Grange Today! 2-27-2026

The Newsletter of the National Grange

Articles in this edition include:

  • 2026–2027: A Year of Growth. A Year of Action. A Year for All of Us 
  • Apply for a Rural Life Initiative grant
  • Pioneer Grange launches community food pantry
  • View from the Hill 
  • Adam’s Story: Free rural mental health resources for Grange communities
  • Promote National Ag Day with your Grange
  • Support the Grange Foundation through the Common Routes Challenge
  •  Life Line Screening – A New Benefit from the National Grange
  • Save the Dates!
  • Recipes from the Heartland
  • Member Benefit: MemberDeals
  • Grange Store: Veteran Recognition Pin

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- Travel Scams

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Planning a winter escape? Don’t let criminals ruin your trip with bogus deals, fake booking sites, or schemes designed to steal money or personal information.

Scammers create fake vacation rental listings, apply pressure to pay upfront through wire transfers, gift cards, or other hard-to-trace methods. If a host asks you to pay outside the official platform, it’s a scam.

Be cautious of steeply discounted offers and use a credit card whenever possible for added fraud protection. Before booking, verify the company or property. Search the name along with keywords like “scam,” “complaint,” or “review” to see if other travelers have reported issues.

Staying alert and taking a few extra steps can help ensure your winter getaway is safe, fun, and scam-free.

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.

I Doubt It!

By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director

I wonder if I’ll ever cease to be amazed by the number of scams being run on the Internet and Social Media. I can’t resist sharing this one because it might actually be considered funny.

So “Commander Kirkland” has reached out to “whom it may concern” with what might initially appear troubling news. He informs us “...you and your organization,  that the Federal Law Enforcement agencies of the United States of America in conjunction with Interpol, the World Security Council and the United Nations Amnesty International Program, are announcing a series of arrests and investigations concerning various Religious and Social organizations using a psychological torture, and brainwashing technique known as a ‘forgiveness tatoo’.

I’m reminded a bit of the old joke “You know it’s not going to be a good day when you find the Sixty Minute News Team waiting for you at the office.”

By the way, “forgiveness tattoos”(spelled correctly) are a real item readily found on the Internet. I don’t pretend to fully understand their value, but as far as I can see, they aren’t about brainwashing or torture.

“What is the scam?” you ask. I don’t know, I didn’t fall for it. But I suspect the first step was to get me to reply to the email. It’s interesting that a Federal Law Enforcement Commander is using a Gmail address. I’ll admit, I almost did reply out of curiosity.

You can fool some of the people some of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.

Attributed to Abraham Lincoln.

The updated version is

You can fool enough people some of the time to make a decent living.

Unknown

Just don’t be one of those people. And, perhaps more importantly, don’t let these attempts get you down. Think of them as an opportunity to demonstrate how smart you are. Just slow down and think! Wouldn’t you think a high-ranking federal law enforcement official would (among other things):

  • know how to spell the “tattoos” he is investigating
  • have an email address associated with his agency (and identify it)

No worries. Now, if you see the CNN News Team standing in front of the Grange Hall…

Ag Policy Day Opportunity

Reprinted from an enewsletter by Maine Senator Stacy Guerin, District 4.

Maine students with an interest in agriculture, leadership, and public policy are encouraged to apply for Agriculture Policy Day at the Legislature, taking place March 25, 2026, at the State House in Augusta. Organized by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in partnership with the Maine Department of Education, FFA, and University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H, the program offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at how agriculture policy is shaped in Maine.

Selected students will tour the Capitol, meet with legislators and agricultural leaders, and observe the work of the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. Participants will also take part in virtual pre- and post-sessions designed to build skills in advocacy, civic engagement, and agricultural policy.

The event coincides with National Agriculture Day and Maine Agriculture Day at the Legislature, where farmers, producers, and partners gather in the Hall of Flags at the State House from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate Maine’s agricultural community. Selected participants must commit to the full program schedule. Please review all details and access the online application. Applications are open through March 1, 2026. 

Share this news!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website

Flying the Flag!

This section currently exists on the Program Books and Information Page:

How we display the flag communicates! You can check whether or not the U.S. Flag should be at half-mast and sign up for email alerts.

This is a guide to the Federal Law regarding displaying the American Flag: US Flag Code.

