Communication Shorts 07-17-2026

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!

The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330.
 mainestategrange@gmail.com. For website matters, email webmaster@mainestategrange.org.

July Bulletin

The July Bulletin is complete and will be mailed soon. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Manchester Grange Website

Manchester Grange recently completed its Facebook Page with a well-designed website. Check out both and see what they are up to!

Deadlines

Roster information is due NOW. Resolutions are due August 1, 2026.

What’s Going On?

Don’t forget to submit your special events and programs for our event calendar! We want people to know the Grange is thriving! Surely, there are lots of things happening in Maine, especially in the summer. We also love photos and reports of events that have happened.

To Ponder…

“The sense of danger must not disappear:
The way is certainly both short and steep,
However gradual it looks from here;
Look if you like, but you will have to leap.”

W. H. Auden

An Idea for Your Grange

How about setting up a lemonade stand?

Subscribe!

Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members and Grange friends!

Online Directories Available 24-7 ROSTER REMINDER

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!

  • 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 frequently consult these directories.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information. Updated January 16, 2026.

Grange Today! 6-26-2026

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

  • Young Historians Bring the Granger Movement to Life at National History Day
  • Happy Junior Grange Month!
  • Grange Store: Junior Grange Pins
  • National Grange Receives Commendation
  • A New Detection Tool Could Narrow the Rural-Urban Cancer Divide
  • Seeking Advocacy Wins
  • Opportunities at the 160th Annual National Grange Convention
  • View from the Hill
  • Opinion: Data Centers and Rural America – Progress at What Price?
  • Alzheimerโ€™s & Dementia Research Made Accessible – For All
  • 250th Celebration Quilt
  • Recipes from the Heartland
  • Grange Member Benefit: Choice Hotels

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!


Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.

Fraud Watch- Moving Scams

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Summer is peak moving season, and who you hire matters. Criminals often advertise low prices and provide unusually cheap estimatesโ€”sometimes without even seeing your belongings.

Once hired, they may demand a cash deposit or full payment up front, raise the price at the last minute, or hold your belongings hostage until you pay more. In some cases, they never show up at all.

To help avoid scams and find a reputable mover, get written estimates from multiple companies and research each one carefully. Check reviews and verify credentials before hiring. With so much to manage during a move, choosing the right moving company is one detail worth sweating.


Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

AARP Fraud Watch Network

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out the AARP online form or email me@aarp.org.


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Fraud Watch- Protect Loved Ones

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Criminals often impersonate major brands with large audiencesโ€”and Amazon is one of them.

The impact of elder financial abuse is significant. While it can involve trusted individuals like caregivers or family members, scams by strangers are also a major threat. In 2024 alone, the Federal Trade Commission estimated that criminals stole as much as $81.5 billion from adults age 60 and over. With World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, itโ€™s a reminder that small steps can help prevent financial exploitation.

Encourage older adults in your life to add a trusted contact to their financial accounts. This person canโ€™t make transactions but can be alerted to suspicious activity or if the account holder canโ€™t be reached.

Freezing credit can help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in their name. You can also reduce exposure to phone-based scams by setting up robocall and text blockers through mobile carriers or trusted apps. Small actions like these can make a big difference in protecting financial well-being.


Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

AARP Fraud Watch Network

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out the AARP online form or email me@aarp.org.


Share this news!

Communication Shorts 06-15-2026

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!

The Maine State Grange Office is located at 36 Anthony Avenue, Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330.
 mainestategrange@gmail.com. For website matters, email webmaster@mainestategrange.org.

June Bulletin

The June Bulletin is available for download and distribution. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Valley Grange Resolution

Valley Grange is planning to submit a Resolution Supporting Consistency Between Citizen Initiative Petitions and Ballot Questions. If other Granges would like to consider supporting it, a copy is available on the Valley Grange Website. Remember, resolutions are due August 1, 2026.

Fair Season

It’s fair season! For more information about Maineโ€™s Agricultural Fairs, visit the associationโ€™s website.

Monroe Grange Store

FYI: The Monroe Grange Store recently announced that it has been advised by National Grange that, effective August 26, 2026, the Uses License will not be renewed. This means Monroe Classic will no longer be able to operate a Grange Store or sell products containing the Grange name or logo.

What’s Going On?

Don’t forget to submit your special events and programs for our event calendar! We want people to know the Grange is thriving! Surely, there are lots of things happening in Maine, especially in the summer. We also love photos and reports of events that have happened. What’s your meeting magic?

