Maine State Grange

Fraud Watch- Fake Checks

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Checks might seem like something from the past, but scammers often use fake checks in their crimes so they can exploit the time it takes for them to bounce. During that waiting period, scammers will ask you to act on those funds. But once the check bounces, any amount you acted on is gone. This tactic shows up in several scam types from fake job and work-from-home scams (the fake check is to purchase equipment from the “employer” or for you to wire or otherwise send funds to “vendors”), to a seemingly innocent overpayment you received where you’re asked to send part of the money back.

It’s important to know that, just because the check looks like it cleared, it doesn’t mean it has – it can take time for a bank to validate a check, but the federal rules are to make the amount available, usually within 24-48 hours. Use caution when accepting a check: ensure it is validated by your bank and reject seeming overpayments where you’re asked to pay back the overage to the sender.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

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 Heirloom — May 2025

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.

More Scam Emails

Here we go again! Please, when you receive an email, be a bit suspicious! Because you are, I’m receiving emails questioning whether or not emails that appear to be from President Sherry are legitimate. They are not!

The short version is that a scammer has figured out how to make it look like the email is from Sherry. One recent version is a two-step process where it looks like she is asking for help. When you reply (which you shouldn’t–all that does is confirm your address is correct and you may take the bait), you are asked to purchase gift cards.

I have blurred information identifying the recipient.

This is happening in many organizations, not just the Grange. One reason we are publishing the weekly Fraud Watch is that scammers are getting better at what they do! Whenever you receive an email that involves gift cards, urgency (so you don’t stop to think) and confidentiality (so you don’t ask somebody) the odds are extremely high it’s a scam! This one is extra sneaky because the first email arouses curiosity. If you take the bait and reply, the next email won’t show the sender’s real email address.

If you receive a suspicious email, the best thing to do is ignore it. If you’re concerned, contact the alleged sender (in this case, Sherry) either by using her legitimate address or by telephone.

Other than these warnings, there is nothing I, the website, or Maine State Grange can do to prevent or stop this. It’s the price we pay for the convenience of technology.

Stay smart and suspicious!

President’s Perspective – May 2025

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

Degree Day

CONGRATULATIONS and a warm welcome to our members who received their Degrees on April 27 at the State Grange Home. A most hardy thank-you to the many who participated and helped in any way to make the day such a success. I also want to thank those behind the scenes, those asking someone to join our Grange family, bringing folks to the Degree Day, and all those folks who attended.

Resolutions

The resolution deadline date is August 15, as stated in our By-laws, and must be submitted to the State Grange office via e-mail and/or hard copy by that date to be considered at the 2025 State Grange Session on Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18 at the Black Bear Inn, 4 Godrey Drive in Orono. This year will also be a full State Grange election. Yes, it is only three months to get your resolutions into us, but this early deadline date allows time for the State Grange to compile all the resolutions, get them printed and mailed in advance of the session to be reviewed by the Subordinate and Pomona Granges.

Election of Officers

Yes, Maine still uses paper ballots for each officer and election should be held in June for all Subordinate and Pomona Granges.
The Master will appoint tellers to count the ballots.
Count the members from your Grange who are eligible to vote. Provide ballots to all. Yes, the tellers may ballot if they are from that Grange.
Then the Master will say: “The Chair awaits presentations of names for the office of…”
Any member of that Grange may present or suggest a name (nominate is not the proper term). Anyone’s name may be presented for any office by any member.
The Master will repeat the name presented and ask “are there any others?”, asking a total of three times, repeating the list of names for that office each time they ask “are there any others?”. A person may decline or withdraw their name for the office.
The Master will repeat all the names and say “You will prepare your ballots for the office of …” After a brief pause, the Master will instruct the Assistants to collect the ballots and may excuse the Assistants from carrying their staves.
You do not have to ballot if you do not wish to. You must write the word “Blank” on the ballot if you want to cast your ballot, but do not want to vote for one of those names presented or any other name, but want your ballot to count in the “total ballots cast.” (A plain ballot may have been stuck to another and not intended to be put in the ballot count; plain ballots will not be counted in the total of ballots cast.)
Once the Assistants have collected the ballots, the Master asks, “Have all balloted who desire to do so?” Hearing no one speak up, the Master will say, “I declare the ballot closed.” The ballot is then given to the tellers, and the Assistants return to their seats.
The tellers will count the ballots and make the report. Reporting as follows each time: “WM, there were x total ballots cast for the office of…, necessary for choice… (majority, one more than half of the ballots cast), then will list the number of ballots cast for each person or name on the ballots, including any that say ‘blank’ on them. The ballot is then thrown away after the result is given by the Master.
The final choice is announced by the Master, “By your ballot, you have elected to the office of _.” and the results are recorded. Once a majority has been reached, the Master will ask the person, “Brother or Sister ___, do you accept the office of __.” If they decline or there is no majority of the ballots cast, the Master will say, “Since we have no majority, you will prepare your ballot for the office of _,” repeating all names listed. You will proceed to ballot once again on the same office until a majority is reached. The same procedure is followed for each office.
Upon completion of the election, the tellers are excused with thanks.
After the election, the elected Master will appoint a chairperson for each of the committees used in their Grange. (These Committee chairs will take over at the time of installation in the fall. The Subordinate or Pomona Secretary will provide the meeting day and time, and the Grange address, Officer (Master, Lecturer & Secretary name, address, phone & email), and the same for the Committee Chairs, to the State Grange as soon as possible for the new roster.

