Idaho State Aerie/Auxiliary Mid-winter Conference — Saturday, Nov. 2 saw all Idaho State Aerie and Auxiliary officers meet in St. Maries. Although these past few years have been difficult for nonprofit organizations, the Fraternal Order of Eagles is still alive and doing well. Sure it could be better, but we’ll survive.

On the 2nd we gave away $32,600 to Idaho charities through grants — Alzheimer’s Fund: Coeur d’Alene $3,500, St. Maries $3,000; Cancer Fund: Post Falls $2,200, Lewiston $3,500; Child Abuse Fund: Idaho Falls $3,000, Lewiston $3,000; Children’s Fund: Coeur d’Alene $500; Golden Agers Fund: St. Maries $2,000, Sandpoint $2,000, Idaho Falls $1,000; Spinal Corp Fund: Idaho Falls $3,900; Heart Fund: Idaho Falls $5,000.

Not bad for 16 aeries and auxiliaries, and most of those have only 100, 200, 300 members. Idaho stands by itself for charities. The totals above are strictly mid-winter. We had tens of thousands at our state convention last June, and tens of thousands to our local community charities.

While at it I’d like to thank our community for supporting us — our Thursday evening hamburgers, our Sunday morning breakfasts and special events we might have.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles’ motto is “People Helping People” and that’s what we try to do.

JACK BLANCHARD

Coeur d’Alene Vice President, and

Idaho State Chaplain