Tag: Grange Communication

Communication Shorts 12-20-2025

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!

December Bulletin

The December Bulletin is available for download. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.

Website Subscribers Sought

See the last page of the December Bulletin! Be sure to share with members!

Don’t Shoot the Piano Player!

He’s playing as fast as he can! Recent illnesses in the Boomsma household have been taking a toll! We’ll probably continue working a reduced schedule for at least another week.

To ponder…

I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year.

Charles Dickens 

An Idea for Your Grange

With all the recent media attention to Food Insecurity, it could make sense to add some food items to your Book Exchange Box. If it’s outside, be aware of freezing!

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 November 15, 2025.

Communications Column – December 2025

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

Simple Communication

And so I’m offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it’s been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you.

Sometimes, simple is best. The holiday season invites us to consider that possibility as an opportunity. Sending a holiday card, to some extent, helps us answer the question, “How many ways can you say…” The card company makes its best attempts. For a small additional fee, we can imprint our name and eliminate the need for a signature. Simple.

It’s easy to argue that we lose something in simplicity. I think automation takes a toll. I did some shopping the other day. I didn’t keep track of how many times I was told to “Have a nice day.” I wasn’t annoyed by it, but neither was I deeply moved by it. Occasionally, I was tempted to ask for clarification. “And how would you suggest I go about doing that?”

The best communication isn’t automatic. The best communication is thoughtful and heartfelt. And that can be simple. One cashier placed her hand with my change into mine, but didn’t release it. This caught my attention, and I instinctively made eye contact. With her hand in mine, she smiled and wished me a nice day. I think her eyes twinkled a bit. We connected. I knew she meant it. Simple.

Communication should be about connection. Don’t let the words get in the way.

FACT: The two most popular categories of posts are Grange Activities and Grange News.

Fraud Watch- Airline Call Center Scams

MSG Communications Resources Logo
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

With the holiday travel season fast approaching, scammers are poised to capitalize on travelers needing help with last-minute flight changes and cancellations. Don’t let  fake customer service  derail your trip – or drain your wallet. Here’s a few things you should know to stay ahead of airline call center scams.

Just because an airline customer service helpline number appears at the top of internet search results doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. Fraudulent numbers often surface in search results, and scammers constantly find new ways to make their numbers appear first. To avoid this risk, download your airline’s official app. In addition to providing the airline’s verified 800 number, the app delivers real-time flight notifications and other important updates.

Be on the lookout for red flags, such as aggressive tactics pushing you to buy a ticket immediately because “the price will go up.” And if your flight is canceled, you usually do not need to pay to be rebooked. Any “agent” requesting a credit card to do so is likely after your money, not your flight.

More Topic Resources

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.

Grange Today! 12-12-2025

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

  • A Year of Momentum: The National Grange’s 2025 Year-in-Review
  • “What does the Grange mean to you?”
  • Rural Life Initiative: A Year of Impact
  • Save the Date: Strategies to Strengthen Our Communities webinar series“
  • Support the Grange Foundation through the Common Routes Challenge
  • Grange Heirloom for December
  • Hamp Watch: Catching up with the National Grange President
  • Recipes from the Heartland
  • Watch Out for Fraud While Holiday Shopping
  • Member Benefit: Choice Hotels
  • Grange Store: #GrangeStrong Socks

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- Preventing Holiday Package Thieves

MSG Communications Resources Logo
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

With holiday shopping—and shipping—comes the risk of package theft. Thieves — often called “Porch Pirates” — steal millions of packages from American doorsteps each year, totaling billions of dollars in merchandise. You can help protect your deliveries with a few simple steps.

Opt into delivery alerts, allowing you to track your package and know exactly when items arrive. If you won’t be home, ask a trusted person to pick it up, or instruct the delivery person to place it out of sight.

Consider requesting a signature upon delivery to ensure your package is handed to someone directly. You can also use alternative pickup options, such as ship-to-store or secure locations offered by major retailers and delivery services.

If you’re going out of town, ask USPS, FedEx, or UPS to hold your mail and packages until you return. USPS can hold mail for up to 30 days, and FedEx and UPS offer similar vacation hold options.

Stay informed and work with your neighbors. Agree to watch out for each other’s deliveries and offer to take in mail when needed. Community resources like Nextdoor.com, Crime Stoppers, and social media updates from local law enforcement can also alert you to porch piracy in your area.

More Topic Resources

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.

Fraud Watch- Common Holiday Scams

MSG Communications Resources Logo
Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

The holiday season usually means fun with friends and family, goodwill and giving. Unfortunately, it’s also a prime time for cybercriminals to perpetrate fraud. Here are some common holiday scams to look out for this holiday season:

Online shopping scams. Criminals create professional-looking websites and ads promoting popular items at steep discounts, but what you receive may be different than advertised—if you receive anything. Be cautious of unusually low prices and avoid clicking on ads in emails, texts, or social media. For safer shopping, go directly to a trusted retailer’s website or app and pay with a credit card for stronger protections.

Delivery scams. As holiday packages crisscross the country, scammers send out phishing emails and texts that appear to be from UPS, FedEx, or the U.S. Postal Service, notifying recipients about incoming or missed deliveries. Links lead to fake sign-in pages that request personal information, or to sites that may be infected with malware.

