{"id":100015,"date":"2026-08-31T07:24:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T11:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/?p=100015"},"modified":"2026-08-31T07:24:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T11:24:14","slug":"new-communication-handbook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/?p=100015","title":{"rendered":"New Communication Handbook"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>By <a href=\"mailto:webmaster@mainestategrange.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Walter Boomsma<\/a>, MSG Communications Director<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Smiling-WB-with-headset-and-laptop-transparent.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" data-attachment-id=\"98245\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/?attachment_id=98245\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Smiling-WB-with-headset-and-laptop-transparent.png?fit=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1024,1536\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Smiling WB with headset and laptop-transparent\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Smiling-WB-with-headset-and-laptop-transparent.png?fit=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Smiling-WB-with-headset-and-laptop-transparent.png?resize=200%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-98245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Smiling-WB-with-headset-and-laptop-transparent.png?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Smiling-WB-with-headset-and-laptop-transparent.png?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Smiling-WB-with-headset-and-laptop-transparent.png?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Smiling-WB-with-headset-and-laptop-transparent.png?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 85vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;m working on a fully updated Communications Handbook to introduce for the 2026-27 Grange year. The business of communication continues to change rapidly, and it&#8217;s time to ensure the handbook meets the needs of our Granges and Grangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like it or not, we must embrace technology.  Studies show that over 80% of Maine citizens own a smartphone. Device ownership tracks closely with age demographics. In Maine households, roughly 93% of householders aged 15 to 34 own a smartphone, compared to only 49% of householders aged 65 or older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If we are to remain relevant to our communities, our communication to those communities (and with each other) must also be relevant. We face a real challenge here. Our handbook will attempt to be a relevant resource. (I do love alliteration!) The current handbook shows how to format a press release document. The new handbook will address sending emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relevant Resources<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What would be helpful? If you have some thoughts, you can easily comment on this post. (Look to the left and click &#8220;Leave a Comment.&#8221;) Or, if you&#8217;d prefer, <a href=\"mailto:webmaster@mainestategrange.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">email me<\/a>. My ambitious goal is to have this available at our State Convention in October, so don&#8217;t delay!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Communication Tips<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ve got some, but we want more!  What does your Grange do that works? I&#8217;m looking for creative ways we communicate internally (among members) and externally (with the public). Again, you can leave a comment or send an email.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Com-Handbook-Cover.png?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"248\" height=\"300\" data-attachment-id=\"100016\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/?attachment_id=100016\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Com-Handbook-Cover.png?fit=874%2C1056&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"874,1056\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Com Handbook Cover\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Com-Handbook-Cover.png?fit=840%2C1014&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Com-Handbook-Cover.png?resize=248%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-100016\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Com-Handbook-Cover.png?resize=248%2C300&amp;ssl=1 248w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Com-Handbook-Cover.png?resize=767%2C927&amp;ssl=1 767w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Com-Handbook-Cover.png?resize=848%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 848w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Com-Handbook-Cover.png?w=874&amp;ssl=1 874w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 248px) 85vw, 248px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The current handbook is available on the site for viewing and downloading: <a href=\"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Communications-Handbook-2025-26.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025-2026 Communications Handbook<\/a>.  It&#8217;s worth a look! And your ideas and tips are worthy considering for the updated version! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;re Grangers; we help each other.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director I&#8217;m working on a fully updated Communications Handbook to introduce for the 2026-27 Grange year. The business of communication continues to change rapidly, and it&#8217;s time to ensure the handbook meets the needs of our Granges and Grangers. Like it or not, we must embrace technology. Studies show that &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/?p=100015\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;New Communication Handbook&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2122,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[165,218],"tags":[206,272,853],"post_folder":[696],"class_list":["post-100015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-communication-2","category-resources-for-granges-and-grangers","tag-grange-advocacy","tag-grange-communication","tag-maine-state-grange-communications-handbook"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"post-thumbnail":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Walter Boomsma","author_link":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/?author=2122"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director I&#8217;m working on a fully updated Communications Handbook to introduce for the 2026-27 Grange year. The business of communication continues to change rapidly, and it&#8217;s time to ensure the handbook meets the needs of our Granges and Grangers. Like it or not, we must embrace technology. Studies show that&hellip;","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1arC1-q19","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2122"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=100015"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100017,"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100015\/revisions\/100017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=100015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=100015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=100015"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainestategrange.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpost_folder&post=100015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}