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Quick Tip – Stop Summer Slide!

Community Service, Quick Tips No Responses »

May 312013

Share your ideas with other Granges!

submitted by Walter Boomsma

As most know, Valley Grange is very much involved with our schools in regards to literacy and reading. Studies have validated what is called the “summer slide.” Children who don’t read or who read rarely over the summer encounter a stagnation or decline in their reading skills. At least one estimate suggests this can be overcome by children reading just five grade level appropriate books over summer vacation.

Can your Grange encourage this? Absolutely! You might consider partnering with your local library–many have summer reading programs and events. Or how about a community potluck supper with a side order of reading? This could have all sorts of variations: kids who bring a book they are reading eat free… or maybe there’s a “book exchange” where you invite kids to bring books they’ve read to exchange with others. At Valley Grange, we keep a milk crate of children’s books in the dining hall… whenever a child visits us for a supper or a program they are invited to take a book home as long as they promise to read it.

Don’t just think about reading to children–a key component of Valley Grange’s bookworm program is that we have the kids reading to us! Several months ago a second grader started a book with me that we didn’t have time to finish. When her turn came up again recently she brought the same book and remembered exactly where we’d left off. This is a kid for whom reading is important. It’s nice to feel our program is contributing.

Just get something started–it’s doesn’t have to be massive and complicated.

“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child.”
― Dr. Seuss

Valley Grange Honors Two

Community Service, Grange News No Responses »

May 202013

Valley Grange celebrated community with a potluck supper and program on Friday night that seemed to be all about time. The program included some thoughts on the value of five minutes of community service every day. Noting that if every citizen in Piscataquis County between the ages of 20 and 80 gave 5 minutes per day to his or her community, Lecturer Walter Boomsma pointed out ”this would equate to 188 people working full time in our communities–an average of ten per town. Using the median income from 2011, the value of those five minutes would be the equivalent of an annual payroll of over six and a half million dollars per year.” Boomsma also noted “but there’s more than just dollar value, explaining how his association with Valley Grange has allowed him to discover his passion for working with kids–a passion that sees him now substitute teaching at the elementary school level and having his book Small People –Big Brains published recently. “Were it not for my association with Valley Grange, I might not be where I am today,” he admitted.

Mark Putnam, editor of the Observer, “a successful and effective community newspaper is a direct reflection of its community.”

The Grange recognized two news organizations for their community service: local newspaper The Piscataquis Observer, and Bangor-based WABI - TV 5. Both organizations were praised for their “boots on the ground” involvement in local communities and their willingness to work with local organizations such as the Grange. Dover Foxcroft Historical Society President Mary Annis offered testimony and an additional award in acknowledgement of both organizations’ contributions. Representatives from UMaine Extension, Kiwanis, Center Theatre, and other Granges in the area added accolades for both organizations’ local emphasis and their responsiveness to individuals and organizations. Piscataquis Community Elementary School Principal Julie Orton noted that the school genuinely appreciates the recognition students receive for their accomplishments and the kids value that recognition and find it rewarding and motivating.

In his response thanking Valley Grange for the honor, Observer Editor Mark Putnam spoke about how the digital age is changing media, but also noted that “our paper truly belongs to the community” adding “there’s no way we’d be celebrating our 175th Anniversary if that were not true… Much like the Grange, our newspaper wants to be relevant and essential in what will be known as the Digital Age.”

WABI News Anchor Terry Stackhouse noted that there was a certain irony to the fact that he is a “six month employee accepting the award on behalf of a sixty year station.” In reporting the story later, he noted that “everyone was very kind and even sent me home with leftover food.” (You can see his report on the WABI Website. )

As part of the celebration of community, Valley Grange also honored members Herb Dunham for 55 years of Grange Membership and Carolyn Campbell for 65 years of membership.

