| APRIL 3, 2012 -- At its height in the 1940s, the Killingly Grange boasted more than 100 members, a roster made up of farmers, families and others seeking to keep alive the group’s mission of promoting rural agriculture and community service.
And while the Killingly Grange’s goals have changed slightly since its creation in 1890, membership has declined significantly, part of a national trend that has prompted local Granges to step up their recruitment drives.
“We’ve got 30 members now,” said Denise Aubin, master of the Killingly Grange. “Membership has been sporadic in the last 14 years, but what we do have is a wide range of ages — the sign of a healthy organization.”
Aubin said her group, whose members range in age from 18 to 90, is looking to widen its appeal through a Memory Night event this month. The group is asking residents to submit their photos and recollections of the Grange. The submissions will be gathered, displayed and collected into a scrapbook.
“The hall has hosted everything from wedding receptions to clam cake dinners,” Aubin said. “People remember doing things here, whether that’s coming here with their grandparents or just spending time together.”
Nationally, Grange membership has dropped off, as it has for other community organizations, said Amanda Brozana, communications director for the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, based in Washington, D.C.
“Part of the issue is the Grange was originally solely a farming organization,” she said. “Now, we’ve had to expand our mission a bit, focusing on family values and community service. There are urban Granges, which look to prevent kids from joining gangs, and groups which look at national issues like health care, education and taxes.”
Locally, the Killingly Grange has embraced smaller, community-based endeavors, Aubin said.
“We do canned food collections, blanket donations and holiday basket distribution,” she said. “If someone needs a ride to the doctor’s office, or to go shopping, we take them.”
Gert Blain joined the Killingly Grange 27 years ago after being introduced to the group by a friend. She said she regularly attends two meetings a month and heads to other local Granges whenever she gets a chance.
“People used to join a Grange because that made them eligible for health insurance, which they don’t do now,” Blain, 85, said. “They used to put on plays and Halloween parties. It’s a great place to go where no one gets drunk and everyone has a good time. I love it.” |