Fraud Watch- Sweepstakes Scams

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Who wouldn’t want to win thousands or even millions of dollars, or the chance to go on a luxury vacation? There are many legitimate sweepstakes and contests out there, and the idea of winning some fabulous prize can be mighty alluring. Criminals get that, and they exploit our excitement to score that big check or dream trip.

When a sweepstakes or a contest is fraudulent, there is often a big red flag: you must first pay upfront fees or taxes to get your prize. No legitimate sweepstakes or contest requires upfront payment. Another clue is if you are asked to share sensitive information to receive your prize, such as your Social Security number or bank account information. Again, this is something perpetrators do, not legitimate entities.

If you find yourself reacting to an out-of-the-blue communication with a heightened emotion, and it comes to you with great urgency, let that be an indicator or a fraud attempt. Take an “active pause” – consider what you are being confronted with, what you might know about it, and then react with intention. That moment of deliberation could be what keeps you safe.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

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.

Maine State Grange Announces Yard Sale!

Celebrating Grange Membership

Information gleaned from the current issue of GoodDay!^TM magazine.

75 Years of Continuous Membership

Grace Addison, Benton #458

50 Years of Continuous Membership

Steven Cyr, Golden Harvest #33
Richard Lawrence, Benton #458

Granges Gaining New Members

Chelsea Grange #215, 2 new members
Community Grange #593, 1
Deering Grange #53, 8
East Sangerville #177, 6
Enterprise #48, 4
Fairview #342, 27 new members!
Farmington #12, 2
Granite #192, 2
Harraseeket #9, 1
Huntoon Hill #398, 1
Jonesboro#357, 6
Lakeside #63, 2
Merriconeag #425, 6
Mill Stream #574, 2
Ocean View #463, 1
Saco #53, 1
St George #421, 11
Topsham #37, 2
Tranquility #344, 14
Trenton #550, 3
Valley #144, 3
Victor #49, 5
Waterford #479, 2
White Rock #380, 1

You’ll Miss Us!

a “webatorial” by MSG Communications Director
Walter Boomsma

Seth Godin wrote an interesting post suggesting that when people move away, cards and cake should read, “You’ll miss us” instead of “We’ll miss you.” He points out that the community remains.

One of the more powerful sentences in the short post was, “When a marketer serves a community, they create the conditions where they’d be missed–because the ideas or products or services they bring are important, not simply tolerated.“

With apologies to Seth, I changed a word or two. “When a Grange serves a community, they create the conditions where they’d be missed–because the ideas or services they bring are important, not simply tolerated.“

My revision raises a question for Granges. Would your communities miss you if you were gone? Would they even notice? Are you important or simply tolerated?

One of the challenges we face as an organization is relevance in communities that are loosely defined and increasingly diverse. If our vision is narrow and our goals are limited, we will be missed by an ever-diminishing number of people. For example, not everyone likes potluck suppers.

Seth’s short message is that marketers should see a worthwhile goal of creating ideas, products, or services that the community would miss.

Maybe it’s time for Granges to figure out what they can create and offer that their communities would miss.

Karen loves the Grange!

I love the Grange for all the support to all people! It’s awesome to hear so much about the history .
Karen Small, Golden Harvest Grange #33

Phil loves the Grange!

Why I love the Grange is the feeling of belonging. It really is the definition of family.
Phil Roberts, Jonesboro Grange #357

Maine State Grange

Fraud Watch- Fake Checks

AARP Fraud Watch Network

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Grange Heirloom — May 2025

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More Scam Emails

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