We at the Ocean View Grange #463 have always used Great Northern Beans. We had a Bean Supper a couple of weeks ago in conjunction with our local Odd Fellows group. They always used Yellow-Eye Beans, and we may try them the next time we have a Bean Supper. This one was a great success thanks to our very hard-working Grange members and the help of the Odd Fellows.
Webmaster’s Note: Followers may remember “Beans, Beans, Beans,” a post published back in June looking for feedback on the preferred beans at Granges. While tradition is essential, is it time to experiment? The Chef’s Resource leans towards Navy Beans, and at least several sources claim smaller beans tend to be tastier!
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!
Met a lot of great people throughout the years. Joined in the early 80’s both Granges dismantled that I belonged to rejoined again a couple of years ago. Great organization!!!!!
Julie Cortright, Saco Grange #53
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!
A lot happens at State Grange Session! We’ll be posting reports and information over the next week or so to the 150th State Session Page and/or the Program Books and Information Page. The 2024 Journal of Proceedings will document the entire Convention and will be posted when available.
All resolutions were approved. (Updated by-laws will be posted when available. Most of the Good of the Order resolutions were minor wording and procedural changes made to bring Maine in line with National Grange rule and practice.)
Carolyn Van Horne was elected to fill the vacancy on the Executive Committee.
Guilford–A team of Valley Granger members led by Walter Boomsma is delivering nearly 250 dictionaries to local area schools during the next several weeks. “We have a lot to celebrate,” he noted, “third graders in the area are celebrating tools, words, and the importance of learning and getting their own dictionary to keep.”
The Grange began its “Words for Thirds” Program in 2004 by giving a dictionary to every third-grader at the then-Guilford Primary School. Over the years, the program has expanded to include Piscataquis Community, SeDoMoCha, Brownville, Harmony, and Ridgeview Elementary Schools. Boomsma estimates the Grange has distributed nearly 4,000 dictionaries since. “But it’s really not about the numbers. One kid, one dictionary. The stories are many, but each one is personal. A dictionary can make a big difference in a child’s life.”
Grangers visit schools to make the gift personal and emphasize the importance of people helping each other. Jim Annis, president of the local Grange, rarely misses a presentation. “I love how excited the kids get. These dictionaries are truly empowering, and the program has become a rite of passage. We’re glad we can continue the tradition.”
Boomsma noted that these sorts of connections and cooperation within the community are exactly what the Grange hopes to facilitate. “We’re all about building strong kids and communities,” he said. “We’re also looking for people who share that passion, whether it’s working with the schools and children or seniors or other community organizations.” He cites the Grange’s Blistered Finger Knitters as an example. “As a result of their efforts, we distribute some knitted hats and mittens along with the dictionaries. These are usually given to the school nurse for kids needing little help staying warm.”
“The kids get excited about the books, but I think for most, it’s about more than just getting a dictionary. It’s also about seeing that organizations and individuals in the community care for each of them and want them to succeed.”
The Dictionary Project is based in North Carolina, making low-cost dictionaries available to organizations like the Grange to aid third-grade teachers in their goal to see all their students leave at the end of the year as good writers, active readers, and creative thinkers. Extra dictionaries are always available for new or home-schooled students or students transferring in during the school year. Parents of home-schooled third-graders are urged to call their local school for additional information. For information about the Grange and its many opportunities, call Walter Boomsma at 343-1842 or Mary Annis at 564-0820 or visit the Valley Grange Website (http://valleygrange.com) or Facebook Page.
Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin.
As we celebrate our veterans next month on Nov. 11, the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services has a variety of resources available for Maine veterans and their families.
Assistance for Maine military members and their families is available here or by calling 888-365-9287.
Those veterans who are having difficulty readjusting to civilian life can find resources here or by calling 877-927-8387.
If you are a veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, you are encouraged to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance or visit their website.
Women veterans can contact the Women Veterans Call Center at 855-829-6636 for information about a variety of services and benefits available including women’s health and maternity care. For veterans in crisis, seek help by dialing 988, then press 1. There is also a dedicated website for veterans and their families that has additional resources to help a veteran family member in need.
These links all lead to articles on the JED Foundation Website.
A friend recently announced that she plans to keep her son home from school on November 5 (Election Day) and the day after. She is taking the days off from work. They will “hunker down” until she deems it safe to “come out.” Sadly, I find it difficult to challenge her plan. This is an intense election year.
As the day approaches, it seems appropriate to offer some resources to help us manage through these difficult times. The resources listed below come from the JED Foundation, which has existed for 25 years and has a well-documented track record. I originally developed an interest in JED because it specializes in protecting the emotional health and preventing suicide of teens and young adults. They offer excellent programs and materials in partnership with schools, colleges, and parents. In short, I am comfortable and confident in recommending these resources.
Using mental health resources is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, accessing tools and information indicates strength and builds it. One of the things to like about the JED Website is that it is engaging and extremely easy to navigate. Most of these resources are equally applicable and valuable to older folk!
