Grange Communication – Page 2 – Maine State Grange

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.

Communication Shorts 08-15-2026

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.

August Bulletin

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

Submitting Events Is Easier

We now have a specific form for submitting events on the site. It’s optional, but we strongly encourage it. It helps create event listings that include all the details. The event calendar is becoming an increasingly popular site feature!

Deadlines

It’s the season of contest deadlines! Many are listed on the Grange Events Calendar.

Words for Thirds – Book Exchange Boxes

Are you getting ready for this year’s dictionary distribution? Are your BEBs and Little Free Libraries stocked for fall? It may be the end of summer, but it’s the beginning of the school year and learning.

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! Use the new form. We’ve added more months to the online event calendar. You’re planning ahead, right?

To Ponder…

“You can always debate about what you should have done. The question is what are you going to do?”
Hubert Humphrey

An Idea for Your Grange

How about a Cookbook Club or a Recipe Romance–good excuses to get together and share! Each meeting could have a theme…

Made Your Plans?

Visit the 152nd State Convention Webpage!

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

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! 8-14-2026

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

Pave the “Route to the Future” at the 160th Annual Convention
National Convention: All are Welcome!
Accepting Nominations for Foundation Advisory Board
New President Elected in Texas
Welcome Indiana’s new President
Grange Heirloom for August
Burns Grange hosts local historian & author
Eller joins panel on FDC proposal
2026 Quilt Day – for everyone! A Share Your Project’s Story Submission
Hamp Watch: Where is our National Grange President?
This National Immunization Awareness Month, Make a Plan to Stay Up to date on Your Vaccines
August 15 is National Relaxation Day. Here’s How to Celebrate It
Recipes from the Heartland
Grange Member Benefit: Pharmacy Savings
Grange Store: Guidelines for Grange Leaders

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

Read the Current Issue

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- Is It Really Your Grandkid?

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Receiving a panicked call that a grandchild is in danger triggers immediate fear and an overwhelming emotional panic, which is exactly what criminals exploit to override our logical thinking.

Scammers contact targets feigning to be their grandchild who is in trouble and needs urgent financial help. Oftentimes, they request money through unconventional payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency.

If you receive an unexpected call that your grandchild is in jail or a hospital, take an active pause and reflect on the call – does it make sense? Have you heard about a scam like this? Then, hang up and contact your grandchild directly or call another relative to confirm they are okay. Then contact your phone provider to see if they offer spam and scam call blocking

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!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

Membership Recognition Procedure

By Sharon Morton, MSG Secretary

Effective May 1, two changes took place in the Grange Store. This was reported in the April 24, 2026 issue of Grange Today!

The price of Golden Sheaf, Silver Star, and 75-year Awards, as well as the 80 – and 85-year letters, will increase to $15.00 each plus shipping.

Additionally, shipping rates – which have remained unchanged for nearly a decade – will increase as shown on the chart.

As a reminder, orders must be made using the Membership Recognition Form, which is sent to me.

Communications Column – August 2026

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

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.”

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.
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.
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!)

President’s Perspective – August 2026

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

STATE GRANGE SESSION

The banquet buffet is scheduled for State session on Friday evening, October 30, at the Black Bear Inn. They will be serving beef tips, chicken cordon bleu, red potatoes, rice pilaf, green beans & baby carrots, stir fry vegetables, salad, rolls, and dessert. Tickets $40 each, purchased in advance, October 1^st deadline. Lunches will be on your own. Session info has been mailed to Secretaries and Masters/Presidents of each Grange.

I am very pleased to announce our National Representative at State Session will be Barbara Foster, Pomona of the National Grange and Master/President of the West Virginia State Grange. I know you will give her a warm welcome.

Once again, anyone may attend the State Grange Session, as long as you are a 4^th Degree (Subordinate/Community level) Grange member and have the passwords for the gate. (To receive the passwords from your Grange, your dues must be paid.) After the opening on the 1^st day of State Session is completed, we lower to the 4^th Degree and all work is conducted in the fourth degree, like your regular Grange meeting you are welcome to sit in at the meeting and listen. Only registered delegate(s), may vote on the issues and elections, but this does not exclude you from attending.

OFFICER and DEPARTMENT REPORTS

These are due in the office no later than September 15th. (written or emailed to my email SHarriman@twc.com and to the office). I prefer emailed reports. These dates may seem early, but getting everything put together for the session takes time, especially when we have to keep adding on the procrastinators.

