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Eagle Riders Host Pony Express Ride Across Nebraska
Event to raise money for Nebraska Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
Alliance, Neb. – The Nebraska State Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.)
Eagle Riders club will host the 3rd Annual Pony Express Ride May 20-22.
The event is open to the public with all proceeds going to the Nebraska Federation
of Families for Children’s Mental Health. The Nebraska Eagle Riders are asking for
pledges from individuals and businesses on a per-mile or flat rate basis. The ride
is expected to span almost 900 miles and will begin at Alliance, Neb., Aerie #136.
“We need to get the public to understand the importance of caring for our youth,”
Nebraska State Co-Coordinator Stan Bills said. “As it is in all states, funding
for children’s programs is not keeping pace with the needs of our modern youth.
This is our chance to let the government know we are concerned.”
Dignitaries expected to attend a portion of the ride include Nebraska State Chaplain
Bill Primrose, Past State President Carl Rezabek, Executive Director of the Nebraska
Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health Candy Kennedy, Nebraska State
Aerie Secretary Dana Went, Nebraska State Madam President Patty Welch, Nebraska
State Madam Secretary Liz Scott, State Senator Kathy Campbell, Todd Recklling of
Health and Human Services for the Division of Children and Family Services and Director
of Nebraska Behavioral Health Scot Adams. Letters will be presented to Nebraska
Governor Dave Heineman upon arrival to the State Capital Building in Lincoln, Neb.
Dr. Ron Zodkevitch, child psychiatrist and author of “The Tough Love(r) Prescription,”
will be the guest speaker for Saturday night’s banquet.
With help from state coordinators Stan Bills and Tracy Hawk, the Nebraska State
Eagle Riders plan to make the Pony Express Ride a long-standing state tradition.
For information, contact Bills at (308) 760-1416.
Contributions and Donations
Lebanon, Ohio
The Eagle Riders of Eagles Aerie/Auxiliary 1395 hosted their second annual Corn
Hole Tourney and Chili Cook-Off. Two tournaments with six teams per game played
in this annual event to raise money for charity. There were nine entries in the
Cook-Off. Judges, Bruce Godown, Rocky Robertson and Jeff Burns had a difficult time
deciding the winning entries, but ultimately crowned Karen Ayres in the "Redneck
Hot" category, Bill Wysong in the "Unique Chili" category, and Karen Bice in the
"Original Chili" category.
The Eagle Riders raised $450 for charity.
Lebanon, Ohio
The Eagles Aerie/Auxiliary #1395 Eagle Riders prepared and delivered a food basket
to a local family last Christmas season. Delivering the food basket, presents and
cash donation were Santa and Mrs. Claus (Mr. and Mrs. Dave LaSeur) and members of
the Eagle Riders.
Members of the Aerie and Auxiliary also donated food for another 51 needy families
in the Lebanon area, and donated items to the Toys For Tots campaign. The latter
were delivered by Eagle Riders Jerry and Sarah Silcox to the Marine Corps facility
in Xenia.
Walled Lake, Michigan
Members of Eagles Aerie/Auxiliary 3492 and the Eagle Riders adopted military unit
CCO 37th EN BN FOB Warhorse in Iraq last holiday season. The Eagles distributed
bins throughout the community. Participating were the City of Wixom, AT&T and
other members of the community. "All told, we collected a total of 71 boxes for
the troops," said Eagle Andrea M. Watkins.
Adrian, Michigan
The Eagle Riders of Eagles Aerie/Auxiliary 2371 presented 37 new blankets to The
Daily Bread Homeless Shelter of Lenawee County. Eagle Riders Lola McColley and April
Thompson presented the items to Ken Freshcors of the shelter.
Kansas
The Eagle Riders of District One presented a check for $1,846.50 raised at the Heads
Up Dice Run Benefit. ER President Max Caldwell did the honors, and accepting for
Heads Up were Roxanne Bollin, and Rudy and Cheryl Obermeier.
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
The Eagle Aerie/Auxiliary 3395 Prairie Eagle Riders held a Poker Derby that raised
$1258.75 for the Moose Jaw Union Hospital Children's Ward.
Pictured is Ross Crampton, President of the Prairie Eagle Riders, presenting the
check to Kelly McElree of The Moose Jaw Health Foundation.
Terre Haute, Indiana
The Eagle Riders of Eagles Aerie/Auxiliary 291 conducted a 170-mile motorcycle ride
to support the early detection of breast cancer in the Wabash Valley. As a result
of the ride and the dinner and auction that followed, the Eagle Riders presented
a check to Union Hospital Foundation in the amount of $2,565 designated for the
Clara Fairbanks Center Mammogram Assistance Fund.
"We decided to adopt local charities at the start of the Eagle Riders in 2007 and
we feel privileged as a group of ordinary people to be able to help our many friends
and neighbors in this way," said Ron Alvis, one of the ride organizers.
"We are excited that the Eagle Riders have committed to helping the Clara Fairbanks
Center again in 2010 with hopes of increasing the amount and helping the women of
the Wabash Valley," said Jim Bertoli, executive director of the Union Hospital Foundation.
