Category: Community Service

Community Service Committee and information

Chelsea Granges Grant Information

Special thanks to Linda Weston and Marion Bowman, members of Chelsea Grange for making this happen and sharing the news and information.

We have more information regarding the successful grant that made the new chair lift a reality for Chelsea Grange. Member Marion Bowman is credited with much of the work involved. She explains that partnership and collaboration are the keys to success.

The grant application period is closed for this year, but for Granges that might be interested, it’s not too early to think about and plan for next year. The nationwide Community Challenge Grant primarily falls under the leadership of AARP with a focus on “making communities liveable for all ages.” You can find a brief history of the program and its funded projects here. A user-friendly FAQ (frequently asked questions) page is also available here.

Marion notes that Chelsea Grange “partnered with the community by sponsoring lunches, summer outdoor concerts” and making sure “the old hall is truly a community hall in every sense of he word.”

While the MSG Communications Department cannot provide in-depth assistance with securing grants, we are always happy to provide information and especially pleased to discover potential grant opportunities for Granges. Please check this one out and let us know if you decide to pursue something!

We’re Grangers. We help each other.

Fraud Watch- National Consumer Protection Week

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Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

It’s National Consumer Protection Week—and while AARP is focused on protecting consumers year-round—this is a good time to highlight some key consumer protection tips.

Make certain to use strong and unique passwords on all online accounts – look into password managers as an easier way to tackle this challenge. Where offered, use multi-factor authentication, where you receive a code by text, phone, or installed app, to add a layer of protection beyond your username and password. Rather than clicking links from texts and emails from your bank or from businesses you have accounts with, go to your app if you have one, or to a web browser and type the address in yourself—that way you know you are going to the legitimate site. Also, freeze your credit with the three main credit reporting agencies – TransUnion, Experian and Equifax – to block attempts to use any of your sensitive personal information that may have been exposed to open accounts in your name. Learn how at annualcreditreport.com/securityFreezeBasics.action.

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.

Mill Stream Grange Gets the Word Out!

Mill Stream Grange members Lisa Goucher (back row left)  and  Jill Sampson  (back row right) presented dictionaries to Carolyn Watkins’ third grade class at Mt. Vernon Elementary School on February 5th.  The students were enthusiastic about learning different ways to use the dictionaries, including the longest word, information on states, the Presidents, and the planets.  Each student was given a chance to sign their name after being shown the sign language chart. This is always the most popular part of the presentation. It was a fun learning experience for all!

Valley Grange Seeks Blanketeers!

Valley Grange is located in Guilford, Maine

On March 22, 2025, volunteers will create blankets for children in need.

Guilford–Valley Grange of Guilford is sponsoring a blanket-making event on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until noon, and volunteers are needed! Organizer Pat Engstrom notes, “no sewing skills are needed. If you can measure, cut a straight line with scissors, or tie a simple knot you can become a ‘blanketeer’ and help support Project Linus. We’ll show you how!”

Project Linus, a non-profit organization, provides homemade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Similar events in previous years have resulted in dozens of blankets being made by a diverse group of volunteers. Engstrom hopes to see the number of blankets made increase.

“We have a great time doing this, and truly just about anyone can help. We create quite a production line, and it sometimes gets quite competitive! It’s exciting to realize we’re providing love in the form of ‘blankies’ representing love, security, warmth, and comfort to kids. We consider them fabric hugs.”
While supplies will be provided, volunteers are encouraged to bring scissors, rulers, and masking tape. Light refreshments will be served.

For additional information, contact Pat Enstrom at 207 564-8290 or visit the Valley Grange Website at http://valleygrange.com. Valley Grange is located at 172 Guilford Center Road, at the corner of Butter Street.

Highland Lake Grange “protects”

Highland Lake Grange not serves their Westbrook Community, the “protect” those who protect it with “Survival Kits” for their law enforcement officers. Fifty kits containing a lot of goodies were recently delivered to the local officers.

Captain Goldberg accepts the kits from Highland Lake Master Dave Goven
That’s a lot of goodness given in appreciation and fun!

