| JULY 1, 2025 -- …from the Local level
We thought we’d follow up last month’s article showing the inverted Grange Pyramid with some statistics from our last quarter ending March 2025
The CT State Grange had 30 Community Granges at the close of the 3/31 quarter. For that quarter the overall membership had a net loss of 28 statewide which is a 2.2% decrease in membership.
16 Granges saw no change in membership, 3 Granges saw a net Gain and 11 Granges saw membership losses. The CT State Grange congratulates Higganum, Bethlehem and Wallingford for having a net gain in membership for Q1 2025.
Folks, there is only one way the Grange at any level exists, and that’s through the growth of our Community Granges. Now, do not misunderstand, a Grange with a larger membership does not always equal a strong Grange. To be a strong Grange you need to know what your purpose is, what you do, why you do it, and for whom you do it for. You must be relevant in your community; you must foster an environment of growth and progress.
If you have held the same position for some time, is there a successor? Can you be a mentor? Can you be a cheerleader? Can you make your Grange successful from a supporting role? There is a torch to be handed to the next person so they can help lead your Grange into the next phase of history. You noticed we didn’t say “handed down” because we should be looking upward and outward on the vast opportunities we have in our communities. Looking back is necessary, but only to gather data and knowledge to pave the road to the future of our Grange. To somewhat quote Chis Hamp, National Grange President, “We must keep looking out the windshield, not the rear-view mirror”. The future is large, the future fresh, the future is ours to conquer, if only we dare to.
When we had our Installation Team, during our monologue we would regularly say “Our history is written, we get to write our future”. Think about that! How do you want the future of your Grange to be written? “The Grange in our town was that building over there” or “The Grange is a vibrant, influential group of community folks who want to see reasonable progress and growth that benefits all citizens of our town.” We kinda like the latter of the two. By living a CONNECTED LIFE we can and will see a stop to continual losses. We will see stronger community Granges that fuel the engine of Pomona, State and National Grange.
By living a connected Grange life we ARE the fuel the keeps the engine of the Grange humming into the next century and beyond.
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