Tag: Grange Advocacy

Win This Quilt!

Click on the photo to enlarge!

Each year, during the Big E, the New England Grange Building has a quilt raffle. The state that donates the quilt (done on a rotation) chooses the non-profit that the money raised goes to.Last year, over $6,000 was raised for a Veterans’ Center in VT. This year, NH is donating the quilt, and all money raised will go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

If you are the winner, the NEGB will pay to ship it to you. The pattern, for those of us not familiar, is Jacob’s Ladder, and this quilt will fit a double bed.

If you make a donation of any reasonable amount to the New England Grange Building, your name goes on a ticket to win. To enter the drawing, send a check made payable to the New England Grange Building. Please be sure to include the name and phone number you want to be on the ticket. Checks can be sent to:
New England Grange Building
C/O Vicki Huff
90 Linton Street
South Portland, ME 04106

Donations must reach me by September 8th, 2025. Remember, the mail hasn’t been particularly speedy lately, so don’t wait until the last minute! I will take donations with me when I go to work in the building. If you see me out and about before then, I can take cash as well.

SLOW DOWN!

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

The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is launching a speed reduction awareness and enforcement effort to help prevent speeding-related crashes and save lives. Law enforcement agencies across the state will be increasing high-visibility patrols throughout July as part of this initiative. As part of this campaign, the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is calling on all drivers to recognize speeding as an aggressive driving behavior that endangers all road users.

In 2023, there were 43 traffic fatalities that involved speeding in Maine. Young drivers and motorcyclists have a higher chance of being involved in speeding-related crashes. In 2023, 23 percent of those involved in fatal crashes were between the ages of 15 and 20.

Law enforcement agencies from Aroostook County to York County will continue to conduct high-visibility speed enforcement to reduce speeding and aggressive driving. Law enforcement will be out reminding drivers to slow down and drive with care. Spend your time on the way to your destination taking in the beauty of our wonderful state, not speeding by it. From the lighthouses across Maine’s coastline to the lakes and mountains to the rural beauty of The County, slow down and safely enjoy your drive. 

Words for Thirds-Screen or Paper?

Are you anticipating a Words for Thirds Dictionary Project this fall? If not, it’s a great community service project–or perhaps more accurately, a great kid service project.

According to a recent Dictionary Project Newsletter, “A study published in 2023 found that only about 67% of 3rd grade students in the US are reading at grade level. Children who don’t read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely not to graduate high school on time. One contributing factor to the fall in children’s literacy is the rise in screen time, which often replaces quiet reading or meaningful conversation. Limiting screen time can help children develop stronger attention spans and focus on building their reading skills.”

The same newsletter (July 20, 2025) “Sweden went all-in on tablets in the classroom, then saw 4th grade reading scores tank. Now they’re spending 60M Euros to bring back real books, because screens weren’t helping. And here in the U.S., only 30% of 8th graders read at grade level, with writing scores just as bleak. If one of the most tech-savvy nations is pulling the plug, maybe America should start asking if screen time is quietly dumbing down a whole generation.“

MSG Words for Thirds Resource Page

We have lots of resources… let us know how the Communications Department can help you help our kids and communities! We’re Grangers. We help each other!

Project Wild

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

Project Wild is a series of activity guides that can be used as part of any class instruction designed for pre-K through 12th grade.  The guides, which are part of the Maine Project Wild suite, are Project Wild (terrestrial) guide, Aquatic Wild, and Growing Up Wild.  All of Project Wild is facilitated nationally by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and coordinated by an agency or organization in each state.

It is the mission of Project Wild to provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources.  Each of the individual guides has its own focus, but all are designed with hands-on, inquisitive, student-led learning in mind, and are aligned with education standards. 

Anyone can use Project Wild guides.  Teachers, parents, scout leaders, and other organizations and community groups will find that these activity guides are useful and easy to use. To learn more and to view the Project Wild guides, please click here.

Webmaster’s Note: Could your Grange sponsor an outdoor activity? Project Wild is specific to children and youth, but the idea is also very adaptable. There’s an interesting potential program built around the idea that “Our Grange Gets Wild!”

Communications Column – July 2025

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Honest Communication

I know a health care provider who has an interesting recording that callers hear when a person doesn’t answer the phone. (That never happens.) The message includes a statement noting that “…we probably won’t call you back.”

That might qualify as brutal honesty. If we ignore the brutality, he gets credit for the honesty.

