Category: National Grange Information

National Grange information, including National Convention.

Communication Shorts 01-15-2024

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

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

January Bulletin Available!

The January Bulletin is complete and available for downloading and printing on the Program Books and Information Page.

Trenton Grange has a great new website!

In case you missed it in the links, you may want to check out the Trenton Grange Website–it’s awesome!

Don’t Forget!

Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing! This is not difficult, and you get lots of free publicity!

National Grange Roster Available

The 2024 National Grange Roster is now available for download. It lists all National and State Grange Officers with contact information.

Ideas for Granges

Swap or trade programs are becoming increasingly popular. I’ve recently seen events for musicians, readers (books), cooks (recipes), and even spices! Bringing people together with a purpose sounds like a great cabin-fever reliever!

Thought for You…

“A year from now, you may wish you had started today.”

Karen Lamb

Do You Love the Grange?

The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!

Online Directories Available 24-7

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

Do You Have FOMO?

“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

The Patrons Chain 1-12-2024


Articles in this edition include:

  • Embrace challenges with a growth mindset 
  • What’s your communication style?
  • Advocacy Playbook: High-Speed Internet for ALL
  • Grange Foundation’s Ernestine Keiser Memorial Scholarship
  • Register for National Grange/Rural Minds introduction to the “Rural Mental Health Resilience” program
  • Junior Jibber-Jabber
  • Register for the Virtual Legislative Fly-In
  • Grange Member Benefit: Lenovo
  • Grange Supply Store: Grange Songbook Package

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to the Patrons Chain!

Read THE Current Issue
Subscribe to Patrons Chain

Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. Occasionally, a weekly issue isn’t sent, so the fact that one hasn’t been posted on the MSG website doesn’t necessarily mean we skipped it! You can double-check using the link (Read the Current Issue) above.

The Patrons Chain 1-05-2024


Articles in this edition include:

  • You’re part of the team! Let’s row together 
  • Don’t resolve to get more members in 2024
  • Grange Heirloom for January
  • Fellowship First Friday
  • Distinguished Grange applications are available
  • Grange Spotlight: Burns Grange donates 20,000th Dictionary
  • 4 Tips to Mind Your Mental Health in 2024
  • Grange Member Benefit: Lenovo
  • Grange Supply Store: Orientation Kit 

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to the Patrons Chain!

Read THE Current Issue
Subscribe to Patrons Chain

Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. Occasionally, a weekly issue isn’t sent, so the fact that one hasn’t been posted on the MSG website doesn’t mean we skipped it! You can double-check using the link (Read the Current Issue) above.

Communication Shorts 12-30-2023

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

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

January Bulletin Reminder

Articles and columns for the January printed Bulletin are due before January 15th. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Welcome to the New Year!

Yes, we’ll have trouble remembering to write “2024” for a while. Technology may help, but we’ll still want to pay attention to our dates!

Don’t Forget!

Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing! This is not difficult and you get lots of free publicity!

83rd Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show Gears Up

Visit the show at the Augusta Civic Center. This year’s show is set to elevate learning, planning, and networking to unprecedented levels. Visit https://www.maine.gov/dacf/agtradesshow for show news, schedules, participant directory, and venue map. Doors open daily at 9 a.m., with no entry fee.

Ideas for Granges

Swap or trade programs are becoming increasingly popular. I’ve recently seen events for musicians, readers (books), cooks (recipes), and even spices! Bringing people together with a purpose sounds like a great cabin-fever reliever!

Thought for You…

“Just when the caterpillar thought her life was over, she became a butterfly.”

Unknown

Do You Love the Grange?

The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!

Online Directories Available 24-7

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

Do You Have FOMO?

“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

Communication Shorts 12-15-2023

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

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

December Bulletin Reminder

The December Bulletin is finished! Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Is It Suspicion or Caution?

Just a reminder to be cautious and suspicious of emails and phone calls you receive.

Don’t Forget!

Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing!

National Grange Contest Guide is Available

The National Grange Contest Guide is available for download. Before printing, note that it is over 100 pages long!

ODD (Officers, Deputies, Directors)

We believe all updates are completed! The correct information is listed in the online directory, the print directory (a copy will be mailed with the Bulletin), on the Bulletin, and on the Program Books and Information Page! Please let us know if you encounter any errors!

Ideas for Granges

Could your Grange host a librarian from your local library? The librarian could bring some of the latest releases as well as other media resources.

Thought for You…

“You know how I always dread the whole year? Well this time I’m only going to dread one day at a time.”

Charlie Brown

Do You Love the Grange?

The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!

Online Directories Available 24-7

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

Do You Have FOMO?

“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

Note from National – December 2023

Emails sent to betsy@nationalgrane.org are now being forwarded to Chris Hamp, effective immediately. If you would like to contact Betsy Huber directly, please use her personal contact information below.

If you would like to contact The National Grange President, Chris Hamp, please use the following contact information below.

 
Christine E. Hamp
National Grange President
National Grange Office
1616 H Street NW, Floor 11
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 628-3507 ext. 112
Email: champ@nationalgrange.org

Washington State Office
14619 W Jacobs Road
Spokane, WA 99224
Tel: (509) 953-3533

Betsy Huber
Past National Grange President
362 University Road
Lincoln University, PA 19352-1606
Phone: (484) 459-1957
Email: hhuber@zoominternet.net

Peter Ivers Honored

Photo of Peter Ivers and Harrimans.
At the December Cumberland Pomona Grange meeting, State President/Master Sherry Harriman and her husband Richard, presented Pete Ivers with his Assembly of Demeter sash. This recognizes his status as a Past National Delegate. Sister Sherry reported on his unexpected appointment in her most recent monthly column.

