Category: Communication

Website Updates

By Webmaster Walter

We have mostly good news! Here’s a fairly complete report that’s not too technical. We’re covering several different areas and accomplishments, so read on.

Recent Site Outages

Thankfully, these have become minimal. The last reported outage occurred on Sunday and lasted only three minutes! It could be a long story, but I’m now convinced these outages were not caused by the site but were a host server problem. I’ll continue to monitor and research alternative providers.

Online Grange Directory

I’ve updated the online directory of Granges based primarily on the 2025-26 Roster Information. I also made several “under the hood” changes to make it more flexible. Your help in keeping this current and accurate is appreciated!

Your Websites and Facebook Pages

Your Grange’s online presence is becoming increasingly important! One future project under consideration is to make links available within the online directory. An obvious challenge is keeping those links accurate. If your Grange maintains an active website or Facebook page/group, please let me know! If you need assistance, let me know!

Website Subscription Program

We continue to welcome new subscribers! Yay! I’m currently emailing a summary of posts from the previous week. Subscribers can then choose which posts to view and avoid FOMO (fear of missing out). Thanks for promoting and supporting this! One important way to support subscribing is to share your news and events.

AI (Artificial Intelligence)

AI is proving to be a great tool when used properly! Currently, I’m using it sparingly on this site. Some of the images are AI-created, but they are not “faked” or misrepresentations. For quite some time, I’ve used it to correct spelling and grammar of submissions. Any use of AI and automation is deliberate and reviewed. We’ll continue to make haste slowly. Think of it as good stewardship.

man in black suit jacket received a good news
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

If you have any questions or concerns about any of this, please let me know. In my view, this is your website. I’m just the gatekeeper and overseer. Our “labors of the day” are never really finished. Together, we can make it great!

Communication Shorts 03-28-2026

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.

April Bulletin

Items for the printed April Bulletin must be submitted by the end of the day, April 14. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

2026 State Session

You may want to note that the State Session is scheduled for October 30-31 at the Black Bear Inn, Orono! Mark your calendar!

Website Outages

Hopefully, the worst is over! Supposedly, the site has been moved to new servers, but we did have another 20-minute outage on Thursday. We’re continuing to monitor and will keep everyone posted. If improvements don’t happen soon, I will initiate the process of finding a new provider. It’s a big job that I’m hoping to avoid!

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.

To Ponder…

“April is a promise that May is bound to keep.”

Hal Borland

An Idea for Your Grange

Cribbage seems to be catching on! Could your Grange sponsor a Cribbage Club? It could be a regular informal gathering, or maybe even include a tournament.

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 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.

Grange Today! 3-27-2026

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

  • National Grange Awards $40,000 to make Direct Community Impact
  • Addressing the Rising Alzheimer’s Crisis in Rural America
  • Congratulations to our winners!
  • View from the Hill
  • Opinion: Women’s Health Progress Must Reach Rural America
  • Grange Month is Around the Corner
  • Rural Minds Launches New Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program
  • Grange Store Notice
  • Walk More to Stress Less: Get Moving to Improve Well-Being
  • Recipes from the Heartland
  • Member Benefit: Choice Hotels
  • Grange Store: Membership Pins

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.

Fraud Watch- Free Event!

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Scams are everywhere today—from fake texts and emails to nonstop phone calls—and the damage is devastating. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost as much as $196 billion to financial fraud in 2024, with older adults losing as much as $81.5 billion.

This April, AARP is mounting a nationwide Fraud Prevention Month, through which volunteers across the country will host hundreds of free local events that offer practical ways to stay informed, safe, and connected. Many sites will also offer free, safe document shredding to help prevent identity theft.

You can also join us from the comfort of your home on April 15 for a special fraud prevention broadcast on RFD‑TV and online, or pick up the phone for a nationwide Tele‑Town Hall with AARP fraud experts on April 30. Learn more at aarp.org/fraudsafety.

