Spring and early summer
are times when many Grangers (and non-Grangers) start planning.
Planning for planting and the upcoming busy summer growing season,
planning for the many fairs that are quickly approaching, planning
supper can sometimes even seem like an important thing. We are a
society that makes plans, that lives by the clock, and after all
there are only so many hours in the day. Each day we need to fit in
work, getting children ready for their days, getting the adults
ready for their days, commutes, cleaning, laundry, and, oh yeah,
eating and sleeping.
In my life, I can’t help
but notice the many things that my fiancée is planning for right
now. Along with the planning that we are doing together for our
wedding (which isn’t until January), she is planning her Grange’s
display for all of the local fairs (those aren’t until August), and
a cruise we are taking in Alaska (a little better…that one is in
June). Unfortunately sometimes all the planning we do on a daily
basis takes away from the most important thing in life...fun.
Sometimes we forget to
“schedule” fun in our daily life. While there are times when life
gets in the way of having fun, we need to make time for it. This is
especially true in each and every one of our Granges.
We are all very busy
year-round. We do fundraisers, serve banquets, and volunteer our
time in our community. These are all great opportunities for
fellowship and fun, but this is not the fun I am referring to.
Sometimes it feels as
though we are paying dues just to spend more time trying to fit
things into our schedules. I think that each of our Granges needs to
schedule fun for their Grangers this summer.
I do not mean a covered
dish where we all cook, then serve, then clean up. Even our holiday
parties seem to end up being just as much work as they are fun.
Maybe your Grange can go out to a local restaurant and use THEIR
banquet area for a meal. It doesn’t have to be something elaborate
and maybe the restaurant will help you with a reduced cost for some
free advertising at your next Grange event.
Our state has vast park
systems and going on a tour could be a great way to have a little
fun. Just in the Berks county area we have several local gems that
are free or low cost. If you spend a couple hours taking in the
sights at a state park and each family brings their own picnic
lunch, there is very little cost involved.
Game nights can be free
and can introduce you to games you have never played.
If you can find one of
these great local, inexpensive (possibly free) things to do, your
Grange may be willing to offset the cost. How about taking advantage
of the events that someone else plans, like the Family Picnics that
our State Grange has planned for this summer? Or Family Festival in
July? Get some people together and carpool to these activities.
I cannot guarantee that
your Grange will have a huge turnout for any of these things, but it
is obviously a different way to all get together. Keep trying and
possibly plan a couple outings a year. You will not find a date that
works for everyone. You will not please everyone with every outing.
Yes, you may have a great turnout for a Jessie Rayburn #2076 local
baseball game, but baseball isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Make sure your outings
are aimed for a broad spectrum of interests. Share responsibility
for planning these outings. You may have a couple of Grangers who
would like to help plan something fun or they may even have an idea
that no one else has experienced. A seasoned Grange member may have
a great memory of an activity from years past. This outing may not
be something that everyone knows about, because it is not something
that we do in our mile- a-minute society. Maybe it's time to try it
again.
Check out the National
Grange website
www.nationalgrange.org your your Grange’s copy of “Building the
Grange Across America” for more ideas.
Happy planning,
Derek Schroeder
PA State Assistant Steward