Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 7:00 PM

The Family Activities Committee, along with CT State Grange Lecturer Dave Roberts, will be hosting the CT State Grange Family Festival at a date to be announced, at Hillstown Grange Hall, 617 Hills Street, East Hartford.

The event will feature contest judging for the Family Activities Department including the NE Region Needlework Contest, Baking, Crafts, contest judging, and more. For the Lecturer's Department, judging will include the Photo Contests. A Pancake Breakfast will be prepared by Hillstown Grange. There will also be a Tea Cup Auction.

Send an e-mail to Director Dawn Percoski at familyactivities@ctstategrange.org or Dave Roberts at lecturer@ctstategrange.org for more information

NOTE: Program Director/Lecturers can submit their monthly Lecturer Reports and their annual Honor Lecturer Program Report to the State Lecturer either electronically to lecturer@ctstategrange.org or regular mail (P.O. Box 155, Riverton, CT 06065). 

PROGRAM GUIDELINES . . .

All programs should be up to 30 minutes in length as appropriate and include music, information, participation, inspiration and humor where possible. While all programs do not have to include all of these components, they are an essential part of a Lecturer/Program Director’s program.  ZOOM programs are also acceptable and should average at least 10 minutes in length and include quizzes and other numbers that will encourage everyone on the virtual meeting to actively participate.

2022-2024 LECTURER’S APPRECIATION AWARD . . .

(In 2021-2022, seven Granges earned this award!)

CRITERIA for Community and Pomona Granges:

1. Be responsible for a suitable program at every meeting.
2. Programs should be as appropriate up to 30 minutes in length.
3. Cooperate with your Grange Committees.
4. Reports to the State Grange Lecturer/Program Director should be submitted in a timely manner.
5. Submit a request to the Connecticut State Grange Lecturer not later than September 30th that your Grange Lecturer has qualified for this award.

2022-2024 HONOR LECTURER’S AWARD . . .

(In 2021-2022, six Granges earned this award!)

CRITERIA for Community and Pomona Granges:

1. Meet requirements for the Lecturer’s Appreciation Award listed above.
2. Participate in at least 3 additional contests or projects (Heirloom, Photo, Complete, “Honoring Our Elders”, “A Word from Home”, or “Initiate a New Program”.
3. Submit a Grange in Action or a Golden Grange in Action nomination to National Grange and copy the Connecticut State Grange Lecturer.
4. Submit a request to the Connecticut State Grange Lecturer not later than September 30th that your Grange Lecturer has qualified for this award.

National Grange initiated a five-year program to teach members and “potential members” about the ritual, history and beliefs of the Grange. This five-year program introduces one short lesson each month, corresponding with the Degree season, and launched in March 2022 with Year A (1st Degree – Spring). These brief lessons can be presented during your normal meeting in the “Conferring Degrees” or “Good of the Order” portion.  

All of the Heirloom Program materials are currently available at bit.ly/grangeheirloom - please utilize the materials as you see fit!  National Grange will continue adding to the folder as material is complete and ready to use. Items included are the yearly pamphlets, posters, social media posts, and some suggested activities that can be distributed and completed. It also includes a handy social media sharing guide that can be easily copied-and-pasted into your social media feeds.  

Heirloom Program lessons could provide a “jumping off” point for your newsletter/magazine articles, or you could ask another officer or committee chairperson/director to reflect on the lessons in their pieces.  Encourage your local Lecturers/Program Directors to use this information not to replace the Lecturer’s program, but as a supplement elsewhere in the meeting or create discussion points for potlucks or contests. Encourage your Lecturers to work with the other officers to find a place for use, and make it a quick, regular part of your Community Grange meetings.  

Please share “success stories” about the use of the program with me, or if you come up with other innovative ways to incorporate the Program in your Granges.  

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD HEIRLOOM PROGRAM INFO

“HONORING OUR ELDERS” Program
(formerly Should Auld Acquaintance)

Provide assistance to a Convalescent, Nursing or Rest Home at least 4 times during the course of the year. May be programs, gifts, or any type of help the home requests. This should be done in the name of the Grange. If unsure whether or not you qualify, please submit your report and let us decide. Deadline for report: September 30th.

This contest is open to all Grangers (Junior, Youth, 1+ and Grange). We will again have a “Best in Show” picture which will go to National Grange for judging. Tentative plans call for judging to be held at the State Grange Family Festival in the Spring and winning photos will be displayed at the State Grange Convention and then returned to their owners.

The four photo categories are:

1. My America/Grange Activities
2. Animals
3. Old Trucks/Barns
4. Let’s Make a Snowman

Rules:

1. Only prints accepted.
2. Participants may enter all five categories, but are limited to one entry in each category. 3. Entries must have been taken by the participant since the last State Grange judging.
4. No glass or frames are allowed on photos.
5. Print may be processed commercially, but it must have been taken by the entrant.
6. Size of photo/backing (if used): No smaller than 4”x6” or larger than 11”x14”.
7. Entrant’s name, contest category, Grange/Grange number, and phone number must be placed on the back of each entry.

• 2016 Complete Program Winners

Previous Winners:

• 2015 Complete Program Winners

• 2014 Complete Program Winners

• 2013 Complete Program Winners

• 2012 Complete Program Winners

• 2010 Complete Program - First Place Winner - North Stonington Grange

• 2010 Complete Program - Second Place Winner - Beacon Valley Grange