The California State Grange, a nonprofit organization, and local chapter SLO Grange No. 639 claim the San Luis Obispo Guild Hall knowingly took over its property at 2880 Broad St. without consent.
A complaint filed on July 17 against the SLO Guild Hall alleges that the organization wrongfully asserted control over the property, the items inside the hall (including chairs and kitchenware), funds from Grange-owned bank accounts, and that it repeatedly trespassed on Grange property.
On April 5, 2013, the California State Grange’s charter was revoked, the lawsuit states, but its charter was restored in July 2014. According to the lawsuit, following the revocation of the State Grange’s charter, former officers and members formed the California Guild, improperly retained control of the State Grange’s property, and attempted to convince Grange members to leave the organization.
On Nov. 16, 2015, the California Superior Court for Sacramento County declared the State Grange was properly reorganized, is the only entity entitled to use and control the State Grange’s property, and that the California Guild has an obligation to return all Grange property in its possession, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit alleges that members of some local divisions of the Grange organization disaffiliated and become members of the new California Guildāone of them being the San Luis Obispo Grange No. 639.
Members of the SLO Grange submitted paperwork with the California Secretary of State on July 19, 2016, the lawsuit claims, to change the name of the local corporation to the SLO Guild Hall.
The lawsuit states the SLO Grange didn’t report to the State Grange its intention to change its name nor did the State Grange approve of the name change, which is required under the organization’s laws.
A deed recorded with the SLO County Clerk Recorder’s Office in 2016 transferred the title of the property from SLO Grange to SLO Guild Hall, the lawsuit claims, without permission from the state-level organization.
On July 17, 2019, a representative of SLO Grange and the state-level organization contacted the SLO Guild to demand the return of all property and to demand that it cease and desist its trespassing.
New Times reached out to the SLO Guild Hall for comment but did not hear back before press time. Ī
This article appears in Jul 25 – Aug 4, 2019.
Such a sad situation. Morally the Guild is right. Legally they don’t have a chance. The national Grange over years took actions to convince the local Granges to incorporate under the parent organization. In the 1980’s the national Grange supported laws to give full control of subsidiary organizations. Churches received the same power. The national organizations virtually reversed their doctrine and the local congregations could live with it or turn all their property over to the parent organization.
So the national Grange owns the building ad makes all the rules; like the ones about needing approval to change name and national approval of bylaws. It’s all about money. The National organization wants close the smaller subsidiaries and srlk the property.
The Guild was started by long time Grange memmbers in California who were furious that all their hard work and property donations as well as those of their parents and grandparents were engaged claimed by the Nationsl Grange as their property.
This has been fought over for over 10 years. The evil corporations won with the help of the State of California rules changes. Sadly.
Such a sad situation. Morally the Guild is right. Legally they don’t have a chance. The national Grange over years took actions to convince the local Granges to incorporate under the parent organization. In the 1980’s the national Grange supported laws to give full control of subsidiary organizations to the parent corporation. Churches received the same power. The national organizations virtually reversed their doctrine and the local congregations could live with it or turn all their property over to the parent organization.
So the national Grange owns the building and makes all the rules; like the ones about needing approval to change name and national approval of bylaws. It’s all about money. The National organization wants close the smaller subsidiaries and sell the property.
The Guild was started by long time Grange memmbers in California who were furious that all their hard work and property donations as well as those of their parents and grandparents were being claimed by the Nationsnal Grange as their property.
This has been fought over for over 10 years. The evil corporations won with the help of the State of California rules changes. Sadly. The State Guild lost and all their property is under the control of the newly reformed California State Grange which was formed by the national Grange and has been used by national to force compliance in the local granges.