Maintaining Grange Halls

Maintaining Grange HallsAll fraternal organizations and community associations experience the same challenges in regards to the up keep of an aging building. At regular intervals we all find that the heating, plumbing, electrical or structural issues require a lot of labor and financial investments. It really takes a lot of people to maintain any community hall. But it is the members tapping into the wider community that continually engages the social as well as financial capital to get the job done. The social capital is often the members and renters who wish to participate in improvements made. They wish to see a commercial kitchen or well lit stage for example.The financial capital comes from individuals, businesses and institutions that see the Hall benefiting the wider community when the Hall is seen as a preferred venue for dance, music, fundraisers or receptions. So, there are two parts to building this community capital. Building the community to build the building. For many Granges like the Bayside, it takes reaching out to the wider community of past, present and potential users. A few members working with a core group of stakeholders in the community makes the goals a reality. The core group of people includes people who can focus on:

1. Program Coordinators:
   1. Talk show hosts for lectures andcandidate debates
   2. Recreational directors for youth activities.
2. Fundraiser Organizers:
   1. One time Special Event Fundraisers for auctions, concerts and talent contests.
   2. Ongoing events: Pancake feeds, open mike nights.
3. Regular Upkeep
   1. Volunteer Coordinators
   2. Youth or service clubs
4. Financial:
   1. Membership recruitment at the various levels.
   2. Advice on restructuring rates and adding additional services such as rental equipment, insurance and custodial services.
   3. Writing small grants to local foundations for small upgrades like refrigerators, barbeque, stage curtains, etc.
5. Professional and Technical expertise.
   1. Building Tradespeople
   2. Facility managers

Building upgrades is an issue common to many Granges since many buildings were built by the membership. Major renovations often include bathroom plumbing, electrical re-wiring, foundation stabilization, roofing repair and kitchen remodeling. All are fairly expensive and can only be staged over successive years. Effective strategies focus on contractor supervision, labor intensive (with members & volunteers), donor & grant supported and historically respectful. After all, it is a partnership between tradespeople, members, historic craftsman, financial donors, service groups, and users that strengthens the communities investment into preserving the resource.

Hear some of our success stories.