MEMBERSHIP & LEADERSHIP
VERMONT GRANGERS WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Co-Directors:
Joseph Goodrich
119 South St Middletown Springs, VT 05757
Tel: 802-235-1520
Email: [email protected]
Deborah Ploof
3265 Crown Point Rd. Bridport, VT 05734
Tel: 802-989-3237
Email: [email protected]
Membership should be a factor in all our activities with a goal of retaining current members and attracting new ones. Granges are encouraged to develop a special project (or several) for their program year that will be beneficial to their Grange, their community, and their current members. There are many resources available to you for help with gaining and keeping members.
If you have access to the web at home or the local library, there are many websites you can consult for information. Nationalgrange.org and vtstategrange.org are two of them as well as websites for other state Granges across the Unites States. On the National webpage are many downloadable files of information for many different projects as well as membership tools for gaining new members and keeping current members. Go to the Member's page and Login. In that section, you will find many articles about the Grange. If you do not have web access, there are several membership tools that could be useful, and they can be mailed to you. Write or call to request material.
The Vermont State Grange has a supply of Membership Applications for Subordinate and Junior Granges and Membership Packets. The Membership packets should be requested from the current Membership Director when a new member is going to be admitted to the Grange. It contains the Fourth-Degree Pin, several flyers that explain the Grange and Grange symbolism, and other useful information about the Grange. There is no cost for these items.
To stay abreast of activities for all Grange members:
The National Grange website and Good DayTM magazine are good resources for Member Benefits. A Membership Benefits brochure is no longer being printed as they outdate quickly.
National Grange and Vermont State Grange websites
National Grange Website: https://www.nationalgrange.org
Vermont State Grange Website: http://www.vtstategrange.org
Both of the above websites have resources you can use for informing members of upcoming activities and recruiting members.
Why do People Join the Grange?
Needs: Start by understanding why people sign their name on the dotted line and join organizations. It doesn’t matter if you have membership fees or how much your dues are to most people. For a sizable portion of society, it isn’t a concern if you have an initiation ceremony. What will matter to everyone is if your group fills their needs. All people have the same basic needs.
Membership Types
Applications for any of these Membership types are available from your Membership Director.
Individual Membership in a Subordinate Grange – Fourth Degree Member
A person fourteen year of age (thirteen years and six months) or more, with an interest in the purposes of the Order may be proposed as a candidate and be elected to membership in a Subordinate Grange as follows:
Pomona Members – Fifth Degree Member
A mission statement defines an organization’s goals in two important ways:· It defines what the organization does for its members.
· It defines what the organization does for non-members (our community)
Tips for Creating an Effective Mission Statement
1. Do keep it short and concise. Sum up the Grange's mission in just a few sentences.
2. Don't write an essay. ...
3. Do think long-term. ...
4. Don't make it too limiting. ...
5. Do find out what your members think of the mission statement and vote on it!
6. Don't be afraid to change it.
National Grange Mission Statement is:
The Grange strengthens individuals, families, and communities through grassroots action, service, education, advocacy, and agriculture awareness.
Vermont State Grange Mission Statement is:
The mission of the Vermont State Grange is to advocate for agricultural interests, education, environmental stewardship, community involvement and family strength. While our history is rich, we look to the future to ensure that our legacy will serve as an example of what can be accomplished with thoughtfulness, caring and determination.
VERMONT GRANGERS WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Co-Directors:
Joseph Goodrich
119 South St Middletown Springs, VT 05757
Tel: 802-235-1520
Email: [email protected]
Deborah Ploof
3265 Crown Point Rd. Bridport, VT 05734
Tel: 802-989-3237
Email: [email protected]
Membership should be a factor in all our activities with a goal of retaining current members and attracting new ones. Granges are encouraged to develop a special project (or several) for their program year that will be beneficial to their Grange, their community, and their current members. There are many resources available to you for help with gaining and keeping members.
