Reprinted with permission from an ENewsletter from Paul Stearns, State Representative of District 119.
Coming to several Maine locations is what many people consider to be, the country’s longest veterans’ parade, the Wreaths Across America annual “Escort to Arlington.” This 12-truck convoy, the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit, and local supporters will be making a local stop on their way to Arlington National Cemetery to deliver veterans wreaths to our nation’s interred veterans.
For a complete convoy schedule of locations and times or to sponsor a veteran’s wreath for placement this year at a location near you, or to learn more about volunteering, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
This is a photo of the items the Ocean View Grange members and others have collected for the Vets at Togus. After our December meeting on Dec 3rd, I will take them to Togus.
The gifts range from razors, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, some clothing, homemade lap quilts, combs, etc. We even got three buckets of soap, shampoos, and rinses from our friends at the East Wind Inn.
Thanks to all who stepped up to help those who served.
Don’t forget the critters at the Pope Humane Society.
Valley Grange uses “Grange Bees” in conjunction with our meetings… simply stated, Grange Bees are members who agree to be the official hosts for a meeting. While all members pitch in, we find it efficient to rotate the “official” responsibilities among members. Grange Bees are responsible for opening and closing the hall. (Our checklist is available on the Valley Grange website.) We try to set up a schedule for the entire year each fall. We also occasionally all “swarm” to the hall for major cleaning and projects. Everybody can be a bee!
Santa is coming to the Parkman Grange on Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 1-3:30. He and Mrs. Claus will be hearing kids’ wishes, getting their picture taken with your little ones, and handing out gifts. Tables will be set up to make simple crafts to give away or keep. Included will be Christmas cookie decorating, jingle bell necklaces, wooden ornaments to color, a Santa photo folder to decorate with stickers, and more. Hot cocoa and Christmas cookies will be served. This party is free and the Grange’s gift to the community. The Grange is located at the corner of State Hwy 150 and North Dexter Road.
If you receive an email similar to the above, ignore it. There are several clues to the fact it’s not legitimate. First, it doesn’t sound like Master/President Sherry… Second, the reply-to address is not her address.
I am usually nagging people who don’t reply to email but in this case. just delete it. This is not an issue created by the website, but we can use the site to warn others.
AUGUSTA –Many Maine residents’ holiday celebrations are incomplete without decorating with Maine-grown wreaths, trees, and other decorative plant material. Sending wreaths and trees to our friends and families across the country can help us feel connected even if we can’t be together this holiday season. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) reminds Mainers sending holiday greenery that they can save time and money and prevent product loss by shipping only healthy plant material.
“Shippers should be aware of the many state laws and regulations regarding the movement of plants and forest products,” warned Carole Neil, Assistant Horticulturist with DACF. “Many states closely monitor shipments to prevent the introduction of invasive insects and plant diseases. By planning, Maine shippers can speed up deliveries in this time-sensitive industry.”
DACF offers this advice for wreath and tree shippers:
Import regulations vary from state to state. Check destination state regulations before sending plant material. A summary of plant health regulations for Maine-grown holiday decorations is at www.maine.gov/dacf/php/horticulture/wreaths.shtml.
Shipping internationally? Many countries prohibit most types of plant material from being included in holiday decorations. Some countries may allow some holiday decorations with the proper certification. Email horticulture@maine.gov for more information.
Beware of invasive plants! Asian bittersweet and multiflora rose have pretty, decorative berries, but both are invasive and should not be included in holiday décor. Better plant choices with colorful berries include winterberry and holly.
Look for pests. Carefully inspect plant material before packaging to ensure no insects, egg masses, or other pest damage.
Clearly label packages. Begin with the statement “Grown in Maine” followed by the county of origin and the name and address of the shipper. Labels should also indicate the different types of greenery, nuts, fruits and cones used as decorations.
Don’t forget about spongy moth! Spongy moth (Lymantria dispar, formerly known as gypsy moth) certification is required when sending plant material outside the spongy mothquarantine area (www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/maps/plant-health/european-gypsy-moth-quarantine). Contact the Maine USDA-PPQ office at 207-848-0000 for more information.