As we begin a new Grange Year, it seems fitting that we revisit a few critical points regarding posting news and events.
We respect copyrights! We can only post or include information that has not been copyrighted by someone else. Listing the copyright owner is not sufficient. Written permission of the owner is required. As a writer, I can make this complicated because it’s a potentially complicated topic. It may suffice to say that where the website and Bulletin are concerned, we will maintain a conservative policy. Violations can get expensive! This applies to articles, photos, and artwork. For example, if the local newspaper writes an article about your Grange, we cannot simply repost it on the website. We can, however, report it and post a link to it. The rule of thumb we apply is “When in doubt, don’t.”
Photographs have implications as well. A general rule of thumb is that the photographer may use a photo taken at a public event, but this, too, can get complicated when we try to define a “public event.” (I’ve had some interesting discussions with folks “in the know” who suggest that a Grange meeting might not be considered a public event.) As many know, I am particularly obsessive on this point when it comes to minors. The Communications Department will not accept photos of children (under 18 years of age) without written permission of a parent or guardian. Again, this can get complicated. There is some additional information in the MSG Communications Handbook.
For example, quite a few years ago, a mom submitted a photo of her daughter accepting an award, asking if we would publish it, and we did, identifying the child. Shortly after that, I received an email from the estranged child’s father, objecting to the photograph primarily because the Mom had used her maiden name as the child’s last name, which was incorrect. I resolved the issue by removing the post because I gently refused to get dragged into the argument.
Much of this can be avoided with common sense and common courtesy, but that’s not always enough. Thanks to my work in schools, I have an appreciation for the fact that common sense may not be sufficient. I occasionally hear, “Oh, they’re Grangers, so it’s okay.” Grangers deserve the same treatment we give non-Grangers!
With all this said, it is certainly not my intention to discourage the submission of news, events, etc. Quite the contrary! Approximately 400 people visit the website every week. Those visitors to our site most often use “resources pages”—the program books and information page is consistently near the top of the pages visited. But directories are used, and the Grange Events Page is popular. These pages are very dependent on Granges submitting the information. We can’t post what we don’t know! Remember, we offer statewide publicity at no cost to you! It’s extremely easy to share event posts on social media from the site. It doesn’t work the other way around! Tell us what you’re doing and keep information about your Grange current and accurate!
By the way, we increasingly depend on “AI” (artificial intelligence) for proofreading and editing, but it is far from perfect! One thing it doesn’t handle well is the word “Grange.” As a reminder, the word should always be capitalized! Note, too, that many visitors to our site are not Grangers, so we want to beware of using Grange speak—terms that non-members might not recognize. I remember a Dictionary Day with third-graders. I accidentally mentioned Grange deputies, and the hands went up with questions. “Do they carry a gun? What does their badge look like?” It did capture their interest, but I don’t think I’ll make that mistake again. Try to explain what a Grange Deputy is to a nine-year-old.
You know, that’s not bad advice. More than half (54%) of Americans between the ages of 16 and 74 read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level, according to a piece published in 2022 by APM Research Lab. Keep it simple, and make sure it’s complete. Some years ago, I was accosted by someone who insisted, “Everyone knows where the Grange Hall is…” I’m reasonably sure she wasn’t right, but I replied, “Well, it still doesn’t hurt to remind them!”
► FACT: The most frequently visited page in the last twelve months was the Directory of Granges. People are looking for Granges!
Find the button representing how and where you want to share a post.
By Margaret Henderson, Director Committee on Women’s Activities 207 948-2762
Committee on Women’s Activities
So thankful I am not in the Southern States. My younger sister is in Florida. She called me and said she is in a safe shelter and will call me when she is able to return to her home. Keep praying for everyone’s safety.
I am hoping to get the entries back from Eastern States before State Grange so that I can return them to the ladies that entered them. I look forward to seeing many of you at State Grange. Please stay safe and stay healthy.
For many Granges, the fall season includes a Words for Thirds Dictionary Program. (“Words for Thirds” is the phrase coined by the Grange to represent participation in The Dictionary Project.)
Your Communications Department is working on some additional resources for Granges that are providing dictionaries to local schools. In anticipation of releasing these resources, it would be helpful to know which Granges in Maine plan on holding dictionary days during the Grange Year 2024-25.
So far, we’ve created a list based mainly on what the folks at the Dictionary Project have listed, supplemented by previous website submissions. I think (hope!) it’s incomplete. Those Granges include:
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of this program. Valley Grange has reaped many benefits from providing dictionaries in our area for nearly two decades. This will be our twentieth year! We don’t do it as a fundraiser, but it sure helps us with it!
Enthusiasm and communication are key elements. We’ll help with communication resources! You can help by letting me know about your participation. That includes what challenges you are facing, ideas you may have, etc. Right now, I’m especially interested in learning who is participating or considering it!
Simple! Fill out the form below—don’t forget to press [submit] at the bottom! Thanks for your help and support!
