Category: Resources for Granges and Grangers

Communication Shorts 7-8-2023

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!

July Bulletin Reminder

The deadline for the July Bulletin is July 14th! Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Questions We Get About Your Events…

We occasionally get questions about Grange events… if your event isn’t listed on the MSG website, we can’t answer them. Remember that it’s easy to list your event–use the submit tab on the site or just send an email! If do get a question we can’t answer, we’ll send ’em your way, but we recently had a question about an event at a Grange that doesn’t appear to exist!

Spreading the Word…

Remember, it’s easy to spread the word when there are posts on the MSG website. Just scroll to the bottom of the post and find the icons for some of the most popular social media platforms. Click the icon for the platform you want to share to, and technology takes care of the rest!

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!

Ideas for Granges

Host an art show! Invite local artists to set up easels and paint live during the event. Serve refreshments… have some activities available for kids?

Thought for You… REPLACE

“I really miss complaining about the cold.”

Many people in Maine

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 6-17-2023

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!

June Bulletin

The June Bulletin is now available for downloading and printing! Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Monroe Classic Grange Store

As a reminder, the Monroe Classic Grange Store is still open as an officially licensed Grange Store. They carry a wide assortment of Grange-related and branded items such as jewelry, flags, signs, awards, fundraising and promotional items, apparel, signs, and name tags.

Grange Supplies

Also, as a reminder, the National Grange Store is the place to find the supplies you use, such as treasurer’s receipts, membership cards, etc.

Open Mic at East Madison Grange

Bring your talent and friends to the East Madison Grange for an Open Mic night on the first Friday of every month at 7 PM. Refreshments are available, free to the public, but donations are appreciated. Contact hideandgopeep@gmail.com or 207 716-6441.

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!

Ideas for Granges

How about an engaging gathering for individuals with memory loss and their care partners? Potential participants are invited to enjoy an afternoon of conversation with some new and old friends and take in some music, play a game, or enjoy a different form of entertainment… lunch could be offered.

Thought for You…

“When everyone’s thinking alike, someone’s not thinking.”

General George Pattaon

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

Driving Dynamics Course

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

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety (BHS) offers a Driving Dynamics course, which is a driver improvement course designed to improve a student’s defensive driving awareness. The five-hour course includes a discussion of collision avoidance techniques, safety issues, driver habits and attitudes, and the basic elements that constantly challenge drivers on Maine’s highways.

Students who complete the course will receive a three-point credit on their driving record and may be eligible for an insurance discount. BHS has also approved two AAA online and classroom driver improvement courses that satisfy the requirement for students needing an insurance discount or three-point credit on their Maine driving record. The cost to register is $40 for drivers under aged 65 and $25 for those aged 65 and over. To register for a class, visit the program’s website. 

Communications Column – June 2023

How Important Am I?

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

As most know, earlier this year, I accepted a position teaching at Beal University. It’s been a learning experience. Since most students I work with ultimately plan a future involving substance abuse counseling, communication becomes a topic or concern in many different ways. Communication between counselor and client tends to be an underlying theme in every course. We talk about “empathy” and “understanding” a lot. I often remind students to “listen for what is not being said.”

Thanks to a website dedicated to humor for those in education, I found a funny example. It is an alleged voicemail a doctor left for a patient.

“Because I am literally stuck in traffic at this very moment, I will not be able to perform your heart surgery this morning. Would it be possible to get an extension? Let me know.”

At first, it sounds far-fetched, but an element of humor is overstatement. For anyone who’s ever been a teacher, it’s right up there with “the dog ate my homework.” The modern version might be (and I get this one at least once almost every week), “The computer ate my homework.” My favorite one at the university level was, “I’m sorry this is late. I had to go grocery shopping.”

Let me share something I saw happen recently in the waiting room of a medical provider. A mom arrived with her son, who was probably seven or eight years old. She asked the receptionist, “Do I have to go in with him for the exam? I have a meeting I need to attend on my phone.” The boy had a sort of “disconnected” look and stared around the room. For some reason, he didn’t have a phone or electronic device. On that point, I was happy for him. But I did want to go over and smack his mother. She had just announced to him and anyone within earshot that he had just fallen to the bottom of her priority list.