MASTERS/PRESIDENTS and SECRETARIES

Of the 71 Subordinate/Community and 12 Pomona Granges, we have received 42 total roster forms. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE PROVIDED THEM! Another strong reminder to the rest of you: WE NEED YOUR CORRECT ROSTER INFORMATION– Which day or days and time is your meeting, (example 1st & 3rd Tues at 7 pm) Name, address, phone, cell phone and email address for each –Master/President, Lecturer, Secretary and CWA Chairman are due. Please type or print clearly. If you don’t have a form, send the information we requested anyway. During the meeting, when the Master asks, “Have the reports to State Grange and Pomona been made?” This question includes any information requested from your Grange. Even if there are no changes, please drop us an email or note to let us know that.

While on this subject of roster information I have received, several of you have changed the day or days and/or time of your meetings to something different. This is a bylaw change and does need a vote of the Grange and State Grange approval. So get those by-laws typed up and sent to me. If you have changed your dues fee, that is also a by-law change, if your bylaws say $3.00 that’s what you charge, so adjustments must be made to your bylaws to accommodate the change. When you make the changes, the word “minimum” may be added to cover future adjustments.

ANNUAL AUDIT OF GRANGE ACCOUNTS

This is a good time to remind you that your Grange Secretary’s and Treasurer’s books are to be audited at least once a year and carrying that out close to installation is the perfect time to get it done. The Executive Committee and/or the Finance Committee of your Grange are the ones to carry out the audit. Written records should be kept for all accounts in the Grange, receipts, and expenditures.

Maine State Grange By-Laws: Article XXI – Subordinate Officers and Their Duties
Section 8.1 It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee of each Subordinate Grange to see that the books of the Secretary and Treasurer and any other funds of the Grange are audited at the end of the fiscal year.

You will need the Secretary’s Records and Secretary’s Order Book. This is the 5×7 book the Secretary writes what bills have come into the Grange and need to be paid with an amount listed. This record book also includes donations made to whom, etc. You will need the Treasurer’s books, checkbook, bank statements, savings book, etc., and receipt book (for funds received from the Secretary). You compare the Secretary’s minutes and Order Book with the Treasurer’s checkbook and statements for receipts and expenditures. All items should match between the Secretary and the Treasurer. All Committees of the Grange, that handle funds, such as CWA, Lecturer, Chaplain, Bingo, Dinner, Fund Raising, etc. should also be keeping written records of receipts and expenditures to have audited at the end of the Grange year.

GRANGE COMMITTEES

Committees are appointed by the Master and the Overseer and are responsible for organizing and implementing their programs in Subordinate, Pomona and State Granges. Each level has more responsibilities and activities for the membership. If you would like to serve on a committee, please contact the Master/President.

Legislative Committee educates Granges about public policy issues of concern to members and encourages them to take action.
Agricultural Committee brings to the Grange’s attention issues affecting agriculture.
Lecturer’s Committee assists the Lecturer in the preparation and implementation of programs.
Committee for Women’s Activities conducts projects and contests, which encourage the development and use of the members’ skills and talents.
Youth Committee develops programs and workshops to inform and discuss everyday concerns.
Membership Committee is responsible for making sure that recruiting new members is part of all Grange programs and activities.
Publicity Committee reports information about Grange activities and efforts to the news media.
Community Service Committee develops projects which improve the quality of life and the community.
Family Health & Hearing Committee– promotes the Grange health program of deaf awareness and other wellness issues through community outreach and education.
Junior Committee – provides activities for children in their community that are fun and teaches them the principles and Grange values.
Special Committees — appointed for limited periods of time to manage and control special projects.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

We have just installed a new metal roof; it affects and/or blocks my cell phone and internet service, so be patient, I’ll do my best to answer calls and emails. Happy Summer!

Fraud Watch- Tech Support Scams

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

A new surge of tech support scams is threatening consumers. Criminals use scary warning pop-up messages, or cold calls pretending to be a major software company to gain access to your device.

Many modern tech support alerts closely resemble real system warnings, making them difficult to detect at first glance. Vulnerable targets include standalone home computers, tablets used for online banking, and personal laptops used in busy public Wi-Fi areas.

If your screen freezes or a strange alert pops up, pause before reacting. Reflect on what you might have heard (or read) about scams that start out like this. To clear the warnings, you may have to shut down your device to get rid of them.

To help stay safe, keep your operating system and antivirus software up to date. If you are concerned that your device may be compromised, get it checked out at a repair shop you trust.

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!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website