Submitted by David Gowen

Communication Shorts 12-1-2023

By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842

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

Table Of Contents
  1. December Bulletin Reminder
  2. Fraternal Concern – June Burke
  3. Don't Forget to Submit!
  4. Technology Tip
  5. National Grange Contest Guide is Available
  6. ODD (Officers, Deputies, Directors) Directory
  7. Ideas for Granges
  8. Thought for You…
  9. Do You Love the Grange?
  10. Online Directories Available 24-7
  11. Do You Have FOMO?

December Bulletin Reminder

The deadline for the printed Bulletin is December 14, 2023. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Fraternal Concern – June Burke

Once again, our family has lost another of our Past State Officers, Sister June Burke, Past State Lecturer (75 – 81) and Past Junior Deputy, who passed away on November 22. Her obituary may be found at www.edgerlyfh.com. Cards may be sent to :
The Burke Family
3 Milton Mills Rd
Lebanon, ME 04027

Don’t Forget to Submit!

Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing! Thanks to the many who have submitted December Events. This is a busy Grange Month in Maine!

Technology Tip

Our website monitoring program indicated an “outage” took place recently. Fortunately, it lasted less than ten minutes. Hopefully, these are rare, and they are almost always self-correcting. If you try to visit the site and can’t, wait a few minutes and try again! This shouldn’t happen more than once or twice a month!

National Grange Contest Guide is Available

For a copy of the Guide to National Grange Contests, click this link. Think twice before printing! It’s over 100 pages long!

ODD (Officers, Deputies, Directors) Directory

We have the online directory and the print directory of officers, deputies, and directors. The print directory is available on Program Books and Information Page! Please let us know if you encounter any errors!

Ideas for Granges

Similar to an Easter Egg hunt, how about sponsoring a Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt? All you need is a field or lot and a pile of candy canes. Invite participants to bring a flashlight and a bag or bucket to help collect the candy canes nestled throughout the field. Provide hot cocoa and cookies.

Thought for You…

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.”

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Do You Love the Grange?

The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!

Online Directories Available 24-7

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

Do You Have FOMO?

“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

National Grange Elects New President

Christine Hamp

NIAGARA FALLS, NY – The National Grange, the country’s oldest agricultural and rural service fraternity, has elected its 24th President – Christine “Chris” Hamp of Spokane, Washington.

A member of Tualco and Five Mile Prairie Granges in Washington, Hamp has served as Vice President of the National Grange since 2021, Program Director/Lecturer for four years before that, and has been a National Grange officer for more than a decade.

“Thank you for your trust and honor in electing me as your President,” she said. She is also a proud member of the Board of Directors of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Hamp succeeds Betsy E. Huber, who was elected in 2015 as the first woman in the position in the Grange’s history.

Cautious or Suspicious?

By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director

Unfortunately, a certain amount of both is in order when using the Internet. Of course, it’s not just limited to the Internet, although the Internet makes other scams and schemes possible. In the most recent Communication Short, I mentioned receiving some inquiries regarding a letter members are receiving that appears to be coming from National Grange. Since then, I have received it and dug a little deeper.

First, congratulations to those who were suspicious and cautious. If you’ve been wondering why Dave keeps calling about your car warranty, it’s because some people fall for it–enough to make it worthwhile.

One of the first questions about the letter I was asked was, “Did it really come from National Grange?” Now that I’ve received it and looked it over carefully, I can answer that question accurately. A precise answer is, “no.” It was postmarked from Texas. Everyone knows National Grange is located in Washington, D.C. It seems more likely that it was mailed by the Insurance Company making the “free” insurance offer. (American Home Life Insurance Company-AHLIC is located in Texas.)

The next logical question was, “Is it legitimate?” In order to answer that question, I visited the National Grange Website Member Benefits Section. There is no mention of AHLIC there. (I should note that any offer described as “free” puts me on alert because I know that’s not the whole story.) Personally, I’d be done with the offer at this point, but I went one step further so I could share it with members.

I did a quick check of the company on Investopedia. AHLIC (under several different names) is a “legitimate” company. They’ve actually been around for 75 years. There is, however, some big BUTS. The Better Business Bureau assigns them a one-star rating (five being the best). And a quick read of the reviews on Trusted Choice was enough to send me running.

My point is to use caution and suspicion–I am not reviewing the company on your behalf. Before you accept any “free offer,” you should do a little research and your own thinking. In the business world, we call it “due diligence.” I honestly don’t know how this letter came about. I’m sure this insurance company is legitimate, but their products and business model aren’t for me. Obviously, they are for some or they wouldn’t be in business.

With all National Grange Staff at the National Convention, it wouldn’t be easy to quickly confirm validity of the letter. It may, in fact, have been “authorized” by someone at National Grange, although I seem to remember an agreement that National Grange would not share member contact information with other companies and organizations. That might be a different issue.

The point this allows me to make is that we do well to view all communication with some degree of caution and suspicion. Many of you will recall some email and text messages that appeared to come from MSG Master Sherry.

We can wish the world was a safer place, but it isn’t. Caution and suspicion don’t have to become paranoia. Caution and suspicion are tools. We need not live in fear.

One fellow who decided to “take on” a fraudster shared his experience. If you’d like ten minutes of entertainment on this topic, I have embedded a video for you to watch. It just might prove that spammers are not always terribly bright. In fact, our hero uses caution and suspicion in a funny turnabout!

I couldn’t resist putting this post in the “Family Health and Hearing” category. Safety is an important aspect of health!