Eagles Club members voted to stay open as surge of interest in board materializes

The Havre Eagles Club averted a potential shutdown Wednesday night as members of the Havre Eagles Aerie #166 voted unanimously to stay open despite a lack of Eagles board members and officers, an issue that had reached the point that membership had to consider closing the club’s doors.

Eagles Club Manager Candace Dess said Wednesday before the meeting that she was certain members would vote to remain open, but she wasn’t sure what they were going to do to solve the board vacancy problem.

Havre Daily News was not permitted to attend the meeting, but Dess said this morning that every present member voted to remain open, and many put their names forward to be on the board.

“We got a lot of people interested,” she said.

She said representatives of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Grand Aerie were able to choose new board members then and there, with training starting today, and official seating Friday.

Dess said she’s happy the situation could be resolved and that so many people showed up to the meeting.

“It was a really good turnout; there were a lot of members I haven’t seen in a while,” she said. “... This place is a staple in the community and it wouldn’t be good to close.”