Gift card scams. Criminals steal gift cards in bulk from store racks, collect the information from the card, and return them to the  rack for unsuspecting buyers. When the gift card is bought, criminals immediately drain the money. It is safer to buy cards that are kept behind the counter, or directly from the retailer’s site.

More Topic Resources

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.

President’s Perspective – December 2025

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

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Richard and I wish you all a very wonderful holiday season. 

Deputy School and instructions will be held in the spring, date and place to be determined.

We are very excited to announce this great news. Our office building at 146 State Street has been sold! We have moved to a new office and hope to be completely in our new space by December 13, 2025. Sharon, Henry, Richard, and I have worked many hours to get everything sorted, packed, and ready to go, especially Sharon & Henry. THANK YOU-THANK-YOU-THANK-YOU. Thanks Jimmy & Roberta who also came to give us a hand. We hired professional movers to get everything from one place to the other. They took two days to get the bulk of our items moved, placed and set up for us.  A few odds and ends are left to transfer.

Our new mailing address and location is: 36 Anthony Ave., Suite 102, Augusta, ME 04330

Our phone will remain the same: 207-623-3421 and the same toll free number 1-800-464-3421

Our email address will change.   (To be finalized upon installation on the 10th of Dec.)

    To get to the new office

    • From Rt 95, Exit 112B going north or Exit 112 going south. Stay to the right.
    • Follow Rt 27 North, toward Belgrade about ½ mile.
    • Take left at the light between Irving and Kentucky Fried Chicken. 
    • Take 1st left onto Anthony Ave  (go past Great Wall Buffet and past Fairfield Inn)
    • Number 36 is the third building on the right. It has a brick archway at the entrance with glass doors.  Suite 102 is straight back through the lobby to the left.

    Letters announcing the change were mailed to all Subordinate & Pomona Masters and Secretaries, Officers, Deputies, Department heads & Committees giving them the same information as listed above. The effective date of the change of address of December 1, 2025, has been provided to the Post Office.  All communications, quarterly reports, etc., are to be sent to the new address listed above. For those of you who drop things off directly at the office, there is a mail slot in the door of our Suite 102.    

    As a reminder, the password(s) and key will be mailed this month to the Secretary and the Master/President of each Grange after the Grange’s quarterly dues & report forms are submitted to the State Secretary. We must receive the report and monies before the passwords are sent to your Grange. Do we have your current and correct information for your Master/President and your Secretary at our office?  As an individual member, your 2026 dues must be paid before you may receive the password.

    Grange Today! 11-28-2025

    The Newsletter of the National Grange

    Articles in this edition include:

    • National Grange President calls for action to strengthen rural America
    • National Grange holds elections
    • A Call to Act: President charts a future of connection, courage, and growth
    • “What does the Grange mean to you?”
    • Support the Grange Foundation through the Common Routes Challenge
    • As Temperatures Drop, Respiratory Risks Rise
    • View from the Hill
    • Free Webinar on Alcohol Use Disorder among Women in Rural America
    • We need Red, White, and YOU!
    • Keeping America Fed: Why Farm Labor Reform Can’t Wait
    • Grange honors and celebrates
    • Grange Foundation elects advisory board members
    • Juniors and Youth Learn at Sea
    • Recipes from the Heartland
    • Health Care Premium Tax Credits: What’s at stake for rural America?
    • 3 Ways You Can Help Tackle Hunger and Strengthen Communities This Holiday Season
    • Member Benefit: MemberDeals
    • Grange Store: Stocking Stuffers

    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- Unwrap Real Deals, Not Scams

    MSG Communications Resources Logo
    Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

    The holiday deals are already rolling in, but not every offer you see online is the real deal.

    Fraud criminals often create websites that look professional and offer big discounts on popular items.  But after you pay for the item, the product you receive might be of poor quality, not what was advertised, or it never arrives at all.

    Be cautious of any online offer that’s priced way below what other retailers are charging. The safest way to shop is by using trusted retailers’ apps or typing their website directly into your browser — not by clicking links from texts, emails, or ads.

    More Topic Resources

    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.

    MSG Office Building Sold

    By Sherry Harriman, MSG Master/President

    Our office building has been sold!

    Our new mailing address and location are:

    36 Anthony Ave., Suite 102
    Augusta, ME 04330

    We hope to be completely in our new office by December 13, 2025.

    Our phone will remain the same: 207-623-3421 and toll-free number 1-800-464-3421.

    Our email address will change.   (To be finalized upon installation.)

    Letters are going in the mail tomorrow to each Grange, Master, Officers, Deputies, Directors, and Committee folks.  You can share the exciting news and info with everyone!

    Fraternally,
    Sherry  

    Directions to the new office:

    • From Rt 95, Exit 112B going north or 112 going south. Stay to the right.
    • Follow Rt 27 North, toward Belgrade about ½ mile.
    • Take left at the light between Irving and Kentucky Fried Chicken. 
    • Take 1st left onto Anthony Ave  (go past Great Wall Buffet and past Fairfield Inn)
    • Number 36 is the third building on the right. It has a brick archway at the entrance with glass doors. Suite 102 is straight back to the left.