The Crookston Eagles Club is hosting the Minnesota State Eagles Convention this week. It is the first time Crookston has held the convention in 70 years. The convention will run today through Saturday.
120TH STATE CONVENTION COMES TO TOWN
Jake Fee (Local Aerie secretary for Crookston Aerie 873) came forward to speak about the overlook of the week. “It is our 120th annual aerie-state convention, and this year it is in Crookston. The last time we hosted it was back in 1953,” said Fee. “For many years, we started losing hotels and motels at that time, so we didn’t have enough to host this for the longest time, but in addition to the Cobblestone and third hotel, we were able to do it.”
The Crookston Eagles Club put a bid in six years ago to host the event and were set to host the 2020 convention, but they ran into more obstacles. “Unfortunately, COVID happened, and we had mandatory shutdowns. We had a limited amount of people show up due to restrictions,” said Fee. “We wanted to help the hotels and try to fill up here in the summer, so we put in a bid for 2023.”
The state convention has a bidding process every three years, and Crookston was awarded the 2023 Eagles State Convention.
STATE CONVENTION KICK-OFF
On Wednesday, all of the meetings and banquets begin. “We will have our state officer meetings, which is the executive boards for both the aerie and auxiliary. We also have our state officer’s banquet Wednesday evening,” said Fee. “Then on Thursday, it fully kicks off with all the delegates from all around Minnesota, and grand representatives coming from Vermont, so we have some representatives that come from quite a distance.”
The Auxiliary meetings will be held at the Crookston Inn. They will kick off at 8:45 a.m. on Friday. The Aerie side will have most events at the Crookston Eagles Club.
JOINT AWARDS BANQUET DINNER/WRAP UP
The Joint Awards Banquet dinner will take place at the Crookston Eagles Club banquet hall on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The gathering is meant to bring the entire convention together. There will also be presentations, with local charities present.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY
There are more than 250 Eagle members traveling to Crookston this week from all over the state. Not only do these members help fill the hotels for the week, but they also help local businesses. “We have functions all over. We have breakfast at RBJ’s, we have some lunches at the Crookston Inn, and we had some folks golfing at Minakwa Golf Course on Tuesday,” said Fee. “People go in and shop and spend money in town. When you bring in 250 or more people into the community, they hopefully will bring in some money. Hopefully, it will have a great impact on the financial economy here in Crookston.”
The Crookston Eagles Club would like to thank the Crookston Visitors Bureau (CVB) and all other community partners.
SCHEDULE (All items at the Crookston Eagles Club unless otherwise listed)
Wednesday, June 14
Auxiliary State Officers Meeting and Aerie State Officers meeting from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Joint State Officers Banquet 6:30 p.m.
Auxiliary Committee Meetings 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 15
Auxiliary General Business-first session 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Past Eagle of the Year breakfast at 9:00 a.m. at the Irishman’s Shanty
Auxiliary Luncheon at Noon
Aerie General Business first session from Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Auxiliary Membership Meeting at 1:00 p.m. at the Crookston Inn
Athletic Committee Meeting at 3:15 p.m.
Joint Awards Banquet Dinner 6:30 p.m.
Joint Awards Program 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 16
Auxiliary General Business Meetings and Elections 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Crookston Inn.
Aerie General Business-second session from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Past State Presidents Luncheon (Aerie) from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Irishman’s Shanty.
Past Auxiliary President, Mothers, and Grandmothers Lunch at 12:30 p.m. at the Crookston Inn.
Gambling Meeting from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
State Incoming President Meeting with Aerie President at 3:00 p.m.
Parade of Champions/Memorial Service at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 17
Elections of Officers (Aerie) from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Auxiliary General Business meeting from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Crookston Inn
Aerie General Business third session from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Installation of State Officers from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Auxiliary State Officers Meeting from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Aerie State Officers Meeting from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