“Import requirements for cut trees and holiday decorations including greenery, ornamental nuts, and fruit exist to protect regional agriculture and natural resources from the risk of plant pests,” explained Sarah Scally, Assistant Horticulturist. “An insect or plant disease in Maine could potentially be invasive in other states. Unfortunately, despite the quality of Maine products, some shippers have learned about these regulations the hard way and have had shipments delayed, impounded, or destroyed. We want to prevent any losses by getting the word out now.” Shippers with questions are invited to call: (207) 287-3891 or email horticulture@maine.gov. For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, visit www.maine.gov/dacf.
RAFFLE: We sold $466 in tickets and collected $375 in donations for a total of $841. The first prize, $100, was awarded to Steven Lovely, the second prize, $100, was awarded to Colleen Levesque, the third prize, $50, was awarded to Herb Bitter. Herb donated his prize back to Valley Grange, making our net income from the raffle $641.
UDDERLY MOOVELOUS: Dinner was accompanied by Nightingale Farms Milk—straight from the farm! It’s rich and creamy… almost yellow, and pasteurized but not homogenized. If you’d like a quality experience and to support this young farmer, it’s available at the farm—take 150 south from Guilford, and keep an eye on the left side just as you enter Parkman. It’s also available at Whitney’s in Guilford. You can also visit their Facebook Page and meet “the girls.”
DICTIONARIES: Dictionaries have been distributed to PCES (they came to the hall) and Brownville Elementary. Both groups were excited and will enjoy their dictionaries. According to the teachers, the kids keep them at school for a while so they can learn how to find things and get in the habit of “looking things up.” Janice and Pat will be delivering to Ridgeview on Monday (11/21). Teachers will likely use Walter’s video explaining Valley Grange and the Dictionary Project. (It’s less than eight minutes; you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/00pSHDKiZjA .
SeDoMoCha is scheduled for Wednesday (11/30)—we’ll have an assembly at school starting at 9:30 am. Last but not least, we’ll visit Harmony Elementary on Friday (12/2) to work with four third graders. It’s always interesting to go from an assembly of 60+ kids at SeDoMoCha to 4 in Harmony!
I enjoyed a funny coincidence today. I was standing in line at Shaw’s, and the cashier started yelling, “Mr. Boomsma!” She yelled back to me that she’s almost 21 now but remembers me from school. We talked about dictionaries, and she said she remembers making butter with me a long time ago, maybe in second grade. LOL Whether it’s dictionaries, bookworming, or GrowME, it’s great to know we leave a lasting and positive impression on the kids that are our future.
First Sergeant Laweryson reporting for duty!
Special thanks to Lynn Bosworth, Jim Annis, Janice Boomsma, and Pat Engstrom for helping out with the PCES kids. We are also grateful to “First Sergeant” Wayne Bennett for “dressing” one of the teachers in uniform. The kids definitely thought that was cool.
One of the Ed Techs in Brownville shared that she was concerned about her assigned student acting out during the presentation, but he remained engaged and excited. We created a slightly different problem. Now he didn’t want to transition to his next lesson—he wanted to continue to explore his new dictionary! I’ve had several adults question whether or not the kids are still interested, given the technology available. The short answer is an enthusiastic “YES!” One young scholar from PCES who has a lot of difficulty reading locked into the sign language at the back of the dictionary. By the time she lined up to leave, she’d already learned three letters. There’s lots to discover in these dictionaries.
BREAKFAST: We discussed breakfast briefly, mainly to make sure the “food groups” would be represented. We can promise Mary’s Bacon, Walter’s Apple French Toast, and Pat’s muffins. If you have a breakfast dish or treat you can bring, the assortment will increase! If you’d like to coordinate, call Mary (564-0820) or Janice (343-1496). Please join us for some good food and warm fellowship on Friday, December 2, 2022, at 6 pm. You can come in your jammies! Parents of kids receiving dictionaries have been invited…
BOOKWORMING: How do you round up and herd worms? Realistically, we’ll probably schedule some sessions starting in January and do them once or twice a week, depending on how many “worms” we end up with. Stay tuned. This will be a focus once we’ve completed Dictionary Days. If you, or someone you know, is interested, contact Walter!
