Category: Communication

A Strange Coincidence!

This is just too weird not to share. I have been working diligently on a book titled “Memorials, Monuments, and Memories” to release it in time for Memorial Day this year.

My cover illustrator is located in another country. It was interesting trying to describe to her what the cover image should look like. About the time she finished the front cover illustration, Jill Sampson of Mill Stream Grange submitted photos of their members placing flags on veterans’ graves in Vienna, Maine (in this country).

Mill Stream Grange
Walter’s Book Cover

The similarities are a little uncanny. Maybe I should have waited and used the Mill Stream Photo!

There is a bit of a Grange connection. A huge thanks to Larry Bailey of Ocean View Grange for his generous permission to use his artwork on the back cover. It’s great to “bump into” good Grangers on “Main Street America!”

Memorials, Monuments, and Memories is a collection of personal essays and reflections spanning more than a decade of Memorial Days, Veterans Days, and moments of quiet civic remembrance. Drawing on childhood memories of small-town parades, a father’s honor guard, and the family cemetery plot, author Walter Boomsma weaves together the personal and the universal — exploring what it truly means to honor the fallen, keep faith with the past, and celebrate our shared humanity. From the red poppies of Flanders Fields to a weathered “Baby” gravestone in rural Maine, these pages remind us that remembrance is not about loss — it is about love, legacy, and the living obligation we carry forward.

The book is on sale! Ordering information is available here.

New England Fairs Memo

The Maine State Veterinarian’s office is sharing an important memo about animal health rules for the 2026 New England fair and show season. Please review the New England Fairs Memo (PDF).

This memo explains new guidance related to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and how it may affect animal exhibitions this year.

Key points include:

  • Some poultry and waterfowl shows may be delayed, limited, or canceled.
  • Cattle from states with HPAI cases should not attend New England fairs.
  • Strong biosecurity practices are expected for all animals.
  • Rules for Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (OCVIs) for the 2026 season.

For more information about animal health at fairs and events, visit the Animal Health program’s Fair Information webpage. 

Communications Column – May 2026

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

AI-generated image

Website Update

“The only way to escape hardship is to keep moving forward.” Some will recognize this as a “family-friendly” paraphrasing of a quote attributed to Winston Churchill. Over the last month or so, I’ve found it necessary to keep reminding myself, “This too shall pass.”

We’re not quite out of the woods, but the clearing is in sight! (I seem to be full of metaphors and pithy sayings this morning.) There are probably some important lessons to be learned from the entire experience.

After nearly two decades of using the same host server, it became clear that things weren’t working. Well, it became clear to me. The host server folks didn’t see it that way!

I could probably make your eyes glaze over if I told the whole story and shared the many frustrations and roadblocks. The site is now fully migrated to a new server. Yay!

We can breathe easier, but we need to keep moving. It appears the major remaining difficulty is that a number of images disappeared during the move. Fortunately, I’m a bit of a packrat, so all is not lost. I will continue to replace them as I find them. If you experience any difficulties with the site, please let me know!

Forward momentum also demands that we continue to develop the site with news and resources. Thanks to the Granges who share news of events and accomplishments. Our future largely depends on what we do, not on what we say. If you can stand another pithy saying, society would tell us, “What you’re doing shouts so loudly we can’t hear what you’re saying.” Tell us what you’re doing! If local Granges don’t share their news, it’s the same as announcing that you’re not doing anything.

One thing I really like about the new server is that it is focused on WordPress, the platform we use to develop and maintain the site. This promises some great future developments and efficiency.

As a bit of an aside, I confess that A.I. (artificial intelligence) caused some frustration during the migration. But it was also profoundly helpful at times. So much of life is about stewardship and making good use of the tools we have available and the opportunities they create. Is there really such a thing as a “bad” tool?

The website itself is a tool. One way to use the site efficiently is to subscribe so you receive a weekly summary of posts. While site visits declined during the critical period of outages, the number of subscribers did not. In fact, our subscriber count continues to increase. Slow and steady wins the race. (Are you counting the pithy sayings?)

To so many, thanks for your support and patience! If you have ideas or needs, communicate them. Together we can do great things!

FACT: It didn’t take long to receive an email from the new server that we’d passed 500 site visits!

Rapid Program Resource

Submitted by Diane Pinkham

Rapid Resource Logo

The Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention (MCEAP) has a Speakers Bureau with presenters who are available to give a 60-minute presentation on elder abuse. To raise awareness of the serious problem of elder abuse and the many valuable resources that are available in Maine to help those who are affected by it, the Council developed an Elder Abuse: A Community Problem with Community Solutions presentation.

MCEAP’s goal for this presentation is to provide an overview of the issue of elder abuse including statistics, general information about the different types of elder abuse, and where to go for help. This presentation does not provide profession-specific content, and it does not include information about legal reporting mandates.

