Who We Are
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope.
Our History
THE BEGINNING OF FLINT AERIE #629
Flint, Aerie No. 629, Fraternal Order of Eagles, was instituted on the 17th day of February 1904 under a Dispensation granted by the Grand Aerie, by Frank Gillett of Owosso, who was State Organizer at that time.
The Officers and Degree Team of Port Huron Aerie conferred the initiatory work upon the 60 Chapter Members.
Former Flint Mayor George E. McKinley was elected Worthy President with Floyd D. Simpson, a downtown druggist, as Worthy Secretary.
The Institution was held in the Loyal Guard Hall in the building where the downtown Woolworth store was located, and the Aerie continued to meet there two nights each month until June, 1905, when they secured the entire second floor of what was then the State Theater.
Here they established the first Club Room and held Open House on the fifth and sixth of June, during the celebration of Flint’s Golden Jubilee.
Early in 1907, the Aerie move to another building, where they had the entire third floor hall, known as Castle Hall, for the next 15 years. This building was across from the old Bryant Hotel.
Next they purchased the building at the corner of Smith and Water streets in 1922, known as the Dort Community House, from the Dort Motor Co. They later built an addition, which cost about $10,000.
They remained there until a fire entirely destroyed the old building and forced the Aerie to seek other quarters, which brought us to the second floor of the Samons Building. This building, located at the corner of First Avenue and Garland had ample floor space for a beautiful club room on the first floor. The second story was utilized for dancing and meetings. They stayed there until 1980.
In 1980 we purchased the building known as the Freeman Ice Cream Building. The organization began remodeling efforts immediately, with most of the work being done by the members. The building was completed in 1981 and a Banquet Hall was added just in time for our 1984 District Wide Initiation. New candidates from all the clubs in District Four were initiated during the event.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an organization committed to the American people. Throughout its 100 years, Aerie 629 has strived on a daily basis to make this community a better place for all.
Our Membership
F.O.E. membership exceeds 850,000, with more than 1,400 local Aeries in the U.S. and Canada. Women's auxiliaries total more than 1,300, with more than 250,000 members.
How to Become A Member
Members are recruited by other members and must be sponsored by two members before the membership process begins.
Donations
F.O.E. donates nearly $10 million a year to local communities, fundraisers, charities and more. As part of its philosophy, the F.O.E. gives back 100 percent of monies raised in the form of grants.
Fundraisers are conducted for eight major charities, including kidney, heart, diabetes, cancer and spinal cord injury funds, a children's fund, memorial foundation and the Golden Eagle Fund.
Noteworthy Members
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope.
Our History
THE BEGINNING OF FLINT AERIE #629
Flint, Aerie No. 629, Fraternal Order of Eagles, was instituted on the 17th day of February 1904 under a Dispensation granted by the Grand Aerie, by Frank Gillett of Owosso, who was State Organizer at that time.
The Officers and Degree Team of Port Huron Aerie conferred the initiatory work upon the 60 Chapter Members.
Former Flint Mayor George E. McKinley was elected Worthy President with Floyd D. Simpson, a downtown druggist, as Worthy Secretary.
The Institution was held in the Loyal Guard Hall in the building where the downtown Woolworth store was located, and the Aerie continued to meet there two nights each month until June, 1905, when they secured the entire second floor of what was then the State Theater.
Here they established the first Club Room and held Open House on the fifth and sixth of June, during the celebration of Flint’s Golden Jubilee.
Early in 1907, the Aerie move to another building, where they had the entire third floor hall, known as Castle Hall, for the next 15 years. This building was across from the old Bryant Hotel.
Next they purchased the building at the corner of Smith and Water streets in 1922, known as the Dort Community House, from the Dort Motor Co. They later built an addition, which cost about $10,000.
They remained there until a fire entirely destroyed the old building and forced the Aerie to seek other quarters, which brought us to the second floor of the Samons Building. This building, located at the corner of First Avenue and Garland had ample floor space for a beautiful club room on the first floor. The second story was utilized for dancing and meetings. They stayed there until 1980.
In 1980 we purchased the building known as the Freeman Ice Cream Building. The organization began remodeling efforts immediately, with most of the work being done by the members. The building was completed in 1981 and a Banquet Hall was added just in time for our 1984 District Wide Initiation. New candidates from all the clubs in District Four were initiated during the event.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an organization committed to the American people. Throughout its 100 years, Aerie 629 has strived on a daily basis to make this community a better place for all.
Our Membership
F.O.E. membership exceeds 850,000, with more than 1,400 local Aeries in the U.S. and Canada. Women's auxiliaries total more than 1,300, with more than 250,000 members.
How to Become A Member
Members are recruited by other members and must be sponsored by two members before the membership process begins.
Donations
F.O.E. donates nearly $10 million a year to local communities, fundraisers, charities and more. As part of its philosophy, the F.O.E. gives back 100 percent of monies raised in the form of grants.
Fundraisers are conducted for eight major charities, including kidney, heart, diabetes, cancer and spinal cord injury funds, a children's fund, memorial foundation and the Golden Eagle Fund.
Noteworthy Members
- Theodore R. Roosevelt, former U.S. president
- Warren G. Harding, former U.S. president
- Franklin D. Roosevelt, former U.S. president
- Harry S. Truman, former U.S. president
- John F. Kennedy, former U.S. president
- Jimmy carter, former U.S. president
- Ronald Reagan, former U.S. president
- Bob Hope, comedian, performer
- Max Baer, boxer/heavyweight champion
- Gordie Howe, Hockey Hall of Fame
- William Allen Egan, Governor, Alaska
- Tony Stewart, NASCAR driver
- Sam Hornish, IRL and NASCAR driver
- Billy Ray Cyrus, musical performer
- Tony Orlando, musical performer
- Bess Truman, wife of former U.S. president
- Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of former U.S. president
- Virginia Graham, radio and TV personality
- Susan Wagner, wife of New York Mayor Robert Wagner