By Margaret Morse, Maine State Grange Lecturer 207 439-0413
New Category of Winter Photos
Are you the type of person who is always taking pictures? This year one of the categories for the photo contest is WINTER. So, although our state session is almost nine months away, now is the time to take photos for this category. Often when people think of pictures of winter in New England, what first comes to mind is landscapes taken either during or soon after new snow has fallen. However, there are so many other photos that could be taken, such as kids or pets playing in the snow. Photos of people skiing, skating, or involved in other winter sports might also make interesting photos. Just remember that all entries in each category will be judged against each other based on the following: Composition and arrangement, Interest, Presentation, and Technique. So, pick up your camera and see what interesting photos you can take.
Sagadahoc Pomona Annual Lunch-out on MLK Day (Jan 16, 2023) is canceled for this year. The Award for Public Service will be presented at our May meeting at Topsham Grange. That is also our guest night when other Granges and Grangers are invited to fill the chairs and participate in the program.
Plan to join us on May 31, 2023, with a potluck supper at 6:00 and a meeting with a program theme of “Harmony” at 7:00.
Contact Marilyn at beedlehill@twc.com or 207-737-2611 or Ben at 207-699-6466 for any questions or more information.
I love the Grange because it gives me an opportunity to meet new people as I join others in creating and doing community events. It’s the giving and learning .
By Margaret Henderson, Director Committee on Women’s Activities 207 948-2762
Committee on Women’s Activities
Happy New Year, Everyone!
I hope that you all enjoyed the holidays with family and friends. I found out a few days before Christmas, that my neighbor, who is in a wheelchair would be alone. I cooked the meal and took it over to her apartment, where we enjoyed our meal and then I did the dishes. It made me happy that I could do something special for her.
I am hoping that you folks are working on entries for the contests. There are so many things we can do inside on cold or snowy days.
I am praying that you are all healthy and safe.
Webmaster’s Note: Did you listen to “Dropping by with a Pie?” Dropping by with a meal is a great version of it! Nice job, Margaret!
Highland Lake Grange is proud to support the Westbrook Police Department K-9 unit. Joann Levesque, our Community Service chair, presented Officer Colby Clarke and Tony with items purchased by the Grange for the K-9 unit. Many more items are on the way! The success of our turkey supper fundraisers helped finance this project. Colby and Tony attended our meeting and educated our members about K-9!
Joann Levesque, Officer Colby Clark, and Officer Tony
Firefighter Phil Roberts, East Machias teacher Morgan Swan, and Jonesboro Grange President John Cox Jr. were honored with state and national awards. Photo by Cindy Rossi.
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!
January Bulletin
The January Bulletin is in the works! Officers and Directors, remember that columns and reports are due January 14th. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.
National Grange Zoom Membership Meeting Canceled
The Zoom Membership Matters Meeting scheduled for January 10th has been canceled.
Got a Minute? Got a Pie?
You’ll enjoy spending a minute listening to this podcast “Dropping by the with a Pie” posted by Plain Values Magazine.
Grange Month Is Coming!
Even without counting on your fingers, you know Grange Month starts in just over two months! What’s the plan? How will your Grange celebrate?
Website Progress
We continue to work on the site… while current postings and columns are a priority, we’re also bringing the Program Books and Information Page up to date and in compliance. The Secretary’s section of that page is now complete!
Pomona People!
We do list Pomona Meetings on the website calendar–please send the dates and times of your Pomona Meetings!
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
Edith Sitwell
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!
Note that when you subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website, we do not share your email address with others and only use it to send you–at the most–one email per day when new information is posted.
For those Granges who participated in nominating an “MSG Teacher of the Year,” here’s another opportunity. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 County Teachers of the Year. One of those county teachers of the year will be selected as the 2024 Maine Teacher of the Year.
Teachers may be nominated by students, parents, teaching colleagues, school administrators, or anyone from the community who wants to honor an outstanding educator. (Self-nominations and nominations by family members are not accepted). The deadline for nominations is 5:00 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2023.
It’s been another challenging school year for educators. Here’s a way to honor a teacher who inspires students and deserves recognition.
How about conducting a “Life Skills Class?” The class could focus on what it takes to properly and easily balance a checkbook, write checks and reconcile any errors found. These are skills that sound simple to some, but not everyone knows how to do them.
This could actually be a series of classes including writing a resume/cover letter, practice interviews, container gardening, budgeting, simple mending, cooking, car care, de-cluttering, and household repairs.
Consider what skills you and your fellow Grangers could use some help with and start a life skills class of your own! Brushing up on life skills like these can really simplify your life and the lives of your fellow Grangers.