I suspect many Grangers would be surprised at the number of times I, as communications director, am contacted by frustrated folks who have tried to reach someone in our organization unsuccessfully. Usually, they have left multiple voicemails or sent emails that have gone unanswered. I’m pretty easy to find, and with the title “communications director,” I don’t blame them for thinking I can help.

Sometimes I can help if it’s a question of a general nature. Other times, I can verify whether they are using the correct contact information.

But occasionally, I admit that I can’t force people to reply to emails and return phone calls.

It seems ironic that, with all the communication technology developed over the past several decades, it’s debatable whether actual communication has improved. In the case of the healthcare provider, perhaps it has. He’s using technology to let people know he’s not interested in them.

So consider this. If you are a Granger holding a position of responsibility at any level of the organization, what are your communication priorities? More importantly, how do your priorities impact others and their opinion of our organization?

“A Patron places faith in God, nurtures hope, dispenses charity, is noted for fidelity, returns phone calls, and answers email.”

► FACT: The Communications Department of one has a goal that email and voice mail will be replied to within 24-48 hours.

CWA Report – July 2025

By Margaret Henderson, Director
Committee on Women’s Activities
207 948-2762

Committee on Women’s Activities

I am sure many of you are planning lots of activities for the summer. My Grange had our annual Strawberry Shortcake Sale. We did very well.

Just a reminder that the entries for the contests must be at headquarters by Tuesday, August 19, 2025. I will be there from 9:00 to 2:00 that day to log in all the entries. If you can not bring them on that day please let me know so that we can set up a time for you to bring them so that they will be there for judging. The conference will be on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 10:00 am.

 I am looking forward to seeing all of the wonderful things that get entered in these contests. I hope to see many of you at the conference.

FFA Flash Flood Relief Efforts

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or stranded on a space station, you must be aware of the devastation in Texas. The National FFA Organization recently shared, “Our hearts are with everyone impacted by the devastating flash floods in Texas. The road to recovery will take time, but the FFA community stands ready to support and serve. Together, we can lift up our communities and help them rebuild stronger than ever.”

For specific information regarding the needs and opportunities to help, visit this Texas FFA webpage. There are many ways to support and assist!

Learn more about FFA

Where Is Your Breadbox?

By Walter Boomsma and Larry Bailey

Larry is Master of Ocean View Grange in Port Clyde. He and I occasionally exchange “odd and curious emails.” Since this exchange might qualify as “Family Health and Hearing,” we agreed to share.

Larry wrote: I like to have toast in the morning and have gotten really tired of seeing the bread with green spots all over after a few days. We stored it in the bread bag it came in in the pantrach (Irish for pantry). I did some looking around and found out that a very old practice helped bread to last longer. That old family practice was using a “Bread Box.”  I bought a bread box which was delivered yesterday. Let’s see how well it works.

Walter replied: We usually buy our bread from our friendly Amish baker, six loaves at a time because that’s the size of her pan, and freeze them. We keep the loaf we’re working on either in the microwave (our bread box) or in the fridge. (She doesn’t use preservatives.) I shall have to ask her how she stores it!

🥖 Should You Store Bread In A Bread Box?

“Bread, after all, is a food that connects us all.”

Henry T. Black

Duck Pond Heritage Day

Duck Pond Variety, Highland Lake Church, Highland Lake Grange, and Lenny’s at Hawkes Plaza are pleased to announce a celebration of history at Duck Pond Corner, located at the intersection of Route 302, Duck Pond, and Hardy Roads in Westbrook.

August 17, 2025 from 10-4. 

The Day will feature open houses at the church, Grange, and Lenny’s, live music, historic photos, Scout & 4-H activities, food sale fundraisers, a special church service, displays of artifacts, Westbrook Police K9 demonstrations, a display of historic signs at Duck Pond Variety, and much more! 

Come join us to explore the long history of this community. No cost to attend. 

Watch for updates over the summer!

National Grange Apparel Sale

National Grange Apparel Sale

The National Grange is launching a limited-time apparel sale through CustomInk. We have chosen “business apparel” – as requested – in a few different styles.

Button-down shirts in both long-sleeve and short-sleeve, in men’s and women’s cuts, and a polo shirt (also in men’s and women’s cuts). Each will have the Grange emblem embroidered in the pocket area. (Actual placement may be slightly different than pictured). This sale is only available in adult sizes. (Sorry!)

Access the apparel sale at https://grange.biz/apparel or http://customink.com/fundraising/ng-apparel .