Lecturer's Corner

The Grange Lecturer is responsible for planning and presenting educational and entertaining programs during Grange meetings. This page contains information about Grange contests sponsored by the Lecturer’s Department and resources for Grange Lecturers.

If you have any questions regarding the programs and contests listed below, please contact the State Grange Lecturer or a member of the Lecturer’s Coordinating Committee:

Lecturer:

Deborah Goodrich (508-869-3146) - bdgood@charter.net

Committee Members:

Rebecca Ingram (781-760-2789) - ringram0922@comcast.net

Kristina Moffatt (978-399-9500) - kristina.e.tully@gmail.com

George E. Thomas, III (617-791-4950) - gthomas3brk@yahoo.com

Kathy Gibson (508-793-9524) - madeafactivities@hotmail.com

Jennifer Towler (413-896-3230) - jenniferrtowler@gmail.com

Honorary Members:

Susan Rotellini (978-663-6319) - susanrotellini@verizon.net

Janet Segur (508-886-2341) - jsegur55@gmail.com

Kristin Paulson (508-282-0769)

Resources for Grange Lecturers:

Program Resources:

The State and National Granges provide program resources to help Grange Lecturers plan their programs. Download the State and National Program Resources information for topic and program planning ideas.

Agriculture Education is a major focus of the Massachusetts State Grange. Local Granges are encouraged to hold programs to educate their local communities on topics such as home gardening and protecting pollinators. Download the State Grange’s Agriculture Education Planning and Resource document for ideas and tools to help plan your Grange’s program.

Additional Resources for Lecturers can be found in the Program Handbook.

Program Ideas:

Contest Information:

There Are Four Age Divisions For All Contests:

Adults: 26 years & up

Youth: 14 to 25 years

Juniors: 10 to 14 years as of January 1st of the contest year

Juniors: 5 to 9 years as of January 1st of the contest year

State Talent Contest – There will be four classes in the State Talent Contest, held during the Grange Showcase Extravaganza: Vocal, Instrumental, Vocal/Instrumental Combo, and Variety Acts.

Participants do not have to be Grange members to participate in the State Contest. However, the Representative to the National Grange Evening of Excellence must be a Grange member.
There is no restriction on the number of persons taking part.
Any person who is a paid to perform or is a Lecturer’s Coordinating Committee member is not eligible to participate.
Taped accompaniment for vocal acts must be instrumental with only minor additional background voice. No taped accompaniment for instrumental acts.
The act should be at least 2 minutes long, but no longer than 5 minutes. Two points per minute or portion thereof will be deducted from the total points for all performances going overtime.
- Scorecard: The following scorecard will be used:
- Stage Presence - 15 points
- Appropriateness of Dress or Costume - 5 points
- Preparation and Skill of Presentation - 60 points
- Suitability of Number - 15 points
- Audience Appeal - 5 points
- Total Points 100 points
Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded.
A person chosen to be the representative to the National Grange Evening of Excellence shall not be eligible to represent Massachusetts for the next three years.

Junior Grange Talent Contest – There will also be a Talent Contest for Junior Grange members. All Junior ages will be set as of January 1st of the contest year. Rules are the same as for the State Talent Contest, including the time limitations. An adult may serve as accompanist to a vocal act. Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded.

Photography Contest – (entries must be postmarked by Sept. 1st of the contest year)

There are six categories in the Photography Contest:

People
Landscape
Barns
Animals
Flowers
Clouds – (i.e. storms, sunrise/sunsets etc.)

Criteria for judging: a) Composition and arrangement, b) Interest, c) Presentation and d) Technique. Prizes for first, second, and third place winners in each category will be cash and ribbons.

Participants do not have to be Grange members. This contest is also open to Juniors and will be judged in two divisions: Ages 5-9 and Ages 10-14 (as of January 1st).

Rules:

Only original, non-copyrighted prints are accepted for judging.
Photographer must select the category for his/her entry.
A photograph may be entered in only one category. Participants may enter all categories using different photographs.
Participants may only enter one photo per category.
Entries must have been taken between September 1st and August 31st of the contest year.
Print may be made by a commercial process, but must have been taken by the entrant personally.
Nude photos, photos generated by computers, or computer enhanced photographs are NOT accepted.
Any photo editing must be noted on back of entry.
Simple mat board or firm backing is required for all photographs. (NO frames)
Size of entry, including matting or backing, must not be smaller than 5” x 5” or larger than 11” x 14”.
No labels, titles, or captions should be on the front of each entry.
A copy of the entry form below must be on back of each entry.

