Banking on the Eagles

New Rockford's own Josh Guler has been elected president of the Dakota State Aerie, Fraternal Order of Eagles.

The news became official at the Dakota State Convention earlier this month, where delegates from Eagles Aeries across North and South Dakota came together to elect their officers for the coming fraternal year.

At the conclusion of that convention – held in Bismarck on June 8-10 – Guler was officially elected president, his theme being "Banking on the Eagles."

Guler has risen the ranks within the Dakota State Aerie over the past decade. He began as a trustee for three years, and then occupied a number of positions before eventually becoming the vice president a year ago and now president.

Guler said the Fraternal Order of Eagles has been a part of his family for multiple generations.

"It's something that's important to my family," he explained. "My grandpa, Tony Greff, who's in the state hall of fame, was really involved with it and always preached the importance of charity and community service.

"And then my other grandpa, Jim Guler, was the manager of this Eagles [in New Rockford] for 20 years. So I kind of grew up really respecting it."

In his new role, Guler will visit every Eagles Aerie in North and South Dakota, as well as represent the Dakota State Aerie at functions across the country.

This July, for example, he'll represent the Dakotas at the national convention in Reno, Nevada.

Throughout his travels, Guler will also be able to work on another, more personal responsibility he'll have as president: raising money for a charity of his choice.

Each new president of the Dakota State Aerie chooses a charity to raise money for during the year they're president, and Guler has chosen "Home on the Range," a therapeutic and working ranch located in rural western North Dakota.

"They help kids that have had emotional, physical, sexual abuse," explained Guler, "They go out there and get intensive therapy and they try to adjust them to normal life after a traumatic situation. That's what I'll be raising money for all year."

Guler said he'll be selling raffle tickets during his travels and will try to solicit donations for Home on the Range with the goal of raising $100,000 in total.

"I've been a professional salesman for the last 20 years, so I guess I'm going to try to use that, but for charity this time," said Guler with a laugh.

Perhaps the first perk Guler enjoyed as the newly-elected president was naming the Dakota State Aerie "Father of the Year." He chose his father, Randy Guler, a decades-long member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.

Another perk he'll have is choosing the location of the next Dakota State Aerie convention, which will take place June 5-8 next year. Guler said he's chosen New Rockford, a decision sure to bring plenty of new people and business to the local community.

Guler said he's looking forward to the coming year and everything he'll aim to accomplish during that time. He also expressed gratitude to members of the local Eagles Aerie here in New Rockford for supporting him, and especially to his family for "putting up" with his constant road trips.

Meanwhile, Guler wasn't the only local to be recognized at this summer's Dakota State Aerie convention.

Other locals elected at the convention include Janine Anderson as Auxiliary Chaplain and Ron Keller of Harvey, CenDak Cooperative's New Rockford manager, as Chaplain.

Randy Guler was named Dakota State Aerie Father of the Year, and last but not least, a Dakota State Eagles Scholarship grant in the amount of $500 was awarded to New Rockford's Taylor Anderson.

Also at the convention, it was revealed that the Dakota State Aerie had raised just over $142,000 for charity during the previous year, not to mention the $49,000 that was raised by the Auxiliary.

The local Aerie in New Rockford, meanwhile, was especially productive as they gave away $312,000 to charities in the past year.