Observer Staff Mark Putnam, Stu Hedstrom, Jeanette Hughes, Linda Kain, and Keri Foster

Valley Grange is currently conducting a membership drive with the theme, If you’ve got some passion, we’ve got a place…. Membership Chair Janice Boomsma notes “We’re trying to give opportunities for people who want to build community and experience the rewards that come with doing so. We’ll take those five minutes if that’s all someone can spare, but we also have the structure and facilities to assist anyone who want to somehow improve our communities in some way.”

GrowME Sprouts in Guilford!

Agriculture, Events No Responses »

Mar 122013

Valley Grange volunteers are resting up and gathering some supplies in anticipation of getting their hands dirty during the second annual GrowME week when they will join other volunteers in heading to school to celebrate agriculture. Again this year, GrowME coincides with Maine Ag Week, March 18-22. GrowME sprouted last year as a collaboration between the Guilford Grange, Piscataquis County UMaine Extension, and Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District to build a truly local program of agriculturally themed activities for kids led by local volunteers with the goal of increasing agricultural literacy and making it fun!

Program Director Walter Boomsma announced that this year the group will be visiting over 40 classrooms throughout the area and working with an estimated 700 kids. “We’ll be in Guilford, Dover Foxcroft, Dexter, Milo, and Brownville this year,” he said. Activities include making animal graphs with kindergartens, apple tasting and sorting with first graders, butter-making with second graders and a new activity with third graders: making “dirt babies.” Additional information about the collaboration and activities can be found on the GrowME website.

Again this year the program wraps up with an Eggstravaganza hosted by Valley Grange on Friday, March 22. Volunteers, teachers, parents and kids are all invited to join a community potluck supper at 6 PM, followed by a short program at 7 PM. The program will offer some highlights of the week’s activities and the UMaine Extension’s virtual chicken who will show us how an egg forms inside a chicken! Folks are also invited to bring an unusual farm or kitchen implement for “show and share” during this celebration of agriculture from farm to fork.

Joanna Tarrazi of PCSWCD noted attendance at the Eggstravaganza isn’t limited to those who’ve participated in classroom activities. “This is a great opportunity to enjoy the local community spirit and celebrate the role agriculture plays in our daily lives. Our three organizations have a rich agricultural heritage and we’re happy to share it. This will also be a good opportunity to learn what each of our organizations have to offer individuals and our communities.”

Valley Grange is located at the corner of Butter Street and Guilford Center Road in Guilford. For more information visit valleygrange.com.

Let’s Get The Words Out!

Community Service No Responses »

Mar 032013

Submitted by Walter Boomsma

On a national level, the Grange has been an active participant in the Dictionary Project’s effort to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary since early on. In fact, early on we dubbed our effort as “Words for Thirds” making it something of a signature project for the Grange.

According to records provided by the Dictionary Project, Maine Granges first participated in 2004-2005 by distributing just over 1500 dictionaries throughout the state. Annual distribution climbed to a high of nearly 2700 in 2o08-2009 and has been somewhat steadily decreasing since. Fortunately, other organizations such as Rotary, Lions, and Elks have been active participants and the number of dictionaries reaching our students continues to grow.

There are, however, many schools and children who are not “getting the words.” With the assistance of the kind folks at the Dictionary Project, I have a rather complete list of schools in Maine showing a large number not being sponsored.

There’s a lot to like about this program, including how affordable the dictionaries are to purchase and the payback these books generate–short-term and long-term.

Thank you for coming to our class. Thank you for giving us Dictionaries. We need Dictionaries to look up words that are longer… Thank you for showing us the Grange tools. I liked them…

from a thank you letter written by a third grader

We invested $1.75 and a few minutes of our time in that nine-year old. Maybe he’ll write a best seller some day. One of his classmates wrote that she remembered the first word she looked up was “steward.” She must have gotten the meaning because she promised to keep her dictionary safe for a very long time. In fact, the Valley Grange program now includes invited sixth graders to help when we present dictionaries to the third graders. They always bring their somewhat worn dictionaries and talk to the kids about how great it is to have a dictionary.

