Here's a chart showing the 50 closest Local Aeries to Toronto 2311. You'll note only one of them is in Ontario.
The Ontario Provincial Aerie and Auxiliary are the umbrella organizations for Ontario aeries (lodges) and auxiliaries of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Ontario's Aeries are in Toronto (Aerie 2311), Sault Ste Marie (Aerie 3991), London (Aerie 4060), Heyden-Goulais River (Aerie 4061) and Webbwood (Aerie 4269). This blog is intended to support membership growth.
Saturday, May 03, 2014
It's a long, long way to Webbwood.
It's even farther, much farther, to two other aeries in Ontario for members of Toronto Aerie 2311.
Here's a chart showing the 50 closest Local Aeries to Toronto 2311. You'll note only one of them is in Ontario.
Here's a chart showing the 50 closest Local Aeries to Toronto 2311. You'll note only one of them is in Ontario.
Distance is the OPA's biggest challenge
With more than 1,500 Local Aeries operating under similar rules and sharing common goals, there is much to be learned by visiting other aeries. In Ontario, however, that's not always practical. With enormous distances between aeries (and not many aeries to begin with), Ontario's Local Aeries generally operate pretty much n their own.
To put that into perspective, Ontario has one aerie for roughly every 215,000 square kilometers (the land area of Idaho per aerie) while, at the opposite extreme, Ohio has 191 aeries, one per 554 square kilometers - 38 times as many aeries in one quarter the land area.
The longest trip by car between aeries in Ontario is 691 km Toronto 2311 to Heyden-Goulais River 4061. If all of Ohio's Local Aeries were along that route, they would be about 3.6 kilometers apart, an average 40 minute walk from aerie to aerie. As it is now in Ontario, you would pass only one aerie (Webbwood 426) along that route. Walking eight hours per day, you would take 11.5 days to get to Webbwood from Toronto, and another six days to get to the end of your journey.
To put that into perspective, Ontario has one aerie for roughly every 215,000 square kilometers (the land area of Idaho per aerie) while, at the opposite extreme, Ohio has 191 aeries, one per 554 square kilometers - 38 times as many aeries in one quarter the land area.
The longest trip by car between aeries in Ontario is 691 km Toronto 2311 to Heyden-Goulais River 4061. If all of Ohio's Local Aeries were along that route, they would be about 3.6 kilometers apart, an average 40 minute walk from aerie to aerie. As it is now in Ontario, you would pass only one aerie (Webbwood 426) along that route. Walking eight hours per day, you would take 11.5 days to get to Webbwood from Toronto, and another six days to get to the end of your journey.
Friday, May 02, 2014
GWP visit to Ontario cancelled
Visits in May to London Aerie 4060 and Toronto Aerie 2311 have been cancelled.
In an email yesterday to OPA Secretary Dana Leisk, Vicki Ellis, executive Secretary to GWP David Tice, advised the following:
"I must let you now some bad news. GWP David Tice and his wife Roberta will be unable to travel to Ontario due to a problem with a passport. Their last name was spelled wrong on a passport and it will be a while before they get this straightened out.
"They asked that the Province accept their apologies for this unfortunate incident. We can try to possibly get them up your way after the convention for an assignment of some sort if they are able."
In an email yesterday to OPA Secretary Dana Leisk, Vicki Ellis, executive Secretary to GWP David Tice, advised the following:
"I must let you now some bad news. GWP David Tice and his wife Roberta will be unable to travel to Ontario due to a problem with a passport. Their last name was spelled wrong on a passport and it will be a while before they get this straightened out.
"They asked that the Province accept their apologies for this unfortunate incident. We can try to possibly get them up your way after the convention for an assignment of some sort if they are able."
Thursday, May 01, 2014
GA issues Mother's Day press release
The Grand Aerie issued a very good news release yesterday on the 100th anniversary of the declaration of a national day of observance of Mother’s Day.
Here it is:
MOTHER’S DAY TURNS 100:
A Holiday Inspired by Scribbles on a Postcard
APRIL 29, 2014 - The American nationwide observance of Mother’s Day celebrates its
100th anniversary this year. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a Congressional Bill designating the second Sunday every May in honor of mothers, following a decade of activism led by the Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE). Many trace the origin of Mother's Day to a movement begun in 1904 by Eagles Past Grand Worthy President Frank E. Hering, which would prove to be the first of the organization’s many history-making accomplishments.
