Tag: Grange Advocacy

School Bus Safety

Reprinted from an eNewsletter by Senator Stacey Guering, District 4

As students, parents and teachers are all gearing up for the start of another school year, it is a good time to remember to keep an eye out for students walking to and from school and students getting on and off school buses.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are generally one of the safest vehicles on the road; however, the risk is greatest when children are approaching or leaving a school bus.

Keep in mind these simple rules:

  • A school bus’s flashing yellow lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop, meaning drivers should slow down.
  • Red flashing lights mean stop. Students are getting on or off the school bus. Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn and the bus begins moving.
  • Be ready to stop for school buses as they stop frequently.
  • Watch and stop for children who cross in front of the bus when the bus is stopped.
  • Be aware that school buses stop at all railroad crossings as required by law.

Card Shower, Richard Harriman

Please keep Richard Harriman, past State Steward, in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers from difficult heart surgery to repair blockages in an older bypass. He would appreciate words of encouragement. 

Richard Harriman
280 Kennebunk Road
Sanford, ME 04073

Willow Grange Presents Spirit of America Award

This article was written by Paula Roberts for The Lincoln County News and is used with permission.

Willow Grange president Sharon Morton presents Jefferson’s Spirit of America Award to Lindsey Jones. (Paula Roberts photo)

The Town of Jefferson’s Spirit of America was presented to Lindsey Jones at Willow Grange on Thursday, July 23. Grange president Sharon Morton presented the award.

Jones has been a Girl Scout leader for five years. She started Troop 1336 in Jefferson in 2021. She is also a member of the Midcoast Service Unit, through which she has taken leadership in organizing Girl Scout camping events at Wavus and Kieve. Ther Service Unit also organizes events such as the annual cookie rallies.

She has been on the Jefferson PTA for 15 years, serving as president for the past five years. Previously she served as secretary for five years. She plays a big hand in organizing Jefferson Village School’s annual Jubilee, a fundraiser for student programs.

She has been active in Jefferson Sports Association, where she coached both soccer and basketball when her children were younger.

She is an 18-year member of Whitefield Lions Club and is active in working at their food booth at Windsor Fair.

Several Girl Scouts were in attendance and recited the Girl Scout Promise and Law which echo many of the characteristics of a volunteer.

Lindsey Jones (center in back) poses with area Girl Scouts after receiving Jefferson’s Spirit of America Award at Willow Grange on July 23. (Paula Roberts photo)

Two members of Willow Grange were recognized for their years of service to the Grange, Sandee Gordon – 65 years and Bob Clark – 75 years. Neither were able to be present.

Communications Column – August 2026

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

AI-generated image

Putting Our Best Face Forward

One of the Communications Department’s functions is to strive to present our best face externally. One way we do that is with honesty and transparency. However, that honesty and transparency should be expressed positively.

Items posted on the website are immediately available to anyone, including members, prospective members, community partners, and members of the media. It’s too easy to forget that! A strength of fraternal organizations can easily become a weakness when the bonds we value create a sense of exclusion among others. We may be brutally honest with ourselves. (“We’re having trouble getting a quorum at our meetings.”) That doesn’t mean we need to announce that “fact” to the world. Putting our best face forward means we communicate using the “Three C’s.”

  1. Clarity means stripping away jargon and keeping the message simple and direct. The message should also be complete (another C!). I remember a conversation with someone unfamiliar with the Grange. She thought that “Grange meetings” were for Grangers only. Grange programs were for everyone. Whether she was right or wrong is not the issue. The important fact is we need to be sensitive to what others think. When I first joined the Grange, I lobbied for some signage and including the location of the Grange in flyers. One member said, “Everyone knows where the Grange is!” When we start thinking that way, we are in danger of discouraging others. We are not putting our best face forward.
  2. Confidence is about projecting belief in the values of the organization and the message being sent. Just remember that people don’t come to or join the Grange for your reasons. They come and join for their reasons. Be confident that their reasons are such that they will find value at your event or participating in your Grange.
  3. Connection can be a result that includes empathy and engagement. When we list an event, it’s easy to focus on the fact we’re engaging in one-way communication. We can make a slight shift and focus on the fact that we’re trying to create a connection. This is the “show, don’t tell” approach that resonates well. If you’re having an event, show readers what is going to happen or what they’ll get if they attend. Write “you” messages, not “we” messages. “When you come to a bean supper at X Grange, you’ll…”

There could be a fourth “C,” credible. Wild, overstated claims (positive or negative) might be made clearly and confidently; they won’t create connection if they aren’t credible. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather visit the Grange that offers some “pretty good coffee” than listen to a Grange claim they serve the best coffee in the state.

