JACKIE BISHOP, LECTURER
479 Tuscany Drive
Portage, MI 49024
Tel: 269-365-0401
Cell: 518-222-6622
jacqueline_bishop@hotmail.com
MARCH/APRIL 2019 GRANGE NEWS
Happy Spring!
Since there are several March and April special days, I decided to wish you well on all of them.
Happy Ash Wednesday (March 6); Happy beginning of Daylight Saving Time Day (March 10); Happy St. Patrick’s Day (March 17); Happy Purim (beginning at sundown, March 20); Happy April Fool’s Day (April 1); Happy Passover (beginning sundown April 19); Happy Easter (April 21); Happy Administrative Professionals Day (April 24)
April is Grange month! Although not mentioned below, this is a great time to recognize people in your community with the Community Citizen and Public Service Award. Plan now for your event(s).
Grange: A fraternity training heroes for our hometowns since 1867 In 2019, it’s time to celebrate our everyday heroism as Grangers! This year, our Grange Month theme – that we encourage you to keep going all year long – allows our members to tell the story of our organization one good work at a time. It’s “The Grange Way” – in 2019 we recognize the magnitude of impact the sometimes seemingly small acts can have. From free or low-cost meals helping to meet the needs of our neighbors struggling with food security to providing dictionaries to third-graders, which helps to bridge the gap for those without internet or connected devices at home, Grangers are often the uncelebrated heroes that help our hometowns be places to live, love and learn. Take part in the celebration this year with an open house, by sending a
letter to your local newspaper editor and by telling our story in a way that connects with a new generation. (from National Grange website)
letter to your local newspaper editor and by telling our story in a way that connects with a new generation. (from National Grange website)
There are several announcements that I wanted to highlight from the National Grange Lecturer, Chris Hamp.
2019 Quilt Block Contest. This is an easy one this year (Pride of Quillisacut), based on the Split Nine Patch. It is likely that you have some fabric scraps to make this block. I will send the rules and directions in the next Lecturer’s Bulletin, but feel free to contact me if you want them sooner than that. You can opt to have your block judged or not. Blocks are made into finished quilts sold later to raise Grange Foundation (National) funds. All blocks will go to the National Grange. There is a Junior group for judging, as well as Subordinate.
Veterans will once again be recognized at the National Grange session November 6 to be held in Minnesota this year by receiving “Quilts of Valor”. The National Lecturer is looking for Granges in the Midwest Region to provide these. There are specific rules that must be followed – patriotic in nature, machine quilted, size, etc. Burr Oak Grange already has one of these ready to go! All the information regarding how to make a Quilt of Valor is on the website at https://www.qovf.org.
The Grange is in partnership with the NOAA National Weather Service. Grangers can become Citizen Scientists! Here are several possibilities: 1) Become a Storm Spotter under the NWS SKYWARN Program, 2) Become an NWS Cooperative Observer, 3) Use mPING to Report Precipitation. Contact me for more information or see http://www.nws.noaa.gov.
MAY/JUNE 2019 GRANGE NEWS
Title: Potpourri
Title: Potpourri
Congratulations to all Grange families who have graduates in June! This might provide an opportunity for a Grange celebration if you have Grange families with graduates this year.
Congratulations to all Grange families who have graduates in June! This might provide an opportunity for a Grange celebration if you have Grange families with graduates this year.
I am hoping that Grange members across Michigan are considering entering the Michigan State Grange Creative Writing Contest. The rules have been significantly modified in the hope of receiving more entries at the State Grange session. I would like to see a minimum of one entry from every Grange in the state. See the Program Book for the full list of rules. There are both Junior and Subordinate contests. Junior contests are writing a poem about their favorite toy (3-15 lines in stanza form) or writing a story about “I want to be a _____” (no minimum no. of words, up to 200 words). The Subordinate member categories are poem, story, or opinion essay. The poem topic is “Favorite Season” and needs to be 3-26 lines in stanza form. The story topic (400-600 words) is “As a child, I wanted to be a _____”. The opinion essay (300-500) words can be about any current issue, non-political (not about a person or a political party or a campaign). I have heard Grangers often talk about the poem topics, and I also have encountered a fair amount of opinions amongst Grangers, so I look forward to your entries!
