Category: Resources for Granges and Grangers

Maine Constitution Poster and Essay Contests

Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Maine Representative James White.

The Maine Constitution Poster and Essay Contests through the Secretary of State’s office is now accepting entries.  Entries are due by March 7, 2025.

The Maine Poster and Essay Contests is designed to promote the history of Maine, the Maine Constitution, and the importance of democracy and voting.  This program is open to Maine students at all grade levels.  In 2024, 162 entries were received from students all over Maine.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade create a poster, while students in grades K-3 draw posters of official Maine symbols.  Students in grades four and five draw posters of a Maine history theme of their choice.

Students at the middle/high school levels write an essay from a writing prompt.  The prompt for students in grades 6-8 is, “Choose an article of the Maine State Constitution that you believe is the most important and describe why.”  The prompt for students in grades 9-12 is, “Research and describe an aspect of Maine voting law that you believe most greatly benefits our democracy.”

Winning entries will receive an award certificate, a ceremony at the Maine Department of the Secretary of State or at their school, and inclusion in a news release about contest winners.  Each student who submits an entry will receive a participation certificate. For more details, visit the Maine Poster and Essay Contests page on the Secretary of State Web site.

Fraud Watch- Our Information Is Already Out There

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Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

If we really want to keep ourselves – and our money – safe from fraud, we must all come to terms with one thing: our personal information is likely already out there. In a time where data breaches are increasingly common, safeguarding yourself from fraud has become more important than ever. Here are three steps to help protect yourself from the risks associated with data breaches and other identity fraud risks:

  1. Place a security freeze on your credit accounts with the three big agencies (Experian, Equifax and Transunion) so no one can open a new credit line in your name.
  2. Establish online access to your financial accounts and monitor regularly (you can set up text alerts for activity on these accounts as well).
  3. Use strong and unique passwords for every online account; consider using a password manager that creates complex passwords and stores them securely.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

More Topic Resources

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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Grange Month Supplies

What do you need to celebrate Grange Month during April? It’s not that far away!

To help with any confusion, there are at least three distinctly different Grange “Stores” or sources of Grange-related products.

While not an actual “store,” MSG Headquarters offers a number of items (mostly supplies, forms, etc.). Email Secretary Sharon to inquire. Some are also available for download from the Program Books and Information Page.

National Grange operates the Grange Supply Store.

The Monroe Grange Store offers regalia, jewelry, promotional items, awards and wearables for Grange members. 

There is some overlap of products offered, so you can “shop ’til you drop!”

Communication Shorts 2-1-2025

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!

February Bulletin Is Coming Soon!

The deadline for posts and columns is February 14. If you’re planning to spend that day romantically, submit early! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Scholarship Updates

LAST CALL! If your Grange is offering a scholarship, please visit the page and make sure your information is correct. Send changes either by using the Submit Tab or sending an email. If your listing is clearly out of date, it will be removed soon.

Words for Thirds

Check out the Words for Thirds Resource Pages here. Grange Month in April would be a great time to sponsor a project, but you’ll need to get started soon! National Grange has not yet released any Grange Month material, but we can do a “Our Grange Celebrates Grange Month by Sponsoring a Dictionary Day!” feature!

Loving the Grange

One of my goals for this year is to post at least one reason to love the Grange each month in 2025. The easiest way for you to help make this happen is for you to fill out this simple form. You can answer more than once! Why do you love the Grange?

Community Matters More Voting

Bangor Savings just announced its grant program for this year. As a reminder, only 501(c)3 organizations are eligible. Subordinate Granges are, therefore, not eligible. It’s a great program but writing in a local Grange is a waste of your vote!

Form 5102 Scam

Farms and other businesses may receive an official-looking “Form 5102” requesting a $119.00 payment to register “Beneficial Ownership Interest.” This is a documented scam. (There are requirements regarding B.O.I, but this isn’t one.)

Consider this Idea!