This student is getting the words

Another great aspect of Words for Thirds is the amount of community support it generates. That support is not just about the dollars, it’s about the principle. In these days when we think kids are easily bored and addicted to television and video games, communities enjoy hearing how excited they become over a good “old-fashioned” book. So it might be time to consider taking a look at the list and finding a school you can “adopt.” (Due to consolidations the list may not be totally accurate. If you need assistance, the folks at the Dictionary Project will be only too happy to help.)

If you’d like some assistance putting a program together, I’ll be happy to share our experiences and help you get started. We are now covering three districts and five schools. Two of those schools make field trips to our Grange Hall every year. But we also have a little school where we visit with 7-8 third graders every year. I’ll even share the PowerPoint Presentation I’ve developed to share some history and information about the Grange with the kids.

No matter how many dictionaries you end up distributing, you’re impacting kids like the little girl at the right who just couldn’t stop looking up words. In larger communities, consider a Words for Thirds Pomona Project or sharing the cost between several Granges. You can view the entire list of schools here: ME Schools – Dictionary Project. The list is color-coded to show schools with sponsors and those without. Let’s get the words out!

Quick Tip

Community Service, Quick Tips No Responses »

Feb 282013

Submitted by Walter Boomsma

I wish I’d thought of this! You may know that this is the time of year for town meetings, getting ready to tap maple trees, cabin fever, and Kindergarten Registration! Parents of little ones who will be starting school in the fall are bringing them to school to register and maybe get a look at where they’ll be coming in the fall.

The school in Southington Connecticut came up with a “Countdown to Kindergarten” Program that could be adapted to make a great community service program for our Granges! The basic idea is that when parents register their child, they receive a “goodie bag” that helps the family prepare for school. Items include a small white board and marker for the child to start practicing writing, a read aloud book… really, it’s limited only by the imagination. This is not something the child brings to school; it is for the family to use at home.

If a Grange were to provide these, you’d of course include some information about your Grange! And did I mention that maybe the “sewers” could make the drawstring bags…? I’d strongly suggest you contact your school for suggestions for the bag contents.

More information about the Southington Program can be found here.

Maine Ag in the Classroom

Agriculture, Community Service No Responses »

Feb 282013

Read “ME” Agriculture has been a very successful program since 2008, reaching over 50,000 Maine students. During Ag Week 2013, March 18 – 22 volunteers will read and give books about agriculture to 700 Pre-Kindergarten through 4th Grade Classrooms across the state. They will tell the students about their farms, programs or connections to agriculture and leave lessons and information for the teachers to use, all supplied by MAITC. Funding for this project is a direct result of the Maine agricultural specialty license plate, grants from USDA and a collaboration this year with The Maine Dairy Promotion Board and Dairy Nutrition Council to develop the book “Dairy Farming for ME”. MANY THANKS to the Maine State Grange members that have and will participate as readers! For more information go to www.MaineAgintheClassroom.org or e-mail maitcmaine dot gov (maitcmaine dot gov)

Webmaster’s Report – February 2013

Web Site Information No Responses »

Feb 232013

Words from Walter…

Did you notice? This month’s report is a week late! And since I can make excuses with the best of them… let me say that for a short month, February has been pretty busy and had a lot in it! On top of starting my spring adult courses, I’ve been getting a fair number of those early morning calls that mean I go “off to school” to be someone else for a day! (The kids find it fun to ask me who I am when I’m there–I answer with the name of the teacher I’m filling in for.)

We recently had a Winter Carnival that included sixth graders leading activities for the lower grades… I was a third grade teacher that day and commented to one sixth grader that she had “excellent classroom management skills” and wondered if she was considering a career in teaching. Without hesitation she replied, “No way! I don’t like kids and I don’t get them.” I managed not to point out that she was still a bit of a kid herself and was left to consider the realities of what is called “age compression.” (A fancy way of saying that kids are growing up fast these days.)