To Ponder…

You can’t go into a bank with a mask on and expect to be treated as a valued customer.

Seth Godin

An Idea for Your Grange

We recently published contact information for a Speaker’s Bureau on the topic of elder abuse. Speakers’ bureaus and other civic organizations in your area are often sources of good programs. Many have a broad appeal and can help develop the public’s interest in your Grange.

Subscribe!

Remember, we don’t share your email address with anyone, and you get a weekly summary of what’s been posted. Subscribe here! Share that link with your members and Grange friends!

Online Directories Available 24-7 ROSTER REMINDER

Thanks to those who help us keep these directories current by letting us know of changes!

  • 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 frequently consult these directories.
  • The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies, along with their contact information. Updated January 16, 2026.

Communications Column – June 2026

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

AI-generated image

Summertime Communications and Thinking

That it’s summertime affects communication in both positive and negative ways. longer days and vacations promote casual, authentic connections, extreme heat often reduces language complexity and lowers frustration tolerance, which can quickly lead to irritability and conflict. As is often the case, we have some “good news, bad news.”

Summer may encourage a shift from rigid, formal routines and habits. In non-professional (work) environments, productivity may decrease as people are inclined to take extended breaks or at least become more focused on time off. It’s simply more challenging to get things done, particularly where collaboration is necessary. Just scheduling meetings can become challenging.

On a personal level, communication may become more relaxed and personal. I admit that I’d much rather be writing about my fall travel plans than work topics or Grange business.

A secondary point is how the environment influences communication. When I was working in organizational design and development, one CEO required executives to keep a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers and pajamas at the office. The dress code for many meetings required wearing them. He suggested, “It’ll be difficult to take ourselves too seriously if we’re all dressed like that.” He thought it would help them take the agenda seriously. He wasn’t as crazy as he sounded at first.

The summer weather is certainly part of the environment. Studies show that prolonged exposure to heat and dehydration causes physical discomfort, which lowers frustration thresholds and increases the likelihood of anger or miscommunication. Bear that in mind when you’re meeting on the second floor of your unairconditioned Grange hall.

Maybe we should move the meeting to a picnic table at the local ice cream stand. A change of environment not only improves communication, but it also changes thinking and experience. Perhaps instead of fixing the broken pencil sharpener, we might ignore it and look for a different way to sharpen a pencil

Don’t be threatened by the idea of questioning assumptions, breaking conventions, and exploring unconventional perspectives to solve problems. While the fraternal and ritualistic aspects of our Order have huge, almost immeasurable value, even the founders saw the value of breaking out of traditional thought patterns. If we look at the major accomplishments of the early Grange, they reflect creative thinking for their time. If we remember the lessons of the first four degrees, they align with the seasons. The common thread  is change and growth. The farmer’s life adapts to the seasons.

Our thinking, communication, and activity are deeply intertwined. We can’t always control the change of environment (whether it’s the season or something else). Someone wisely said, “The best thing to do when it rains is to let it.” By being aware of the changes happening around us, we can make life more interesting and enjoyable.


FACT: In the past twelve months, there have been over 20,000 views of the MSG Website.

Grange Today! 6-12-2026

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

  • Grange saves community-favorite Maple Syrup Festival
  • Fruitland Grange hosts Tea Party fundraiser
  • Grange Heirloom for June
  • Welcome to our Intern Team!
  • Spotlight: National Grange intern receives Public Service Award
  • Opinion: Americaโ€™s Growing Energy Challenge Demands an All-of-the-Above Strategy
  • Celebrate 160 in Broken Arrow
  • Tell the Grange Story
  • Celebrate America250 with the Grange
  • Hamp Watch: Where is our National Grange President?
  • Recipes from the Heartland
  • Grange Member Benefit: Harvest Hosts
  • Grange Store: Veteran Recognition Pin

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!


Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.

Fraud Watch- Amazon Imposter Scams

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Criminals often impersonate major brands with large audiencesโ€”and Amazon is one of them.

In two newer tactics, scammers send text messages claiming a recent order was recalled, with a link to a fake Amazon website designed to steal account information. Or you get an email saying your Amazon Prime subscription is renewing at an unusually high price, prompting you to click a โ€œcancel subscriptionโ€ button that leads to a fake sign-in page.

If you have an Amazon account and get a communication seemingly from Amazon, sign into your account with the Amazon app or online at Amazon.com to see if there is a problem. You can report suspicious messages at amazon.com/reportascam or by emailing reportascam@amazon.com.


Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

AARP Fraud Watch Network

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out the AARP online form or email me@aarp.org.


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President’s Perspective – June 2026

Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange Master/President
207 490-1029

THANK YOU to Manchester Grange once again for allowing us to use your hall for our annual fundraising yard sale event. Thank you to all the folks who came to support us, and/or helped. We appreciate your participation, efforts, donations, and hard work. We had a wonderful day, and the weather cooperated.

ELECTIONSย are at hand; June is the time for electing officers. Our State By-Laws require every Grange to have full elections every year and yes, we use paper ballots for each officer with names being presented for each, one officer at a time prior to the ballot. Please consider the officers/leaders of your Grange, are you ready for a change, what is best for your Grange, are there others who would make good officers, are you helping others learn the different duties of the offices, or are you pushing too hard?ย  Some offices are more involved than others. Some committees are more involved than others.ย 

After the election, the reelected or newly elected Master/President shall appoint/select the Committee Chairs and committee members for their Grange. This should be done right away; there is no need to wait for the installation of officers to get your committees set up. Some of the most common Committees in our Granges are: Legislative-Agriculture; Womenโ€™s Activities; Youth; Junior; Community Service; Family, Health & Hearing; Membership and Others. Committee terms begin upon installation of officers. Other Committees may be named as needed that may be specific to your Grange. Special Committees are established as needed for a special event or activity. Please tell your Secretary who the chairman will be, so they can report the roster information to the office.

ROSTER INFORMATION is to be sent to the State Grange office as soon as possible after your elections are completed. Grange Secretaries will receive the 2027 Roster forms next week. Please fill them out legibly and return them to the office as soon as possible. If you want to type the information out separately and mail or email it to us, that would be fine also.ย 

We will be looking for the following information to be provided to us for each Grange:ย  Grange Name and Number; Street Address and Town of Grange Hall; Meeting Day(s) and Time; Supper or Refreshments and Time.ย  (Maine State Grange By-Laws:ย  ARTICLE XXII โ€“ MEETINGSย  Section 1.ย  The Bylaws of each Subordinate Grange should definitely fix the day and hour of all regular meetings.)ย  Plus the following information for Officers and chairmen.

  • Master/President: Name; Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
  • Lecturer: Name: Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
  • Secretary: Name: Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.
  • CWA Chairman: Name; Address; Phone; (Cell if they want it listed); and e-mail address.

RESOLUTIONSย are due in the office August 15, 2026, either by emailย to mainestategrange@gmail.comย or by standard mail to 36 Anthony Ave, Suite 102, Augusta, 04330. Submit both ways to ensure we receive them.ย  Resolutions must have a title provided by the Grange; we cannot assign one. The Title reflects the issue you are proposing, the โ€œwhereasโ€ section(s) explains the issue and includes facts or information and the โ€œresolvedโ€ section(s) explain how you propose to correct the issue. The entire resolution must be written out, if you use initials in your resolution, the words must also be written out. The resolution must be voted on & supported by the Grange to be submitted to the State Grange. Any resolutions to make changes to State or National Grange By-Laws must refer to the Article number, Section number, and sub-section number(s) and be written out in full as it currently appears in the State or National By-laws, then the new change written out in full with the change(s) to be made.ย ย 

We then have to print everything and mail all resolutions back to each Grange, after the August 15th deadline. The Delegate Registration, Meal forms, Schedule, etc., also will be sent in August. This all takes time.ย  State Session is October 30 & 31 at Black Bear Inn in Orono.

Officer and Department Reports are due in the office no later than September 15th. (written or emailed to the office and to my emailย  SHarriman@twc.com).ย  I prefer emailed reports. These dates may seem early, but getting everything put together for the session takes time.ย 

Fraud Watch- Traffic Violation Scams

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

After toll road scams spread last summer, a new version is surgingโ€”texts claiming you owe money for a traffic or parking violation.

These messages often include an official-looking notice offering a court date or a small fine (around $6), with a QR code for immediate payment to avoid penalties. They may mention your location or use fake case numbers to appear legitimate and create a sense of urgency.

If an unexpected message like this sparks strong emotions and demands urgency, treat it as a potential scam. Report the message as spam and avoid responding, clicking links or scanning QR codes. If you think the claim may be real, contact the court or agency directly using trusted contact information.


Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

AARP Fraud Watch Network

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out the AARP online form or email me@aarp.org.


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