The Eagles: More than a bar or lodge

Eagles, 209 E. Sherman Ave., just to the east of Hudson’s Burgers is NOT just another bar, lounge, tavern. It is the Coeur d’Alene Aerie No. 486 home of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

It is a Benevolent/Public Service Fraternity, founded in Seattle way back in 1898, originally named “The Order of Good Things” and changed to the Eagles at the start of the 1900s. They joined the Moose founded in 1864 and the Elks founded in 1868, also as Benevolent Fraternities.

You ask, “What are the Eagles?” Our motto is “People Helping People” and that’s what we do, whether it’s someone we know or a total stranger, whether it’s locally or national, it doesn’t matter. We help through our donations to charities.

We raise and donate 100 percent of what we raise for charities, crises, organizations in need, etc. Nationally we donate monies to funds like, Heart, Cancer, Kidney, Diabetes, Child Abuse, Spinal Cord injuries, etc. Locally, recently we’ve donated to Children’s Village ($5,000); Idaho Educational School for the Deaf and Blind ($6,000); Fantasy 4 Kids ($1,000); Wandermere 4 Kids ($1,000); S O L E ($1,000); Matt’s Place “ALS” ($1,000); American Legion ($400); Lake City High School ($300); Coeur d’Alene Parks & Rec. ($270) and the list goes on. We have donated tens of thousands to our Cancer Center, to Hospice, to the Humane Society, to Kootenai County Search & Rescue, our Fire Departments. And again, on and on.

Last year at our State Convention the State of Idaho donated $133,618.38 to charities and at our Mid-Winter Conference donated $40,800 in grants. We assist those who need assistance, period.

YES, we are “People Helping People” as you can see, and “YES” we are a private Fraternity. YOU must ask or be asked to join the Eagles. There is a one-time $15 initiation fee and annual dues of $45 for the Aerie and $20 for the Auxiliary. We have more than 1,500 members in the Coeur d’Alene Aerie and 700+ in the Auxiliary, the largest in Idaho by far. We are a nonprofit Fraternity and to keep that status we must remain a private organization with membership requirements.

We are NOT a bar or a lodge. We are an “Aerie.” According to Funk & Wagnalls or Webster, an Aerie is an Eagle nest or home, AND that is what we are, a home away from home where you can relax and enjoy.

There are many benefits to being a member — Sunday breakfast, Tuesday tacos, Wednesday pulled pork sandwiches, Thursday barbecue burgers and dancing in the ballroom to Desert Rose. We have several TVs to watch your sports or whatever and we do have Monday Night Football (in season) plus Mariner and Seahawk specials. It’s nice to be here and cheer on your team with friends and family. We have live music in our Social room with local bands that local people enjoy.

Being a member automatically covers your children to age 18 with medical, dental and optical should you be killed through/at your employment. Not something you want to talk about, but it happens. They also can receive up to $3,000 per semester for college for two years. This alone should be a reason to be an Eagle so your spouse will have coverage for any young children should something happen to you, especially if you’re of the younger generation. There will be no phone calls, emails, texts, mailings, etc., to take out or increase coverage. It’s covered with your dues, due the 31st of May each year.

Yes we have rules to follow. We do NOT allow vulgar language, cussing, arguing, fighting, etc. Not much different than many homes you live in around the area. Technically, what we tell our “proposers” who sign up new candidates, if they’re not welcome in your home, then don’t sign them up.

There are approximately 1,400 Aeries in the U.S. and Canada. Your membership card gets you into everyone of them. We even sell a directory listing them state by state so you can contact or visit them in your travels. This way you’re not a stranger in a strange town. Contact them to request a nice restaurant, motel, auto repair, museums, etc.

Heather Callahan is this year’s Idaho State Madam President of the Auxiliary. I am the Idaho State Aerie Worthy President. We are both members right here in Coeur d’Alene. Heather has a teenage son that was born deaf in one ear. This is why I joined her this year to raise money for the Idaho Educational School for the Deaf and Blind. Her son has had several ear surgeries (implants) to assist and correct his hearing and the school has helped him adjust and learn how to cope with a disability. Together we have raised more than $10,000 for the school as it assists children from birth to 21 years of age, and turns away no one. Each State President picks a charity to raise funds for and the 16 Aeries statewide help us with their donations. EVERY cent we raise for a charity — goes to that charity. EVERY PENNY!

Law enforcement officers, firemen/ women, EMTs, veterans and current military personnel receive their first year as an Eagle totally free as we honor your service to our community and nation.

We meet twice a month. The second and fourth Tuesday for the Auxiliary and the second and fourth Wednesday for the Aerie. Meetings start at 7 p.m. and normally run an hour to an hour and a half. We have seven elected officers to assist in running the meetings along with a secretary and a treasurer. We have five elected trustees that handle our finances, ie., pay our bills, pay our employees, pay for building maintenance, and just keep our Aerie on an even keel.

We are located in an 18,000-square-foot building. Bottom floor contains our kitchen and dining area, 6,000-square-foot Middle floor (street level) again 6,000 square feet is our social room, offices, pool table, shuffleboard, and where we serve you beverages. Top 6,000 square feet is our ballroom with a stage and a beverage serving area. We do rent this room for weddings, receptions, family and school reunions, birthday and retirement parties, etc.

We also have a large gazebo on 15th Street just north of I-90 and the fire station for picnics, reunions or whatever when the weather permits.

So that pretty much tells you what’s at 209 E. Sherman Ave. and what the Eagles are about. Want more info? Stop in, ring the buzzer, come on in and let’s talk. You might like us, we know we’ll like you.

Jack F. Blanchard is the current Idaho State Aerie President, a two-time Past President of Coeur d’Alene Aerie No. 486, a two-time Past President of Hayden Lake Aerie No. 4080, the current District Four secretary (30 years) that include Aeries Coeur d’Alene, Hayden Lake, Post Falls, Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry. He is a 35-year member of the Eagles.