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

Legislative Sentiments

Maine Legislative Sentiments are highly regarded, formal recognitions used by the Maine Legislature to honor significant individual, civic, or organizational accomplishments. These sentiments act as official, bipartisan commendations, often presented on the floor to highlight milestones, such as 30 years of educational leadership or exceptional community service, marking them as sincere expressions of appreciation. Often, these sentiments receive unanimous support, reflecting a moment of unity in a sometimes divided political landscape.

For those Granges who celebrate Community Citizens, consider contacting your local Senator or Representative and asking if they might sponsor a Legislative Sentiment for your honoree. Sometimes they will even attend your event to present it–if you invite them!

Find your Senator or Representative by clicking here!

Unclaimed Property!

Reprinted from an e-newsletter by Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4.

State Treasurer Joe Perry has announced over $396 million in unclaimed property is being held by the Office of the Treasurer. This money belongs to Mainers and is waiting to be claimed.

The Unclaimed Property Fund includes money and other financial assets that are considered lost or abandoned when an owner can’t be located after a specified period of inactivity. Mainers are owed totals ranging from $10 to thousands of dollars.

Each year, tens of millions of dollars go unclaimed by Maine residents. These financial assets are turned over by thousands of national and local businesses and organizations. The Treasurer’s Office holds these assets, free of charge, until claimed by the owner or heir.

To see if you have unclaimed property in the possession of the State, use the Maine Unclaimed Property search tool.

NOTE: Occasionally, abandoned Grange property will show up! You may want to check your Grange!

Sorting at Valley Grange

It’s knitting, crocheting, and quilting season at Valley Grange in Guilford! Mary Annis, Joyce Flanders, Pat Engstrom, and Janice Boomsma had fun sorting recent donations at our March Meeting, including a large bag from Linda Kain.

These handcrafted products are distributed through many different local outlets. Hats and mittens go to our local schools, including Piscataquis Elementary, SeDoMoCha, Brownville Elementary, Ridgeview Elementary, and Harmony Elementary. Lap robes are available to local nursing homes, and we supply the Hospice Program’s Operation Gratitude for Veterans.

Help is always needed and welcomed! If you are interested, contact Mary Annis (564-0820) or Pat Engstrom (564-8290).

Share this news!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

We’re Back!

by Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director

man in black suit jacket received a good news
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

The recent website outages we’ve been experiencing appear to be over! We are now fully available on the new servers. We are sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience!

It might be my imagination, but it seems the site now loads faster! We’ll continue to monitor our uptime and keep you informed. If you have any questions or concerns, let me know!

Fraud Watch- “We’ll buy your home…”

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

If you own a home, you’ve probably received a solicitation saying, “We want to buy your house.” The offer may sound appealing, but it’s often not in your best interest.

These sell‑your‑home schemes often target older homeowners who are likely to have significant home equity. The bad actors search public records for foreclosure filings, divorces, or recent deaths to identify homeowners who may be under financial or emotional stress.

They frequently rely on high‑pressure sales tactics and misleading claims—including misrepresenting the value of your home, exaggerating market conditions to create a false sense of urgency, or even suggesting you may owe back taxes.

Even promises to buy homes “as is” can be misleading. In some cases, buyers later back out of that pledge and demand repairs before completing the sale, leaving the seller responsible for costly fixes after all.

If you’re thinking about working with a “We Buy Homes” company, know the true value of your home, understand what you’re signing, and get legal advice before moving forward.

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

MSG Website Outages

Maine State Grange Communications

We are aware that the MSG Website has recently experienced outages lasting from a few minutes to half an hour. Most seem to be happening overnight and early in the morning.

Our website host has announced a scheduled period of server updates between March 20 at 12:00 AM Eastern time and March 20 at 7:00 AM Eastern time. During this time, we may experience a brief loss of connectivity to our website hosting and associated services as our environment is being moved.

Hopefully, this move will resolve these temporary outages. We will continue to monitor the situation and take further action if necessary. Our apologies for any inconvenience, and thanks for your patience!