Quick Tip–Life Skills Series

Cool Idea

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.

Grange Heirloom — January 2023

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.

Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!

For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.

From the Deacon’s Bench – January 2023

By Clay Collins, MSG Chaplain
207 837-0564

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying,’Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.’”  

Matthew 2:13

 

Happy New Year!! I hope that you all had great Christmas and New Year’s celebrations! This is the beginning of a brand, spankin’ New Year! A time to “reboot” (as the TECH world would say!).

To “reboot,” some ideas come to mind. One very important one comes to mind, and that is being kinder to your family, friends, and acquaintances! Another one is to refrain from being judgmental of one another.

I know what many of you are thinking; he is making a list of New Year’s resolutions to be broken early next month! No, I’m trying not to do that. What I am trying to do is this; I am trying to make it sound like (and it basically is) a life-changing event because if we all do this, our lives will change for the better and, possibly, make our little “acre” just a wee bit better.

It seems that I am asking you to “think about it for a minute” a lot lately, but I am very serious about this. If we don’t do something immediately, our lives, and the lives of our families won’t be worth a “plug nickel” in the near future.

We are entering a brand new year, full of new opportunities for us all. As in the scripture lesson this month, we are running and hiding from Herod in a way.

Herod might not be alive now, but we each have our own “Herod” we are trying to avoid. We can start by being more considerate of our fellow human beings. Please and thank you to the wait staff who deliver your food at the restaurant, holding the door open for people who are having a difficult time, smiling at strangers as you pass them on the street and many more. I’m sure you can think of some!

That is it for this month! I will step down from my soapbox (for now!). I would like to take this time to wish you all a very Happy New Year! I hope the new year brings you all a bit of relief and a busload of happiness!

 Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.” Amen.

Benediction: “Gracious Father of us all, help us all to stay away from our ‘Herods.’ Show us, always, the righteous path to travel. Amen.”

These things, I warmly wish for you-
Someone to love, some work to do,
A bit of o’ sun, a bit o’ cheer.
And a guardian angel always near.

An Irish Blessing for Health and Prosperity

Fairview Grange Collects for Vets

Fairview Grange #342 was pleased to be able to put together needed items for the Veterans at Togus VA again this season. We had gathered needed items for several years before the China Virus but couldn’t for two years as they were not accepting donations over concerns of spreading the virus.

This year they had a continued need, and Grange members and some from the community stepped up!

We donated some winter coats, warm socks, and underwear, personal care items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, nail clippers, and body wash as well as a little sugar-free candy as a treat. Thank you to all who helped.

Bogus Email Alert

Thanks to those who have called this bogus email to my attention. I received one myself.

Please just ignore it and delete it.

I assure you this has nothing to do with the website or online directories. What sometimes happens is that scammers hack into someone’s personal email address book or contact list and use it in the hopes of getting a response. Several clues are making it obvious this is not a legitimate email from Sherry.

  • The message has been sent from an incorrect email address. Email addresses using Gmail, Yahoo, etc., are very easy to create and deserve a closer look when the request is strange.
  • Whenever a request demands “discretion,” a big red flag should be waving in front of you. Why the secrecy?
  • The fact that the message requires a response in a very specific way also suggests something isn’t right.

Bear in mind the same phishing technique can be used with text messages. Keep your radar turned on, and be a bit suspicious! This is one time when you shouldn’t do as you’re told!

If an email or text message raises concern, don’t reply. Contact the alleged sender using a different method.

Notes from National – December 2022

Gleaned from an email written by Phil Vonada, National Grange Communications Director

I know it’s late notice, but just yesterday afternoon, I received “Ten Tips for Tackling the Holiday Blues” from our partners at Rural Minds. You may have already seen it up on Facebook this morning, but we would love to have the information shared with members of your State Granges. The holidays are not an easy time for many people, and this one-page resource on mental health during the holidays may be helpful to see.

Webmaster’s Note: It’s been posted separately on the website–feel free to share on social media or via email.

Mark Your Calendar

Facebook Page Zoom-torial Recorded

As a reminder, Phil Vonado, National Grange Communications Director, led a Zoom-torial on “How to Create a Facebook Page,” which also included some information on the free design website Canva, as well as how to create a Facebook Event. This video is now available on the National Grange YouTube channel and can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/-F3iqXyN5Lo. (We’ll be adding this link/video to the Grange Resources Page.)

National Grange Heirloom Program

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Ritual and Declaration of Purposes. Please share “success stories” about the use of the program with us, or if you come up with other innovative ways to incorporate the Program in your Granges. Information and materials are now available on the National Grange Website.

“Notes from National” is based on a monthly email received from the National Grange Communications Department.