at their party, greet them about their achievement, instead of how it was and what happened at your graduation and/or party.
- Don’t confuse an announcement to be an invitation to the ceremony and/or party. Some ceremonies have limited space where tickets are required to attend. An included RSVP included is the key that you have received an invitation, not an announcement.
- Gifts and cards - According to etiquette “guidelines”, a gift is not necessary as a response to an announcement, but a card should be sent. An invitation to a party/reception requires a gift, but need not be extravagant – cash, check, gift cards – are common.
- Graduation is a happy, friendly and celebratory event. Make sure you congratulate graduates and wish them much success in their future endeavors!