Also on a somewhat personal level, I recently announced the upcoming publication of my book, “Small People; Big Brains–a collection of stories about simplicity, exploration and wonder.” The release is intended to take place in April, reflecting a profound example of poor planning on my part since March is one of my busiest months with teaching and our Valley Grange GrowME program. Oh well, idle hands are, they say, the devil’s workshop!

In regards to our site… we’ve had to open something of a “storm center” this month as the weather has created the need to cancel several meetings and events. As a reminder, this is a one person volunteer operation and I’m not able to provide “up to the minute” information. When the weather’s bad, it just makes sense to contact someone and confirm the meeting. (This is one reason we ask you to include a “for more information” contact when you submit an event.)

And speaking of submitting… I’ve had several reports this month of outdated or “missing” information on the site. Please understand, I post what I receive– and if I haven’t received information I simply can’t post what I don’t have. Further, it just isn’t practical for one of me to chase information that potentially needs to come from many different people. I do try to keep an eye out for things like tips or general information to keep the site interesting and lively. If I’m able to attend an event, I’ll try to snap photos and write about it… but I’m really dependent on others sending information about programs, contests, etc.

Some of the “missing” information develops when I remove outdated information but haven’t received any new information. But I don’t always notice that information has become outdated so if you see something that isn’t current, please let me know. You can use the “submit” link on the site or simply send an email to webmastermainestategrange dot org (webmastermainestategrange dot org) . My self-imposed policy is to answer any email and post any information I receive within three days at the most. I’m proud to say I usually beat that deadline!

And speaking of deadlines, let me remind you again that Grange Month material from National Grange should be arriving any day with Grange month arriving just over a month away. If your Grange has some exciting plans, please submit the event to the site… and follow-up with a story and photos! It really is a great time to be a Granger!

GrowME Sprouts and Spurts!

Agriculture, Grange News No Responses »

Jan 302013

Local collaboration will provide classroom activities

Dover Foxcroft — While it might be difficult to think about gardening and farming in February, a group of area volunteers are doing just that as they plan this year’s GrowME program being offered to K-3 teachers and schools in the Piscataquis County area. The program is the result of collaboration between Valley Grange of Guilford, PCSWCD (Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District) and UMaine Piscataquis County Extension.

The program aims to utilize local volunteers who will work with teachers to schedule an agricultural activity in their classrooms during Maine Agriculture Week (March 18-33). Joanna Tarrazi, Executive Director of PCSWCD is particularly excited over the “hands on” aspect of the activities. “Thanks to our rural nature in Piscataquis County, we don’t have the ‘nature deficit’ that some more urban areas experience,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be offering our kids an opportunity to involve all their senses and get some hands on learning.”

Walter Boomsma, program director for Valley Grange agrees. His favorite part is visiting second graders at PCES to make butter. “We have fun and the kids almost don’t realize they are learning–some have even asked for instructions and then made butter at home as a family activity.” Volunteers will also offer seed planting activities, apple tasting and creating animal graphs. “We also spend some time just talking with the kids—many have chickens and gardens and it’s fun to share experiences.”

Boomsma notes that the program is expanding this year to include schools in Dexter, but there should be no shortage of volunteers and resources thanks to the collaboration. “We’ve got master gardeners and farmers available through Extension Programs and PCSWCD includes partners and resources that are committed to good stewardship. Our goal is to keep this informal, local, and a true partnership between our schools, teachers, and volunteers. It’s not so much that we have a program to offer—it’s more about working together to make good use of our resources. Our volunteers will have the sort of agricultural experience and background to be especially relevant to students while providing insight into the importance of agriculture in our area.”

Those interested in volunteering are invited to a meeting on February 19^th at 3 PM at PCSWCD in Dover Foxcroft where guidelines for volunteers and activity materials will be reviewed.

