This contest is open to all Grangers, as well as their children and grandchildren. However, only Grange Members may compete at National Grange.

a. America the Beautiful
b. Animals
c. Grangers in Action
d. Family Celebrations
e. Historic Places or Events

Please Note: Grangers in Action should be pictures of Grangers doing something, not posed shots.

Rules:

1. Only prints are accepted. No slides in any category.

2. Participants may enter all categories, but are limited to one entry in each category.

3. Entries must be taken by participant after June 10, 2012.

4. A rigid backing is required for all photographs. No glass or frame is allowed.

5. Print may be processed commercially, but must have been taken by the entrant. Remember, this is a picture you took, not a picture of you.

6. Panoramic photographs as well as black and white photographs may be entered, but no separate category is provided for these.

7. Size of Backing: No smaller than 4"x6" or larger than 11"x14".

8. Name, Category, Grange and Grange Number must be placed on the back of picture.

9. Youth Entries (Age 14 and under) will be judged separately.

10. Judging: Photos will be judged at Cheshire Grange Hall on Saturday, June 8th. Entries may be mailed or given to the State Lecturer ahead of time, or may be brought to Cheshire Grange Hall between 9:00 & 10:00 AM on June 8.

It is the responsibility of the Community Grange Secretary to send information to the Membership Director by October 1, 2013 on each of the following contests:

NEW MEMBER CONTEST - Certificates will be awarded to the top three Community and Pomona Granges taking in the most new members

HIGHEST NET GAIN – Certificates will be awarded to the three Community and Pomona Granges with the highest net gain in membership.

JUNIOR GRANGE - Certificate will be given to the Junior Grange obtaining the largest number of new members.

LARGEST GAIN IN ATTENDANCE - Certificates to Granges with a sustainable growth in attendance at meetings.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE - Certificate for the most creative membership drive.

CREATE A MEMBERSHIP BANNER

ELEVATOR SPEECH - Twenty-five words or less to define Grange to the public.

NOTEBOOK– Compiled of membership efforts. “Membership Moments”. Could have computer program or template of a newsletter.

NOTE: CONTEST YEAR IS FROM JULY 1, 2012 TO JUNE 30, 2013.

Open to the Public - you do not have to be a Grange Member to enter this contest.

No Product requirement

There are ten classes for competition - - afghans, doilies, embroidery, baby set, plastic canvas, counted cross stitch, adult garment, latch hook, quilted wall hanging and stuffed toy. All items submitted for judging must be clean and odor free.

ALL FIRST PLACE STATE WINNERS WILL COMPETE IN THE NEW ENGLAND FINALS.

ALL JUDGING FOR THE STATE CWA CONTESTS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JUNE 8th (The day before) “LET’S CELEBRATE DAY” – JUNE 9, 2013 AT CHESHIRE GRANGE HALL. THIS WILL BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH GRANGE SUNDAY AND THE LECTURER’S PROGRAM.

All entries must be at the Grange Hall by 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8th.

Brochures/entry forms for the New England Grange Needlework Contest may be obtained from theFamily Activities Committee, Pomona or Subordinate chairmen, and are available for download from this website.

PRIZES FOR THE NEEDLEWORK CONTESTS AT THE STATE LEVEL WILL BE: 1ST PLACE - $15.00, 2ND PLACE – $10.00 AND 3RD PLACE - $5.00.

PRIZES FOR THE CRAFT CONTESTS AT THE STATE LEVEL WILL BE: 1ST PLACE - $10.00, 2ND PLACE – $5.00 AND 3RD PLACE - $3.00. State ribbons will be given in all contests.

PRIZES FOR THE CRAFT CONTESTS AT THE STATE LEVEL WILL BE: 1ST PLACE - $10.00, 2ND PLACE – $5.00 AND 3RD PLACE - $3.00. State ribbons will be given in all contests.

You may enter a scrapbook of any size, any subject, any design.

ALL SCRAPBOOK ENTRIES WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PERSON MAKING THE BOOK.

Contest is for Grange members only.

PRIZES FOR THE CRAFT CONTESTS AT THE STATE LEVEL WILL BE: 1ST PLACE - $10.00, 2ND PLACE – $5.00 AND 3RD PLACE - $3.00. State ribbons will be given in all contests.

NEEDLEWORK CONTEST: This contest requires the use of any type of needle – sewing, crocheting, knitting, etc.

BAKING CONTEST: The Juniors will use the same recipe as the adults.

ALL JUNIOR ENTRIES FOR BOTH OF THE CONTESTS WILL
BE SENT TO THE STATE JUDGING ON JUNE 8th (The day before) “LET’S CELEBRATE DAY” - June 9, 2013 AT CHESHIRE GRANGE HALL. All entries must be at the Grange Hall by 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8th.

