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Here are some ideas for celebrating our veterans on their special day that don’t require much planning.

• Visit a Veterans Memorial or Cemetery. Contrary to some social media posts, Veterans Day honors both fallen and living Veterans. Memorial Day is meant to honor those who paid the ultimate price.
• Serve the Veteran Community by volunteering or donating. You can combine this with your visit!
• Go to a Veterans Day event. It may take some searching, or you could create your own. Put up a flag!
• Create a moment of silence. A simple but powerful activity would involve concentrating on what our veterans make possible for us all.

These and some additional ideas are available at Veteran Life.

To help with any confusion, there are at least three distinctly different Grange “Stores” or sources of Grange-related products.

1. While not an actual “store,” MSG Headquarters offers a number of items (mostly supplies, forms, etc.). Email Secretary Sharon to inquire. Some are also available for download from the Program Books and Information Page.
2. National Grange operates the Grange Supply Store.
3. The Monroe Grange Store (above advertisement) offers regalia, jewelry, promotional items, awards and wearables for Grange members. 

There is some overlap of products offered, so you can “shop ’til you drop!”

Holiday Craft Fairs

We’ve created a special webpage–a sort of directory of Grange Craft Fairs scheduled in November and December. All you have to do is submit your information to be listed! If you have a flyer, send it as an email attachment. You’ll get free, state-wide publicity.

Words for Thirds

We’re still seeking Granges interested or already participating in the Words for Thirds Dictionary Project. All we need right now is a contact person and the Grange name. We are creating a number of great resources we’d like to share! The list we have so far includes

• Chelsea Grange #215 (Chelsea), contact Jim Meserve
• East Madison Grange #228 (East Madison), contact needed
• Evening Star Grange #183 (Washington), contact Glenice Skelton
• Farmington Grange #12 (Farmington), contact needed
• Hollis Grange #132 (Hollis), contact Vicki Huff
• Maple Grove Grange #148 (Sebago), contact Susan Farrington
• Mill Stream Grange #574 (Vienna), contact Jill Sampson
• Old Town Riverside Grange #273 (North Brewer), contact needed
• Valley Grange #144 (Guilford), contact Walter Boomsma
• Waterford Grange #479 (Waterford), Ellie Waterman

(The contact need not be an officer–just someone who heads up the effort so we can offer resources and information. Ideally, it will be someone with an email address.) Submit your information here!

Information, Please!

We’re already into a new Grange Year (2024-2025) and that means new information is needed.

We’ll be updating the online directory of Granges–most of the information comes from the Roster. Does the MSG Secretary Sharon have your current information? (Send a copy to the webmaster, please!)

Don’t forget to submit your events for the Maine State Grange Online Event Calendar! We’re set up for events all the way through 2025.

Our Scholarship Information Page has already shown increased traffic this year. If your Grange offers a scholarship or educational aid, please make sure the information is correct.

Anyone who pre-registers AND attends the Zoom event will receive a special treat from the National Grange.

We invite you to register for a special program from the National Grange.Join us for “New Ideas, New Approaches,” led by Beth Westbrook,  Senior Director of Outreach for the Vasculitis Foundation and a member of the Grange Advocacy Board. 

If your Grange is stumped about how to raise funds, if it has been doing the same project every year but not getting results, please register! If you are thinking about what else you can do at your Grange that hasn’t been done before, or if your Grange has the Best Idea Ever but it costs too much to implement, this call is for YOU! 

Submitted by Sharon Morton

Richard Harriman, former Steward of the Maine State Grange has undergone successful surgery.  Cards of get well may be sent to Richard at his home address of 280 Kennebunk Road, Sanford Maine 04073.

Here’s a discouraging word! As technology advances (including AI or artificial intelligence), everyone benefits–including the bad guys!

Stay vigilant with messages you receive.

As the bad guys discover new technology spam emails and text messages are on the increase. Think twice before hitting “unsubscribe.” Unless the email is from a legitimate organization (think commonly known names and national companies), do NOT “unsubscribe” by clicking the link in the email. If you “unsubscribe,” not only will most spammers not honor it, but they will also have confirmation that yours is a working email address. That makes it very saleable to other spammers. Using the “unsubscribe” link may actually increase the amount of spam emails you receive.

This morning (like most mornings), I received several bogus invoices, a few order confirmations for things I didn’t order, and one email allegedly from MSG Sherry asking for assistance with a matter of the utmost importance. Some junk gets automatically filtered, but typically the delete button gets quite a workout!

The best way to handle spam email is to use that handy-dandy delete button and not let it bother you. Don’t waste your time and energy!

• December 1, 2023, Fellowship Breakfast for Supper at Valley Grange. Potluck Breakfast at 6 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m. FMI visit Valley Grange Website. This will be a joint meeting with Piscataquis Pomona Members.
• December 2, 2023, Deputy School at MSG, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 pm. Contact Master Sherry for more information.
• December 8, 2023, Baked Bean Supper at Community Grange in East Wilton, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. FMI see this post.
• December 9, 2023, Kids’ Christmas Party at Parkman Grange, 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Additional information is available from Sue Manchester, Parkman Grange Master, at 207 717-6248
• December 14, 2023, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
• December 16, 2023, MSG Junior Grange Meeting at Danville Junction Grange at 11 am. Contact a Junior Director for more information.
• December 17, 2023, MSAD 4 Santa Project Distribution at Parkman Grange. Additional information is available from Sue Manchester, Parkman Grange Master, at 207 717-6248

The take-out lunch at Kennebec Valley Grange scheduled for October 28, 2023, has been postponed. We’ll provide the new date when it becomes available.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

While the reason for this postponement is unclear, note that there are a number of closings, cancellations, and postponements due to the recent events in Lewiston.