Tag: Grange Advocacy

Community Service/FHH – March 2025

By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193

Just to update you on the State Community Service Contest. Changes are being made on the State level and will be posted and sent to Granges soon. 

One major change will be no notebooks and the report will be limited to 10 (ten) double sided sheets. This is to be a report of your projects answering specific questions about your project(s) – I will get that off to you by next month and mailed  to the Granges.

I have included a message from the National Community Service co-directors. 

Message from National

The 2025 National Grange Community Service Program is now posted on the National Grange website (nationalgrange.org).

We have found that not all PCs/Laptops/smartphones show the same format but under Community Service, you will find a page with the CS logo describing the 2025 National Grange Community Service Program. 

Also included are the National Grange Community Service Report Form and a “Share Your Project’s Story” Form and Program Ideas. 

In 2025, the focus of Community Service will not be a contest, but a celebration of good works. As such, there will be no judging on the National level. No notebooks are to be taken to National Convention or sent electronically prior to Convention to the community service email address.  

Likewise, “Of the Year” Nominations for Fireman, Teacher and Policeman will not be judged on the National level but can be recognized on the local and State levels.  

We encourage each State to receive the Subordinate Grange reports/notebooks and “Of the Year” nominations in the format that best serves your State.  The option to judge or don’t judge is yours.    As State Director, you have the responsibility to work with your State President and others as necessary to determine what is best for your State and get it communicated to your Subordinate Granges.  

The 2025 National Grange Community Service Report Form must be completed by the State Community Service Director or State President and emailed to communityservice@grange.org 

In order to receive the monetary $250 award from National, States must meet the required 25% of their total Subordinate Granges submitting reports to the State level.

The Report form must be sent to us in the current calendar year.

Please note that the hours expended for Project Sustenance, the newly launched National Grange Program, is to be included on the CS Report Form.  Details for this program can be found on the Project Sustenance page on the National Grange 

Any Subordinate Grange can submit a “Share Your Project’s Story” Form.  

We know there are changes announced here from what some of you had been told previously and we apologize for any inconvenience.  We do trust, however, that you have been making a difference in your communities and now we can finally all move forward together with the 2025 National Grange Community Service Program.

As National Co-Directors, we are committed to helping you be successful.  Please contact us at communityservice@grange.org and we will try our best to assist.  Best wishes.

Bonnie Mitson & Randee Farmer
NG Community Service Co-Directors

Chaplain’s View – March 2025

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

We hope every day in some way, shape or form. Why not turn to the Lord for it? Here is a great example, The Lord gave us Saint Anthony. When I have lost or misplaced something, I say, “Saint Anthony, please come around, there’s something lost that must be found. Thank you.” I find it 99% of the time and rather quickly. Try it, you might be surprised.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”

Thessalonians 2:16-17

We put our hope in the Lord, he is our protector and our help.

Psalms 33:20

Grange Heirloom — March 2025

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.

Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!

For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.

Jessica loves the Grange!

I love all of the activities and events that the Grange does throughout the year.

Jessic Thurston-Creations Custom and Homemade, LLC, Hollis Grange #132

What about you?

Do you love the Grange? Can you explain what’s great about being a member? It only takes a minute to click the button and tell the world!

I love the Grange!

CWA Report – January 2025

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

Committee on Women’s Activities

What crazy weather. It is certainly different than what Maine winters used to be.

It doesn’t seem possible that we are halfway through February already—time to start planning activities for Grange Month in April.

I hope many of you are working on entries for the upcoming contests. It is a good way to spend a cold day or a snowy day. I look forward to August every year so that I can see all of the wonderful things that you folks have made.

Remember that all entries are due at State Grange Headquarters on August 19. I will be there from 9 am-2 pm.

If you cannot bring them that day, let me know so that arrangements can be made for me to meet up with you so that your items will get judged.

Please stay warm and stay safe.

Communications Column – February 2025

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Facebook and Social Media for Granges

“Not everyone uses Facebook!” Yes, I hear that cry. In fact, most of the Grangers I know personally do not. However, National Grange is becoming increasingly enamored of it, and we do have some Granges in Maine with Facebook Pages and Groups. Therefore, I’m devoting just one column to some essential things you should know. Just this week, I had an inquiry about a message from a Grange received accusing them of a trademark violation. It was a scam. The general consensus is that scams are increasing on Facebook and in general.

One prevalent one on Facebook concerns methods for you to “protect” what you post and limit what Facebook can do with it. In short, it doesn’t work. Since, as a writer, I frequently deal with copyright and intellectual property, I try to explain to people that if you post something on Facebook, you have given up all control of it. The minute you use FB, you’ve agreed to their TOS (terms of service), which no one ever reads. That means you’ve agreed they can use anything you post pretty much in any way FB sees fit. The TOS is effectively a contract between you and them.

