The following announcement was made in a recent Grange Today! newsletter. Be aware that this affects anything ordered from the National Grange Store, including membership awards and letters.
Grange Store Price Change
Grange Today! 4-24-2026
Articles in this edition include:
- Make Grange Month Count All Year Long
- Rural America Is Paying the Price for Medicare Loophole
- Senior Social Hour: A Share Your Project’s Story Submission
- View from the Hill
- Volunteer Opportunity: Share Your Hands On Automotive Know How
- Worried about the use of pesticides? Participate in research!
- Spring Into Health: Vaccination Continues to Protect Against Severe Illness
- Grange Store Notice
- 5 Tips for Gardening with Kids
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Member Benefit: Life Line Screening
- Grange Store: Veteran Recognition Pin
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
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- Bereavement Scams
After the loss of a loved one, families deserve support—not scams. Unfortunately, criminals comb through obituaries, funeral home websites, and online memorials to find names and personal details they can use to target families.
The schemes include impersonating the funeral home or cemetery about payment issues, appearing as a “long-lost” relative, promising healing through “spiritual advisers,” and identity fraud against the deceased loved one.
In the wake of a loved one’s death, consider the public nature of an obituary and online memorials, and limit information that could be used to deceive you. If the funeral home calls demanding money, hang up and call them back at a number you know to be legitimate. And if a “long-lost” relative or friend reaches out, ask other family members or longtime friends if they know the person.
Fraud affects every generation, and AARP Fraud Watch Network is helping people fight back—one community at a time. By learning together and sharing information, we can better protect one another.
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.
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Valley Grange to Make Fabric Hugs
MSG Website Changes
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director
As you know, we’ve faced outages for nearly a month, making the site unavailable. After much frustration, I’ve decided to move the site to a new server and aim to finish by April 30, 2026.
To prepare, I am removing old and outdated posts and pictures. This will smooth the transition and boost efficiency.
This is like moving to a new home. It’s an opportunity to declutter and simplify. For example, we probably don’t need to maintain a post about an event that happened three years ago.
Since most changes are happening behind the scenes, you likely won’t notice many differences right away. However, you may temporarily encounter some broken links or missing photos during the transition. These should be resolved after the move is complete.
My goal is to complete the transition this week. Some cleanup will follow. If you have site issues, please let me know. Timeless documents and resources won’t be affected. For scale, the site’s size will drop by one-third. We’ll have more space in our new home.
We will also have the opportunity to try some new things. One other important benefit is that we’ll also be able to control costs. The offered solution for the outages on our existing server would have increased our annual cost by at least $800. These days, not spending more is a savings!
If you have concerns or questions, please let me know. Your support and patience are appreciated.
We’re packing up and getting ready to move!
Celebrating Patriot’s Day
Only a handful of states recognize next week’s state holiday that many others around the country know little about. Patriot’s Day is celebrated officially only in Maine, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Connecticut and North Dakota. The latter two recently adopted the holiday in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
With origins stemming from Fast Day, a holiday tied to a time when Maine was still a Massachusetts territory before achieving statehood in 1820, Patriot’s Day (spelled Patriots’ Day outside of Maine) was officially adopted long after statehood in 1907 and originally celebrated on April 19. It was moved to the third Monday of April in 1969.
The holiday commemorates the battles of colonists against British soldiers in Lexington, Concord and Menotomy in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775, which officially began hostilities in the American Revolutionary War. In fact, it was the day referenced in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Concord Hymn,” in which he describes the first shot fired at Concord’s North Bridge as the “shot heard round the world.” Today, the holiday is also marked by the Boston Marathon, which has been held on Patriot’s Day nearly every year since 1897. Click here for more historical information about what the day celebrates.
Fraud Watch- Free Trials that Aren’t
The AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline (877-908-3360) is hearing from more people about misleading “free trial” offers. These schemes make cancellation difficult, if not impossible.
In many cases, someone signs up for what appears to be a free trial and then cancels before having to pay for the subscription. However, the charges continue to appear each month, and the companies make it hard to cancel them. Before you sign up for a free trial offer, review all the terms and conditions to understand exactly what you’re agreeing to, how and when to cancel, and what happens if you don’t.
Also, review your bank and credit card statements carefully and watch for recurring charges you didn’t authorize—even after you’ve canceled.
Fraud affects every generation, and AARP Fraud Watch Network is helping people fight back—one community at a time. By learning together and sharing information, we can better protect one another.
