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
JULY/AUGUST 2026 GRANGE NEWS
​
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 20th. 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)
​
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.
​
State Community Service Reports:
​
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/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. 
​
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.  
​
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. 
​
The judging of our books will remain the same.
​
Any Subordinate Grange can submit a "Share Your Project's Story" Form.  
​
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 
​
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!
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