We recently saw an organization announcing a “Muffin Morning.” (I love alliterations, if you haven’t noticed.) It sounded like fun and definitely an easy program because there is no program. All you need are muffins and drinks and give the opportunity for a Koffee Klatch. Simple!

Think about this!

Groundhog Day is the perfect instance of optimism — you either choose to believe the rodent or not. Both options can give you a fantastic outlook for the future.

Anonymous

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! Visitors to the site consult these directories often.

Fraud Watch- Don’t Answer Calls from Unknown Numbers

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Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Receiving a call from an unknown number may seem harmless, but it could be the start a scam. Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive you into revealing personal information or making payments. Here are three tips to protect yourself from unknown callers.

  1. Let it ring. The easiest thing to do is not answer the call. If it is important, the caller will leave a message or call back again.
  2. Let the caller speak first. Most scammers use an auto dialer – an automated system that calls a bunch of random numbers at the same time and connects to a live person when someone answers the phone. That brief pause or delay before the caller speaks is a red flag that the call could be a scam.
  3. Block suspicious calls. Check with your service provider to learn about options to block spam and scam calls.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

More Topic Resources

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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Ocean View Grange Words for Thirds!

By Larry Bailey, Master

It gives me a great amount of pleasure to tell you that Terry Bomba and I had a very enjoyable and rewarding trip to third-grade classrooms at St George School to present dictionaries to the students. Both rooms combined, and thus, we had 24 students to present the books to.  This presentation of dictionaries is our annual Words for Thirds program. As in the past, the students seemed anxious to find out what we had to offer and really appeared to be very happy to get the books. After briefly explaining what the Grange is and what we do for our community, they asked some good questions.

One of the young girls said, “My grandmother works at the Grange.” I asked who is her grandmother and she said “Brenda Armstrong.” Brenda, while not a Grange member, has been voluntarily tending the trimming of the grass and weeds around the Grange and the beautiful flowers in the front of the Grange Hall for years. She is a gem.

I want to thank the two third-grade teachers, Lauren Wilgus and Sierra Beal, for arranging the gathering along with Mr. Felton, the School Superintendent. We hope to be there every year in the future.

Larry and Terry also received this note and permission to share it from Superintendent Felton:

I want to thank both of you for visiting the school and providing the 3rd graders with dictionaries.  You all did a great job sharing the Grange’s mission and work – the kids were engaged and curious throughout your visit.  And they were certainly excited about the dictionaries!  

Thank you for offering this program and all you do to support our students.  As a school district, our mission is to do whatever it takes to ensure that every single student thrives and to contribute to the vitality and resiliency of our town.  The only way we can realize this mission is with the support of our community, of organizations like the Grange.

With sincere thanks,
Mike, Superintendent, MSAD 50

For more information about the Words for Thirds Program and how your Grange, community, students, and teachers can reap these benefits, visit the Words for Thirds Resource Page.

Maine Legislative Scholarships

Communications Logo
Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin.

The Maine Legislature annually grants a scholarship to one student from each county who is currently pursuing or planning to pursue an education at a two- or four-year degree-granting Maine college or technical school. Administered through the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), awards are given to Maine resident high school seniors or full- or part-time postsecondary students accepted to or enrolled in accredited Maine colleges for graduate or undergraduate degrees.

The 2025-2026 application will become available on Feb. 1, 2025; and applications will be accepted until the May 1, 2025 deadline. Scholarship awards of $1,000 will be given to one student in each of Maine’s counties (16 total). Applications must include:

  • Completed 2025-2026 Maine Legislative Memorial Scholarship Application (available Feb. 1 here);
  • An essay (make sure the applicant’s name appears on all pages);
  • Submission of transcripts, recommendations, and 2025-2026 FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)*;
  • College students should include both college and high school transcripts;
  • All transcripts should also indicate graduation date or anticipated graduation date;
  • A copy of the student’s high school diploma or equivalent or expected graduation date.

Recipients selected from applications submitted by the May 1, 2025, deadline will be selected and notified in the Fall of 2025. Notifications are not sent to those applicants not selected.

