By Terri Fassio, CT State Public Relations Co-Director

Ways to adjust your Grange strategy during the Coronavirus situation

The Coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19 according to the World Health Organization (WHO), has disrupted not only our personal lives, but also all Grange meetings and activities. Here’s a few suggestions to keep your Grange active (and in the public eye) during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Plan future events and activities. Now is a great time to begin the leg- work for your Fair or Festival, start soliciting vendors for a Summer Flea Market or Fall Craft Fair, and brainstorm other events and activities for the end of the year. Just be sure to pick a date for upcoming events and activities that is far enough out, so that you don’t have to keep adjusting the date if the COVID-19 situation lasts longer than the next month or so.

• Update your Grange Facebook page. Keeping you Grange Facebook page updated frequently will help it show in your readers timelines, and keep it in everyone’s sights. But what do you post about if your Grange is not gathering? You can profile a member, reminisce about historic past events (and post old photos!), discuss community service ideas and projects, and even start promoting future events. Don’t have a Facebook page for your Grange? Why not start one! Contact the Public Relations Committee so that we can help you get it set-up correctly and according to Facebook standards.
• Contact all of your members, especially those who are not active members, via USPS newsletter or card, email or phone call. As many members are over the age of 60, I’m sure they would appreciate the effort and communication - and don’t forget to ask if they need anything, especially if they are unable to get to the grocery store or pharmacy.
• Begin a community service project. It could be as simple as collecting food for the soup kitchen or blankets for the local animal shelter.
• Start  an  indoor  garden.  Have each member start their own vegetables and plants while at home, and then have a plant sale in the summer.
• Choose a popular best seller and start a virtual Grange book club, where readers can discuss the book using conferencing software on the computer, such as Skype, ZohoMeeting, Zoom or GoToMeeting. Your Grange is a hub of the community. Get creative to keep it relevant during these difficult times.
• If you or your Grange has questions or needs assistance, please contact the Public Relations Committee. We’re here to help! E-mail: publicrelations@ctstategrange.org  or information@ctstategrange.org .