Eagles embody community

“It’s like going to a family reunion where they all actually like you.”

“You would never have known it was their first time hosting a convention.”

“That is one of the best, most beautiful rooms I’ve ever stayed in. It’s right up there with resorts in big cities.”

That’s what members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles had to say about their time in New Rockford and Carrington this past weekend, as New Rockford Aerie 2923 hosted the Dakota State Convention.

In total, more than 200 people from across North Dakota and South Dakota converged in New Rockford last weekend. Many stayed at the hotels in Carrington and were shuttled back and forth to New Rockford each day for meetings, golfing, food and fun. For the first time in the organization’s 77 year history, New Rockford hosted an Eagles convention.

I had the opportunity to spend some time with the members on Saturday, as they wrapped up their meetings and installed new officers for the coming year, and it was a grand experience.

This convention demonstrated to me the power of people living in small towns like ours across the country and the difference they make in their communities every day.

I met people who live in towns smaller than ours. In fact, the Grand Worthy Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles himself, David Wooster, lives in a town with only one four-way stop.

Yes, you read that right. This man slated to lead this international organization with more than 800,000 members across the United States and Canada is from a little map dot in Michigan.

The Grand Madam Treasurer, Dee Threadgill, is a “little hometown girl” who was a rodeo queen at the age of 16.

She even put a positive spin on the horrendous wind our area experienced just as everyone arrived on Wednesday and Thursday.

The lifelong Chickasha, Okla., resident commented, “It reminded me of home with the wind!”

The local Eagles is a community facility and organizational marvel all at the same time. The Aerie home and its members are deeply woven into the social fabric of our community.

They’re “People Helping People.” It’s as simple as that, and help is what they do, whenever they are needed.

Throughout the past year, Dakota State President Josh Guler has led his Aerie in raising over $100,000 for Home on the Range, a therapeutic working ranch in western North Dakota that provides a home for children and teens who have experienced trauma and abuse.

They’ve also hosted dozens of meetings and community events, not to mention donated tens of thousands of dollars to local groups doing their own good work in our communities.

In addition to the Eagles Club, they also have a gaming site at Shamrock Bar in Carrington, and they donate to various local causes in both Foster and Eddy county every year.

Brad Herman, who lives in New Rockford and works in Carrington, is the newest member of Aerie 2923 to become an officer of the Dakota State Aerie. He will serve as trustee this coming year. Local members quipped Saturday that they are already planning to host the convention again in 10 years when he will hopefully become president.

Ron Keller, a member of Harvey Eagles, was also elected to a state office. Keller was the manager of the New Rockford CenDak Cooperative location for several years before he retired early this spring.

Student athletes and coaches at New Rockford-Sheyenne School served meals and drove courtesy buses to raise funds for their coming seasons.

Community businesses purchased ads in their programs, sponsored holes at the golf tournament, purchased raffle tickets and gave silent auction donations.

The guest Eagles members talked about our bakery, our boutique and our motel.

“It’s just lovely,” concluded Grand Madam Treasurer Threadgill.

We couldn’t agree more. Kudos to the Eagles on organizing a fantastic convention and for generating true economic development for our “lovely” communities.

Let’s do more of this. It can only make our communities stronger.

See our photo story on page 2 of the New Rockford Transcript, or online at http://www.newrockfordtranscript.com, for more scenes from the Dakota State Eagles Convention.