John Potter – Disaster Relief Fund

Grand Worthy President John Potter's special project for the 2007-2008 year is to develop and fund a first response program for national disaster situations in Canada and the United States. This fund has been accepted as an official charity of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

The fund includes a fleet of semi trailers throughout the U.S. and Canada equipped with basic emergency needs — water, first aid supplies, food, etc. for distribution at the emergency site. The trailers will be fully funded and managed by Eagle Members, with semi tractors being provided by Eagle member owner-operators, commercial donation or rental tractors as necessary.

All semi trailers are clearly marked The Fraternal Order of Eagles Disaster Relief Fund and a network of member volunteer commercial drivers and service volunteers have been established to support in the response of a national disaster.

The team(s) closest to the disaster site is charged with bringing the fully stocked trailer to the disaster site and distributing the items available for victims and others in need. Long term plans indicate trailers in every state and province, stocked and ready for distribution as needed.

Members can support the program through the following ways:

• Fundraising at the local aerie and auxiliary
• Volunteering to participate in the local Emergency Management Operations as a representative of the Fraternal Order of Eagles
• Volunteer to be a driver (current CDL required)
• Volunteer as a member of the distribution group
• Encourage a friend to join the program

Checks supporting the program should be made to Eagle Charity Foundation and earmarked in the memo section as GWP Project or Disaster Relief Fund and sent to the Grand Aerie. For more information contact disasterrelief@foe.com or your nearest regional committee member.