Community Service/FHH – June 2024

By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193

There has been some confusion and questions regarding our “Coups for Troops” Program. Some of this is because the official program was discontinued some time ago and we are now involved in the “TroopOns” program. We just haven’t changed the name until now!

Troopons is a program in which the Grange participates to help the military and their families.

  • Coupons must be manufacturer coupons only.
  • Coupons that have expired up to six months ago can still be used. 
  • There are four categories: food, non-food, baby and pets.

Group coupons in baggies and label on the outside of baggie:

  • Expired or unexpired
  • Category: food, non-food, baby, or pets
  • Number of coupons in the baggie
  • Dollar amount of coupons in the baggie
  • Please include an email address so troops/family can email thank you.

Send to Community Service Committee:
Brenda Dyer, Director
9 Marial Avenue
Biddeford, ME  04005

The Community Service Committee verifies and documents the baggies, then forwards them to Troopons. Troopons distributes the coupons to commissaries.

Learn more about Troopons here!

PLEASE Keep track of community service hours for each member and non-member involved in each project.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

June is election of officers. Remember, “The office seeks the man and not the man the office.”

Survey – Ag Trades Show

MSG Communications Department

The organizers of the Maine Agricultural Trades Show are looking for input on what you want to see:

  • Why do you attend the show? 
  • What types of business services do you seek?
  • What makes an ideal conference session topic or presentation style? 
  • What is on your wish list for BPC re-certification credit topics?
  • Suggested topics for daily networking and listening sessions

Click here to complete the survey!

View from the Hill – May 2024

This monthly newsletter written by Burton Eller, National Grange Legislative Director, covers “what’s happening” in Washington on various topics of interest to Grangers.

View Updates

Note this is the final issue of “View from the Hill.” The content will become part of Grange Today! The first issue will be released June 14, 2024.

Valley Grange Community Celebration

Congratulations to the Piscataquis County Dispatch Team and Valley Grange 2024 Community Citizens Kaylee Aucoin, Magen Bishop, Jon Buckingham, Jaeme Duggan, Gabrielle Huettner, Megan Leavitt, Alicia London, Joshua Michaud, Ashley Monahan, Nathan Richards, Jessica Trewmyn, and Team Leader Eric Berce.

Photos by Janice Boomsma

See the full coverage in the Piscataquis Observer, written by Stuart Hedstrom
Visit the Valley Grange Website

June Events Around the State

  • June 2, 2024, MSG Outdoor Yard Sale at Manchester Grange, 9 am until 2 pm. FMI see this post.
  • June 2, 2024, The Spring Faire will be a lovely craft, art, and spring-themed fair and makers market from 10 am – 3 pm at East Madison Grange Hall. Refreshments available for purchase. Free and open to the public. FMI or to apply as a vendor: hideandgopeep@gmail.com or message 207-716-6441.
  • June 3, 2024, Ag Scholarship Recipients will be notified.
  • June 4, 2024, Piscataquis Pomona Meeting at Wayside Grange Hall. Contact Bill Bemis FMI.
  • June 7, 2024 Community Potluck Supper at Trenton Grange, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., 1134 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
  • June 8, 2024, St George Grange Community Supper at 5 pm. Adults $10, Children $5, under 10 free. For more information see this post.
  • June 8-9, 2024, Community Bazaar (crafts, farmers’ market, yard sale…) at Trenton Grange from 9 am until 2 pm both days. For more information, see this post or visit the Trenton Grange Website.
  • June 14, 2024, Deadline for the MSG Bulletin
  • June 21-23, 2024, Northeast Lecturer’s Conference in Norwich, CT. FMI Contact MSG Lecturer Missy Baldwin.
  • June 22, 2024, Junior Grange Meeting at Lincolnville Grange. Contact Director Betty Young for more information.
  • June 29, 2024, MSG 150th Anniversary Celebration, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at headquarters. FMI see this post or contact Master Sherry.

Patrons Chain Changing

from the MSG Communications Department

(Read that headline quickly out loud three times!)

Many know the National Grange E-Newsletters “Patrons Chain” and “View from the Hill.” Effective June 1, 2024, both will be discontinued and replaced by “Grange Today!” The first issue of Grange Today! will be released on June 14, 2024.

If you subscribe to Patrons Chain, your subscription will automatically transfer to the new publication. No action on your part is necessary.

At this time, our intent is to continue publishing a summary of each issue when it is released. That summary will include a link to the full issue as a PDF on the National Grange Website. We’ll also include a link allowing you to subscribe to Grange Today! and receive the complete issue directly from National Grange.

Do not confuse Grange Today! with the National Grange quarterly magazine, “Good Day!”

The Patrons Chain 5-24-2024

Articles in this edition include:

  • The final issue of The Patrons Chain
  • Meet Us at the River for the 2024 Convention
  • 2025 National Convention is Setting Sail
  • Member Satisfaction Survey
  • Apply for National Grange training programs
  • Upcoming National Grange Events
  • Grange Supply Store: Guidelines for Grange Leaders
  • Grange Member Benefit: Budget Rental Car 

Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to the Patrons Chain!

Read THE Current Issue
Subscribe to Patrons Chain

Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. Occasionally, a weekly issue isn’t sent. For example, the last Friday of the month is usually a View from the Hill week, so the fact that one hasn’t been posted on the MSG website doesn’t necessarily mean we skipped it! You can double-check using the link (Read the Current Issue) above. Effective 2024, we will only maintain one year of issues on the MSG website.