In the decades to follow, the FOE has played a similarly prominent role on a broad array of social and philanthropic causes, including helping launch Social Security and Medicare and ensuring legal protection against job discrimination based on age. This Mother's Day, the Eagles celebrate the completion of $25 million, multi-year commitment to establish the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center at the
University of Iowa, a state-of-the-art medical research facility dedicated to the prevention and potential eradication of diabetes.
Hering, a Notre Dame football coach and history professor and two-time FOE Grand Worthy President from South Bend, IN, made the first public plea for the establishment of a nationwide Mother’s Day during an event held at Indianapolis’ famed English Opera House. The inspiration had first come to him from a teaching colleague who set aside classroom time once a month to make his students scribble a postcard to their mothers.
Hering urged the Eagles to honor “the great things of the world that have been achieved by mothers’ love and devotion” and suggested that one Sunday each year be dedicated for that purpose. The idea was firmly embraced and promoted by the membership, and within a short time, several states had moved to formally establish Mother’s Day observances. The growing movement helped galvanize lobbying efforts that led to legislation in the U.S. Congress for the Wilson proclamation. Anna Jarvis, the other major crusader for a memorial day for mothers, suggested the date in May.
Remarkably, the FOE was founded only six years before Hering’s speech by a group of six theater owners in Seattle, WA. Meeting to decide on how to settle a musicians’ strike, the competitors also came up with the idea to join together in a non-profit organization dedicated to “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.” The popularity of the organization spread rapidly via the nationwide circuit of theaters and the promotion of touring actors, stagehands and playwrights who were among the earliest members. Their ranks have broadened to include seven former U.S. Presidents, celebrities and other notables from all walks of life.
Today, 800,000 members based in over 1500 chapters (“Aeries”) and 1300 women’s Auxiliaries raise in excess of $100 million each year to benefit local communities and charities. They have also donated millions of dollars to aid medical treatment and research on a host of conditions, most recently with a priority on the prevention and cure of diabetes.
"It brings us great pride to watch the world celebrate 100 years of Mother's Day, knowing how much work was done by Eagles to make this occasion possible," Eagles’ Grand Worthy President David Tice said. "That commitment to excellence carries on today as a signature of the Eagles and shines through in our efforts to find a cure for diabetes at The Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center."
Here it is:
MOTHER’S DAY TURNS 100:
A Holiday Inspired by Scribbles on a Postcard
APRIL 29, 2014 - The American nationwide observance of Mother’s Day celebrates its
100th anniversary this year. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a Congressional Bill designating the second Sunday every May in honor of mothers, following a decade of activism led by the Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE). Many trace the origin of Mother's Day to a movement begun in 1904 by Eagles Past Grand Worthy President Frank E. Hering, which would prove to be the first of the organization’s many history-making accomplishments.
In the decades to follow, the FOE has played a similarly prominent role on a broad array of social and philanthropic causes, including helping launch Social Security and Medicare and ensuring legal protection against job discrimination based on age. This Mother's Day, the Eagles celebrate the completion of $25 million, multi-year commitment to establish the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center at the
University of Iowa, a state-of-the-art medical research facility dedicated to the prevention and potential eradication of diabetes.
Hering, a Notre Dame football coach and history professor and two-time FOE Grand Worthy President from South Bend, IN, made the first public plea for the establishment of a nationwide Mother’s Day during an event held at Indianapolis’ famed English Opera House. The inspiration had first come to him from a teaching colleague who set aside classroom time once a month to make his students scribble a postcard to their mothers.
Hering urged the Eagles to honor “the great things of the world that have been achieved by mothers’ love and devotion” and suggested that one Sunday each year be dedicated for that purpose. The idea was firmly embraced and promoted by the membership, and within a short time, several states had moved to formally establish Mother’s Day observances. The growing movement helped galvanize lobbying efforts that led to legislation in the U.S. Congress for the Wilson proclamation. Anna Jarvis, the other major crusader for a memorial day for mothers, suggested the date in May.
Remarkably, the FOE was founded only six years before Hering’s speech by a group of six theater owners in Seattle, WA. Meeting to decide on how to settle a musicians’ strike, the competitors also came up with the idea to join together in a non-profit organization dedicated to “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.” The popularity of the organization spread rapidly via the nationwide circuit of theaters and the promotion of touring actors, stagehands and playwrights who were among the earliest members. Their ranks have broadened to include seven former U.S. Presidents, celebrities and other notables from all walks of life.
