Ontario Eagles convene in the Sault June 6-8

Ontario Eagles hold their annual convention this year at Sault Ste Marie Aerie 3991 from Thursday evening June 5 to Sunday, June 8. As with meetings at all levels of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, all members in good standing are welcome to attend. Registration fee is $10.00.

Voting delegates include all local Past Worthy Presidents and Secretaries who have served five years or more, as well as any member authorized to carry the votes of his or her Aerie – one vote for the first hundred Local Aerie members and one for each additional 50 members or part thereof.

Judy Johnson, Grand Madam Trustee

Delegates will consider any Local Aerie-submitted resolutions or Bylaw amendments, elect new Provincial officers for the 2014-2015 fiscal year and consider which officers it will support for Grand Aerie office at the upcoming Grand Aerie Convention July 14-17 in Orlando, Florida. This year, Pat Gray (originally from Toronto Aerie 2311) will be a candidate for Grand Aerie office while Tammey Artuso of Sault Ste Marie 3991 will be a candidate for Grand Auxiliary office.

Also among topics for discussion is a proposal to amend OPA bylaws so that the spring and fall Provincial Aerie meetings will take place in April and November each year instead of in March and October as they do now. Delegates will also have their first opportunity to discuss the implications of the Grand Aerie decision to realign State and Provincial Aeries into different Regions effective with the 2015 fiscal year.

Currently Ontario Aeries are partnered with the Local Aeries of the Quebec Provincial Aerie in Eastern Canada Region. That region will be dissolved with Quebec Aeries to be assigned to New England Region. Ontario’s Local Aeries will be associated with two different Regions, designated as Ontario West (Sault Ste Marie 3991, Heyden-Goulais River 4061 and Webbwood 4269) and Ontario East (London 4060 and Toronto 2311). The Ontario West Local Aeries will associate with Northern Michigan and Wisconsin State Aeries, while the Ontario East Aeries will associate with New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware in the Eastern Region.

The Regions are so structured for purposes of coordinating charity fundraising and other common purposes as determined by their member aeries.

Delegates will also consider protocols for conducting an annual Cursory Survey of aerie operations in each

John Noldan, Grand Inside Guard

member Local Aerie during the coming fiscal year. The Convention is also an occasion for Local Aeries to make presentations of funds raised for Eagles charities, and for them to request additional funds from the Provincial Aerie for their charity projects.

The Grand Aerie officer officiating at this Convention is John Noldan, Grand Inside Guard, from North Mason, Washington Aerie 4226; while the Grand Auxiliary representative is Grand Madam Trustee Judy Johnson from Lawrence, Kansas Auxiliary 309.

Thursday evening June 5 is a “meet and greet” event at Aerie 3991 and early registration. Friday June 6 features a joint Aerie/Auxiliary opening ceremony at 11:00 am and the first of three Aerie meetings from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The second and third Aerie meetings are Saturday June 7 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. The Provincial Auxiliary follows a similar schedule.

Candidates from among Past Aerie Presidents and Five-Year Secretaries wishing to be candidates for elective office must be interviewed by the OPA Nominating Committee on Friday from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. They should also present letters from their Local Aeries supporting their candidacies, signed and sealed by the Local Aerie President and Secretary.

Candidates may also be nominated from the floor, but only for elective positions for which no other candidate with a letter of support has been nominated. Elections take place Saturday from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm. A joint Aerie/Auxiliary installation of officers is scheduled 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with a banquet to follow.

Provincial Aerie officers have the same titles as Local Aerie officers with similar responsibilities, except that the elected Vice President is also designated President-Elect (automatically taking office the following year); and the Junior Past Provincial President also serves as Chairman of the Provincial Board of Trustees. At this Convention, President-Elect Ray Artuso, Sault Ste Marie Aerie 3991, will assume the office of Provincial President; while current President Bob Williams (London 4060) will become Junior Past President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Any Ontario Aerie may bid to host a Provincial Convention, but must apply two years in advance with a $100 deposit, refundable if the bid is not successful. Normally Conventions alternate between northern and southern Ontario Aeries. The 2015 annual convention will take place in London’s Forest City Aerie 4060.