If you have access to the web at home or the local library, there are many websites you can consult for information. Nationalgrange.org and vtstategrange.org are two of them as well as websites for other state Granges across the Unites States. On the National webpage are many downloadable files of information for many different projects as well as membership tools for gaining new members and keeping current members. Go to the Member's page and Login. In that section, you will find many articles about the Grange. If you do not have web access, there are several membership tools that could be useful, and they can be mailed to you. Write or call to request material.
The Vermont State Grange has a supply of Membership Applications for Subordinate and Junior Granges and Membership Packets. The Membership packets should be requested from the current Membership Director when a new member is going to be admitted to the Grange. It contains the Fourth-Degree Pin, several flyers that explain the Grange and Grange symbolism, and other useful information about the Grange. There is no cost for these items.
To stay abreast of activities for all Grange members:
- Read the Green Mountain Granger for ongoing/current news about Grange Activities, Grange Benefits, and Grange Opportunities.
- Invite State Officers to visit your Grange. You have a State Grange Deputy assigned to your Grange. They are always ready to help you learn and grow in the Grange.
- Any time you are out and about doing community service you are a representative of the Grange. Be proud of the excellent work you do and wear a Grange pin, hat, or shirt to show you are proud of the Grange.
- Do you want to do a Membership Drive? An Open House or an Open Meeting with information about your Grange? Prepare a booth for the Local Fair? These are all ways to build your Grange.
The National Grange website and Good DayTM magazine are good resources for Member Benefits. A Membership Benefits brochure is no longer being printed as they outdate quickly.
National Grange and Vermont State Grange websites
National Grange Website: https://www.nationalgrange.org
Vermont State Grange Website: http://www.vtstategrange.org
Both of the above websites have resources you can use for informing members of upcoming activities and recruiting members.
Why do People Join the Grange?
Needs: Start by understanding why people sign their name on the dotted line and join organizations. It doesn’t matter if you have membership fees or how much your dues are to most people. For a sizable portion of society, it isn’t a concern if you have an initiation ceremony. What will matter to everyone is if your group fills their needs. All people have the same basic needs.
- Level 1: The basic or first level is the physical need for food, shelter, and clothing. Every human must fill this basic need for survival. We are very fortunate that in America these are relatively easy to fill.
- Level 2: The second level is the need for security. People want to feel safe, have an income, protect themselves for the future.
- Level 3: The third level is the need to be social. Belonging to a group that is accepting of you is important to everyone. Being a part of a group is critical to a healthy lifestyle. This level is where many people will join the Grange. How the Grange fills the need to be social is crucial to long-term success.
- Level 4: The fourth level is the need for approval. People need recognition, a sense of achievement or of status. Gaining the respect of your peers for your achievements or effort is significant for most people. The knowledge that you are making a valuable contribution to an individual, the Grange, or the community makes life much more special.
- Level 5: The fifth level is the need to be beneficent. This is where people have developed the confidence to be selfless in their actions. They don’t need rewards or recognition in order to give purpose to their lives as they believe that their actions reflect their life.
- Family - The family group includes all the reasons that a person and their family may benefit from Grange membership.
- Material Benefits: The National Grange offers several benefits
- Education: The Grange is an educational opportunity.
- Fellowship: The Grange membership is an extended family
- Fun: There are many opportunities for fun activities in every Grange.
- Community Service Projects: The projects that Granges take on range from small one day projects to massive multi-organizational endeavors
- Legislative Action: The Grange is a nonpartisan organization. This means that while we do not take a position on candidates for office, we do take positions on the issues. As a grass-roots organization, Grange policy is set by the local members and works its way up to the higher levels.
- Educational Community Service: Service to the Community is often done through education projects.
- Community Service Projects: The projects that Granges take on range from small one day projects to massive multi-organizational endeavors
- Legislative Action: The Grange is a nonpartisan organization. This means that while we do not take a position on candidates for office, we do take positions on the issues. As a grass-roots organization, Grange policy is set by the local members and works its way up to the higher levels.
- Date: Every second Tuesday of the month
- Time: 8:30 pm EST
Membership Types
Applications for any of these Membership types are available from your Membership Director.