This year’s offer to local schools is for a GrowME volunteer to visit for about 20 minutes and work with students on a simple, grade appropriate activity. Teachers and administrators who are interested need only furnish contact information: teacher’s name-email address and grade. Interested teachers and volunteers may email grangeboomsmaonline dot com (grangeboomsmaonline dot com) or call Joanna Tarrazi at PCSWCD, 564-2321. Additional information is also available at http://growmehelp.wordpress.com.

Dexter Third Graders Get Into Dictionaries

Community Service, Grange News No Responses »

Jan 292013

Ridge View Third Grader gets into her dictionary. (Photo by Walter Boomsma)

Dexter–Third graders at Ridge View Community School learned how much fun it can be to get into a dictionary as a result of four classroom visits by a “Words for Thirds” team from Garland Grange consisting of William Bemis, Ernest Rollins, and Becca Myers. The local Grange provides a personal dictionary to every third grade student in the Dexter District in conjunction with the Dictionary Project—a global program designed to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary.Students received not only a dictionary, but as Granger Ernest Rollins pointed out, “you are also getting all the words in it. You can make them yours by learning them.” Rollins led students through a basic understanding of how to use the dictionary by encouraging them to find and read definitions of words associated with the Grange. Students quickly discovered the books not only include words and definitions but a back section that’s similar to a mini-encyclopedia. Favorite sections included a list of sign language symbols and what’s believed to be the longest word containing over 1900 letters. Rollins joked they might find the word on their next spelling test.

Third grader Jennifer Young noted that she was pleased to have her own dictionary because “I can use it when I write… and I write songs. I’ll use it everywhere I go!” Other students promised to keep their dictionary and use it for a long time, possibly even passing it down to their future children.

Garland Master Bill Bemis helps a third grader. (Photo by Walter Boomsma)

Garland Grange “master” (president) William Bemis explained some of the Grange’s history, noting that while “in the past the Grange was all about helping farmers” over the years the organization has changed its focus to “helping communities by doing projects and providing help.” One student interrupted him several times to offer that she knew about Garland Grange because “they have really good suppers!” Bemis pointed out this is just one way the local Grange raises funds to purchase dictionaries and provide other support to kids and communities. “We try to help when we see a need or opportunity,” he said.Grange member Becca Myers volunteers at the school and notes that it’s fun to see the kids really take ownership of their dictionaries and use them regularly. She also notes that parents of homeschooled third graders may also participate and should contact the school or the Grange to receive a copy.

Information about the Dictionary Project is available online at www.dictionaryproject.org. For information about Garland (and their great suppers) call William Bemis at 924-3537 or Ernest Rollins at 717-7057.

Quick Tip–Get a kid going!

Community Service No Responses »

Jan 172013

by Walter Boomsma

You don’t have to be around me too long to figure out that I love working with kids… just this year I started substitute teaching at the elementary level! Now when the kids see me they like to ask, “Who are you today, Mr. Boomsma?” If you need a boost, watch a kid learn–it’s awesome!

Just this morning a news article crossed my screen about a teacher in Connecticut who took on a project based on his passion for learning and his love of his kinder kids. That in turn led me to a truly fascinating online program where teachers can post their classroom needs and folks can contribute as little as $1 towards the cost. One thing that impressed me was the flexibility donors have in selecting projects and level of transparency that exists in the project. I will definitely be sharing this with some of my teaching colleagues, but I’m posting it here because if your Grange is looking for a community service www.donorschoose.org is a great place to start! There are currently 115 projects open in Maine ranging from towns like Brownville to cities like Portland. I didn’t look through all, but you’ll see thorough descriptions of the needs, photos, and a running tally of what’s been collected and how much is needed. If you are a Words for Thirds Grange, don’t be surprised to see “your” school has some additional needs! If you decide to take on or help with a project, please send in a report!

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