NAOMI FLETCHER, LECTURER
14685 25.75 Road
Rapid River, MI 49878
Tel: 906-399-2815
Naomi.fletcher54@gmail.com
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 GRANGE NEWS
Greetings from north of the bridge! I’d like to first take this opportunity to congratulate Jackie Bishop on her election to the MSG Executive Committee, and to thank the delegates for placing their confidence in me as your new MSG Lecturer to continue the wonderful programs Jackie has overseen these last six+ years.
We were all chatting around the table one day at state session and someone asked me if I’d ever been a Lecturer before? As I was thinking back on my Grange life, I said yes. And then I thought there isn’t an office I haven’t held in some form or fashion, either as an elected officer in my local Grange, Pomona Grange, State Grange, or as a member of a Degree team. I believe I even stood during a tableau during the first four degrees, and on stage as a court lady next to the Ceres of the National Grange. I think my favorite, though, was as Lecturer in my Subordinate/Community Grange. It gave me an opportunity to study a bit deeper into the workings of the Grange so that I could impart that information onto my fellow brothers and sisters.
But the position is more than just for education. It’s as a member of a team of officers who lead our members into a changing future-ever facing the light. I hope to bring new programs to you from the National Grange and from our community partners. Each Grange News I will bring you a few details from each of our departments and how you and your Grange can become a Distinguished Grange, earn an award in Community Service, encourage participation in the Deaf Awareness program, and so much more. If there is a program you would like to learn more about, please send me an email. It may become a part of the Lecturer’s department!
QUESTION OF THE MONTH: What is the emblem of the Fourth Degree? (answer next time!)
And now for the winners of the various contests held at State Session! Congratulations to you all!
Traditional or Unusual Family Recipe
Greetings from north of the bridge! I’d like to first take this opportunity to congratulate Jackie Bishop on her election to the MSG Executive Committee, and to thank the delegates for placing their confidence in me as your new MSG Lecturer to continue the wonderful programs Jackie has overseen these last six+ years.
We were all chatting around the table one day at state session and someone asked me if I’d ever been a Lecturer before? As I was thinking back on my Grange life, I said yes. And then I thought there isn’t an office I haven’t held in some form or fashion, either as an elected officer in my local Grange, Pomona Grange, State Grange, or as a member of a Degree team. I believe I even stood during a tableau during the first four degrees, and on stage as a court lady next to the Ceres of the National Grange. I think my favorite, though, was as Lecturer in my Subordinate/Community Grange. It gave me an opportunity to study a bit deeper into the workings of the Grange so that I could impart that information onto my fellow brothers and sisters.
But the position is more than just for education. It’s as a member of a team of officers who lead our members into a changing future-ever facing the light. I hope to bring new programs to you from the National Grange and from our community partners. Each Grange News I will bring you a few details from each of our departments and how you and your Grange can become a Distinguished Grange, earn an award in Community Service, encourage participation in the Deaf Awareness program, and so much more. If there is a program you would like to learn more about, please send me an email. It may become a part of the Lecturer’s department!
We will be attending the National Grange session in Bettendorf, Iowa in a few short weeks. I will participate in as many Lecturer’s events as possible. Several workshops are being offered in leadership development, programming and fundraising; all of which will benefit our Granges here in Michigan. So, keep an eye on this column to see what there will be in the offering for you and your Grange.
You’ll also see some updated contests to enter in the new program book coming out in the next MGN. I challenge each of you to enter at least ONE contest from one of the departments that offer a contest. I’d like to see the exhibit room FULL!
QUESTION OF THE MONTH: What is the emblem of the Fourth Degree? (answer next time!)
And now for the winners of the various contests held at State Session! Congratulations to you all!
Class A: Items Created from Yarn
Subordinate:
1st: Rebecca Winter, Home #129
2nd: Naomi Fletcher, Burns #160
3rd: Joan Hellman, Pittsfield Union #882
Class B: Items Created from Paper
Subordinate:
1st: Peggy Johnston, Burns #160
2nd: Dale Moore, Burns #160
3rd: Sharon Popler, Burns #160
Class C: Items Created from Fabric
Juniors: 9-14 year olds
1st: Olivia Sivyer, Burns #160
Subordinate:
1st: Karen Wolletz, Barnard #689
2nd: Linda Bula, Fern #803
3rd: Helen Mudd, Studley #1174
Class D: Items Created with Thread
Subordinate:
1st: Karen Wolletz, Barnard #689
Class E: Items made with paints, water colors, etc.