Midwest Grange Leaders Conference
When: June 28 – 30 (Friday evening through Sunday lunch)
Where: Camp Alexander Mack, 1113 Camp Mack Road, Milford, Indiana 46542
ALL ages welcome – activities for Juniors through Subordinate members
Workshops, Fellowship, Youth Public Speaking and Sign-A-Song Contests, Fun!
Registration forms were included in the recent Lecturer’s Newsletter sent to your Lecturer.
It would be great to have a “crowd” from Michigan, since the location is relatively close to us.
Communication from National Lecturer, Chris Hamp:
“I am working hard to increase participation in the contests that I oversee as Lecturer of the National Grange. In addition to working hard to improve communications with the State Lecturers and State Masters, and in ensuring I create and disseminate clear, concise and professional looking documents, I have increased the prize money to make participation a little more appealing. With that said, I am looking for sponsors from the Midwest Region (can be individuals, couples, families or Granges) for the different contests and classes in 2019. All sponsors will be recognized at the 153rd National Convention in Minneapolis.”
Where: Camp Alexander Mack, 1113 Camp Mack Road, Milford, Indiana 46542
ALL ages welcome – activities for Juniors through Subordinate members
Workshops, Fellowship, Youth Public Speaking and Sign-A-Song Contests, Fun!
Registration forms were included in the recent Lecturer’s Newsletter sent to your Lecturer.
It would be great to have a “crowd” from Michigan, since the location is relatively close to us.
Communication from National Lecturer, Chris Hamp:
“I am working hard to increase participation in the contests that I oversee as Lecturer of the National Grange. In addition to working hard to improve communications with the State Lecturers and State Masters, and in ensuring I create and disseminate clear, concise and professional looking documents, I have increased the prize money to make participation a little more appealing. With that said, I am looking for sponsors from the Midwest Region (can be individuals, couples, families or Granges) for the different contests and classes in 2019. All sponsors will be recognized at the 153rd National Convention in Minneapolis.”
Below are several options outlined by her:
$500 National Grange Evening of Excellence Program Sponsor (allows for a professional, full-color program –your logo on the back cover)
$500 Ribbons (allows for all contest participants in all departments to receive a ribbon with the specific place and year versus generic)
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Vocal Division Winner
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Instrumental Division Winner
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Variety Division Winner
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Public Speaking Winner
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Sign-a-Song Winner
$100 National Grange Photography Showcase – Adult Division (1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes)
$100 National Grange Quilt Block Contest – Adult Division (1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes)
$100 National Grange Quilt Block Contest – Junior Division (1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes)
Please let me know if you or your Subordinate or Pomona Grange is interested in being a sponsor. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. Please write your sponsorship check to Grange Foundation – Lecturer Fund. Mail your check to: National Grange, 1616 H Street NW, 11th Floor, Washington DC 20006. The Foundation will send you a donation receipt for tax deduction purposes.
Summer is just around the corner!
$500 National Grange Evening of Excellence Program Sponsor (allows for a professional, full-color program –your logo on the back cover)
$500 Ribbons (allows for all contest participants in all departments to receive a ribbon with the specific place and year versus generic)
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Vocal Division Winner
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Instrumental Division Winner
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Variety Division Winner
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Public Speaking Winner
$100 National Grange Evening of Excellence – Sign-a-Song Winner
$100 National Grange Photography Showcase – Adult Division (1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes)
$100 National Grange Quilt Block Contest – Adult Division (1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes)
$100 National Grange Quilt Block Contest – Junior Division (1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes)
Please let me know if you or your Subordinate or Pomona Grange is interested in being a sponsor. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. Please write your sponsorship check to Grange Foundation – Lecturer Fund. Mail your check to: National Grange, 1616 H Street NW, 11th Floor, Washington DC 20006. The Foundation will send you a donation receipt for tax deduction purposes.
Summer is just around the corner!