The Clara Fairbanks Center for Women is the No. 1 mammography provider in the Wabash
Valley, performing approximately 12,000 mammograms each year. The Mammogram Assistance
Fund was established through Union Hospital Foundation to help provide these important
screenings for individuals who may not otherwise have the ability to afford them.
Lebanon, Ohio
In keeping with the holiday spirit, Lebanon Aerie 1395 Lebanon Eagle Riders prepared
and delivered a food basket to one local family in the Lebanon area. They were also
visited by Santa and Mrs. Claus (Mr. and Mrs. Dave LaSeur) accompanied by Aerie
1395 "Eagle Rider Elves" delivering a special food basket along with presents and
a cash donation. As one local member put it, "it is an honor to be able to help
those less fortunate than us during this time." A special thanks to the Lebanon
#1395 Ladies Auxiliary and Aerie members who donated food for another 51 needy families
in the Lebanon area!
Elma, Washington
The Aerie/Auxiliary 1440 Eagle Riders joined forces with the East County Lions club
to provide Christmas baskets for 10 local families last December. Pictured are members
of both groups prior to delivering the baskets in over 10 inches of snow. "This
is the second year that the Eagle Riders have done this," notes Persident Brad Peckham,
"and the first with the Lions Club. We are in the process of raising funds for school
supplies and for the holiday baskets for this year."
Naugatuck, Connecticut
On September 19, 2009 the Eagle Riders from FOE #640 of Naugatuck, Connecticut conducted
a benefit ride for the Veterans Hospital of West Haven, Connecticut.
The hospital distributed a list of the many items that are required now for the
Veterans and for the winter season. Items such as prepaid phone and supermarket
cards, socks, knitted hats, gloves, underwear and all the toiletry articles they
could get their hands on. The Eagle Riders, local motorcycle organizations and the
community were up to the challenge and exceeded the hospitals expectations. Besides
the items that were listed, two televisions with an audio visual cart, a DVD player
and over fifty DVD’s were also donated.
In appreciation for sponsoring this event, the hospital staff had a cookout for
all of the riders and the vets. Allan Banyacsky a.k.a. "Doc" (President of the Eagle
Riders), stated that this was the most successful charitable event ever, with regards
to the number of riders and the number of items collected.
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
The Eagle Riders presented a check to the Lachance family on September 1st, 2009
at the F.O.E. #3423 Club located in Hopkinsville, KY. The meeting started at 6:30
pm, and was enjoyed by many Rider, local Hopkinsville residents, and Eagles members.
Lauren Lachance and her family were presented with a check for $25,000.
Winter Springs, Florida
The Eagles Aerie/Auxiliary #4449 Eagle Riders visited Boys Town-Central Florida
to learn more about the organization's programs and to present a donation. Boys
Town residents gave the Eagle Riders a tour of the campus, including the new Boys
Assessment Center, Girls Shelter, Baby Shelterand Residential Homes. At each stop,
the youngsters shared stories about how they arrived at Boys Town, how the programs
help them daily, and theirgoals for the future.
"The Eagle Riders' visit was a great opportunity for our youth to practice their
social skills," said Terry Knox, Boys Town-Central Florida Development Director.
"The Eagle Riders were very impressed with the youth and our campus. After learning
more about what Boys Town does, they have pledged their continued support of our
mission to save children and heal families."
Pictured with Boys Town residents are Mary Lou Beers, Aerie Treasurer; Mike Shattuck,
Aerie Vice President; Nora Koslorek, Aerie Trustee; Thomas Koslorek, Aerie Chaplain;
Patrick Beers, Aerie Secretary; Kim Beers, Auxiliary Madam Vice President; and Sandra
Randall, Treasurer.
Davison, Michigan
The Eagle Riders of Eagles Aerie/Auxiliary 3589 raised $8,000 for the Great Lakes
Cancer Institute-McLaren at a "Ride for the Ribbon." "We want to help those that
need a little extra help," said Eagle Riders President Rodney "Hotrod" Herriman,
whose group also presented the facility with a handmade bench made by Mary Lowland
and signed by riders who participated in the "Ride for the Ribbon."
Lake Havasu City, Arizona
The Lake Havasu City Eagle Riders #4299 held a raffle with the grand prize of a
Harley Davidson motorcycle. The motorcycle was donated by Wes Strock and won by
a Larry Moore. The event was well attended and raised $5,000 for Diabetes Research.
Nebraska
Jerry Mulford of Kenesaw was the winner of this year's Harley Davidson Raffle for
the State President's Project, Nebraska Make-a-Wish. On hand for the presentation
were Jerry's wife Carol; daughters Wendy Romans, Jeri Lyn Runions, and Kelly Kenney;
Jerry's mom, Bee Mulford; Carol's mom and step dad, Leotta and Art Kline; son-in-law
Bill Runions; grandsons William and Andrew Runions; brother-in-law Don Deines; and
Wendy's mother-in-law, Ellie Romans. Also: State Webmaster Bill Drury; Jr. Past
State President Carl Rezabek; State Trustee Bill Primrose (who sold the winning
ticket); Sandy Lawrey, owner of the Harley dealership; and Kelly David, State Chaplain;
and State Presidents Project Chairman.
The raffle raised $2,000 for Nebraska Make-a-Wish.