Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) has seen a rise in impostors pretending to be government officials.
Scammers are calling people, making claims like there’s a warrant for their arrest, their identity was used to buy child pornography or launder money, or that the FBI needs their help to catch a thief. These criminals seek to get your money by wire transfer or crypto kiosks. Some even use the real names of FBI agents or sheriffs to appear legitimate when you search online.
Remember that government officials will never contact you unexpectedly to seek payment in any form. If you receive a contact like this, disengage, and if you’re worried there may be a problem, contact the agency at a number or web address you know to be legitimate.
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.
February Bulletin
The February Bulletin is now available for download. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Seeking Someone
Do you, your child, or your grandchild have some knowledge of WordPress? (For those unfamiliar, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create, manage, and customize websites without needing advanced coding knowledge. The Maine State Grange Website uses it.) If so, let’s connect and explore some opportunities. I could use a few hours of volunteer help occasionally.
Rapid Resource
We’re always seeking resources of potential interest to Grangers and Friends that are not necessarily specific to the Grange. These will be short and easy to digest. As an example, the first concerns finding and tracking scholarships. You can help! Let me know what you think and, by all means, submit ideas and suggestions.
National Grange Notes
Remember, applications for National Grange Rural Life Initiative Grants are due by February 28, 2026. (You must submit through the online portal.)
Your Grange Presence
If your Grange has an active website or social media presence, please make sure to let us know! We maintain a list on the site and publicize them as a source of more information.
To ponder…
“I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”
attributed to Abraham LIncoln
An Idea for Your Grange
I recently stumbled upon an organization offering a free “How to Write an Obituary” workshop. It might sound unusual at first, but offering some legacy-planning information could be a valuable service. Hospice workers, funeral directors, financial planners, etc., could be included.
What’s Going On?
St Patrick’s Day and Grange Month programs and events needed now!
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.
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.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
You don’t have to be looking for love to be targeted by a relationship scam. Increasingly, perpetrators take the friendship route, building deep connections over time, starting by claiming they share your interests, experiences, or struggles.
They may initiate contact by commenting on your social media posts, reaching out through direct messages, or even sending what seems like a text sent by mistake. Over time, they earn your trust before asking for money or pitching an investment opportunity.
Because these relationships appear platonic, they can be harder to recognize. Red flags include pressure to move conversations to encrypted apps and eventually urgent requests for money or encouragement to invest in cryptocurrency.
Make it a habit to talk to a friend or family member when new relationships bloom. Together, you may be able to see signs of a scam that you couldn’t see alone.
The name and number of a Grange should be on the building or on the sign at the road AND should include the day and time of the meetings. This way someone passing by or visiting the area will know when you meet.
Master Sherry
One of my earliest attempts to visit a Grange had a somewhat humorous result. It was over two decades ago. I was relatively new to the Grange, and technology was still young. I drove to Lincoln, thinking that the Grange wouldn’t be too hard to find. I stopped for directions (more than once), and no one could help. In fact, no one had ever heard of a Grange Hall. It took a few phone calls to learn that Lincoln Pomona Granges were several hours away.
In more recent adventures, I’ve learned that some Granges appear to have multiple locations. It goes with the territory of rural life. There are countless examples where someone unfamiliar with the area could become mightily confused.
I’ve been guilty myself of giving directions like “turn left where the schoolhouse used to be.” When my sister and family from North Carolina first visited us, I talked them in and, without thinking, actually said that. After a short silence, my brother-in-law reminded me that this was their first visit to Maine and asked how they would know where the schoolhouse used to be.
Under the heading, “Nothing’s perfect…” I’ve also learned that travelers coming from a certain direction to our home need to ignore their GPS at one suggested turn. But the simple truth is, we need to make it easy for people to find us, and “us” includes our Grange Halls.
One way to do that is to know and use your hall’s street address. Street addresses in Maine are assigned by local municipalities (usually the code enforcement officer or town clerk), plantations, or county commissioners (for unorganized territories), adhering to E-911 standards. The E-911 system requires that each structure be linked to a unique physical address that clearly identifies the caller’s location (e.g., 35 Pine Road). Remember that dispatchers are often far away from the communities they serve.
