| JUNE 1, 2026 -- Let’s reflect on this as we talk about making your Grange relevant, visible and desirable to your members, community and prospective new members. Are you letting your membership and community know what’s going on at the Grange? Are you using social media, email, local radio or newspapers to “get your word out?” Does your Grange have a Facebook page and are you keeping it current? Do you have a relationship with your area newspaper or periodical? Do you have a local radio station? Do you send emails to your members?
Or does your Grange always talk about what you used to do, post old photos of yesteryear or of members that have been gone so long no one even knows them today? Do we always do what we’ve always done just because?
If we want to see our Grange succeed or even stand a chance of success, we need to live in the here and now. We need to make sure we are relevant to what our community needs, what our members’ needs are and what our Granges needs are; and for our Granges to fulfill those needs.
Ask yourself, are you holding effective, time sensitive, educational meetings that meet the needs of your active membership? Being mindful of their needs for socialization offering a good work/ life balance?
Are you holding events or activities that promote or spotlight your Grange? Is your building and grounds in good repair and inviting to the public eye? Do you invite the public to your facility?
Do you do anything in the community? Community Service, Project Sustenance, public dinners, forums or special events that are current to your community’s needs.
Our current membership and prospective new members have limited time available to contribute to another thing. If we do not embrace the current social climate, we currently exist in we will not exist for much longer.
There is need in every community, there is a desire to positively contribute from every generation and there is a common thread that can make all of this come together; your GRANGE! If each active member contributes the best of their time and talents, not overburdening themselves in so doing, imagine the accomplishment your Grange can see. There will be a day, not so far off, where you will see people coming to your Grange purely because they see you are true and faithful members of an organization that means something to your community and your citizens. A group of like-minded, kindhearted doers and givers of themselves, not dragged down by partisan views nor selfish motives, not intentionally looking to build their resume, but who want to see the best for their community and every one of their neighbors. Who wants to see their town, their home and their family prosper and feel welcome and safe.
This is how we build our Granges; this is how we solidify another 150 plus years and this is how we should and must Grange. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but today and each day.
How will you Grange today?
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