Today, 800,000 members based in over 1500 chapters (“Aeries”) and 1300 women’s Auxiliaries raise in excess of $100 million each year to benefit local communities and charities. They have also donated millions of dollars to aid medical treatment and research on a host of conditions, most recently with a priority on the prevention and cure of diabetes.
"It brings us great pride to watch the world celebrate 100 years of Mother's Day, knowing how much work was done by Eagles to make this occasion possible," Eagles’ Grand Worthy President David Tice said. "That commitment to excellence carries on today as a signature of the Eagles and shines through in our efforts to find a cure for diabetes at The Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center."
The top 10 excuses for not supporting FOE charities (and how to answer them)
Charity activity will transform our aeries - as long as we can counter the naysayers. Here are a few suggestions:
1. “Can’t afford it – the Aerie needs money.” If we raise money for the premises and not for charity, we end up as a bar that charges dues competing with bars that do not – and expecting people to contribute for improvements that our competitors pay for out of their bar revenues. A charity event gives more people a reason to support the bar. It gives them a reason to invite others to join them. And when a charity event raises money, the bar generally takes in more money that neither the charity nor the bar would have seen otherwise. Charity makes more money for the Aerie.
2. “Our members can’t afford it.” Instead of relying only on outright contributions and raffles, look first for ways we can together provide entertainment “bargains” for members – a lunch or dinner, entertainment or other social outing members wouldn’t have elsewhere or on their own. That by itself is an important contributor to the well-being of our community.
3. “We don’t even know where to begin.” Start by appointing Committee Chairmen for all or most of the FOE charities, even if their only role for now is to report at meetings whenever others express an interest in helping those causes. It gives people someone to go to when they have an idea. No Eagles Club in Ontario is large enough to become large donors to every FOE Charity Foundation charity, and some of those Committee Chairmen will only report that there’s no activity so far.
4. “We don’t have the money for expenses.” Start with small things that don’t cost much. The money raised will be in the Aerie Charity Fund if needed for investments in bigger events. You’ll know from the success of your smaller events and the volunteers they attract if you’re ready for a big event. If not, just keep on with the smaller activities until the opportunity does arise. Ten $50 events is the same revenue as a single $500 event, often at less total cost.
5. “People don’t want to be hounded for money all the time.” Raffles and 50-50 draws have their places, but they shouldn’t be relied upon for most fundraising dollars. With social events for charity, people with limited means should be able to have just as much fun as those with more money who choose to participate in extras like raffles. The event that turns a modest profit for the charity will also generate a big increase in bar revenues.
6. “We need to focus on increasing membership first.” New members come from sponsors who are current members. Our members need something to feel proud of, something to brag about to their friends and relatives who aren’t Eagles now. A member working for the Diabetes Fund now has a reason to bring in as a new member that diabetic cousin or nephew who otherwise wouldn’t be attracted to the Eagles, to help out in a cause that’s important to him. Relying on cheap bar prices only attracts cheap drinkers, discouraging others who want something more meaningful for their leisure time.
7. “We don’t have the volunteers for a big event.” Nothing succeeds like success. Start with a small fundraiser that needs two or three people to make it work. That makes people aware of the charity and generates the seed money to do something a little bigger next time. Now that others have seen exactly what’s involved, it’s easier to get more volunteers for the next time.
8. “We support the big charities.” The big charities are so well known because they keep so much of your donations for administrative expenses and salaries, advertising and promotion and “awareness
programs”. The small portion that’s left for research could be going anywhere. You as the donor have no say in who gets it. The Fraternal Order of Eagles Charity Foundation already has a structure, the Grand and Provincial Aeries, which we already pay for through our membership dues: no administrative rake-off.
9. “Charity begins at home – we should help local causes here in town.” Indeed we should. Only the Fraternal Order of Eagles Charity Foundation lets a Local Aerie “earmark” funds it raises to meet a local need – and then allows the Provincial Aerie to “top up” that money to produce a larger grant than would have been possible otherwise. Donations made locally might produce a thank-you letter that will gather dust on an Aerie bulletin board. But a grant from the FOE might make our aerie the largest single contributor to a local support group or treatment center.
