Have a Happy–and thankful–Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
December Events Around the State
- December 1, 2023, Fellowship Breakfast for Supper at Valley Grange. Potluck Breakfast at 6 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m. FMI visit Valley Grange Website. This will be a joint meeting with Piscataquis Pomona Members.
- December 2, 2023, Deputy School at MSG, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 pm. Contact Master Sherry for more information.
- December 8, 2023, Baked Bean Supper at Community Grange in East Wilton, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. FMI see this post.
- December 9, 2023, Kids’ Christmas Party at Parkman Grange, 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Additional information is available from Sue Manchester, Parkman Grange Master, at 207 717-6248
- December 14, 2023, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
- December 16, 2023, MSG Junior Grange Meeting at Danville Junction Grange at 11 am. Contact a Junior Director for more information.
- December 17, 2023, MSAD 4 Santa Project Distribution at Parkman Grange. Additional information is available from Sue Manchester, Parkman Grange Master, at 207 717-6248
Community Grange Bean Supper
Bake Bean Supper Friday, December 8, 2023, from 5:00-6:30. Community Grange in East Wilton will be having a Bake Bean Supper with molasses cake for dessert. $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12. Hope to see you there!
Mill Stream Places Stickers
Mill Stream Grange members Paul Lavender, Jill Sampson, Kirsten Heck, and her daughter Natalie met at the Franklin Cemetery in Vienna to attach ID stickers to the stones of veterans. The small, unobtrusive stickers were placed low on the back of the stones in an effort to make them easier to find when placing flags for Memorial Day. Permission for this project was given by the Association which oversees the care of the cemetery on Tower Road in Vienna.
Excelsior Grange Christmas Fair
November 25, 2023, 9 am-1 pm.
Vendors, White Elephant Table, wreaths, raffles, and lunch eat-in or take-out (beef stew, corn chowder, chili, or baked beans plus dessert and a drink $5). For more information, call 207-998-2301.
Excelsior Grange is located at 446 Harris Hill Road in Poland, Maine.
Email Cautions
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director
This is a strange irony. As I was writing the “Caution and Suspicion” post, I received a weird email that appeared to be from MSG Chaplain Christine Hebert. Shortly after that, I received a legitimate email from her requesting I let people know she had been “hacked.”
Unfortunately, this is likely to become a more common event than we’d like. Many will remember getting similar bogus emails and text messages that appeared to be from MSG Master Sherry. Some even received bogus emails from NG Master Betsy Huber.
How this happens can vary, and I honestly can’t be helpful with resolving it. I can tell you that having a strong email password is necessary. Also, a virus-checking program on your computer is essential. The simplest explanation is that “bad people” are somehow gaining access to your email address book. Once they have that, it’s relatively easy for them to spoof or actually use your email address to send messages to people you know. It’s not much different from the telephone calls you get that appear to be from a local number.
This is not something related to or stemming from the Maine State Grange Website. We use very aggressive virus and malware protection software, and any email addresses on the website are “obfuscated,” making them impossible to harvest by bots.
Similarly, I receive at least a half-dozen fake invoices every day (a typical day shows 300+ emails coming in). It annoys me, but the best reaction is to simply delete them. If you receive an email from someone that looks strange or suspicious, you can probably ignore it and delete it. You can also contact that person by some other means to investigate. If you think your email account or address book has been compromised, you should immediately change your password and contact your service provider.
When in doubt, delete!
We will not be posting a warning every time a suspicious email is reported. We’ll count on you to be “suspicious and cautious.”In a sense, it’s the price we pay for the technology we enjoy. AI (Artificial Intelligence) will be a positive in prevention but like most tools, it can also be used for evil. Certainly, if you have any questions or concerns, let me know!
Cautious or Suspicious?
By Walter Boomsma, MSG Communications Director
Unfortunately, a certain amount of both is in order when using the Internet. Of course, it’s not just limited to the Internet, although the Internet makes other scams and schemes possible. In the most recent Communication Short, I mentioned receiving some inquiries regarding a letter members are receiving that appears to be coming from National Grange. Since then, I have received it and dug a little deeper.
First, congratulations to those who were suspicious and cautious. If you’ve been wondering why Dave keeps calling about your car warranty, it’s because some people fall for it–enough to make it worthwhile.
One of the first questions about the letter I was asked was, “Did it really come from National Grange?” Now that I’ve received it and looked it over carefully, I can answer that question accurately. A precise answer is, “no.” It was postmarked from Texas. Everyone knows National Grange is located in Washington, D.C. It seems more likely that it was mailed by the Insurance Company making the “free” insurance offer. (American Home Life Insurance Company-AHLIC is located in Texas.)
The next logical question was, “Is it legitimate?” In order to answer that question, I visited the National Grange Website Member Benefits Section. There is no mention of AHLIC there. (I should note that any offer described as “free” puts me on alert because I know that’s not the whole story.) Personally, I’d be done with the offer at this point, but I went one step further so I could share it with members.
