The membership year so far

The Eagles’ fiscal year runs from June 1 to May 31, so we’re just weeks away from the close of the current fiscal year. Here’s where we stand.

Grand Aerie quotas: The Grand aerie sets new member quotas based on the previous year’s aerie size. That means Toronto 2311 has an annual quota of 24, and all other Ontario aeries have a quota of 12.

The quota doesn't mean much: Toronto, with a population catchment area of five million people, easily signs up two or three times that many most years, but sees almost as many dropped from the rolls each year. Webbwood, with a local population of 600 and an aerie building that’s the most visible landmark in town, is expected to pony up half as many as Toronto – or the same number as London, with its 750,000 population.

Current standings: As of the end of March we’re at 83 per cent of our annual quota of 72, with 60 new members, down 23 from last year. It doesn't look like we’ll make it.

Here are the Ontario Provincial Aerie's membership standings

Toronto 2311 has reported 21 new members so far (88 % of quota), but had signed up 45 last year, more than twice as many. Toronto has reported 24 fewer than last year, just about matching the total Provincial new member decline. London 4060, our brightest spot, has signed up 18 (150% of quota) and one more than last year. Heyden-Goulais River 4061 is having problems with membership reporting, so has no new members reported. Webbwood 4269, with 14 new members, is at 117% of its year to date quota and has reported twice as many new members as last year.

The revolving door: If new members were indicative of growth things would be pretty good, with more than 10 per cent more members than last year. The problem, though, we lose quite a few. Toronto 2311 has dropped 14 members this year. Four are deceased, but 10 others are classified as “failure to pay dues”. Some of them might also have died, some others may have moved away.

Sault Ste Marie 3991 dropped 13, three as deceased. London 4060 dropped eight, one of whom died. Heyden-Goulais River 4061 again has reporting problems. Webbwood 4269 dropped five, all for failure to pay dues.

With two months to go, there won’t be many more new members signed up. But local Secretaries will make sure they drop all delinquent members before May 31, simply to make sure they aren’t billed per capita fees by the Grand Aerie for inactive members. That means things are more likely to get worse than they are to get better.

But for right now, we stand at 247 members in good standing for Toronto 2311, 65 members for Sault Ste Marie 3991, 134 members for London 4060, 29 members for Heyden-Goulais River 4061 and 55 members for Webbwood 4269.