10. “We don’t get any recognition for sending money to the Grand Aerie.” We don’t “give” the money we raise to the Grand Aerie. The Grand Aerie holds those funds in trust, and for the most part returns it to the Province or State it came from. Our money is spent on grants in our communities. We can’t count on that from other charity fundraising organizations. The only exceptions are funds used for large grants at our annual Conventions that significantly raise awareness of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and small grants provided to new Local Aeries to kick-start public appreciation of the Eagles in new communities.
1. “Can’t afford it – the Aerie needs money.” If we raise money for the premises and not for charity, we end up as a bar that charges dues competing with bars that do not – and expecting people to contribute for improvements that our competitors pay for out of their bar revenues. A charity event gives more people a reason to support the bar. It gives them a reason to invite others to join them. And when a charity event raises money, the bar generally takes in more money that neither the charity nor the bar would have seen otherwise. Charity makes more money for the Aerie.
2. “Our members can’t afford it.” Instead of relying only on outright contributions and raffles, look first for ways we can together provide entertainment “bargains” for members – a lunch or dinner, entertainment or other social outing members wouldn’t have elsewhere or on their own. That by itself is an important contributor to the well-being of our community.
3. “We don’t even know where to begin.” Start by appointing Committee Chairmen for all or most of the FOE charities, even if their only role for now is to report at meetings whenever others express an interest in helping those causes. It gives people someone to go to when they have an idea. No Eagles Club in Ontario is large enough to become large donors to every FOE Charity Foundation charity, and some of those Committee Chairmen will only report that there’s no activity so far.
 | ||
| The FOE Charity Foundation logo is not free clip art people can slap onto posters for whatever fundraisers they like. It's meant to be used to show that your event is part of the very special effort that has helped Eagles raise well over $100 million so far – all of which aids research and treatment. |
4. “We don’t have the money for expenses.” Start with small things that don’t cost much. The money raised will be in the Aerie Charity Fund if needed for investments in bigger events. You’ll know from the success of your smaller events and the volunteers they attract if you’re ready for a big event. If not, just keep on with the smaller activities until the opportunity does arise. Ten $50 events is the same revenue as a single $500 event, often at less total cost.
5. “People don’t want to be hounded for money all the time.” Raffles and 50-50 draws have their places, but they shouldn’t be relied upon for most fundraising dollars. With social events for charity, people with limited means should be able to have just as much fun as those with more money who choose to participate in extras like raffles. The event that turns a modest profit for the charity will also generate a big increase in bar revenues.
6. “We need to focus on increasing membership first.” New members come from sponsors who are current members. Our members need something to feel proud of, something to brag about to their friends and relatives who aren’t Eagles now. A member working for the Diabetes Fund now has a reason to bring in as a new member that diabetic cousin or nephew who otherwise wouldn’t be attracted to the Eagles, to help out in a cause that’s important to him. Relying on cheap bar prices only attracts cheap drinkers, discouraging others who want something more meaningful for their leisure time.
7. “We don’t have the volunteers for a big event.” Nothing succeeds like success. Start with a small fundraiser that needs two or three people to make it work. That makes people aware of the charity and generates the seed money to do something a little bigger next time. Now that others have seen exactly what’s involved, it’s easier to get more volunteers for the next time.
8. “We support the big charities.” The big charities are so well known because they keep so much of your donations for administrative expenses and salaries, advertising and promotion and “awareness
programs”. The small portion that’s left for research could be going anywhere. You as the donor have no say in who gets it. The Fraternal Order of Eagles Charity Foundation already has a structure, the Grand and Provincial Aeries, which we already pay for through our membership dues: no administrative rake-off.
9. “Charity begins at home – we should help local causes here in town.” Indeed we should. Only the Fraternal Order of Eagles Charity Foundation lets a Local Aerie “earmark” funds it raises to meet a local need – and then allows the Provincial Aerie to “top up” that money to produce a larger grant than would have been possible otherwise. Donations made locally might produce a thank-you letter that will gather dust on an Aerie bulletin board. But a grant from the FOE might make our aerie the largest single contributor to a local support group or treatment center.
