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

​​Tel: 269-209-6640

​​Email: roccomaryann@yahoo.com
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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
JULY/AUGUST 2026 GRANGE NEWS
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Summer Is Here !!!!!

Summer is a busy time for all families. We have many Grange activities happening in the next few months. Lets try to support our fellow Granges by attending some of these activities. 

Fredonia Grange will again be participating in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Calhoun County. It is community based and raises money for cancer research. Relay For Life is held at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds on June 19th 3:00pm through 3:00pm Saturday the 2oth. To raise funds for this project Fredonia Grange will be selling Luminary bags, in honor a of or in memory of a loved one, to be placed along the walking route. If you wish to purchase a Luminary Bag please contact Andrea Peck, 517-568-3304.  Fredonia will also have a walking team 

New this year!!!

Reporting Community Service to National Grange:

Community Service Books (New This Year)
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Per delegate action at the 2025 National Grange convention, winning community service books will have a place to be displayed at the 2026 National Grange Convention in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. But the books will not be judged.

Communication from National Grange on the changes as to how we report our State’s Community Service Projects to National Grange.
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State Community Service Reports:
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The 2025 National Grange Community Service Program is now posted on the National Grange website (nationalgrange.org).
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We have found that not all PCs/Laptops/smartphones 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. 
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In 2026, 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.  
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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.  
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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. 
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The judging of our books will remain the same.
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Any Subordinate Grange can submit a "Share Your Project's Story" Form.  
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Simply stated, there will be a place to display your State’s winning Community Service Book but it is the responsible of the State to bring the book, place it on the display table and bring it back home.

At this time Michigan has not make any changes in the way we report our Community Service projects at the State Session.

As you are working on your community service projects, I hope you were able to expand and add a new project this year. It’s never too late to give a helping hand to your community.

August 31st marks the end of our Community Service year. Your Community Service Report is due on September 10th, 2026. That means it needs to be delivered to the State Community Service Director on or before that date. (If special arrangements need to be made for the delivery of your Community Service Report please contact me.) 
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

We will be judging our Community Service books the same as we always have; reporting to the National Grange is all that has changed.
The changes were discussed in last months Michigan Grange News.
This information can also be found on the National Grange website.

Here is a review of information and organization of our Community Service Report. 

The Notebook Reports
• Please place the summary report at the beginning of the Notebook. It is required!
• Please do not send more than one Notebook. Notebooks cannot be larger than a 2 inch binder
• Videotapes and computer discs cannot be used in place of a report for judging.  

Organize the Notebooks.
• Tell the your story as you organize your projects
• Group the projects together 
• Keep items that support your projects, like thank you letters and newspaper articles, with or without photos.
• Simplify your notebook by selecting the best couple of photos for each project. 
• Be concise and stick to the point. More is not always better. 

Ways to Organize
• Organize by New Projects and Continuing Projects
• Or-Organize in chronological order from the beginning to the end of the year
• Or -Organize by the largest projects to the smallest projects
• Keep the page clean and concise
• List all project at the beginning of the book (Index)
• Donations for a project should be noted  
• If tabs are use make sure they are secured so they don’t fall out 
• Remember the notebook maximum size is a 2-inch binder.

This year “Share Your Project Story”- 2026 Focus is America’s 250th Birthday Celebration 
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Let’s celebrate in 2026! When you complete a Community Service project in 2026 with the focus being America’s 250th Birthday Celebration, consider completing the “Share Your Project’s Story” form. This form is automatically sent to the Community Service Directors and will trigger your Grange receiving a celebratory certificate for presentation and/or hanging as well as possible inclusion in National Grange publications.
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Share Your Project's Story Form can be found on the National Grange Web site, nationalgrange.org

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, 2026

National Grange Firefighter/EMT, Law Enforcement Officer and Teacher of the Year Award only given at the Local 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. 

Your Community Service Report and Award nominations are due on September 10th, 2026.  

Stay safe and enjoy your summer!
MARCH/APRIL 2026 GRANGE NEWS

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

Punxsutawney Phil says that we are in for six more weeks of winter. I know we are all ready for spring to arrive. Lets hope Michigan is good to us for the next six weeks.
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 Community Service Books

​Again this year the National Grange, Community Service Community has made some changes in Community Service notebooks.

​Per delegate action at the 2025 National Grange convention, winning community service books will have a place to be displayed at the 2026 National Grange Convention in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
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ADOPTED: 605-MI – Community Service Notebook Judging

​WHEREAS: for many years, Granges across the United States have put together Community Service notebooks or at least filled out a report form; and
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WHEREAS: this is a real encouragement for Granges to work hard at the Community Service projects they take on; and

​WHEREAS: working hard on projects and spending many hours putting a notebook together in the hopes that they just might have a winning book and be recognized by the National Grange; and

​WHEREAS: recognizing and honoring Granges and Grangers is a great way to keep these members encouraged and involved in the Grange; therefore be it

​RESOLVED: The National Grange honor state winning Community Service books by allowing them a place to be displayed at the National Grange Convention; and be it further 

​RESOLVED: that it be known, if said State Grange is going to send its book; it is at their full expense, and it is their full responsibility to display and remove their book at the end of the convention.
Michigan Grange will judge our Community Service books the same way they have done in the past.


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.  
  
Lets take a look at what our Community Service reports should include,
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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, 2026.