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
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025 GRANGE NEWS

Happy New Year!!! Sending Warm Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season. Wishing you a time of joy, a time of hope and good health in 2025

As I look back on at this year’s State Session I was pleased to see all the Granges that participated in reporting on the Community Service projects we had going on in our State.. 

 I would be happy to visit your Grange and help in any way I can. Help with your Community Service Reports or with community service ideas. Just let me know if I can help.

The winter months can be very hard for family members, neighbors or shut-ins. Lets see if we can bring a little cheer to a with a short note, a phone call or a short visit.

As I understand there will be some changes in the way out state winning Community Service Book will be reported to the National Grange this year. As soon as I get more information I will makes sure it gets to you.

Community Service Report Rules and Suggestions.

 Program Date: September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025

Community Service Report Due: 
 September 10th, 2025. This means that your book needs to be delivered to the State Community Service Director on or before that date.

Mary Ann Rocco
145 Beadle Lake Drive
Battle Creek, MI 49014 

Divisions: 
 Granges are divides into two categories, small Granges with 40 members or less and large Granges with more than 40 members. Membership numbers are determined by the second quarter (June 30) membership report to the State Secretary. Granges will compete within their own category.

Summary Report:
 A Summary report form will be supplied to each Community Service Chairman. A report may be submitted alone or with a notebook to receive full credit as an entry. Reports may be typed or nearly hand written.

Notebook Report:
  Notebook reports MUST contain the Summary Report as the first pages of the report. Materials should be organized and indexed in a manner that effectively tells the story of your Grange’s Community Service work. Some choose to arrange projects from large to small and others choose to arrange materials in chronological order. You might also want to include newspaper articles, flyers and or pictures of your events. Remember if a couple of pictures cover the event it isn’t necessary to use a couple of pages of materials. 

Awards:
 Our Granges have several ways to honor its members. You can nominate them for the VIP Award or the Dedicated Person Award. We also have the privilege of honoring a Firefighter/EMT, A Law Enforcement Officer or Teacher of the Year Award in your area. These individuals deserve special recognition for services in your area, helping with Grange service projects or very special projects/service they do.

More in depth information will be coming in the next months. If you have something happening in your grange you would like to share in the Michigan Grange News Community Service Report please let me know.

If I can do anything to help you, please contact me. 
 Mary Ann Rocco

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 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.

This year the Michigan State Grange had a Community Service project. Chris Johnston contacted Illinois, Indiana and Ohio State Granges, and invited them to take up a collection of needed items for the survivors of Helene. Chris Johnston collected all materials and delivered them to North Carolina. 

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 9 Granges submitted Community Service Reports with a total of 25,220 service hours with 2 Granges not submitting any service hours.
Congratulations to Everyone!!!!

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

2024 Michigan State Grange Community Service Winners 

40 members and over
1st Place - Fredonia Grange #1713 
2nd Place - Burns Grange #160
3rd Place - Pittsfield Union #882

Under 40 Members
1st Place - Community Grange #1675 
2nd Place - Studley Grange #1174
3rd Place - Barnard Grange #689 

The National Grange 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. 

1st Place - Fredonia Grange #1713
2nd Place  - Burns Grange #160
3rd Place -  Community Grange #1675
4th Place  - Studley Grange #1174
 
2024 Very Important Patron
 There were no nominees this year.
***Next Years Community Service Reports will be due on Sunday, September 10th, 2025.

 Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas Everyone.