The Survival Kit for Law Enforcement Officers includes:

  • Gum -to get you out of sticky situations
  • Lifesavers – because you are one!
  • Chocolate kisses – to show you are appreciated
  • Starburst – for an extra burst of energy
  • Pencil – to keep you sharp, focused and for writing tickets
  • Kit Kat – for when you need a break
  • Snickers – to remind you to keep your humor
  • Smarties- to give you wisdom for those split minute decisions
  • Tootsie Roll – to help you roll with the punches
  • Peppermint Patty – to help you keep your cool
  • Doves – the symbol of peace, freedom and love
  • Mounds- for the mounds of courage you show
  • Candy Coins – you don’t get paid enough

“Thank you for all you do from Highland Lake Grange #87”

NOTE: This is an idea worth (shhhh!) “stealing” as a way of protecting and serving your community and its resources. Well done, HIghland Lake Grange!

Highland Lake Grange Serves

Highland Lake Grange provided a place for Westbrook City Councilor Jen Munroe to hold two community meetings to hear from residents of the district she represents (the Highland Lake Grange Hall is located in her district) and address concerns and issues.

Westbrook City Councilor Jen Monroe meets with residents
Highland Lake Grange serves as place for conversation

Fraud Watch- Getting Help After a Scam

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Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Dealing with fraud in the aftermath can be fraught – not knowing where or if you should report (you should – it’s a crime), feelings of shame (even though it’s not your fault – blame the perpetrator), and an often-overwhelming emotional toll – let alone the financial impact.

One resource is the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. Every weekday from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST, trained AARP volunteer fraud fighters are helping victims and their families understand what happened, report the crime, and plan next steps to put their lives back together. That number is 1-877-908-3360.

AARP also offers an online small group victim support program to help address the emotional harm fraud victimization causes. These conversations are completely confidential and are a wonderful way to receive support from others. Sign up for a session today at aarp.org/fraudsupport.

Experiencing a scam can be devastating, but it doesn’t have to define you. If you or someone you know has been the victim of fraud, make sure to file a report with local police; among other things, this may be useful in the event restitution becomes possible down the line.

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.

Fraud Watch- Gift Card Balance Scams

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Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

The holidays have passed, and for many, that means a stack of gift cards just waiting to be used. But before you check your balances online, beware of fake gift card balance-checking sites designed to steal both your post-holiday joy and your money.

Just because a website to check your gift card balance appears at the top of internet search results does not mean it’s legitimate. Search results can be filled with fraudulent gift card balance-checking sites, and scammers are constantly finding new ways to get their pages to show up at the top of results.

A safer way to check the balance of a gift card is to refer to the back of the card for a phone number or web address. If it’s not provided, proceed with caution. Avoid entering your gift card details into any search result labeled as “Sponsored” or “Ad.” In addition, be cautious of any site title that appears in wacky fonts or next to odd emojis; this is a common tactic scammers use to make their fraudulent web pages both visually pop and appear towards the top.

    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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    Future Farmers Visit the Grange

    by Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director

    Photo of two Future Farmers Members
    Haley, FFA State President, and Mia, FFA State Treasurer, stopped by to explore mutual interests.

    Haley and Mia stopped by during the Ag Expo in Augusta to dispense some enthusiasm and explore the mutual interests between the Future Farmers of America and the Granges in Maine. Their interest in agriculture and farming is almost obvious, but the FFA is also interested in communities, leadership development, and education.

    During our brief conversation, I learned a lot about FFA. They’ve been around since 1928 (not Haley and Mia, obviously!) and are very much youth/student-driven. Did you know they have over one million student members nationally? Their focus on Agricultural Education is terrific. (We made sure they left with the MSG Ag Scholarship information!)

    In what is surely a strange coincidence, this is National FFA Week— ” a time to share what FFA is and the impact it has on members every day.”

    But wait, there’s more! We have a Zoom Meeting scheduled to explore ways the Grange and FFA might connect and benefit by knowing more about each other. Stay tuned! The best is yet to come!

    Fraud Watch- Crypto Romance Scams

    MSG Communications Resources Logo
    Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

    In recent years, cryptocurrency scams have surged, with billions stolen annually. One of the biggest drivers of this trend? Romance scams. By building trust and forging deep emotional connections, scammers can manipulate their victims into making financial decisions they would not normally consider.

    If someone you’ve only met online claims they are making money with crypto and offers to help you do the same, it’s a scam – full stop. It does not matter how genuine they seem or what “proof” they attempt to show you; encouraging you to invest and claiming that you can make extraordinary returns in cryptocurrency is one of the surest signs of a modern-day romance scam.

    These criminals often pressure you to act fast, making it seem like you are about to miss out on a golden opportunity – another big red flag. The safest way to invest is to research opportunities to ensure they are legitimate and that you understand the risk as well as the potential. A good place to start is at the SEC’s site, www.investor.gov.

    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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