Junior: Agea 8 and under
1st: Winter Hsu-Bishop, Home #129
Subordinate:
1st: Naomi Fletcher, Burns #160
2nd: Karen Wolletz, Barnard #689
Class F: Items using Mixed Media
Subordinate:
1st: Karen Wolletz, Barnard #689
2nd: LaDonna Kurburski, Harbor Springs #730
3rd: Sharon Strebbing, Plymouth/Westland #389
Class G:Miscellaneous Art
Class G:Miscellaneous Art
Junior: ages 8 and under
1st: Winter Hsu-Bishop
Subordinate:
1st: Karen Wolletz, Barnard #689
2nd: Naomi Fletcher, Burns #160
3rd: Arlene Douglas, Burns #160
PHOTOGRAPHY
Class A: Animals
Subordinate:
1st: Joan Hellmann, Pittsfield Union #882
2nd: Chris Johnston, Burns #160
3rd: Dale Moore, Burns #160
Class B: People
Juniors: ages 8 and under
1st: Winter Hsu-Bishop, Home #129
2nd Willow Hsu-Bishop, Home #129
Subordinate:
1st: Kathryn Hsu-Bishop, Home #129
2nd: Marcus Johnston, Gratiot #1898
3rd: Naomi Fletcher, Burns #160
Class C: Farm Crops Scene
Subordinate:
1st: Heather Hyatt Mudd, Studley #1174
2nd: Kathryn Hsu-Bishop, Home #129
3rd: Sharon Popler, Burns #160
Class D: Sky
Subordinate:
1st: Dale Moore, Burns #160
2nd: Kathryn Hsu-Bishop, Home #129
3rd: Lena Young, Community #1675
Class E: Monuments
Subordinate:
1st: Gary Ettinger, Barnard #689
2nd: Marcus Johnston, Gratiot #1898
3rd: Naomi Fletcher, Burns #160
BEST OF SHOW—PHOTOGRAPHY
Kathryn Hsu-Bishop, Home #129
HOME-MADE FOOD
Class A: Yeast Breads
Subordinate:
1st: Dale Moore, Burns #160
Class B: Fruit Pie
Subordinate:
1st: Lena Young
Class C: Canned Items
Subordinate:
1st Peggy Johnston, Burns #160
Traditional or Unusual Family Recipe
Subordinate:
1st: Connie Johnston, Gratiot #1898
2nd: Peggy Johnston, Burns #160
3rd: Sharon Popler, Burns #160
BEST OF SHOW — ARTS
Karen Wolletz, Barnard #689
Certificates for Reporting:
Pomona:
Mid Michigan Pomona #61, St. Joseph/Cass/Kalamazoo Pomona #4
Subordinate:
Barnard #689, Burns # 160, Burr Oak #1350, Colon #215, Community #1675, Gratiot #1898, Harbor Springs #730, Pittsfield Union #882, Studley #1174, Summit City #672, West Oshtemo #1630.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024 GRANGE NEWS
I hope that everyone has been taking photographs all year for the “Animals”, “People”, “Farm Crop Scenes”, “Sky”, and “Monuments” classes to enter into the photography contest. The photos are displayed via a peg board with photos placed on clips. The backing should at a minimum of card stock weight (minimum 67 lb), but heavier mat board is recommended. I am looking forward to all your entries in the photography contest at State Grange. My goal is 75 photos (about 15 more than last year). For those not photography-minded, consider entering the Arts contest. Note that the classes are now by what medium the item is constructed with as opposed to what technique was used to create it. An example: an entrant has a crocheted item they wish to enter. The article would be entered in Class A (Yarn) or perhaps Class D (thread) instead of the class “Crocheted items” which no longer exists.
Now is also a good time to practice making your entries in the food contest for “Yeast Breads”, “Fruit Pie” and “Canned items”. I am hoping to see entries in the new contest, “Traditional or Unusual Family Recipe Contest”. This contest will be judged on Thursday night with the home-made foods.
All contests are open to Grangers and Grange friends. In addition, contests are open to children through age fourteen.
Special reminder to Lecturer’s: Your annual report forms are due to me by September 10, or as soon thereafter as possible. Certificates will be awarded at State Grange for completed annual reports.
Election Thoughts
State Grange Session is soon! Are your contest entries completed or nearly done?
From experience, I know that a lot of entries are completed the week before State session. I challenge you to get your entries together now, including getting them labeled to avoid the last-minute rush. All entries must be labeled and each entrant should have an entry form that lists all their items in the Lecturer’s contests. Your Lecturer should have these labels and forms, but I will have extras at session.
I hope that everyone has been taking photographs all year for the “Animals”, “People”, “Farm Crop Scenes”, “Sky”, and “Monuments” classes to enter into the photography contest. The photos are displayed via a peg board with photos placed on clips. The backing should at a minimum of card stock weight (minimum 67 lb), but heavier mat board is recommended. I am looking forward to all your entries in the photography contest at State Grange. My goal is 75 photos (about 15 more than last year). For those not photography-minded, consider entering the Arts contest. Note that the classes are now by what medium the item is constructed with as opposed to what technique was used to create it. An example: an entrant has a crocheted item they wish to enter. The article would be entered in Class A (Yarn) or perhaps Class D (thread) instead of the class “Crocheted items” which no longer exists.
Now is also a good time to practice making your entries in the food contest for “Yeast Breads”, “Fruit Pie” and “Canned items”. I am hoping to see entries in the new contest, “Traditional or Unusual Family Recipe Contest”. This contest will be judged on Thursday night with the home-made foods.
All contests are open to Grangers and Grange friends. In addition, contests are open to children through age fourteen.
Special reminder to Lecturer’s: Your annual report forms are due to me by September 10, or as soon thereafter as possible. Certificates will be awarded at State Grange for completed annual reports.
Election Thoughts
Now that the Republican and Democratic conventions are over, it is certain that we will all be bombarded even more with many candidate ads. It is clear that many of us are passionate with regard to what we wish the future to hold with regard to our government and its emphases. In the current environment, where it is difficult to discern what is fact, it is ever important that we seek out multiple sources of information from multiple viewpoints in order to make wise decisions when we vote.
In the Third Degree of the Grange (Harvest), the opening by the Steward says: “We must reap for the mind as well as for the body, and from the abundance of our harvest, in good deeds and kind words, dispense CHARITY.” Let us all keep the concept of charity in mind as we participate in “promoting the welfare” of our nation. From the Fourth Degree (Home), we find this: “Let the agate be to you and
emblem of FIDELITY. May your principles of manhood and womanhood be as firmly impressed as the lasting colors of the stone, and may our friendship be as firm as the stone itself.” In the salutation of order, remember these words as we move through the Presidential Election process: “A good Patron … dispenses CHARITY and is noted for FIDELITY.
VOTE! Since the next issue of MGN will probably not be in your hands before the November 5 election, I encourage you to vote. Stand up for your beliefs by expressing them in this very
important way.