BLISTERED FINGER KNITTER: Mary shared with us the obituary of Roberta Fitzgerald… it specifically mentioned that since becoming a Valley Grange BFK in 2012, Roberta knitted a total of 1,430 hats for infants and children. Her most recent delivery was 330 hats delivered in August. And, since she knitted “right up to the end,” we’ll receive one more delivery next summer. What an amazing woman with fast fingers and a big heart. We voted to donate to the Fred and Hattie Washburn Scholarship Fund, Foxcroft Academy, Attn: Cathy Hall, 975 West Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 04426, in her memory and honor.
Jonesboro Grange Executive Committee member, LouAnn Cox, led a backpack drive for kids in foster care. LouAnn has had first-hand experience working with kids placed in the foster system, and she knew the difference a backpack can make to a child. Generous community members bought backpacks and other items to create a special backpack for foster kids who may otherwise have nothing or carry what they do have in a trash bag.
Pictured from left to right is Jonesboro junior Grange member Jennilyn LaRose, Jonesboro Grange members Hannah LaRose, Rebecca Trundy, and LouAnn Cox. Not pictured is Brad Coleman.
On October 21,2022 LouAnn and members of Jonesboro Grange delivered over 60 backpacks and other needed items to the Department of Health and Human Services in Machias.
Special thanks to Ellsworth Moose Lodge #2698 for their generous donation of backpacks!
Your members are an untapped market! We tend to think of “markets” as customers. Those in business are aware of the tremendous strides made in understanding what motivates customers. Businesses spend a great time of time, energy, and money marketing products and services to their customers. But we tend to deal with people differently when we think of them as “members.”
We’d like to think that members should love and promote our organization. Well, customers should buy products and services, but companies still work hard to get them to want to! As Grange Leaders, we can be equally good at getting members excited about the Grange. After all, it doesn’t “cost” much to belong to and love the Grange.
Successful marketers know their customers’ values and get the business by offering obvious satisfaction (benefits, rewards, consequences). Successful Granges and Grange Leaders get motivated members by using exactly the same approach. Grangers, like customers, are motivated by outcomes and the amount of value placed on those outcomes.[1] This is a basic premise for all marketing: the price a customer will pay for a product is equal to the amount of expected benefit.
This simple formula (effort = outcome + value) is the basis for every choice we make. Usually, it takes place on an almost unconscious level. You choose a restaurant based on what kind of service and food (outcomes) you expect. The place just down the street may be cheaper, but the service is almost non-existent. You’ll drive the extra miles if you value the service more than the few extra dollars you’ll pay and the extra effort required. But notice this is about what YOU value.
There are hundreds – perhaps thousands – of tools available to excite and motivate. But we may need to change our thinking a bit. Member relations and member-centered publicity mean that we don’t preach. It means we don’t “sell” the Grange; we excite and influence people. For example,
The way you package your Grange includes the building, the grounds, and the material you print and publish. What does that packaging say about the Grange? Does it communicate caring and pride?
Companies work hard at “customer service.” What about “member service?” Are you modeling fraternity? Does a member feel a sense of Grange Community? Should we rename “good of the order” “good of the membership?”
Can you write an advertisement for one activity your Grange does? Will it be something that screams to others “you just have to be part of this?”
Are you making news? “It’s easier to make news than it is to write press releases!”
These programs are not as important as the thought process. Consumer marketing works when the product has real value. Member-centered publicity works when you value your members and offer them intrinsic benefits.
Customers buy products because those products do something for them. People will join the Grange if the Grange does something for them. Your current members contribute energy because they get something in return. As a leader of your Grange what are you giving those members?
[1] Vroom, V. H. Work and Motivation, New York: John Wiley, 1964,
