Sonoma Valley Grange reborn after lawsuit

The Sonoma Valley Grange is back.

That’s the major takeaway from the settlement of a legal dispute involving the nonprofit Sonoma Springs Community Hall (SSCH) and the California State Grange, which claims ownership of the property at 18627 Sonoma Highway that has been operated for the past five years under the auspices of the SSCH.

Out of the ashes of the defunct Sonoma Valley Grange #407, the Sonoma Springs Community Hall nonprofit was established at the site in 2017, following a splintering between the National Grange and the California State Grange, under which the Sonoma Valley Grange #407 served as a so-called subordinate, or community-level club. The National Grange oversees the ag-based fraternal organization’s state- and community-level groups – and has the ability to issue or revoke charters for the lower-level organizations.

In the wake of the dispute between leadership of the national- and state-level Granges, the National Grange revoked the California State Grange’s charter, meaning Sonoma Valley’s charter was revoked as well. In 2017, former local Grange members coalesced under their own newly created nonprofit, the Sonoma Springs Community Hall.

Meanwhile, the National Grange installed new leadership in a reestablished California State Grange, which launched a legal campaign to reappropriate property used and operated by former community clubs whose charters were revoked – including the former Sonoma Valley Grange at 18627 Sonoma Highway, now operated by the Community Hall. In 2020, the California Grange filed a lawsuit in Sonoma County Superior Court contesting the transfer of the property at 18627 Sonoma Highway to the SSCH and requesting that “all real and personal property belonging to the Sonoma Valley Grange” be returned to the state organization.

The Sonoma Springs Community Hall argued that the property, purchased in 1934 on behalf of the Grange, was entirely financed and maintained by Sonoma Valley community members and ownership should be transferred to the local nonprofit.

But, according to Ray Gallian, president of the SSCH, such reasoning doesn’t hold up in court.

“Courts have broadly rejected defendant arguments like ours that community input and financing equates to de-facto ownership,” Gallian wrote in a press release about the lawsuit. And “given the legal rulings in related cases,” added Gallian, the SSCH decided to settle the case “in order to keep this community hall open and local.”

Under the terms of the settlement, the nonprofit will relinquish the hall property, which will come under the ownership of a re-chartered Sonoma Valley Grange #407. Members of the Sonoma Valley Grange will govern the club and operate the building. “SSCH leadership agreed to function as initial leadership for the new Sonoma Valley Grange #407, and we are committed to guiding the process of rebuilding this Grange,” said Gallian.

As for the Sonoma Springs Community Hall, Gallian said the entity will keep its nonprofit status and continue to seek sponsorships and donations. While separate from the Grange, the SSCH will look to partner with the Grange to continue to fulfill its mission “to provide a (gathering) space for our community and serve their needs in the realms of healthy food, environmental well-being and resilient prosperity.”

Additionally, the nonprofit will assume a new name: Sonoma Springs Commons.

“Under that banner, and with your help, we will thrive,” said Gallian. He is also urging Sonoma Springs Commons supporters to join as members of the Sonoma Valley Grange, which will hold its first meeting in late April, “as we work out final details of the transfer of the hall property.”

Kathy King, executive director of Sonoma Overnight Support, the local homeless-services nonprofit that operates a meal-service program out of the Springs Community Hall, said she’s “thrilled” about the settlement and the establishment of the new community Grange. She counts herself among its charter members.

“SOS has been the one and only tenant renting the Springs Hall since June of 2020 providing meals” to more than 160 homeless clients, said King. She said she’s looking forward to continuing their meal service from the new Grange “with a longer-term commitment of a lease.”

“Kudos to the Springs Hall leadership for keeping this valuable resource in Sonoma Valley.”

Email Jason Walsh at Jason.walsh@sonomanews.com.