PRIZES WILL BE 1ST PLACE - $5.00, 2ND PLACE $3.00
AND 3RD PLACE - $2.00

Think of a fun and effective idea for a video representing your Grange. The video must be either thirty (30) or sixty (60) seconds in length, including any tags.

Deadline: October 1, 2013

Judging Criteria:

(1) Originality (40%)
(2) Overall Appeal (30%)
(3) Likelihood to Motivate People to Join the Grange (30%)

Prizes: Best of Show submission will receive a framed certificate declaring their achievement, placement on the Connecticut State Grange website and YouTube page, mentions and links on the Connecticut State Grange Social Media outlets, and a custom media blitz. Honorable Mentions will be awarded to all who submit entries. Prizes will be awarded at the Annual Connecticut State Grange Session in October.

Submission Rules: Upload your completed video to YouTube, then send an e-mail to publicrealtions@ctstategrange.org containing the link to your YouTube page as your submission, as well as your Name, Grange Name and Number, Address, Phone Number and E-mail Address. We will send you a confirmation e-mail to verify your entry has been received.

Conditions of Entry: By uploading and entering a submission, entrant warrants and represents that the submission:

1.) is original and has been legally created, and is not negative or detrimental to the missions of the Grange;

2.) does not infringe the intellectual property, privacy or publicity rights or any other legal or moral rights of any third party;

3.) has not been published or distributed previously

Spread the Word about your Grange, its projects, activities and events by submitting content to the Connecticut State Grange website. Submissions can be articles, photos, calendar events and scrapbook items (such as newspaper clippings and historical data).

Contest Period: Submission period runs from November 1, 2012 - October 1, 2013

Submission Rules: Submissions should be e-mailed to submissions@ctstategrange.org or information@ctstategrange.org.

Please include Name, Grange Name and Number, Address, Phone Number and E-mail Address on all submissions. Photos and scans should be a MINIMUM size of 400 x 600 pixels, with a minimum resolution of 72 dpi. (Larger is better for clarity.) Multiple photos from one event will be counted as ONE submission. Any submission used for publication will be counted for judging. We encourage quality submissions for publication, but quality is not necessarily a factor of judging. We reserve the right to edit or decline any and all submissions prior to publication on the Connecticut State Grange website.

Judging Criteria / Prizes:

This contest is based on numbers of submissions.

• 1 submission - Honorable Mention Participation Certificate

• 2 - 24 submissions - Participation Certificate

• 25 or more submissions - President's Award Certificate

The Grange with the most overall submissions will receive a special recognition; all prizes will be awarded at the 2013 Connecticut State Grange Session.

Create a scrapbook showing how your Grange promotes itself in the community through its marketing efforts. Some examples include:

• Hosting and then publicizing an Agricultural Fair
• Participation in community programs and projects, such as the Farmer's Markets, Chamber of Commerce, Recycling Centers, Can and Bottle Drives, etc.
• Community Displays and Booths at local non-Grange sponsored community events
• Newspaper, Television and Radio Advertising
• Signage in your community
• Original printed pieces, such as Flyers, Brochures, Letterhead, Postcards and Notecards
• Participation in internet activities such as having an individual Grange Website and Social Media such as Facebook and Twitter
• and more!

Deadline: October 1, 2013

Submission Rules: To enter, submit a scrapbook of NO MORE than 12 pages containing descriptions and photos/scans of how your Grange promotes itself through marketing. Note that this contest is not a community service contest, although it incorporates community service fundamentals. Entries should concentrate on the promotional aspects of the projects your Grange participates in. Submissions must be fronted by a cover sheet that contains the following information: Name, Grange Name and Number, Address, Phone Number and E-mail Address. Reports should be mailed to Public Relations Co-Director Robert Charbonneau, 102 Spring Street, Meriden, CT 06451 or sent as an attachment (PDF or Microsoft Word Format) via e-mail to publicrealtions@ctstategrange.org prior to the October 1, 2013 deadline.

Judging Criteria: Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

(1) Content: Diversity of Scope (30%)
(2) Content: Community Impact (30%)
(3) Content: Originality (20%)
(4) Presentation of Entry (20%)

Prizes: Awards will be presented at the Annual Connecticut State Grange Session in October. Honorable Mentions will be awarded to all who submit entries.

