Category: Quick Tips

Communication Shorts 9-1-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

September Bulletin

Deadline for this month’s Bulletin is September 14th. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

An Annual Report?

It’s the end of the Grange Year. Certain State Officers and Directors are expected to file an annual report of their activities and accomplishments. (We’ll be publishing them on the site as they are received.) Have you considered putting one together for your Grange? You can think of your communities as your stockholders. Let them know what you have done this year!

Dates and Deadlines

Fall is coming. Some might say it’s already here. With the start of another Grange Fiscal Year, essential dates and deadlines abound! ODDs Note: Annual Reports and Program Books are due soon!

Annual Purge Continues

We’re removing dated information from the website. This includes documents, posts, and photos. While some things are considered timeless, a general policy is to remove items that are more than two years old.

Think About This!

“The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.”

Richard Bach

An Idea for Your Grange

It’s time to start thinking about Words for Thirds! And it’s not too early to think about Holiday Craft Fairs.

Subscribe!

Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members!

Online Directories Available 24-7

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!

  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site frequently consult these directories.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information.

Communication Shorts 8-16-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

August Bulletin

The August Bulletin is finished and will be mailed soon. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Having a Raffle?

Raffles (gambling) are heavily regulated, and licensing is required! That’s easy to forget when fundraising because Granges usually fall under some exceptions provided in Maine Law. One exception is raffles where the prizes are less than $2,500. A second exception involves “certain organizations,” including “an agricultural society.” It can get complicated, particularly if the raffle is conducted as an “internet raffle.” While we, MSG, will promote your raffle, we are not assuming responsibility for meeting these legal requirements.

Dates and Deadlines

Fall is coming. Some might say it’s already here. With the start of another Grange Fiscal Year, essential dates and deadlines abound! Just one example is that roster information is now due!

Annual Purge Begins

We’ve already started removing dated information from the website. This includes documents, posts, and photos. While some things are considered timeless, a general policy is to remove items that are more than two years old.

Think About This!

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”

William James

An Idea for Your Grange

We are currently drafting a resource and information page about establishing Little Free Libraries at Grange Halls. If you have one or are interested, please let us know!

Subscribe!

Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members!

Online Directories Available 24-7

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!

  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.

Communication Short – Secretary’s Report

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

Addition, Secretary’s Report

For some reason, (Grange Gremlins?) a portion of the August Secretary’s Report was missing from the post! It has been corrected and is included here.

Clear and timely communication with Grange members, officers, and committees is essential.  Sending out meeting notices, reminders, and reports ensures that everyone stays informed.

The secretary is responsible for preparing and submitting Quarterly reports to the State Grange on time. (September 30th, December 31st , March 31st and June 30th )  Your report will not be considered late if postmarked on or before the 15th of the month following the quarter it is due.  Remember that there is a $5.00 late fee to be included with such report if postmarked after the 15th.  It is extremely important that you keep the State Grange informed of any changes in membership, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

As your State Secretary I appreciate your dedication to being secretary in your Community/Subordinate and Pomona Granges. 

Have a safe and enjoyable remainder of the summer season and will see you all soon.

Our apologies! You can also read the entire report here!

Communication Shorts 8-3-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

August Bulletin

Information for the August Bulletin must be submitted by Thursday, August 14, 2025. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

2026 = 250

In 2026, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of our founding– also known as the Sesquicentennial. Will your Grange participate in some way? The Grange has certainly contributed to the growth and development of our country!

Dates and Deadlines

Fall is coming. Some might say it’s already here. With the start of another Grange Fiscal Year, essential dates and deadlines abound! Just one example is that roster information is now due!

Think About This!

“Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patience.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

An Idea for Your Grange

At one time, Granges often scheduled a “Booster Night” program in the fall with an emphasis on membership growth. While the term may be passe, the idea certainly isn’t. An “open house” program might be just the ticket. It could include tours of the hall and presentations about its history. Time it for October and call it “Ghosts of the Grange.”

Subscribe!

Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members!

Online Directories Available 24-7

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes! With the election of officers coming up, don’t forget!

  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.

Communication Shorts 7-15-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

July Bulletin

July Bulletin is available for download and will be mailed soon. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Ocean View Grange Featured

For those who haven’t noticed, Ocean View Grange was featured in the Summer 2025 Dictionary Project Newsletter! Congratulations!

Think About This!

“I have never been hurt by what I haven’t said.”

Calvin Cooledge

An Idea for Your Grange

Find someone who knows nothing about your Grange and ask them to research as much as they can about it using local and Online resources. Then have them informally report back.

Subscribe!

Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members!

Online Directories Available 24-7

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes! With the election of officers coming up, don’t forget!

  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.

Where Is Your Breadbox?

By Walter Boomsma and Larry Bailey

Larry is Master of Ocean View Grange in Port Clyde. He and I occasionally exchange “odd and curious emails.” Since this exchange might qualify as “Family Health and Hearing,” we agreed to share.

Larry wrote: I like to have toast in the morning and have gotten really tired of seeing the bread with green spots all over after a few days. We stored it in the bread bag it came in in the pantrach (Irish for pantry). I did some looking around and found out that a very old practice helped bread to last longer. That old family practice was using a “Bread Box.”  I bought a bread box which was delivered yesterday. Let’s see how well it works.

Walter replied: We usually buy our bread from our friendly Amish baker, six loaves at a time because that’s the size of her pan, and freeze them. We keep the loaf we’re working on either in the microwave (our bread box) or in the fridge. (She doesn’t use preservatives.) I shall have to ask her how she stores it!

🥖 Should You Store Bread In A Bread Box?

“Bread, after all, is a food that connects us all.”

Henry T. Black

Communication Shorts 6-16-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

June Bulletin

June Bulletin is available for download and will be mailed soon. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Email, Deputy Dave Gowen

Please note that Cumberland Deputy Dave Gowen and Master of Highland Lake Grange has a new email address: davegowen84@gmail.com.

Think About This!

“There is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need.”

Evangeline Booth

An Idea for Your Grange

Does your Grange have a membership directory–even just a simple one you can easily share with each other? Since we’re all electing officers this month, they could be identified in it.

Subscribe!

Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members!

Online Directories Available 24-7

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes! With the election of officers coming up, don’t forget!

  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.

Communication Shorts 6-1-2025

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!

June Bulletin

Deadline for June Columns is the 14th! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Maine State Grange Yard Sale

June 7, 2025, is the Maine State Grange Yard Sale, 9 am – 2 pm at Manchester Grange, Route 202, FMI including table rental, Linda (207 623-5159) or Norma (207 583-7211).

Think About This!

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.”

Wayne Dyer

An Idea for Your Grange

Can you interest a local garden club or business in creating a flower bed in exchange for a sign in it promoting the club or business?

Subscribe!

Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members!

Online Directories Available 24-7

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes! With the election of officers coming up, don’t forget!

  • The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.

Don’t Let a Tick Make You Sick!

Reprinted from an enewsletter published by UMaine Extension.
  • T: Take and use an EPA-approved repellent. Use DEET, picaridin, IR3535 (Ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate), or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin. Use permethrin on clothing only.
  • I: Inspect your whole body for ticks daily and after outdoor activities. Check family members and pets too.
  • C: Cover your skin with light-colored long sleeve shirts and pants. Tuck pants into socks.
  • K: Know when you are in tick habitat and take precautions in areas where ticks may live.
  • S: Shower when you get home to remove crawling ticks. Put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 15 minutes before washing to kill ticks on clothes.

Happy Day!