WELCOME TO THE GRAND HAVEN EAGLES 925
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.
The Grand Haven Aerie was instituted on December 14, 1904 as the 925th Aerie in the country. The Grand Haven Aerie is supported by a women’s auxiliary instituted in 1948 and the Eagle Riders chartered in 2007.
Our Membership
F.O.E. membership exceeds 850,000 with more than 1400 local Aeries in the U.S. and Canada. Women’s auxiliaries total more than 1300, with more than 250,000 members. Members are recruited by other members and must be sponsored by two members before the membership process begins.
The Grand Haven Aerie’s membership has grown during the past few years and received an award for having the largest growth in the state in 2004-2005, 2008-2009 and 2012-2013.
Our History
The F.O.E. was founded in February, 1898 by six theatre owners gathered in a Seattle shipyard to discuss a musician’s strike. After addressing the matter, they agreed to “bury the hatchet” and form “The Order of Good Things.” As numbers grew, members selected the Bald Eagle as the official emblem and changed the name to “The Fraternal Order of Eagles.” The women’s auxiliary traces its roots to 1927.
At the F.O.E. State Convention in June, Dean Nash was inducted into the State Hall of Fame for his service to the Eagles. Among his many roles at the 925, Dean served for 10 years as the Worthy Secretary. Under his leadership, the Aerie grew from 400 members to over 2,000, and he also was a key factor in saving the Aerie from some dire financial straits, steering us onto the sound financial path it’s on today. Sometimes it’s good to have a banker keeping an eye on things!
Dean Nash is respectively thought of as a community ambassador. He was always generous with his time, greeting everyone with a smile and a friendly hello. Dean was a giving man through helping people in so many ways from his time as a Branch President at Peoples Bank. He would often give assistance and loans to first-timers or people in need of help.
He worked with many committees including the Ambucs, The Eagles, The Airport Group, and Kiwanis. He was loved and respected by many. None more than all the people he touched in his hall of fame career at the Eagles Aerie # 925. Truly a man that will be missed by all. From all of his friends, colleagues, and staff over the many years at the Eagles…we love you, we miss you, God bless and Rest in Peace.