Three years ago, the Fraternal Order of Eagles Pottsville Aerie 134 was facing $25,000 in debt and uncertainty about its future, John O'Grady, one of the group's trustees, said Thursday night.
"In April or May, some of the organization's state representatives came in for a visit and after they looked at the books, they were ready to close us down. But we got them to give us the opportunity to make it a viable aerie, and we have done that," O'Grady said.
"The organization's motto is 'People Helping People.' I think after a while the club got away from that. It was on the verge of closing," O'Grady said at the lodge at 16-18 S. Second St.
In recent years, the group has rededicated itself to that motto and worked to reduce its debt.
The debt accumulated when previous officers failed to pay taxes and bills, according to O'Grady and Corey Flecha, the group's financial secretary.
"There was some very poor management," O'Grady said.
"I think it started in 2007 or 2008 from what I understand," Flecha said.
"I don't want to name names, but, in the past, finances have disappeared. I'd say that was happening over the past 15 years, maybe a little longer," O'Grady said.
O'Grady was a member for three months in 2010. "I was treasurer, and I left because I didn't like what was going on. I came back in September 2012," O'Grady said.
Flecha said he's been a member for two years.
"There was a time when this club had tens of thousands of dollars in the bank. And now we live week to week but get our bills paid. And what a lot of expenses are going toward is paying past bills, past property and school taxes," Flecha said.
"But we're fixing things," O'Grady said.
"We're almost caught up," Flecha said.
With determination, the current slate of officers managed to knock down some of that debt, Flecha said.
"We're down to about $12,000 in debt now," Flecha said.
Meanwhile, the nonprofit group has been working to build membership. And since March, it has quadrupled its numbers, O'Grady said Thursday.
"In March, we had 28 members. Now, we're up to 112. We got that doing some footwork and word-of-mouth. Our goal is to make it as relevant as the Lions Club. The Lions are involved in so many things in the community. We want to be involved like that. We want to make the Fraternal Order of Eagles something that Pottsville can be proud of," O'Grady said.
"And we're making donations to local charities. This weekend, we're going to give $534.50 to Toys for Tots," Flecha said Thursday.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is a civic-minded charitable organization founded in 1898 by a small group of theater owners in Seattle, Wash., according to the organization's website at www.foe.com.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles Pottsville Aerie 134 was instituted on March 24, 1901, according to the "Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County," published in 1936.
"It started on the corner of Mauch Chunk and Route 61, where Dunkin Donuts is now," O'Grady said.
In 1936, the group had "about 500 members," according to the Zerbey history.
The organization has been based at 16-18 S. Second St. since 1947, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.
"Once you become a member of this Eagles club, you can take your membership card and visit any of the Eagles clubs across the United States," Repp said.
"Some clubs even have rooms available if a club member breaks down somewhere. They'll put them up for the night," O'Grady said.
In addition to increased membership, the organization has recently established two pool teams in an effort to compete in the East Coast Pool League.
Current officers include: Jayson "Bud" Glauda, president; Christian Urban, vice president; Flecha, financial secretary; Pat Gillespie, treasurer; and three trustees, O'Grady, Steve Repp and Ron Rauch.
The organization has its general meetings at 2 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month at 16-18 S. Second St.
The initial membership rate is $30 for the first year and $18 to renew the membership for a second year and it's $18 per year from then on. It's open to men and women, O'Grady said.
Anyone with questions can call 570-628-0377.