Individual Membership in a Subordinate Grange – Fourth Degree Member
A person fourteen year of age (thirteen years and six months) or more, with an interest in the purposes of the Order may be proposed as a candidate and be elected to membership in a Subordinate Grange as follows:
- Submit an application to a Subordinate Grange accompanied by the application fee of $3.00.
- The application for membership shall be sponsored by and signed by one member of the Subordinate Grange.
- Member must be voted on at a regular meeting at which a quorum is present.
- Full membership in the Subordinate Grange is attained with the approval of the application and the candidate’s participation in the Official Welcoming Ceremony, the Official Obligation Ceremony, or the conferral of the Four Degrees upon the candidate.
- Payment of dues to Community Grange is required. Currently $24 goes to state each year for every member.
- A Fourth-Degree member may not be a member of more than one Subordinate Grange at the same time except that Fourth-Degree members may be elected membership in one additional Subordinate Grange as an Affiliated Member. A proposal for Affiliate Membership, including proof of the member being in good standing in their original Grange, and election thereto shall be the same as for other Subordinate candidates.
- Affiliate members shall pay the applicable membership dues and be entitled to hold office and vote in the additional Subordinate Grange.
- Be sure to designate Affiliate Members clearly on quarterly reports to the Secretary of State Grange.
- Affiliate members shall not hold the same office in two Subordinate Granges at the same time.
- A person or business with an interest in the advancement of agriculture and improvement of rural life may become an Associate Member.
- Annual dues are determined by the Community Grange. Remember: of $24.00 is paid to the State Grange so make it more than that. Suggestion is $40-$50.
- Associate members shall be entitled to receive State Grange information publications and participate in State Grange services as provided for by the Vermont State Grange. The Associate member shall be entitled to attend regular Grange meetings except when Degrees are being conferred but shall not be entitled to vote on matters of Grange policy or participate in Vermont State Grange sponsored contests that are designed for Grange members only.
- See the Junior Grange requirements in this book.
Pomona Members – Fifth Degree Member
- Fourth degree members in good standing may submit an application (obtain from Pomona master or secretary) with application fee to apply for membership in any Pomona within Vermont. Application fee is
- Annual dues are determined by the Pomona Grange.
- You MUST be a member in good standing in a Subordinate Grange to maintain Pomona membership.
- Full membership in the Pomona Grange is attained with the approval of the application and the candidate’s participation in the Fifth Degree Official Obligation Ceremony or the conferral of the Fifth Degree upon the candidate.
- Fifth degree members in good standing may submit an application (obtain from State secretary) with application fee to apply for membership in Vermont State Grange. Application fee is
- No annual dues.
- You MUST be a member in good standing in a Subordinate and Pomona Grange to maintain membership.
- Full membership in the State Grange is attained with the approval of the application and the candidate’s participation in the Sixth-Degree conferral.
- Conferral of Sixth Degree – Conferral is performed yearly. Location, date, and time of degree is announced in the Green Mountain Granger.
- Conferral of the Seventh Degree will be in our region in November of 2023. 157th National Grange Convention will be held from November 14-18, 2023 at Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls Sheraton at the Falls, 300 Third Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303.
- Register online at the National Grange website. Registration is $32 to $42 depending on when you register and then signup for the Seventh Degree for $30. Saturday, November 18, 2023
- You must be a Sixth-Degree member to apply.
A mission statement defines an organization’s goals in two important ways:· It defines what the organization does for its members.
· It defines what the organization does for non-members (our community)
Tips for Creating an Effective Mission Statement
1. Do keep it short and concise. Sum up the Grange's mission in just a few sentences.
2. Don't write an essay. ...
3. Do think long-term. ...
4. Don't make it too limiting. ...
5. Do find out what your members think of the mission statement and vote on it!
6. Don't be afraid to change it.
National Grange Mission Statement is:
The Grange strengthens individuals, families, and communities through grassroots action, service, education, advocacy, and agriculture awareness.
Vermont State Grange Mission Statement is:
The mission of the Vermont State Grange is to advocate for agricultural interests, education, environmental stewardship, community involvement and family strength. While our history is rich, we look to the future to ensure that our legacy will serve as an example of what can be accomplished with thoughtfulness, caring and determination.
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