Learn more from the Department of Veterans Affairs about the rules and traditions for flying the flag at half-staff

As technology advances, here are a few more resources we’ll be adding soon:

  • The American Legion: Text “FLAG” to 35893 (or 534466) to receive text alerts on your mobile phone.
  • Flag Day – US Flag Alerts App (iOS): Sends alerts for federal, but not state, half-staff days to your mobile phone.
  • Service First: Flag Alerts (iOS/Android): Covers federal, state, and weather-related alerts to your mobile phone.

“I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it.”

John Thune

Thanks to Larry Bailey, Master of Ocean View Grange, for an “unintentional” reminder to update this resource!

Mill Stream Grange Makes Hearts

Our February 6th program was a Valentine card making party! Junior Granger and 2026 Miss Western Maine Jr. Teen Natalie shared some facts with us about the holiday before crafting cards as a group for the residents of Woodlands Senior Living in Farmington.

Big thanks to Girl Scout Troop #2096 for loaning their scissors, glue sticks, and markers!

Share this news!

Mill Stream Juniors Recognized

National Award Received for Community Service Project

With great delight, Master Jill Sampson presented our Junior Grangers with a FIRST PLACE medal for their National Junior Grange Community Service Project entry, a “Coastal Cleanup” of Vienna’s own Mill Stream. The prize was announced at the Awards Night during the National Grange in November. Congratulations Juniors! We’re very proud of you!

Share this news!

Fraud Watch- Helpline Alert

Government Imposters Rampant

Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) has seen a rise in impostors pretending to be government officials.

Scammers are calling people, making claims like there’s a warrant for their arrest, their identity was used to buy child pornography or launder money, or that the FBI needs their help to catch a thief. These criminals seek to get your money by wire transfer or crypto kiosks. Some even use the real names of FBI agents or sheriffs to appear legitimate when you search online.

Remember that government officials will never contact you unexpectedly to seek payment in any form. If you receive a contact like this, disengage, and if you’re worried there may be a problem, contact the agency at a number or web address you know to be legitimate.

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.

NELA Conference Announced

(North East Regional Lecturers Association)

Submitted by Dave Roberts, CT State Grange Lecturer

We held our 17th Connecticut State Grange Lecturers Roundup on Sunday, February 15. Our guest speaker was Larry Segall, referred to us by Chuck Strand, Executive Director of Rural Minds. Larry shared his expertise as a mental health care provider, helping attendees better understand mental health therapy, work to reduce its stigma, and learn about free services that support mental well-being. The discussion was informative, engaging, and timely.

Now is the time to register for the 2026 North East Region Lecturers Association (NELA) Conference, which will be held April 17–19, 2026, at the New York State Grange Headquarters, 100 Grange Place, Cortland, NY 13045. I am offering free transportation to and from the conference for any Connecticut State Grange members and their guests. Please contact me if you would like to attend and ride with us.

With our nation approaching its 250th anniversary, this year’s conference theme, “America 250,” will explore how Grange education, community engagement, and shared history continue to shape our local, regional, and national story. The conference will feature workshops, discussions, and fellowship designed to inspire and equip participants for the years ahead.

This event is open to everyone—not just Lecturers. Members, friends, and anyone interested in Grange education and programming are warmly encouraged to attend. The conference begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, April 17, and concludes by 11:00 AM on Sunday, April 19.

Affordable and Flexible Registration
Conference Registration: $20 per attendee
Saturday Lunch: Soups and sandwiches – $15
Celebration Dinner: Turkey buffet – $25
Attendees may pay for individual events or save $5 by registering for all three for a total of $55.

Whether you attend for one meal, one day, or the entire weekend, the 2026 NELA Conference offers a meaningful and affordable opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate.  Our next conference won’t be held until 2028, so you won’t want to miss the 2026 NELA Conference.

Conference attendees will stay at the Quality Inn Cortland, located at 188 Clinton Avenue, Cortland, NY, conveniently next door to the New York State Grange Headquarters. To reserve your room for Friday and Saturday nights (April 17 and 18, checking out April 19), call 607-756-5622 and mention “Grange Conference.” Reservations must be made by April 1 to receive the reduced nightly rate of $110 plus tax, which includes a complimentary full breakfast both mornings.

We hope you’ll join us in Cortland this April as we reflect on America’s past—and look ahead to the next 250 years.

Reservation Form is available here.

For further assistance and information, please contact Melissa Baldwin, MSG Lecturer.