These things may not always be easy, but they definitely are simple.

FACT: Since we migrated the site to a new server, we’ve had over 5,000 site visits! (Sharing that is putting our best face forward!)

Resources for Seniors

Reprinted from an enewsletter by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4

The five Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Maine serve as “one-stop-shops” to answer questions from older adults, individuals with disabilities and their care partners about a wide range of in-home, community-based, and institutional services.

AAAs are experts at answering questions about in-home care services and other types of long-term support. Maine’s five AAAs are also Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) that:

  • provide information and assistance to individuals needing either public or private long-term care resources;
  • serve professionals seeking assistance on behalf of their clients’ long-term care needs;
  • serve individuals planning for their future long-term care needs;
  • serve as the entry point to publicly-administered long-term supports including those funded under Medicaid, the Older Americans Act and state-funded programs.

Maine’s Aging & Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) are designed to serve all older adults, people with disabilities and their care partners who have long-term care, community or program needs. To see which center serves your area, visit the Office of Aging and Disability Services’ website.

From the Deacon’s Bench

By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

  Ephesians 6:10-11

Here we are, the middle of the beautiful, hot, humid, lazy, hazy days of summer. Right where we said we wanted to be last winter! You remember those cold, blistery days when we were all huddled around the old “cook stove”.

I trust you all are having a fantastic time enjoying all there is to do in this wonderful state of ours. Before we know it, the children will be back in school, and the temperature will be dropping like a “lead balloon,” and the heating bills will be showing up. I apologize for being a “gloomy Gus”

Before I end this for another month, I want to remind you that the month of August is “International Peace Month”, and it is observed throughout the month of August. It was founded on August 16, 1926, at the Fifth International Democratic Peace Conference in Rheims, France, to reflect on the devastation of World War One and to promote global cooperation

It was created by 4,000 pacifists from 30 countries to study international peace work and to prevent future global conflicts. (It doesn’t seem to be working very well today!).

We might not be able to do very much on the global front, but we can do something in our own town and neighborhoods. Whenever a conflict arises, don’t just bull your way into the situation. First, try talking, trying to defuse the situation. I have noticed that cool heads are a lot better than a fiery temper with a lot of shouting.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Benediction: Gracious Father, help us to remember that it doesn’t take a hot temper and loud voices to settle disagreements, but calm, cool minds and friendly attitudes to calm angry situations.  Amen

Thought for the month:

“Bless the food before us, the family beside us, and the love between us.”

While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.

Clothing Giveaway at Saco Grange

Saco Grange Flyer

Grange Heirloom – August 2026

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.

Calling All Granges

From National Grange

Who understands rural health care challenges better than the people living them every day?

We’re inviting community Granges to join a new nationwide project putting rural women’s experiences at the center of health research.

We’re looking for Grange women 50+ who are connected in their community and eager to make a difference. As a Community Health Champion, you’ll get training and support to lead conversations with rural women and share what matters most locally.

The Grange and the Community Health Champion will each receive a stipend for their participation. This project is not a research study, and any comments or experiences shared will remain anonymous.

Learn More Here

Apply Online Here

Tractor Safety Foundation’s Online Course

Available free for a limited time

Whether you’re new to operating tractors or looking to refresh your skills, the Tractor Safety Foundation’s course provides practical training to help you work safely and confidently. Participants will learn essential tractor operation, hazard recognition, equipment safety, and best practices to reduce the risk of accidents through engaging online learning. 

The course is open to adults and youth, and partially fulfills the Department of Labor requirements for 14- and 15-year-olds operating farm equipment for hire on farms other than their own. We are currently planning for in-person drive training days for the Advanced portion of this course.  This course is valued at $75, but is free to take for a limited time thanks to grant funding. To see more information and to register, visit the Tractor Safety Foundations course page.