I did a quick check of the company on Investopedia. AHLIC (under several different names) is a “legitimate” company. They’ve actually been around for 75 years. There is, however, some big BUTS. The Better Business Bureau assigns them a one-star rating (five being the best). And a quick read of the reviews on Trusted Choice was enough to send me running.
My point is to use caution and suspicion–I am not reviewing the company on your behalf. Before you accept any “free offer,” you should do a little research and your own thinking. In the business world, we call it “due diligence.” I honestly don’t know how this letter came about. I’m sure this insurance company is legitimate, but their products and business model aren’t for me. Obviously, they are for some or they wouldn’t be in business.
With all National Grange Staff at the National Convention, it wouldn’t be easy to quickly confirm validity of the letter. It may, in fact, have been “authorized” by someone at National Grange, although I seem to remember an agreement that National Grange would not share member contact information with other companies and organizations. That might be a different issue.
The point this allows me to make is that we do well to view all communication with some degree of caution and suspicion. Many of you will recall some email and text messages that appeared to come from MSG Master Sherry.
We can wish the world was a safer place, but it isn’t. Caution and suspicion don’t have to become paranoia. Caution and suspicion are tools. We need not live in fear.
One fellow who decided to “take on” a fraudster shared his experience. If you’d like ten minutes of entertainment on this topic, I have embedded a video for you to watch. It just might prove that spammers are not always terribly bright. In fact, our hero uses caution and suspicion in a funny turnabout!
I couldn’t resist putting this post in the “Family Health and Hearing” category. Safety is an important aspect of health!
Communication Shorts 11-15-2023
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!
November Bulletin Reminder
The November Bulletin is finished! Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.
Is It Suspicion or Caution?
We’ve had reports of members receiving a letter that appears to be from National Grange offering free life insurance from a company called “American Income Life Insurance Company.” This is a “legitimate” company, but the letter is suspect. With nearly everyone from National Grange at the National Convention, it may be difficult to confirm my suspicion, but I would be very cautious about responding to this letter. A little research shows that this insurance company receives nearly double the number of complaints as similar-sized companies.
Don’t forget to submit the details for a website post and event calendar listing!
Don’t Forget!
You may submit the names of new members so they can be recognized in Good Day! by emailing Philip Vonado or by calling (814) 404-7985.
Fox 22 Covers Valley Grange Dictionary Project
For a summary, check this link.
ODD (Officers, Deputies, Directors)
We believe all updates are completed! The correct information is listed in the online directory, the print directory (a copy will be mailed with the Bulletin), on the Bulletin, and on the Program Books and Information Page! Phew! Please let us know if you encounter any errors!
Ideas for Granges
If you read “View from the Farm” this month, Phil makes several interesting points. One is about individuals supporting CSA programs… for Granges with local farms in the area, there might be several opportunities here. Put your creative thinking hat on! Could your Grange sponsor a CSA or two? Could you offer your local farmers “advertising?”
Thought for You…
“Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.”
George Bernard Shaw
Do You Love the Grange?
The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!
Online Directories Available 24-7
- The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
- The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!
Do You Have FOMO?
“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!
Lecturer’s Column – November 2023
By Melissa Baldwin, Maine State Grange Lecturer
207 324-4661
Adult Photo Contest Winners
Category: Animals
1st place: Paula Roberts – Willow Grange #366
2nd place: Terry LaCombe – Hudson Grange #457
3rd place: Kathy Gowen – Highland Lake Grange #87
Category: Gardens
1st place: Kathy Gowen – Highland Lake Grange #87
2nd place: Laurie McBurnie – Willow Grange #366
3rd place: Marilyn Stinson – Enterprise Grange #48
Category: Water
1st place: Kathy Gowen – Highland Lake Grange #87
2nd place: Laurie McBurnie – Willow Grange #366
3rd place: Norma Meserve – Danville Jct. Grange #65
Category: Winter
1st place: Norma Meserve – Danville Jct. #65
2nd place: Laurie McBurnie – Willow Grange #366
3rd place: Terry LaCombe – Hudson Grange #457
Best in Show: Paula Roberts – Willow Grange # 366
People’s Choice: Terry LaCombe – Hudson Grange #457
Adult Coloring Winners
1st place: Terry Wilson – Bangor Grange #372
2nd place: Tim Wilson – Bangor Grange #372
Junior Art
Age Group 5-7:
1st place: Laura Coffin
Age Group 8 – 10
1st place: John Coffin
2nd place: Mary Coffin
Age Group 11 – 14
1st place Edith Coffin
Important Stuff!
-> Do your Holiday Shopping at a Grange Holiday Craft Fair. Here’s a list of the ones we’ve heard about!
Degree Days & Information/Instruction Meetings
- April 27, 2025, Degree Day at MSG Headquarters. (First Four Degrees)
- October 24-25, 151st Maine State Grange Convention in Orono.
If your Grange is distributing dictionaries to schools or may be interested in doing so, please see this post and fill out the form!