Entries must be a press release written and used by your Grange

Deadline: October 1, 2013

Submission Rules: Entries should be less than 500 words in length, and follow the proper style and format as described in the Connecticut State Grange Public Relations Tool-Kit booklets. Entries should be mailed to Public Relations Co-Director Robert Charbonneau, 102 Spring Street, Meriden, CT 06451, or sent as an attachment (PDF or Microsoft Word Format) via e-mail to publicrealtions@ctstategrange.org prior to the October 1, 2013 deadline. Submissions must contain the following information: Name, Grange Name and Number, Address, Phone Number and E-mail Address.

Judging Criteria: Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

(1) Use of Proper Format (20%)
(2) Accurate Spelling and Grammar (20%)
(3) Content: Engagement (20%)
(4) Content: Originality (20%)
(5) Overall Impact of Message (20%)

Prizes: Awards to be presented at the Annual Connecticut State Grange Session in October.

Submissions must be an ACTUAL poster designed, executed, and used by your Grange.

Deadline: October 1, 2013

Submission Rules: Posters should be a minimum of 8.5 x 11 in size (no limit on maximum size), and may be in either black and white, or color. Submissions must contain the following information: Name, Grange Name and Number, Address, Phone Number and E-mail Address. Submissions should be mailed to Public Relations Co-Director Robert Charbonneau, 102 Spring Street, Meriden, CT 06451, or sent as an attachment (PDF, JPG, or Microsoft Word Format) via e-mail to publicrealtions@ctstategrange.org prior to the October 1, 2013 deadline.

Judging Criteria:

There will be two categories for entries -

A. Digital Design (developed with the aid of a computer and software)
B. Traditional Media Design (developed using traditional artistic media, such as paint, pencil, ink, etc.)

Adult and Junior entries will be judged in both categories. Exhibitors may enter both categories.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

(1) Clarity of Message (40%)
(2) Creativity and Originality (30%)
(3) Visual Impact (30%)

Prizes: Awards to be presented at the Annual Connecticut State Grange Session in October.

Entries must be an ACTUAL printed or published newspaper article written about your Grange.

Deadline: October 1, 2013

Submission Rules: Entries should be mailed to Public Relations Co-Director Robert Charbonneau, 102 Spring Street, Meriden, CT 06451, or scanned and sent as an attachment (PDF, JPG or Microsoft Word Format) via e-mail to publicrealtions@ctstategrange.org prior to the October 1, 2013 deadline. Submissions must contain the following information: Name, Grange Name and Number, Address, Phone Number and E-mail Address. Note that the committee reserves the right to select appropriate articles to be recognized even though they may not have been submitted as an entry.

Judging Criteria: Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

(1) Accuracy (40%)
(2) Overall Appeal (30%)
(3) Community Impact (30%)

Prizes: Awards to be presented at the Annual Connecticut State Grange Session in October.

Create a Buzz about your Grange, its projects, activities and events by setting up a proper Facebook or Twitter Page and then managing its contents. This contest is open to all Community Granges, Pomona Granges and Junior Granges.

Contest Period: Pages must be active at any point within the period of November 1, 2012 - October 1, 2013

Submission Rules: Let us know when your Grange has set-up its Facebook and/or Twitter pages via e-mail to either publicrelations@ctstategrange.org or information@ctstategrange.org. Pages must be set-up according to the Social Media Guidelines specified by the Connecticut State Grange, and be in compliance with the Terms of Service of Facebook and/or Twitter.

Judging Criteria: Facebook and Twitter Pages will be each separately judged on the following criteria:

(1) Page Management - Consistent Updates (30%)
(2) Content - Variety and Accuracy (25%)
(3) Overall Appeal (20%)
(4) Community Impact (20%)
(5) Number of Fans / Followers (5%)

Prizes:

Awards to be presented at the Annual Connecticut State Grange Session in October. Recognition Certificates will be awarded to all Granges who have Facebook and/or Twitter Pages.

The purpose of this contest is to promote creativity and spark the enthusiasm of the youth and youthful. This contest will allow each Granger to have a Youth Night Program. The program should be educational, interesting and involve the members.

Category 1 – Any Subordinate and/or Pomona Grange Youth Chairperson, Youth Committee member or Grange member who have put together the Youth Night Program (ages 14 to 35).

Category 2 – Any Subordinate and/or Pomona Grange Youthful Chairperson, Youthful Committee member or Grange member who have put together the Youth Night Program (ages 3 35 and up).

Please submit what your Youth Night Program was and include copies of your materials used and pictures from the event by October 1, 2013 to the State Youth Director.

Scavenger Hunt

Like to find funny and strange items. Joint the scavenger hunt. All ages are invited. More on this fun hunt will be coming soon.

Other Contests Available

Please contact the Director for information on the following:

Public Speaking
Lip Sync
Sign-A-Song

To Be Announced