Category: Grange News

Communication Shorts 5-23-2025

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!

Sagadahoc Pomona Meetings

Please note the May Sagadahoc Pomona Meeting is cancelled. The next meeting is at Merriconeag Grange in Harpswell on Wednesday, June 25th at 7:00 with a potluck supper at 6:00. FM contact Stephanie Alexander, 207-841-9481

Memorial Day

How will you celebrate? Have you found a ceremony or parade to attend? Will you hang out your flag? Visit a cemetery? Here’s some ideas for you.

Subscribing to the Website

We’ve recently added more subscribers! Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Copy and share that link with new members!

Online Directories Available 24-7

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes! With election of officers coming up, don’t forget!

  • 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 consult these directories often.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.

Communication Shorts 5-20-2025

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!

May Bulletin Available!

Deadline for May Columns is the 14th! Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Memorial Day

How will you celebrate? Have you found a ceremony or parade to attend? Will you hang out your flag? Visit a cemetery?

Finding Fairs

The Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs (MAAF) lists Maine Fairs by month. How many will you attend?

Finding Your Maine Legislator

Did you know how easy it is to learn who your Senator and Representative is? Just use this link: https://www.mainechamber.org/find.html.

Subscribe to the Site!

It’s easy and risk-free! With the recent influx of new members and degree recipients, we should see some new subscribers! Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Copy and share that link with new members!

Consider this Idea!

Assume everyone is interested in your Grange Events! Broadcast the news far and wide–including submitting to the Maine Website Calendar. When sending information to the media (including MSG) send the information at least one month before it takes place!

Think about this!

“A life without love is like a year without summer.” 

 Swedish Proverb

Online Directories Available 24-7

  • 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 consult these directories often.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.

Five Minutes at Valley Grange

This video was produced as part of our Community Celebration. You can also read the story in the local paper, the Piscataquis Observer.

Degree Day Celebration April 2025

Several dozen candidates completed the Four Degrees at MSG Headquarters. Candidates came from Vassalboro, Union Harvest, Manchester, Androscoggin, Victor, Danville Junction, Lamoine, Winthrop, and Huntoon Hill Granges. In addition, Excelsior, Hollis, Chelsea, Willow, East Madison, Valley, Alexander and Halcyon Granges were represented, more than doubling the total attendance!

Lots of new members! As you might suspect, the altar circle was a challenge! Welcome to our Order!
Photo by David Colby Young.
Serving as Degree Masters were Bridget McKeen, Roberta Meserve, and Lynne Pomerleau.
Photo by David Colby Young.

The day was organized by Maynard Chapman and members of Androscoggin Pomona with assistance from other Granges around the state. It was great to see so many Grangers in one place–and many young faces. Thanks go to the many people who made this day possible.

Harvest Marchers are ready to go!
Photo by David Colby Young.

Special thanks go to Norma Meserve and Steve Verrill for their assistance gathering information for this post!

Danville Junction Grange Yard Sale

May 17, 2025 – 9 a.m until 1 p.m.

woman in white dress shirt carrying paper bags
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

Danville Jct. Grange, 15 Grange Street.(off rt. 202/100) in Danville will hold an indoor/outdoor yard sale on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be something for everyone. Baked goods, chili, Harvard beets, and beans to go. A raffle and 50/50. Attic treasures, RADA cutlery, books, puzzles, plants, and much more! Tables for rent, $20 each, please contact Maynard at 312-5591 Hope to see you there!

More Scam Emails

Here we go again! Please, when you receive an email, be a bit suspicious! Because you are, I’m receiving emails questioning whether or not emails that appear to be from President Sherry are legitimate. They are not!

The short version is that a scammer has figured out how to make it look like the email is from Sherry. One recent version is a two-step process where it looks like she is asking for help. When you reply (which you shouldn’t–all that does is confirm your address is correct and you may take the bait), you are asked to purchase gift cards.

I have blurred information identifying the recipient.

This is happening in many organizations, not just the Grange. One reason we are publishing the weekly Fraud Watch is that scammers are getting better at what they do! Whenever you receive an email that involves gift cards, urgency (so you don’t stop to think) and confidentiality (so you don’t ask somebody) the odds are extremely high it’s a scam! This one is extra sneaky because the first email arouses curiosity. If you take the bait and reply, the next email won’t show the sender’s real email address.

If you receive a suspicious email, the best thing to do is ignore it. If you’re concerned, contact the alleged sender (in this case, Sherry) either by using her legitimate address or by telephone.

Other than these warnings, there is nothing I, the website, or Maine State Grange can do to prevent or stop this. It’s the price we pay for the convenience of technology.

Stay smart and suspicious!

Maine State Grange Announces Yard Sale!

Valley Grange Dictionary Days

Valley Grange is proud to have handed out close to 250 dictionaries to third-graders this year. That puts us well over 4,000 since starting the program several decades ago. Enjoy some photos of this year’s program.

Dictionary Days are fun because learning is fun!

If your Grange is interested in starting a Words for Thirds Dictionary Program, complete the form below. No obligation!

Name of person submitting
Email address of person submitting
What position, if any, you currently hold.

Brownville Students Gain Words!

Valley Grange is located in Guilford, Maine

BROWNVILLE — Grade 3 students at the Brownville Elementary School now have thousands of words and accompanying definitions at their fingertips, along with other assorted facts. The pupils do not need to worry about charged laptops or cellphones to access this information, as each of the nearly 50 youngsters now has their very own dictionary thanks to Valley Grange No. 144 of Guilford...

Check out this amazing article in the Piscataquis Observer about the words for Thirds Dictionary Day in Brownville Elementary School!

Last Call!

By Walter Boomsma

Well, at least for now! We still have some confirming to do, but it looks like at least ten Granges in Maine are participating in the Words for Thirds Program.

  • Chelsea Grange #215
  • East Madison Grange #228
  • Evening Star Grange #183
  • Farmington Grange #12
  • Hollis Grange #132
  • Maple Grave Grange #148
  • Mill Stream Grange #574
  • Old Town Riverside Grange #273 (unconfirmed)
  • Valley Grange #144
  • Waterford Grange #479

Thanks to the folks who have answered the call and provided information. If you still haven’t, just complete this simple form!

    Our resource page is shaping up nicely and should be ready to release in a week or so. It includes a customized logo for participating Granges, many sample documents such as a letter for parents, press releases, media advisories, and a sample presentation outline.

    We owe a special thanks to Mary French, Director of the Dictionary Project, for her enthusiasm and support of this effort!