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
MAY/JUNE 2025 GRANGE NEWS
​
HELLO SPRING!!!!! Hopefully sunshine and warmer temperatures are coming soon. Summer is knocking on our door April was Grange month and on April 19th we had a Day Of Learning workshop for all Grange
members hosted at Fredonia Grange Hall. Lots of good information was shared.
​
New this year!!!
Reporting Community Service to National Grange:  A new way of reporting Community Services Projects will be followed in 2025.

​​Communication from National Grange on the changes as to how we report our State’s Community Service Projects to National Grange.
​
State Community Service Directors:
The 2025 National Grange Community Service Program is now posted on the National Grange
website (nationalgrange.org).
​
We have found that not all PCs/Laptops/smart phones show the same format but under Community Service, you will find a page with the CS logo describing the 2025 National Grange Community Service Program.
​
Also included are the National Grange Community Service Report Form and a "Share Your Project's Story" Form and Program Ideas. 

​​In 2025, the focus of Community Service will not be a contest, but a celebration of good works. As such, there will be no judging on the National level. No notebooks are to be taken to National Convention or sent electronically prior to Convention to the community service email address.

​​Likewise, "Of the Year" Nominations for Fireman, Teacher and Policeman will not be judged on the National level but can be recognized on the local and State levels.
​
We encourage each State to receive the Subordinate Grange reports/notebooks and "Of the Year" nominations in the format that best serves your State. The option to judge or don't judge is yours. As State Director, you have the responsibility to work with your State President and others as necessary to determine what is best for your State and get it communicated to your Subordinate Granges.
​
Any Subordinate Grange can submit a "Share Your Project's Story" Form. 

​​We do trust, however, that you have been making a difference in your communities and now we can finally all move forward together with the 2025 National Grange Community Service Program.
​
At this time Michigan has not made any changes in the way we report our Community Service projects at the State Session.

​​Remember when putting your community service report together the focus of all Community Service Reports is on the Community Service your Grange has done this year.
​
Know your Community and their needs and give them a helping hand. Our Community Services are a
way to help each other and to help in our community.
​
The National Grange website has information on the Do’s and Do Not's for your Community Service
Report.
National Grange’s Website also has information on Community Service. www.nationalgrange.org.

​Lets look at some awards your Grange can receive for Community Service.
​
GRANGE AWARDS
Lets review the awards that are available to our Granges We would like to encourage Granges to
nominate a Grange member for the VIP (Very Important Patron) and The Firefighter/EMT, Law Enforcement Officer and Teacher of the Year Awards.
​
VIP –VERY IMPORTANT PERSON
The purpose of the VIP Award is for each Grange to honor a member who has made an outstanding
contribution to the Grange.
​Submission:
Only one entry from a Grange may be submitted to the State Grange per year. Submit a biography and a
summary of the contribution the VIP nominee has made to the Grange. If possible also submit a photograph of your VIP. The submission shall be sent to the State Community Service Director postmarked by September 10th,2025
​
National Grange Firefighter/EMT, Law Enforcement Officer and Teacher of the Year Award only
given at the Local and State level this year.
​
This is a wonderful way to thank people in your community. I hope more Granges try to award this to
deserving people in their community.
​
 The purpose in nominating an individual, in one of these categories, gives public recognition to those
who have made an outstanding effort, is important in your various community service projects, that include honoring these hometown hero’s. National Grange encourages your Grange to honor these well deserving individuals.
Submission:
Each State Grange may submit one nominee for each category. Submit your nomination form, and any
other supporting paper work, for possible National Grange recognition, to the State Community Director, the same time, as your Community Service report is due.
​
Your Community Service Report and Award nominations are due on September 10th, 2025.
MARCH/APRIL 2025 GRANGE NEWS

Wishing everyone a Happy Saint Patrick Day! And a Blessed Easter.

Hopefully Spring is right around the corner! 

National Grange has given some do’s and don’t on creating your Community Service Books.
​
The Community Service Team, share the following suggestions when putting together your Community Service book. They need to reminds us that these are just suggestions to make the book flow better and make it easier on the people putting it together. State Granges may have different ideas or suggestions. More pages or larger books are not always better. Good organization is important. This is not a history book of everything your Grange did in a year, just the Community Service projects. It is important that the name of your Grange is on the front of the book.
​
Suggested DO’s
  • Include a short write up about your Grange and Community. (1 page max)
  • Limit pages to no more than 4 (front and back) for larger projects and 2 (front and back) forsmaller projects
  • Include 2 or 3 photos that demonstrate members (& non-members if applicable) participationand items collected. If it is a cleanup type project before and after photos.
  • 1 or 2 Thank You cards/letters for an event.
  • An overall summary sheet listing continuing projects, new projects, larger and smaller projectsand list of donations. Then utilize this format for the organization of the community servicebook.
  • Include any newspaper article or flyer about the event.
  • When holding a fundraiser dinner/event it is important to include where the monies were donated.
Suggested DON’Ts
  • Don’t include things like State session programs in this book, officer and member 
  • rosters and meeting minutes.
  • Don’t include members or family obituaries because the family used your hall after the funeral.
  • Don’t include every thank you note/letter you get from a project. One is enough, not all 30 from a class you donated dictionaries to.
  • Mowing the grass at the Grange Hall – maintenance not community service.
If you have any questions, feel free to email communityservice@grange.org.

Our Granges are doing many exciting projects throughout their communities I would love to share something your Grange is or has done this year. Just let me know and I’ll put it in the Michigan Grange News.  
  
Michigan’s Community Service reports should include,

​The Notebook Reports:
 The summary report should be placed at the beginning of the Notebook. This form is required!
​
 Material should be organized. Suggested ways to submit the Notebook is to have the projects grouped together by the size of the project, chronologically or have your Notebook read like a book. Easy to read and follow activities. This is your opportunity to tell the story of your Grange in a neat and concise manner.

​ Please do not send more than one Notebook. Notebooks cannot be larger than a 2-inch binder! More isn’t always better!

​ Videotapes and computer discs cannot be used in place of a report for judging. 

​Projects:
​ Describe the new and old project(s) that will answer the Who? What? Where? When? Why? And How?

​ Why did you choose this project? Did it benefit the community? Did you overcome obstacles? Did you record what you would do differently?

​ Would you recommend this type of project to other Granges? 

​ Include the details of the work. Were there special committees? Did it take cooperation of other groups? How many Grangers and non-Grangers were involved? What did you accomplish? Describe your successes.
 
​Include support materials used such as publicity, pictures, news articles & letters.

​ Keep the report concise. Include only material that directly impacts the projects you are explaining.

​ On the Project List pages: List the projects, the approximate number of hours spent on each project. List the number of Grangers and non-Grangers who assisted with the project. If more space is needed use additional pages.

​Community Service Reports are due September 10th, 2025.