And here’s the irony. It didn’t have to be that way. She could have used different words to accomplish the same end. She could have said something like, “My son and I have agreed he’s going to try to do this on his own today. I’ll be right here in the waiting room if I’m needed.” (I’m assuming that wouldn’t have been a lie.) Instead, she used words that communicated how busy she was and that her son was momentarily at least at the bottom of her priority list. She also announced to the receptionist that she was a very busy person trying to juggle a lot of different things. I wanted to observe loudly, “And not doing a very good job of it.” I also wanted to go over and hug the kid while saying to the mom, “It’s not about you.” If you listened to the conversation objectively, she was making her son’s appointment all about her.

I confess a bias where kids are concerned, but I have another bias. Being “busy” doesn’t earn us a badge and trophy or get us off the hook for our decisions. Communication still involves at least two parties. Don’t blame it on being busy if you don’t answer an email or return a phone call. You could say, “I’m not good at planning and decision-making,” or maybe even, “Getting back to you just wasn’t that important to me.”

Am I being harsh? I tell students I understand that “life happens,” and sometimes even the best plans are disrupted. But if you tell me your assignment is late because you had to go grocery shopping, I will not likely forgive the late penalty. Contrary to how we often act, we get to decide what’s important and act accordingly. The piece that’s easy to forget is the other party also gets to decide what that means and how they will respond.

Communication is about the words, how they are said, and the actions (or lack of actions) often accompany them. Choose them carefully, remembering the receiver (listener) decides your priorities based on all three.

► FACT: So far this year, the MSG website was viewed over 8,000 times by over 3,400 people. The two most visited items were the Directory of Granges and the Program Books and Information Page.

Tell us why you love the Grange!

Communication Shorts 6-1-2023

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!

June Bulletin Deadline

Columns and articles for the June Bulletin must be received before June 15th. Earlier is good! Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Monroe Classic Grange Store

As a reminder, the Monroe Classic Grange Store is still open as an officially licensed Grange Store. They carry a wide assortment of Grange-related and branded items such as jewelry, flags, signs, awards, fundraising and promotional items, apparel, signs, and name tags.

Cumberland Grange Information

We’ve had a request for information regarding “Cumberland Grange” from Judy Gagnon of the Cumberland Historical Society. Apparently, there were actually two: Cumberland #69 and Cumberland #500. If you can help Judy and the Society, please add a comment or let us know and we’ll put you in touch with her! Thanks!

Open Mic at East Madison Grange

Bring your talent and friends to the East Madison Grange for an Open Mic night on the first Friday of every month at 7 PM. Refreshments are available, free to the public, but donations are appreciated. Contact hideandgopeep@gmail.com or 207 716-6441.

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!

Ideas for Granges

How about a collaboration with your local Commission on Aging or another Senior Group to create a Grange Cares Day, a day when people are able to give back and help the senior citizens in their community?

Thought for You…

“When everyone’s thinking alike, someone’s not thinking.”

General George Pattaon

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

Tick Talk

Reprinted from June 2023 Newsletter from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

Tick Bite Prevention

  • Wear protective clothing. This includes light-colored clothing so that ticks are easy to spot, long sleeves and pants, closed-toe shoes, and tucking pants into socks.
  • Treat clothes with permethrin. Do not use on skin.
  • Protect pets. Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets.
  • Wear EPA-approved repellent.
  • Stay on trails and be aware of tick habitat.
  • Check yourself for ticks. Check often during your outdoor activity and when you return to your campsite or home.

Learn about tick ecology, diseases, and prevention measures by watching the Forestry Friday Tick Talk presented by Chuck Lubelczyk, field scientist with Maine Health Institute for Research Vector-Borne Disease Laboratory.

Include this in your next Family Health and Hearing Report!

Communication Shorts 5-16-2023

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!

May Bulletin

The May Bulletin is now available for downloading and printing. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Website Links

Thanks to technology, we do get a report of links that are no longer working. Most often, these are links in older posts. Currently, we have been getting a lot of “broken link notices” that involve government/COVID information. In general, we do not investigate and/or repair these broken links. In addition to being very time-consuming, it’s often “old news.” If you happen on a link that doesn’t work and think it is important and should work, let us know, and we’ll look into it!

Nostalgia and History

If you are familiar with eBay, here’s a fun idea. Search for Grange-related stuff. You’ll find some nostalgia and history–things like manuals, cookbooks, jewelry (some very affordable), and even implement cases!

Ideas for Granges

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!

Do You Love the Grange?

If your hall has outdoor space, how about a Family Day Picnic? You could include a variety of activities like face painting, music, games, and food. If it rains, move inside! It might be possible to tie into another community event…

Thought for You…

“Even the mundane task of washing dishes by hand is an example of the small tasks and personal activities that once filled people’s daily lives with a sense of achievement.”