10. “We don’t get any recognition for sending money to the Grand Aerie.” We don’t “give” the money we raise to the Grand Aerie. The Grand Aerie holds those funds in trust, and for the most part returns it to the Province or State it came from. Our money is spent on grants in our communities. We can’t count on that from other charity fundraising organizations. The only exceptions are funds used for large grants at our annual Conventions that significantly raise awareness of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and small grants provided to new Local Aeries to kick-start public appreciation of the Eagles in new communities.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Former Toronto 2311 member Kim Coady has passed away
Kim Coady, former member of Toronto 2311 Auxiliary, passed away two days ago from cancer.
She was no longer a member of the Eagles but will be fondly remembered by several old-timers. She passed away peacefully at the age of 54. Visitation will be from noon to 4:00 .m. Sunday, May 4 at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home at 2570 Danforth Avenue at the Main Street Subway Station.
There will be a Celebration of Life after the visitation at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 Baron Byng Beaches, 243 Coxwell Ave at Broadview Ave.
She was no longer a member of the Eagles but will be fondly remembered by several old-timers. She passed away peacefully at the age of 54. Visitation will be from noon to 4:00 .m. Sunday, May 4 at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home at 2570 Danforth Avenue at the Main Street Subway Station.There will be a Celebration of Life after the visitation at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 Baron Byng Beaches, 243 Coxwell Ave at Broadview Ave.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
New FOE video promo posted
The Grand Aerie uploaded a short video promo yesterday for Eagles membership highlighting our involvement in Mother's Day.
Monday, April 28, 2014
There's still time to plan a function for Mother's Day
Every Eagle, surely, is well aware of the role played by the Fraternal Order of Eagles in having a national day of observance declared in 1914 to honour our mothers on the second Sunday in May.
For those who aren't aware, FOE member and entertainer Tony Orlando appears on Fox News' The Huckabee Show Mother's Day weekend. Here is the FOE information with other information sources. I'll try to post the interview on Saturday.
My personal opinion is that the long-term importance of Grand Aerie President Frank Hering's campaign for Mothers Day was that it taught the Eagles how to lobby at the grassroots level - campaigning aerie by aerie in their cities and towns, in their States and Provinces, in support of an issue they felt was important.
The lessons the Eagles learned during that campaign served them well as they later campaigned for the first widows' pensions, then old age pensions at the State level, then the federal US Old Age Security program, which fellow Eagle and US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt admitted would not have been possible without the tireless campaigning of the Eagles.
Throughout those campaigns, many of the pioneering legislation for the first government pensions was actually drafted by Eagles before they were adopted State after State.
Our Statutes actually require a Mothers' Day observance. FOE Statute Section 72.4 says, in part, "On the second Sunday in May of each year, each local aerie shall hold services appropriate to Mother's Day."
We miss that occasion far too often.
At minimum we should do what the Eagles did a century ago: sell carnations to our members, who would wear a white carnation if their mothers were deceased, a red one if they were not. You've still got time. Take a look a this video the Grand Aerie produced for Mother's Day.
For those who aren't aware, FOE member and entertainer Tony Orlando appears on Fox News' The Huckabee Show Mother's Day weekend. Here is the FOE information with other information sources. I'll try to post the interview on Saturday.
 |
| Frank Hering's campaign for Mother's Day gave the Eagles the political skills to fight for numerous causes in later years. |
My personal opinion is that the long-term importance of Grand Aerie President Frank Hering's campaign for Mothers Day was that it taught the Eagles how to lobby at the grassroots level - campaigning aerie by aerie in their cities and towns, in their States and Provinces, in support of an issue they felt was important.
The lessons the Eagles learned during that campaign served them well as they later campaigned for the first widows' pensions, then old age pensions at the State level, then the federal US Old Age Security program, which fellow Eagle and US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt admitted would not have been possible without the tireless campaigning of the Eagles.
Throughout those campaigns, many of the pioneering legislation for the first government pensions was actually drafted by Eagles before they were adopted State after State.
Our Statutes actually require a Mothers' Day observance. FOE Statute Section 72.4 says, in part, "On the second Sunday in May of each year, each local aerie shall hold services appropriate to Mother's Day."
We miss that occasion far too often.
At minimum we should do what the Eagles did a century ago: sell carnations to our members, who would wear a white carnation if their mothers were deceased, a red one if they were not. You've still got time. Take a look a this video the Grand Aerie produced for Mother's Day.
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