MARY ANN ROCCO
145 Beadle Lake Drive
Battle Creek, MI 49014

​​Tel: 269-209-6640

​​Email: roccomaryann@yahoo.com
​
THE DICTIONARY PROJECT

"The Dictionary Project" started in South Carolina. The purpose of the project is to put dictionaries into the hands of third graders. These dictionaries are theirs to keep. The organizers of this project are well organized, and have structured the project to make it a success with a minimum of effort. The website includes sample letters, suggestions for labeling the dictionaries, press releases... in short they have thought of everything you need to make the project a success. You may even send for samples of the dictionaries that are offered for sale. Since the current school year is at an end you will have plenty of time to collect information on you school, ordering the dictionaries and make presentation to the school.

There are four things to recommend this project:

GOOD PURPOSE — The Grange has always supported the advancement of education

MEDIUM EXPENSE — The dictionaries are available at a reasonable cost. The books are sold in case lots.

MINIMUM EFFORT — The instructions are very complete. All the thinking work has been done for you. And it would take very few people to finish the project. A small committee could handle it easily.

GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS — This project would make a very newsworthy story for print or radio.

Please consider this project. If you are interested please contact:

http://www.dictionaryproject.org  or

Mary L. French
P.O. Box #1845
Charleston SC 29402
COMMUNITY SERVICE
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026 GRANGE NEWS
​
The Michigan State Grange Session has come to a close once again. I would like to thank all our Grangers who helped to promote Community Service in their communities during this year.

Granges, let’s all think about one new project/service we can do this next year for your community. 

We have 22 subordinate Granges and 10 Granges submitted Community Service Reports with over 30,000 service hours.
​ 
Congratulation Everyone!!!!

Thank you to all Granges for promoting Community Service and taking the time to complete a report and summiting it to me.  

2026 Michigan State Grange Community Service Winners 
40 members and over

2nd Place Pittsfield Union #882
1st Place Fredonia Community Grange #1713

Michigan State Grange Community Service Winners
​Under 40 Members

3rd Place Studley Grange # 1174
2nd Place Burns Grange #160
1st Place Community Grange #1675
​
The NG requests our 1st through 4th place winners. Based on total number of points from the judging. Following are the Granges recognized as the top winners. 

4th Place Pittsfield Union #882
3rd Place Burns Grange #160
2nd Place Fredonia Community Grange #1713
1st Place Community Grange # 1675

2026 Very Important Patron
 There were no nominees this year.

​***Next Years Community Service Reports will be due on Friday, September 10th, 2027.

 Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas Everyone.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026 GRANGE NEWS

As Summer is coming to an end and Fall is right around the
​corner, colored leaves, picking apples and pumpkins will be here
​before we know it. 

Hopefully you have completed your Community Service Report or
​are working on completing it. If you are having trouble completing
​your Community Service Report booklet, you can still fill out the
​Community Service Summary Report Form and submit it as your
​Community Service Report without a booklet.

 All nominations for the VIP Award along with your Community Service Report are due to me by September 10th. You may mail your VIP nominees and your Community Service Report in the same package.
 Law Enforcement Officer, Firefighter/EMT and Teacher of the Year recipients are to be done in your local Grange. You may bring a copy of the awards to State Convention where they can be shared with everyone.

 I hope we have some Granges that have summited a Community Service activity to the National Grange. Remember this year “Share Your Project Story”- 2026 Focus is America’s 250th Birthday Celebration. Please bring it along to the State Convention to share.

 I have tried to pass along information in pervious Grange Newsletters as a guide and have mailed out your registration forms along with the guidelines for your report. Your Community Service letter and Nominations forms have all been posted on the Michigan Grange website. If you have any questions at all please give me a call or email me. 

Fredonia Grange will again be serving home cooked meals at the Calhoun County Fair, Aug. 16th through 22nd. Feel free to stop in say Hello and have some delicious food.

 Remember your Community Service Report and 
Award Nominations need to be to me in Battle Creek by 
September 10th, 2026 to be judged.  
 Mary Ann Rocco 
 145 Beadle Lake Drive, Battle Creek, Michigan 49014
(Just a little note, when mailing your materials please put Drive on the address. There is also Beadle Lake Road and a Beadle Lake in the same zip code.) 269 209-6640 roccomaryann@yahoo.com

 With the start the new Grange calendar year, lets try and find a new Community Service Project to do in your community this year. 

 Enjoy the remaining days of summer, and I’ll see you in Three Rivers at the Michigan State Grange Convention.

Mary Ann Rocco