B. F. Skinner

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

Communications Column – May 2023

Are you giving out or getting through?

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Someone should do a study to answer this question: How much genuine communication takes place on social media? Stay with me—it’s an important question that actually isn’t limited to social media.

There’s a quotation from Sidney Harris on the masthead of the Bulletin. The two words’ information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.” If you have read the Bulletin and didn’t notice it, we’re not getting through. That shouldn’t be a surprise. One-way communication has its drawbacks. And, as a society, we are increasingly relying on one-way communication, whether we realize it or not.

I had an exasperating exchange on Facebook recently. I won’t bore you with the details as interesting as they might be. I was answering a writer’s question. Another person almost immediately jumped on me, “correcting” me. I responded to his comment by pointing out that I did not say (write) what he was criticizing me for, hoping he would see we weren’t communicating. He then proceeded to take a slightly different approach to telling me I was wrong anyway. I did not respond further and attempted to see some humor in it. Part of the humor was that the person who originally asked the question didn’t take part in the exchange.

My attacker had no desire to communicate. He was more interested in demonstrating how smart he was. He went off-topic, particularly when I challenged his understanding of what I’d written.

How often does that happen in our conversations? Are we giving out or getting through? We all want to be heard, and that’s not a bad thing. But we should be equally interested in being understood and at least mildly interested in our listeners. That’s much simpler to achieve in “live” in-person conversation. But it’s only easier if both parties are committed to communicating to create understanding.

A down-to-earth technique is called “clarifying and confirming.” It’s based on the assumption we should understand both what the other person is saying and why they are saying it.

“I love ice cream,” seems like a clear statement, at least as far as what is being said. If we want to understand, let’s be a little curious and ask (clarify) why the person loves ice cream. “Because it tastes good.” How’s our understanding? We won’t know for sure until we confirm it. “So what you’re saying is that you like ice cream because it tastes good.” That just might trigger more information. “Yeah, and I feel like I’m getting a treat…”

This becomes particularly important when our initial reaction to someone’s statement is to reject, ignore or disagree. How we react determines what happens next. A knee-jerk reaction may mean the conversation ends or develops into an argument. The few minutes required to demonstrate a desire to communicate by clarifying and confirming are well worth the effort. If you confirm that you are in total disagreement, understanding the “what and why” equips you to remain friends and perhaps even find a middle ground or compromise.

► FACT: Last week, the MSG website was viewed 328 times. The two most visited items were the Directory of Granges and the Mill Stream Grange post.

Tell us why you love the Grange!

Communication Shorts 5-1-2023

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!

May Bulletin

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

Submitting Events and News

We’ve recently been receiving requests to post information with a reference to Facebook. While we are anxious to support Granges, this is not practical–primarily because it requires additional steps and time to find, copy, and process information from Facebook. Please email your news and events or use the submission tab on the website. We will, of course, be happy to include a link to the Facebook post “for more information” as long as you provide that link with your submission.

Once your event or news is posted, it’s quite easy to post it to Facebook by using the share links at the bottom of the post! Or you can copy the link (right-click on the title or headline) and simply paste it into Facebook.

Also, when submitting events, please plan ahead! Posting events at the last minute is not good stewardship. For one thing, it can take 24-48 hours for it to be posted, then another 24 hours for the post to be sent to subscribers. You should plan to have your event submitted at least one week prior to it happening!

Grange Month Happiness

Don’t forget to tell us what happiness you experienced during Grange Month at your Grange. Use the Submissions Tab or send an email!

Ideas for Granges

The Freedom, NH, Public Library recently hosted a Fun Friday event that included After-School Activities (3:45-4:45 PM – Students are welcome to come directly after school for crafting with perler beads), Pizza Time (4:45-5:15 PM), and Family Movie Night (5:15-7:00 PM – showing Puss In Boots: The Last Wish).

Thought for You…

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

Michael Altshuler

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 4-18-2023

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!

April Bulletin

The April Bulletin is now available for downloading and printing. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.

Have You Started on Your May Baskets?

It’s often called a “forgotten tradition.” If you need reminding, check this out!

Grange Month Happiness

Don’t forget to tell us what happiness you experienced during Grange Month at your Grange. Use the Submissions Tab or send an email!

Ideas for Granges

Celebrate something crazy! There’s a fairly successful and long-standing “Black Fly Festival” that started as an effort to Save the Black Flies. Find a reason to have a party.

Thought for You…

“Good leaders make people feel that they’re at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens, people feel centered and that gives their work meaning “

Warren Bennis

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