Please include the following information on all photography entries:
Name: ___________________________________________
Complete Address: ____________________________________
Telephone Number: ___________________________________
Grange Name and Number: _______________________ Member ___ Non-member ___
Category: Photographer must select category that applies:
____ Agriculture ____Landscape
____ Animals ____ Patriotic
____ Flowers ____ People
How Photo was Edited ____________________________________________________
Division: _____ Adult _____ Youth 14-25 _____ Junior 5-9* _____ Junior 10-14*

(*Jr. Birthday as of Jan. 1st ______)

Art Contest – (entries must be postmarked by Sept. 1st of the contest year)

There are three categories: 1) Landscape; 2) Flowers; 3) Animals and/or People in the following mediums: a) Oils and Acrylics; b) Watercolors; c) Charcoal or Pencil Drawing; d) Pastels; e) Mixed Media. Artists may enter any or all of the three categories using the same medium.

Criteria for judging: a) How well the artist used the medium selected; b) Craftsmanship and skill; c) Composition, presentation of subject; d) Originality; and e) Theme and its treatment.

Prizes for first, second, and third place winners in each category will be cash and ribbons. As with Photography Contest, there will only be two divisions of Junior exhibitors.

Rules:

This contest is open to both Grange members and non-members. Non-members must be sponsored by a Subordinate Grange.
All entries must be the original work of the exhibitor.
All entries must be completed between Sept. 1st and Aug. 31st of the contest year.
Age for Junior contestants will be as of January 1st.
Entries are judged according to the medium used.
Charcoal and pencil entries must have been treated for permanency to stop smudging.
Nude entries will not be accepted.
Size for all classes: Artwork must not exceed 24” x 36” including the frame. There is no minimum size, as miniatures will be accepted in all categories.
All entries must be framed or have a firm backing, or be self-standing so that they can be displayed properly.
Computer enhancement of artwork and/or art generated by using computer printers is not permitted.
A copy of the entry form below must be on the back of each entry or on the bottom of sculptures.

Please include the following information on all art entries:
Name: ___________________________________
Complete Address: ____________________________________
Telephone Number: ________________________
Grange Name and Number: __________________ Member ___ Non-member ___
Artist must select the medium that applies:
____ Oils and Acrylics ____ Charcoal or Pencil ____ Watercolors ____ Pastels
Category: ____ Animals ____ Flowers ____ Landscape
____ People ____ 3-D Sculpture
Division: ____ Adult ____Youth 14-25 ____Junior 5-9* ____ Junior 10-14* (*Jr. Birthday as of Jan. 1st_____)

Creative Writing Contest - (entries must be postmarked by Sept. 1st of the contest year)

All divisions are open to both Grange members and non-members who are sponsored by a Subordinate Grange. There are 4 Age Divisions: Adults: 22 yrs & up, Youth: 14 - 21 years, and Juniors: 10 to 14yrs or 5 to 9 yrs, as of January 1st of the contest year. Label the back of entry with the creator’s name, Grange or sponsoring-Grange, Junior age category (if applicable).

Poetry - The poem must have at least 4 lines in each stanza, with a minimum of 4 stanzas and a maximum of 8 stanzas. Criteria for judging: theme, creativity, composition

2024 – Topic: “My favorite Memory”
2025 – A “G” rated Limerick – Topic your choice

For Juniors: The poem must be a minimum of 8 lines and a maximum of 12 lines in length

2024 – “ A Biographical Poem about yourself”
2025 – An Acrostic poem example: your name or other topic

Essay – The prescribed page limits are no more than three 8 ½” X 11” pages, double spaced. Criteria for judging: depiction of theme, supporting details, organization, word choice.

2024 topic is “My favorite place to go for peace”
2025 topic is “If I knew then what I know now, what I would do differently”

For Juniors: The prescribed page limit is a minimum of one 8 ½ by 11 page, double spaced.

2024 topic is “The best gift I ever received”
2025 topic is “My favorite teacher”

Create-a-Note Card – Size of cards will be no larger than 5 ½ x 8 ½. One card per category per person. Must be made by person submitting the card. Criteria for judging: Creativity, Composition, and Eye Appeal.

Categories:

Handmade (drawn by hand or painted and not commercially prepared)
Hand-stamped and/or decorated (cut and pasted with materials found in the home rather than commercially or craft store)

Adults 2024: a) Congratulations; b) Veterans Day
Juniors 2024: a) Birthday; b) Mother’s Day

Adult 2025: a) Thinking of You; b) Holiday
Juniors 2025: a) Birthday Party Invitation; b) Valentine’s Day

Report Forms:

Grange Lecturers should file quarterly and reports to the State Lecturer which provide information about the programs and events happening in their Grange.