Tom McGrath
Thomas L. “Tom” McGrath, Grand Worthy President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, joined the organization on October 22, 1962 and is currently a member of Addison County Aerie #3801, in Vergennes, (ver-jens) Vermont. He holds dual membership in Aerie #3946 Orlando, FL & Cypress Hut #4509 Okeechobee, FL.
Brother Tom served as a Worthy Trustee, Secretary and Membership Chairman of Addison County and as State Worthy Secretary for Vermont until he made his permanent residence in Palmetto, Fl., in 2015.
His strong leadership and dedication to the Order was rewarded with a year of service as Vermont State Aerie President in 1992 and was followed up with a year as Northern New England Regional President in 1993. Brother McGrath joined the Grand Aerie as Grand Worthy Conductor in 1995 and was elected to Grand Worthy Chaplain in 1999, continuing on four years as a Grand Trustee.
He returned to the Grand Aerie in 2009 as Grand Treasurer and in 2012 as a Grand Trustee for 3 more years while serving as Co-Director of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center fundraising project as well as Grand Trustee Liaison to the DRC. Brother McGrath served three terms in the House of Representatives, Vermont State General Assembly, resigning to become a fulltime Eagle.
He retired in 1995 after thirty-five years with General Electric Co and Martin-Marietta Aerospace as Manager of Research & Development, Production Control.
He and his wife, Peggy, have two sons, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and representing the Grand Aerie.
Helen Poehner
Helen Poehner, Grand Madam President, joined the Eagles in 1972 and is now a member of Hamilton (Ohio) West Auxiliary #3986. She currently holds dual member status at Cheviot (Ohio) Auxiliary #2197.
Since joining the Eagles, Sister Helen has been a highly involved member, serving several years in many chairs as a member of the Ohio State Auxiliary. Her rise through the chairs led her to become Ohio State Madam President for the 2009-2010 fraternal year.
She was a member of the Ritual Team winning both State and National competitions and started their Memorial Team at Butler #407 in Hamilton, Ohio. In 2011, she joined the Grand Auxiliary as Grand Madam Conductor.
Sister Helen has served as a CASA Volunteer for the Butler County Juvenile Court and has worked on fundraisers for the Habitat for Humanity program. She retired from her job as a legal assistant to attorneys in Hamilton and Oxford, Ohio in 2004.
Sister Helen and her late husband, Grand Aerie and Ohio State Hall of Famer Jack Poehner, have four children and seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She has attended all but two International Conventions since 1973 and has been to every Ohio State Convention since 1973.