The now-removed Aerie officers will hear April 18 when (or if) the Aerie will be allowed to re-open, and if so who will be allowed to continue in office. The suspension notice on the Aerie door says it was done due to 'at least a half-dozen violations of the by-laws of the organization, including violations of presidential duty, secretarial duty, treasurer duty and auditor duties'. In today's Lawrence Journal-World (Lawrence Kansas) there's a Town Talk blog by reporter Chad Lawhorn describing the suspension of the city's Local Aerie (Aerie 309 Mt Oread). A couple of years ago I declined an opportunity to be trained as a Grand Aerie Agent, certain I wouldn't have the heart for it. I believe all of them could have been saved had we acted in time. In addition to the five Aeries we still have, we have as a result lost an equal number - Aeries in Sudbury, St Catharines, Espanola, Ft Erie and Sarnia. The Ontario Provincial Aerie has not conducted these Surveys very often in the past, at least until it was far too late. It's a distasteful business but a necessary one. Based on that and other information, the Provincial Officer conducting the survey may recommend either that one or more Local Aerie Officers be removed from office or that the Aerie's Charter be suspended and a Grand Aerie Agent be brought in to run the Aerie until the situation is corrected. The Survey indicates where the President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trustees comply with their sworn duties and, where they do not, there is room for explanation. We have been asked to set our own protocols at this year's OPA Convention in June, to ensure that every Ontario Aerie undertakes a Grand Aerie Survey of its affairs during the fiscal year. The Grand Aerie is taking a more active role in this regard, and expects the Provincial Officers to do likewise. For better or worse, the members have the right in general meetings to make informed judgments about anything their officers wish to do - and within the limits of the Statutes, to tell them what they cannot do. There is a limit, however, to how far we can allow Aerie officers to decide for themselves what is best for Aerie members. I have visited about 60 Aeries over the past 35 years, and I'm not sure I ever visited one that was 100 per cent compliant.

Fraternal order of eagles statutes