By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director
Making it Work
How providential that I recently received this email from Larry Bailey, Master of Ocean View Grange:
FYI – The dictionaries for the Ocean View Grange “WORDS FOR THIRDS” project have been ordered. There are two third-grade classes to whom we will distribute the books. The students have always seemed excited and grateful for getting the dictionaries. I was very surprised to see that response when we first gave out the dictionaries given that we live in an electronics and internet-based world.
Larry’s email was sent to members—I was copied. Communication creates involvement and allows people to feel engaged even if they are not directly participating. As another example, we recently completed Valley Grange’s “Dictionary Day” Words for Thirds Program. One of those days received front-page coverage in a weekly newspaper. As a direct result, a woman located some distance away sought out and called our secretary, explaining how much a dictionary meant to her as a child. She also mailed a $100 donation to us to support the program. She wanted to be part of what we were doing.
Words for Thirds is a program with a huge potential impact, particularly when we think about the communication aspect. What child doesn’t enjoy a gift? One reason I strongly urge an in-school presentation is that we are delivering more than dictionaries. We are delivering interest and care for our kids. Our organization and its members care about our third graders and their learning opportunities. I love telling the story of a high school student who saw and recognized me. She approached me to share that. I admitted she had an advantage because I did not recognize her. She explained, “I just want you to know that I still have the dictionary you and the Grange gave me when I was in third grade.”
Gifts are a form of communication. The impacts of the gift and the things we do (and don’t do) are yet another form of communication. It’s trite but true that sometimes what we do shouts so loud people can’t hear what we say. One of the things to love about Words for Thirds is it shouts and does a lot of good things loudly!
► FACT: We currently have sixteen Granges here in Maine participating in or interested in Words for Thirds!
