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By Karla Pomeroy
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Worland Eagles Aerie, Auxiliary host state convention next week

 

June 9, 2018



WORLAND — The Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) Aerie and Auxiliary 3096 in Worland will be hosting the state convention with the theme “Let’s Score for the FOE” Wednesday through Saturday.

According to Worland Auxiliary member Lory August, Wednesday night will be registration and a social time to kick off the state convention. The last time Worland hosted the state convention was 10 years ago in 2008.

August said there are 15 active aeries and auxiliaries in Wyoming. Worland’s aerie and auxiliary combined have about 300 total members.

She said they are anticipating about 100 to 150 people coming for the state convention this year. Meetings will be held at the Eagles Club, Worland Community Center Complex and the American Legion Hall.

Thursday’s festivities begin with a flag raising at the Eagles Club at 8:45 a.m. with a joint meeting between the aerie and auxiliary at 9 a.m.

Activities throughout the convention includes election and installation of new officers.

August said four club members will be seeking state or “Worthy” offices — Dan August, who is Wyoming Worthy Conductor will run for Wyoming Worthy State Inside Guard; Mike Karr is seeking one-year trustee; Chelle Watson, one-year trustee; and Lynn Tippets Wyoming Madam State Inside Guard.

The state Eagles Auxiliary will be selecting the Alta Browning Award, the highest award in Eagles. Wyoming’s winner will be submitted to the Grand, along with all other state winners.

Highlights include a hospitality event and competition between clubs on Friday night from 4-6 p.m. Saturday is the installation of officers, a memorial services for members lost during the past year (Eagles year runs June 1-May 31) and the Ritual competition and Ritual parade of champions.

August said the local Aerie and Auxiliary are excited to welcome members across the state. “We want them to see Worland. The community has always been very big on supporting us. We want to give back to our community,” she said.

She said there will be an opportunity during the convention for Eagles members to enjoy local restaurants (with only Wednesday and Saturday evening meals planned at the convention) and local shopping.

Worland, Eagles Aerie and Auxiliary 3096 will be welcoming several national Eagles officers to the state convention. August said many of the Grand members have never been to Wyoming.

Grand officers who will be attending include:

•Chuck Weber of Casper. Weber is the Grand Worthy Chaplain of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, joining more than 38 years ago. He became a member in 1979 after a friend took him to the Eagles bowling alley and lounge and he was able to find out what the Eagles were all about. He began his service immediately upon initiation as he was elected as aerie treasurer.

He has held the position of worthy president six times, state president in 1993-94, Mountain Regional president in 1996-97 and was Wyoming’s first Grand Aerie officer when he was elected grand inside guard in 1997-98.

•Grand Aerie Legal Advisor Creighton A. Thurman joined the organization in June 1994 in South Dakota. He has served as worthy president and Dakota State Worthy president.

•Grand Madam Conductor Jacqueline Marble joined the Eagles in 1968 and is active in the Sunnyslope Auxiliary 2957 in Phoenix, Arizona. She has served as local and state auxiliary president and was Grand Auxiliary, Grand Auxiliary outside guard, inside guard, secretary and trustee.

•Mountain Regional President Lucille Lawrence. She joined the Eagles in 1972 and has held many positions including president, past madam president’s secretary and was honors with the Mrs. Eagle Award for No. 2098. She received the Alta B. Smith Award in 2005.

•Grand Madam President Helen Poehner who has been a member of the Eagles since 1972 in Ohio.

•Grand Worthy President Tom McGrath of Vermont has been an Eagles member since 1962.

ABOUT THE EAGLES

The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope, according to the website, foe.com.

This year the FOE is celebrating its 120th year. According to the website, The F.O.E. began in 1898, when six Seattle-area theater owners came together to share their passion for social progress and a dedication to philanthropy with the greater community.

The F.O.E., 120 years later, continues to work hard to bring citizens together in the name of bettering communities and raising funds to assist friends and neighbors in need. From the creation of Mother’s Day, Social Security and Medicare to the hundreds of millions of dollars donated to various research and assistance organizations across North America, no life has been left untouched by the actions of an Eagle.

The Eagles website lists as their major accomplishments: Founded Mother's Day; created the $25 million Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center at the University of Iowa; served as driving force behind Social Security; helped end age-based job discrimination with the Jobs After 40 program; and distributed Ten Commandments monoliths across the United States.

“The world has changed in many ways over the last 120 years, but the need to help those around us stands the test of time,” Grand Worthy President Thomas McGrath said. “The F.O.E. was built upon a strong passion for increasing quality of life for those in need and our desire to carry on that passion is what keeps us so strong more than a century later.”

CHARITIES

Charity work is a big part of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.

August said the Sunday dinners and other fundraisers they hold help the local community here. She said the money is sent to Grand and then the Aerie or Auxiliary can apply for grant funding for projects. August said they have been able to purchase large print books and audio books for the library, helped purchase items at Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation, support D.A.R.E. and the Crisis Response and Prevention Center.

At the national level, they created the $25 million Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center at the University of Iowa.

 
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