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.
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Communication Shorts 04-16-2026
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.
April Bulletin
The April Bulletin is now available for downloading and printing. Recent issues of the Bulletin are available on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Degree Day Reminders
The Androscoggin Pomona Grange Degree Day at Manchester Grange is fast approaching! (This is for the Four Degrees.) If you have candidates attending, please let Norma Meserve know! Also, remember that candidates should bring a completed application. The Sagadahoc Fifth Degree Work has been canceled, although the meeting will be held.
Website Outages
The situation appears to have improved! I will continue to monitor outages. Some fundamental issues with our current provider remain. For the long term, it may be best to move the site to a different server. Stay tuned!
Grange Visiting
We’ve been getting questions from folks interested in visiting Granges other than their own. It’s a great idea! Check out this post for some resources that will help you plan that!
Resource (Secretary’s Form for Minutes)
In a very roundabout way, I recently received the form for recording meeting minutes as a pdf. It’s now available as a resource on our website in the Secretary’s Section. There are actually two versions available. Choose wisely! (I don’t believe either are required-just offered to be helpful.)
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! Surely, there are lots of Grange things happening in Maine. We also love photos and reports of events that have happened. What’s your meeting magic?
To Ponder…
“Over the years of grassroots advocacy, I have learned: People want help, but they don’t want structure. People want leadership, but they resent authority.
June Stoyer
An Idea for Your Grange
Mystery rides are surprise outings or trips in which the destination and itinerary are kept hidden from participants until the last moment. See the Grange Visiting short. You could stop for ice cream on the way back!
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.
Visiting Other Granges Fun
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director
We’ve had several requests for information about visiting other Granges, so we’re reviewing some of the resources available. Part of the challenge is that there are multiple databases and sources that do not always connect.
Plans and people change. If you plan to visit another Grange event or meeting, a best practice is to contact that Grange beforehand. The online Directory of Granges is a good source of contact information. If you have difficulty reaching someone, I’ll try to help!
The Website Event Calendar lists Grange events (not regular meetings) that we know about. We’re totally dependent on Granges submitting their information and many don’t. (Click the blue link to it on the website.)
The online Directory of Granges is recently updated. It does not list meeting dates, but has contact information. I’d strongly suggest using this to confirm any meetings or events you are planning to attend. (Click the blue link to it on the website.)
The Printed Roster Book should be available from your Grange Secretary. It has by far the most information, but it may be outdated as plans and people change.
Subordinate/Community Grange Links are listed in a sidebar on the MSG website.
A Website Subscription will help you stay informed about the events we are told about as we learn of them. (Click the blue link to sign up on the website.)
Remember, the Grange is a fraternal organization! If the word didn’t have any conotation, I’d say, “Let’s fraternize!”
Communications Column – April 2026
By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director
Magic Meetings
I recently consulted with a group (not Grange-related) that is setting up a new type of meeting. It was an interesting, if not frustrating, experience.
They had a unique opportunity to create something extraordinary and engaging. Yet they seemed determined to keep things as ordinary as possible.
The group focused on safety in the planning process. Much of the discussion centered on what the group didn’t want to do. It was as if they were determined to focus on the limitations. However unintentionally, they committed to creating and promoting boredom.
Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of frustration from Granges (including my own) that are struggling to reach a quorum of seven members at meetings. It’s an undeniable reality that there is a lot of competition for members’ attention.
Perhaps we’re missing the magic. If we want something to be exciting, why aren’t we excited about planning it? Much of Grange’s policy and practice encourages tradition, and that’s important and valuable. But we need to acknowledge that tradition can become boring, especially for people who thrive on excitement.
In plain language, would someone rather watch their grandchild’s baseball game or come to the Grange hall to complete the ritual?
There’s some irony in this. I am usually elected moderator of our town’s meetings. I always invite people to join in the Pledge of Allegiance as we begin. This year, I was thanked both privately and publicly for doing so. I didn’t expect people to be excited over reciting the pledge! I also am quite sure people don’t come to town meetings just for that. In fact, this year our attendance was double the usual because of competition for one particular office. Attendance also improves when there’s something to “fight” about.
I’m not suggesting Grange meetings should be based on fighting, but we’d better find some ways to create some magic and engagement. Our meetings should not just focus on an obligation to attend. We need to make some magic!
FACT: In the past twelve months, site views have increased 7%, and post/page views have increased 16%!