*Students should submit the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in time to receive the 2025-2026 FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) back from the federal government. The FSS with Student Aid Index (SAI) must be included with the application.

Grange Scholarships available in Maine are currently being updated!

Grange Hall Insurance Information

We’re Grangers–we help each other!

With thanks to those who answered our help-wanted request, we can offer some information regarding Grange Hall insurance.

Person holding insurance umbrella over another.

First, some vocabulary clarifications as we’ll use them. We’ll keep it simple–it can get complicated. It’s important to distinguish between an agency and a carrier.

Carrier: A carrier creates, manages, and prices insurance policies and coverage.

Agency: An insurance agency sells those policies to customers and handles customer questions or concerns. Independent agencies often represent more than one carrier and have more than one agent.

We should further note that there are significant differences between personal insurance, such as what you may have on your home, and commercial insurance for businesses. When insuring a Grange Hall, commercial insurance is necessary.

Property insurance covers the property itself against certain types of damage. A typical example would be fire.

Liability insurance protects against claims resulting from injuries and damage to other people or property. An example would be someone tripping on a loose stair tread.

An excellent, objective source of information about commercial insurance can be found on the State of Maine Bureau of Insurance website. You might also consider downloading this Consumer Guide to Commercial Insurance.

From what we’ve gathered, most Granges deal with an agent and agency. If it’s a large agency, you may need to find an agent who is familiar with commercial insurance. The agent will assist with finding a carrier. (Not all agencies are involved in commercial insurance.) Also, note that a carrier may be represented by more than one agency.

Some agencies and carriers that have worked with Granges include:

Cross Insurance Agency in Augusta offers property and liability coverage. Contact Matthew Ellis, Senior Account Manager–207 430-4721, Matthew ellis@crossagency.com.

Norman Assurance Associates in South Thomaston offers liability insurance through Main Street America Insurance Company in Keene, NH.
Contact 207 596-6400, info@atlantic-insurance.com

Strong Insurance Agency in Thomaston may also provide commercial property insurance.
Contact 207 596-6775, markstrong@strongagency.com

Kimball Agency in Guilford
Contact 207 876-9777, Tom Panciera tpanciera@kkorp.com and/or Olivia Schmiedlehner olivia@kkorp.com

A printable, one-page summary of this post is available here.

Fraud Watch- Concert Ticket Scams

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Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Getting tickets to top concerts is tough – don’t let scammers make it harder. With most concert venues switching to digital tickets only and concert demand through the roof, criminals are producing more counterfeit tickets than ever. Here are three tips to avoid buying a fake ticket.

  1. Stick to known ticket sales sites or visit the National Association of Ticket Brokers (natb.org) to ensure that you are dealing with a verified reseller. Always type the web address of the site you want to visit into your browser rather than clicking on a link that could take you to a copycat site.
  2. Beware of offers on social media and online marketplaces, where this scam thrives. These platforms are a hotspot for fraudulent ticket sales.
  3. Never pay with a peer-to-peer payment app unless you are getting tickets from someone you know. You don’t have the same consumer protections with these payment methods that you have with a credit card.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

More Topic Resources

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.

Click below to share this post

Grange Scholarships

By Walter Boomsma, Communications Director

Scholarship season is fast approaching! As you may know, we have a whole page of Grange Scholarship information in Maine on the website. It’s time to update that information and confirm everything is accurate. The page offers information about state-level scholarships as well as local.

We’ll start by inviting any Granges offering scholarships to submit their information if they haven’t already. Visit the page to see the format. We try to keep things simple. If you have information and an application available as a document, we can host and link to it-a new service we’re offering this year. Thanks to Mill Stream Grange for getting us started!

If your Grange has a scholarship already listed, please check the listing and make sure it’s accurate and current. Send any corrections or updates in an email.

I recently met and talked with some Maine representatives of FFA (Future Farmers of America) about mutual interests. They were very interested in ag-related scholarships for obvious reasons. Let’s get the word out there!

“Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.”

Mark Twain