Because of this, If I write something that I want to keep the rights to, I only post it on the website I own. I may post a link to the article on Facebook, but not the article itself. That doesn’t stop someone else from posting it. Now, if they do post the article, THEY (the person who posted my article) have violated MY copyright. Facebook is not guilty or responsible. Remember, Facebook has the right to anything posted, and you can’t change that agreement! (One reason they are claiming not to fact-check is liability reduction.)

If this happens, I could sue the person who posted it, but Facebook is pretty much off the hook. The point here is to understand the media you are using and use it responsibly. Simply put, you do not have the right to distribute someone else’s property without their permission. Think twice before posting something you don’t “own” on Facebook or other social media. The simple workaround is to post a link to the original material and not the material itself. Contrary to popular opinion, Facebook is not your friend. They don’t exist just so you can stay in touch with friends. In fact, the more “friends” you have, the better it is for them—even if those friends aren’t who you think they are.

That leads us to a second important point. You really should consider hiding your friend list on Facebook. When you are hacked or cloned (there is a difference), the person doing it is not after you; they are after your friends. When you leave your friend list available to the public, you only make Facebook happy while exposing your friends to more scams. It’s like saying, “These people are my friends—if you pretend to be me, you might be able to take advantage of them!

I’ll admit that I am not a huge fan of social media, but it can serve some great purposes. But it should be used cautiously and consciously. That’s not always easy, and it’s important to remember that Facebook’s and your interests do not always align.

One of the attractions of Facebook is how easy it is to use. I know someone who almost everyday posts, “Does anybody know what the weather will be like today?” I’m always tempted to answer, “Yes! I checked the NOAA forecast!” Easy doesn’t mean safe or smart. You have been warned! (By the way, most scams are easy to fall into; that’s why they work!)

Note the Maine State Grange Communications Handbook includes the National Grange Social Media Code of Conduct and a number of resources and communication ideas.

► FACT: Did you know that the MSG Communications Handbook includes a list of daily and weekly newspapers in Maine with contact information?

Community Service/FHH – February 2025

By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193

I am still waiting on information from National Grange on the updated changes to the Community Service Program. National Grange stated it is posted on the website, but I have not found anything. The Community Service Committee realizes that the books you submit are your yearbooks, and your Grange keeps them for open houses and anniversary celebrations. Keep working on your projects, make your notebooks and it will be much easier to pick the projects to submit. There are so many Community Service Projects that can be done this time of year.

Family Health and Hearing

This is a great time of the year to enjoy indoor and outdoor family time. Outdoor festivals, sliding parties, skating, making snow people, animals or sculptors, hockey games, basketball, making crafts, playing games, working on Grange contests, and enjoying a movie are just a few suggestions.

Please make sure you are hydrated, staying rested, and eating healthy.
Make sure you are bundled up properly for school, work, or just running errands. It is important to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Most of all, enjoy the many things in life that make memories and keep us safe and healthy.

I will update you as soon as I receive the information. Happy February!

Grange Heirloom — February 2025

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.

Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!

For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.

Chris loves the Grange!

I want to put out a big thank you on behalf of everyone at the ENSO recovery sober living houses. We were without one of the most popular AA meetings in the area. The church that held a very important Saturday night meeting was sold, and the AA community was having trouble finding a place to hold that meeting. All of us here at Enso were pretty bummed when the meeting was closed. We found out this week that the Grange Building in Augusta would be the new spot for Saturday night serenity. It is a wonderful spot and within walking distance. Our first meeting at the Grange was wonderful. I want to thank you all who made this possible by allowing the AA community to use your building. Thank you so very much.

Chris

What about you?

Do you love the Grange? Can you explain what’s great about being a member? It only takes a minute to click the button and tell the world!

I love the Grange!

Words for Thirds

By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director

Our resource pages are officially available! We’d hoped to have an interview available but experienced some complications and didn’t want to wait!

There are still a few items we’re finishing up, but you’ll find plenty you can use. We have sample labels, helpful documents such as press releases and parent letters, emails you can use with teachers, and an easy way to get your customized Words for Thirds Logo.

Words for Thirds Resources

There’s still time! Ocean View Grange in Port Clyde is planning to visit their third graders next week! Master Larry Bailey and Chaplain Terry Bomba have the distinct honor of handing out the dictionaries and seeing the kids get “wound up.”

We’re working on more resources and ideas. If you need or want something that we haven’t thought of, let me know. I’d love to help your Grange put some dictionaries and all the words in them in the hands of your local third-graders!