Mill Stream Grange Gives!
Category: Community Service
Community Service Committee and information
Community Service/FHH – January 2024
By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193
Happy New Year! As we start the 2024 year, brainstorm all the community service projects that are possible. There is not a project that is too small. Think about all the ways your community is supported by you and your Grange.
Please keep track of hours per project. The hours should be broken down by Grange members and non-Grange members in the following categories: Juniors, Youth, and Adult. These are reported to the National Grange.
Also include any organizations and their involvement (hours, support, etc.)
Start thinking about nominating Granger, Firefighter, EMT, Police, Educator of the year.
Family Health and Hearing
- January 9, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
- January 28, National Lego Day
- February 3, Feed the Birds Day
- February 4, Thank you, Mail Person Day
- February 20, Love Your Pet Day
This is the celebration of MSG’s 150th anniversary. Start planning now to celebrate Grange during April, which is Grange Month. Open meetings, Grange history, Degree Day, Variety Show, and Remember When programs are a few suggestions but the opportunities are endless—also a great time to present membership certificates.
Enjoy the season and remember Spring is coming.
Clyde Russell Scholarship Fund Deadline Approaches
The Clyde Russell Scholarship Fund (CRSF) offers financial awards to Maine graduating high school seniors to attend higher education institutions. The CRSF was created by the Maine Education Association through a trust established by the late Audrey Lewis, who served as president in 1958. The Fund was named after Clyde Russell, who served as Executive Director for over two decades.
There are two categories of awards as follows:
- Awards of up to $2,000 for graduating high school seniors who will attend a Maine Community College;
- Awards of up to $10,000 for graduating high school seniors who will attend a four-year college.
The applications will be available on CRSF’s website until Jan. 31, 2024; and the deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2024. The entire application must be received by CRSF via their P.O. Box no later than Feb. 1, 2024. Please allow 5-7 days for mail delivery to meet the Feb. 1 deadline.
2024 Maine County Teachers of the Year
Call for Nominations
Do you know an exceptional teacher? A teacher who inspires students? A teacher who is a leader in the profession and deserves recognition for their great work with students? Here is your chance to nominate them for County Teacher of the Year!
Teachers may be nominated by students, parents, teaching colleagues, principals, superintendents or anyone from the community who wants to honor an outstanding educator. (Self-nominations and nominations by family members are not accepted) Granges who recognized (or plan to recognize) an “Educator of the Year” may want to nominate him or her for this recognition! The deadline for nominations is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.
To be considered, the teacher must:
- have a minimum of five years of teaching – three of which are in Maine.
- hold the appropriate professional certification for their teaching position.
- be a certified, in good standing, PK-12 teacher in a state-accredited public school, including a career and technical and adult education center, a public charter school, or a publicly supported secondary school (a private school that enrolls 60 percent or more publicly funded students, sometimes referred to as “town academies”).
- be actively teaching students at least fifty percent of the workday at the time of nomination and during their year of recognition.
- maintain their teaching position and remain in the County for which they are selected throughout the year of recognition.
The Maine Teacher of the Year program is administered by Educate Maine in partnership with the Maine Department of Education.
The Maine State Teacher of the Year represents Maine at the national level and becomes eligible to become the National Teacher of the Year.
Please contact Kaitlin Young at Educate Maine if you have questions or want more information on the process.
Please don’t miss this opportunity to honor and recognize a great Maine Teacher! Meet the 2023 County Teachers of the Year here and learn more about the Maine Teacher of the Year program.
Some information for this post was provided by Bangor Savings Bank, a strong supporter of the program through their partnership with Educate Maine.
A Special Report – Pie and Coffee
By Walter Boomsma, Communications Director
We have an amazing family in our community not too well known for their generosity and compassion. They tried something this Christmas that not only was selfless; it didn’t sound like it would work.
They booked their church dining hall for Christmas Day and invited folks to stop by between 1 and 5 pm for free pie and coffee or cocoa- a sort of break from the holiday festivities and a chance to see friends and neighbors.
I was a doubter based on the assumption that many people would be traveling or busy with their own celebrations on Christmas Day. Our decision to go was based somewhat on wanting to show support and somewhat on curiosity. Would anybody show up on this most wonderful day of the year?
Not only were there a number of people there, but there was a consistent flow of people coming and going. There was plenty of hugging and handshaking. I got to see a relatively new friend–she’s only three years old and quite the conversationalist. While she was helping me pick my second piece of pie, a tap on my shoulder came from some people I hadn’t seen for a couple of years. Of course, one of the benefits of rural living is that we know more people than we think.
Even though no contributions were expected by the hosts, many people arrived carrying a pie, so there was plenty to sample. My second piece was a blueberry cheesecake pie. My new friend warned me that I shouldn’t try too many because I might get a bellyache.
There’s a lot to consider and learn here. As we were driving to the church, I realized that it was the first time in some years we had left the house on Christmas Day–a day that is traditionally quite quiet at our house. But it wasn’t just us old folks who went. Kids came. Some made ornaments. My friend did bring several of her presents with her to play with, but she spent just as much time talking with others.
The pie was great, but being together was better.
We need each other, and finding simple ways to facilitate being together should be high on our priority lists. Remembering that the fraternal and social aspects of the Grange are foundational, maybe it’s time to find more ways to be together. People who won’t come to a Grange meeting might just stop by for pie and coffee. Keep it super simple. Make it easy. Consider calling it a Potluck Pie Party. Give us an excuse to get together because, despite those busy schedules and multiple priorities, we really want to do just that.
Mill Stream Grange Gives
Community Service/FHH – December 2023
By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193
May the spirit of the season be with you.
Community Service opportunities are endless during the Christmas season. Visiting a person who lives alone, shoveling a pathway or driveway for a neighbor or fellow Granger, inviting community members to a coffee/tea social and share time together, calling a friend on the phone, sending a note to a shut-in, volunteering at a local facility and talking to residents, and become Christmas Carolers for the community are a few suggestions.
Family, Health & Hearing
December A Grange Holiday Season – display what it is to be in Grange and not only during the holidays but all year round.
January 4 – National Buffet Day
January 9 – National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
January 28 – National Lego Day
These are suggestions, and your Grange may add to these. It is not too early to be thinking about submitting “Granger of the Year,” Police, Firefighter/EMT of the Year.
Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year!
Parkman Grange Christmas Party
On Saturday, December 9, 2023 Santa and Mrs Claus will be at the Parkman Grange from 1:00 -3:00 PM. They will be having their picture taken with your little one and giving out gifts. There will be six easy little crafts to make for presents to give to family or friends. Christmas cookies and cocoa with marshmallows will be served. In the spirit of Christmas and giving, this party is a gift to the community from the Grange. The Parkman Grange is located at the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Road in Parkman, Maine
Legion Scholarship Event
The American Legion Department of Maine High School Oratorical Scholarship Program will be held at Thomas College in Waterville on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Interested students can begin preparations now for the contest.
The program aims to help high school students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution. Other objectives of the contest are the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and preparation for accepting and discharging civil duties as American citizens.
Applications to participate must be submitted by December 1, 2023.
The scholarship program, held by the American Legion for more than 77 years, is for those students who are looking for an academic challenge and the opportunity to win scholarship money for their education careers. Please visit their website or download the event’s brochure for more information.
Note: The Legion seeks volunteers to help with this event. Could there be a Grange Team involved? Information and the number to call is available on the website.
Mill Stream Grange Supports Food Bank
