Sondreson Hall

Sondreson Hall is the center of activity for the North Fork Landowners’ Association and the community as a whole—
from New Year’s Eve parties, to summer meetings and social functions, to Thanksgiving dinner.

Photo by Gerry Stearns

Six decades of service, camaraderie

About the North Fork
Landowners’ Association

The North Fork Landowners’ Association (originally named the North Fork Improvement Association) was founded in 1947.
     NFLA events include five business meetings (on the first Saturday of each month from June through October) as well as social events such as square dances, a pie and ice cream social, and Thanksgiving dinner. Weed management is an example of the community-service workshops that the NFLA also sponsors. Finally, the NFLA hosts meetings for government entities, such as the NFLUAC and Inter Local Agreement meetings.
     The association operates Sondreson Hall, North Fork Road at Whale Creek, where business meetings are held the first Saturday of the month, June through October. One or more board meetings are also held each year.
     As a true community center, the hall is also the venue for many social events—such as square dances, an annual Thanksgiving dinner, and a New Year’s Eve party—as well as meetings of other North Fork organizations. Occasionally, the hall is rented to non-North Forkers for wedding receptions and other activities. (See the 2010 Activity Schedule.)
     NFLA membership is open to all North Fork landowners, as well as others who have an interest in our unique community. Annual dues are $10 per person for landowners. (See Contact Us.)

The NFLA’s mission,
accomplishments

According to bylaws adopted on Aug. 1, 1954, and since amended, the North Fork Landowners’ Association was founded “to promote the general welfare of the community of the upper valley of the North Fork of the Flathead River ... to construct, reconstruct, operate, maintain and regulate the use of a community building ... [and to] pursue the interests of all North Fork landowners, regardless of permanent residence, and encourage and facilitate their participation in association activities.”
     In 2010, the association is pursuing this mission through its proactive board of directors and committees:

• The Road Committee is working to effect better maintenance of the North Fork Road through constructive liaisons with Flathead County officials and other relevant agencies.
• The Fire Mitigation Committee has been working with state agencies to partially finance thinning projects on the North Fork. Through the committee, the North Fork is participating in the Firewise Community program. Among other benefits, the Federal Emergency Management Administration gives a Firewise Community priority in consideration for pre-disaster mitigation planning and project grants.
• The Weed Committee is committed to stamping out the noxious weeds on the North Fork. Everyone who has an interest in helping out with this project are encouraged to join.
• The Historical Committee is responsible for the North Fork History Project. Anyone interested in the history of the North Fork is welcome to join.
• Several NFLA members are working with the Flathead Basin Commission and other groups to prevent the development of Canadian Mines north of the border that would adversely affect water quality and wildlife on the North Fork watershed.
• The Inter Local Agreement provides for face-to-face contact with representatives of agencies whose policies and actions affect the North Fork. Inter Local Agreement meetings are held in the winter (in town) and summer (at the hall). Signatories to the agreement include the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
• Additional NFLA programs and services include efforts to control noxious weeds; a newsletter mailed to all North Fork landowners in the spring and fall; this Web site; maintenance of a poaching reward fund.
• In recent years, Sondreson Hall has been the venue for workshops covering weed control, forestry management, conservation easements and many other subjects of interest to North Forkers.

2010-2011 board of directors

The North Fork Landowners’ Association board of directors comprises:

• President Betsy Holycross; e-mail
• Vice President Margaret Heaphy; e-mail
• Past-president Molly Shepherd; e-mail
• Secretary-Treasurer Valerie Cox; e-mail
• North Director Lee Secrest; e-mail
• North Director Tom Edwards
• South Director Richard Hildner; e-mail
• South Director Debo Powers; e-mail

NFLA elections are held at Sondreson Hall the first Saturday in August at sundown (9:15 p.m.). To run for a board seat, contact any board member or e-mail us.
     Proposed bylaws amendments also are voted on by members at the August meeting.

NFLA chronology

• June 2, 1947—First meeting of the North Fork Improvement Association; a draft of the bylaws is written.
• June 9, 1947—The North Fork Improvement Association is formed by voluntary agreement as an unincorporated non-profit association. First bylaws are unanimously adopted with the stated purpose to “promote the general welfare of the community.”
• Aug. 15, 1953—North Fork Improvement Association is incorporated as a non-profit corporation.
• Sept. 3, 1953—1.27 acres of land is deeded from Meva and Walter Boberg (daughter and son-in-law of Madge and Ollie Terrian) to the North Fork Improvement Association.
• Summer 1953—Ruth and Lloyd Sondreson donate the lumber for the building (Sondreson Hall), and it is constructed as a community effort.
• Aug. 29, 2005—NFIA’s name officially changed to North Fork Landowners’ Association, per an amendment passed at the August business meeting.
  

NFLA presidents

North Fork Improvement/Landowners’ Association presidents, with the year(s) in which they were elected:

Photo by Pat Cole
Approaching the summer of 2008, Sondreson Hall’s front porch (above) had rotted beyond the point of feasible repair. Frank Vitale organized the effort to replace it.

New hall porch a community effort

Updated Sept. 12, 2008—Community service moved front and center this summer, as a host of volunteers led by Frank Vitale demolished Sondreson Hall’s decaying front porch and replaced it with a new model. The new porch features a full roof over the deck and composite stairs that will last for years, yet retains the original rustic look of the hall.
     The project took some six long work days. North Forkers who donated their time, tools, money and materials are too numerous to mention. Special thanks, however, go to: Vitale, who designed the porch, and organized and supervised the project; North Fork builder Rob Fisher, whose expertise contributed to the excellence of the finished product; Lee Secrest, who donated and milled most of the awesome lumber; Tom Edwards, who donated $1,000 for the porch, and arranged for Western Building Center to provide materials at cost and with free delivery; Eric Martin of Western Building Center in Columbia Falls, who tweaked the materials list and saw that materials were delivered on time; Rob Alm, who donated and delivered a load of gravel for the base; Gerry Stearns, Bonnie Ogle and Karen McDonough, who coordinated food donations and purchases, and prepared lunches for the workers.
     Thanks to all for a job well done!
     Photos below by Gerry Stearns and Larry Wilson.

Rob Fisher, left, and Frank Vitale.

Lynn Ogle, right, supervised the electrical work.

Left to right: Ellen Horowitz helped with the construction; Alice Caldwell, Susanne Lockwood and Linda Nelson fed the crew.

Recruiting able-bodied help was not a problem. The well-organized project took about six working days to complete.


The finished product incorporates modern weather-resistant materials, rough-cut lumber and matching roofing tin for a look that complements the original building while reducing maintenance and increasing longevity.

Renting Sondreson Hall

On Feb. 28, 2009 the board of directors established the following rental-fee schedule for Sondreson Hall:

• $10 each for up to two hours, with a minimum of eight rentals
• $25 for up to two hours, single rental
• $50 for up to four hours, single rental
• $75 per day

     Damage deposit for members is equal to the rental fee.
     Rental fee for non-members is $150 per day, with a $150 refundable damage deposit.