For more information or to request a speaker for your event, please contact:

Jill Randall
Co-Chair, Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention
jrandall@mainelse.org

207-620-3114

Gift Cards Are for Gifts

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Gift cards are popular and convenient for consumers—and for criminals who favor them as easy and hard-to-trace forms of payment.

They may claim the fastest way to fix an urgent financial problem is to go to a store, load a specific amount of money onto one or more gift cards (sometimes called electronic vouchers), and then share the activation numbers from the back of the card. No legitimate government agency or business will ever accept payment this way.

If you or someone you love has experienced this financial crime, turn the card over and call the issuer at the number provided; they may be able to freeze the card before some or all of the funds are drained. You should also report this crime to law enforcement to document what happened should there be a means of restitution down the road.

Fraud affects every generation, and AARP Fraud Watch Network is helping people fight back—one community at a time. By learning together and sharing information, we can better protect one another.

More Topic Resources

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

AARP Fraud Watch Network

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out the AARP online form or email me@aarp.org.

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Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

Grange Today! 5-8-2026

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

  • Together we grow: Leaders gather in Nevada for annual conference
  • Is Your Grange Protected?
  • Grange Store Notice
  •  Grange Heirloom for May
  • Connecticut member awarded Ernestine Keiser Memorial Scholarship
  • Handprints on Potholders Project: A Share Your Project’s Story
  • Tell the Grange Story
  • Celebrate 160 in Broken Arrow
  • Hamp Watch: Where is our National Grange President?
  • 7 Frugal Gardening Tips & Tricks
  • Celebrate America250 with the Grange
  • Recipes from the Heartland
  • Grange Member Benefit: Wyndham Hotels
  • Grange Store: Veteran Recognition Pin
  • “The Grange and You”

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!

Read the Current Issue

Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.

A Big Win or a Big Red Flag

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Reports of sweepstakes scams to the AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline are on the rise. The prospect of a big financial windfall or amazing vacation plays on our emotions. Criminals count on our excitement to deceive us into paying a fee or divulging sensitive information.

Know that no legitimate sweepstakes or contest requires payment in advance or sharing your Social Security number or bank account details.

If an unexpected message sparks strong emotions and demands urgency, treat it as a potential fraud attempt. Take an “active pause”—an intentional step back to consider the scenario and reflect on what you might know about it. That moment could lead you to recognize the scam and protect yourself and your assets.

Fraud affects every generation, and AARP Fraud Watch Network is helping people fight back—one community at a time. By learning together and sharing information, we can better protect one another.

More Topic Resources

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

AARP Fraud Watch Network

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out the AARP online form or email me@aarp.org.

Share this news!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

Website Status

Every day, and in every way, we’re getting better and better! We’ve had a few glitches–one regarding email that I think has been solved today.

There are a few minor things we’re discovering and fixing. If you see anything weird, please let me know!

There are also just enough differences with this new server to create a steep learning curve. The good news is that the differences are mostly positive.

I’ve been using a good friend’s observation a lot lately. Jack says, “Life is like a rollercoaster. You can’t steer a rollercoaster, so hang on and enjoy the ride!”

Communication Shorts 05-03-2026

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!

The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330.
 mainestategrange@gmail.com.

May Bulletin

Articles for the May Bulletin are due by the end of the day, May 14th.. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Website Status

We’re back! So far, I’m impressed! The site seems to be running faster. There’s probably some “cleaning up to do,” but nothing major. I’m sure glad this doesn’t happen often!

Grange Visiting

We’ve been getting questions from folks interested in visiting Granges other than their own. It’s a great idea! Check out this post for resources to help you plan that!

Photography Tip

There’s a rule of thumb for publicity and news photos. “No feet!” That’s not always possible, but remember to “move in” close. A bonus tip: see the background. The camera will and it can result in some funny photos with things growing out of the top of the subject’s head!

What’s Going On?

Don’t forget to submit your special events and programs for our event calendar! We want people to know the Grange is thriving! Surely, there are lots of Grange things happening in Maine. We also love photos and reports of events that have happened. What’s your meeting magic?

To Ponder…

“Happiness is not by chance but by choice.”

Jim Rohn

An Idea for Your Grange

Mystery rides are surprise outings or trips in which the destination and itinerary are kept hidden from participants until the last moment. You could visit another Grange and stop for ice cream on the way back!

Subscribe!

The recent website issues demonstrated the value of subscribing! We were able to keep subscribers informed of what was going on even though the site wasn’t available. 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 and Grange friends!

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. Updated January 16, 2026.

Ernest Loves the Grange!

I am in the ancestry of Charles Wilson Abbott, who was a janitor of #382, who lived on Oak Woods Rd. North Berwick, Me. This is all I remember of Charlie and his association with the Grange from my grandmother. I come to believe their involvement was sincerely devoted to the Grange. I would be enthusiastic to learn more, etc.

Ernest D. Houle

What about you?

Do you love the Grange? Can you explain what’s great about being a member? It only takes a minute to click the button and tell the world!

I love the Grange!