The additional benefit of standards for street addresses make it possible for anyone to locate a building. Once you have your hall’s street address, please use it. I recommend placing the street number outside the building or on a post. It also wouldn’t hurt to have it posted inside the hall. There are additional steps you can take online, including locating your hall on Google Maps.
As an aside, the National Grange’s “Find a Grange” program does not include Maine; you should not rely on it. Our Maine State Grange online directory is based on the published roster. We’ll update it soon, when the roster is issued, but we can also make changes at any time.
Making your hall visible and easy to find is another great spring project!
FACT: During a recent seven-day period, more than fifty people visited the website from Facebook.
A recent issue of the California State Grange included flyers for several programs offered across the state. There were plenty of pancake breakfasts and suppers. A few of the different events are:
Class in pressure canning
Toddler story time
Food and Karaoke
Homestead series
Sweetheart Dance
Grange Community Market
Masterpieces and Munchies (a series of fun, painting, and snacking)
Square Dance
Almond Festival (Remember, it’s California)
Fruit Tree Sale
Cowboy Poetry and Music Show
Zucchini Grand Prix (growing contest) and Harvest Festival
Amateur Radio Club
Sobriety Support Group
Mana and Munchies (includes a number of activities)
Monthly Flea Market
Grange Game Night
Many of these are not one-time events. Consistency matters.
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.
February Bulletin
The deadline for the February Bulletin is Valentine’s Day (February 14)! Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Rapid Resource
We’re introducing this on a trial basis. We’re always seeking resources of potential interest to Grangers and Friends that are not necessarily specific to the Grange. This will be short and easily digestible. As an example, the first concerns finding and tracking scholarships. You can help! Let me know what you think and, by all means, submit ideas and suggestions.
National Grange Rural Life Initiative Grants
Remember, applications are due by February 28, 2026. (You must submit through the online portal.
Your Grange Presence
If your Grange has an active website or social media presence, please make sure to let us know! We maintain a list on the site and publicize them as a source of more information.
To ponder…
“To lead people, walk beside them. As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence. The next best, the people honor and praise. The next, the people fear; and the next, the people hate. When the best leader’s work is done the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!“
Lao-Tsu
An Idea for Your Grange
What are you planning for Grange Month (April)?
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.
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.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Tax season is stressful enough, and scammers take full advantage of that with IRS impostor schemes.
They reach out, claiming you owe back taxes and threaten legal action if you don’t pay immediately. These messages are designed to create panic and push you to act fast, often demanding payment by wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency — all guaranteed signs of a scam.
Unless you’re already working with the IRS on a tax issue, the agency will generally not contact you, and if they do, it’s typically by mail first.
When in doubt, disengage and verify by contacting the IRS directly using a trusted number from an official letter or IRS.gov — never one provided in a suspicious message.
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Each year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leads Identity Theft Awareness Week, a national initiative held in late January on how to avoid identity theft, recover if it happens, and spot these scams before they occur.
Identity theft is when your personal information is exposed; identify fraud is when someone uses that data to take over or open accounts, steal your tax refund, file fraudulent health insurance claims, and more. It can happen to anyone, but we can take steps to protect against it.
Monitoring your credit report is one of the best ways to spot errors or suspicious activity. You can get free credit reports from the main three credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian and TransUnion—at annualcreditreport.com.
Freezing your credit is an effective way to prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name, especially if you have no near term plans to apply for a loan or credit soon. Credit freezes are free, and you can freeze or unfreeze your credit directly through each agency.
Also, make sure you use strong and unique passwords for all accounts (a password manager makes this so much easier), use multi-factor authentication when it’s available, and shred sensitive documents – dumpster divers are still out there.
Rapid Resource is a new feature being tested by the MSG Communications Department.
Scholarships are a form of gift aid—meaning they do not need to be repaid. Most are awarded outside of the college’s financial aid process, so it is up to you to search and apply. Start with the Finance Authority of Maine’s (FAME) scholarship search tool to explore opportunities.
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.
February Bulletin
The deadline for the February Bulletin is Valentine’s Day (February 14)! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
To ponder…
“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”
Anthony J. D’Angelo
An Idea for Your Grange
Create a Greeters Committee to welcome new residents. If you work with the town office, you could inform them of resources and encourage their engagement in local activities, including your Grange events.
Waz up?
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.
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.
