Luttrell: Agreement announced with casino developers who infringed

TIGARD, Ore. (Sept. 5, 2012) – On Wednesday, National Grange President Ed Luttrell announced an agreement with proposed casino developers and their financial backers who were using the name “The Grange” for the project without authorization.

Luttrell, who made the announcement during a press conference at Tigard Grange, Tigard, Ore., in front of a crowd of Grange members, called the move “an agreement that will protect the name of our 145-year-old organization.”

The agreement included stipulations by the developers, who are seeking state voters’ approval on ballot measures 82 and 83 in order to move forward, that include a disclaimer on future advertisements and uses of the name “The Grange” and temporarily use the name until right after the November vote.

Jeff Parr, Director, PDX Entertainment, the company proposing the development, released a statement prior to the press conference in which he said, “We recognize that in naming our destination that we should have consulted in advance with National Grange representatives, requesting permission to use the name – we did not. For this, we apologize to Grange members in Oregon and across America.”

Parr added, “Going forward, we are committed to ensuring that the public understands that Grange is a registered trademark of The National Grange and that the National Grange has not endorsed or is affiliated in any way with our campaign.”

Members gathered for the press conference met the announcement with mixed emotion. 

Luttrell called the Grange trademark “our organization’s most valuable asset” and said the trademark is managed “primarily for the benefit of our nearly about 1,500 local, county and state Grange chapters across the United States, which support not-for profit, social, cultural, educational and civic programs in their local communities.”

He said the National Grange was thankful to the Oregon State Grange membership and officers in working together for the protection of the Grange trademark and name.

“The vigilance of our members helped bring this issue to our attention and quickly they shared all information necessary to open discussion with the developers. Our members worked as a true part of our organization to protect the name and reputation they have worked to create and strengthen and benefit from, and we are truly grateful for their attention and concern in this matter,” Luttrell said.

Luttrell said a timeline for the use of “The Grange” by the proposed casino developers includes a short period in which their media team revises all advertising, promotional and education products about the venture to include a disclaimer that will state unequivocally the National Grange’s unaffiliated stance in the project. It will read:

Grange is a registered trademark owned by the National Grange. Past use of the term “The Grange” was undertaken without the authorization or endorsement by or affiliation with The National Grange. The current use does not imply endorsement of Measures 82 and 83 by the National Grange.

The agreement between the National Grange and proposed developers also states that the name “The Grange” may only be used through the November election.

“We are satisfied that we moved through this process with great integrity and that we have shown our commitment to the continued protection of our name and overall brand,” Luttrell said during the press conference. “While the entire incident was unfortunate, this solution is bearable for both parties, and we are happy that the developers have acknowledged their oversight in the use of our name without authorization. We hope this resolution will allow the public to continue to see the Grange as a community organization, steeped in family values, that is not involved in a proposed casino project in Oregon.”

Established in 1867, The National Grange, a nonpartisan, nonprofit fraternal organization, is the oldest agricultural and rural community service organization. With more than about 1,500 local, county and state chapters, the Grange has evolved into the nation’s leading rural advocacy organization and is a major benefactor to local communities. There are about 140,000 members across the United States.

MEDIA NOTE: Electronic headshots of Luttrell and digital logo for the National Grange are available upon request by email from ab******@************ge.org.