Saturday, January 1, 2005

Eagles club strives to give back to the community

Audry Olmsted El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

The Eagles Club is finishing up a year of giving back to the community with a New Year's Eve Dance on Friday, Dec. 31.

The fund-raiser on the eve of the new year is nothing new to members of the national club, who gather several times a year to raise money for organizations and individuals in the community in need of help.

"Almost everything we hold is to give back to the community," said Linda Perdue, president of the Women's Auxiliary Club.

Perdue said all money brought into the Eagles Club is put back into the community.

"Our motto is: 'People helping people,'" she said.

Chance Atwood, president of the Eagles Club, said the funds the club receives come from fund-raisers, membership dues and proceeds received from gaming in the club. Perdue said the women's side of the club gets their money purely from fund-raisers and membership dues.

Collectively, the club has raised more than $32,000 in 2004.

Atwood said the club considers people's medical needs and the needs of children, including scholarships and school trips, before anything else. The club has raised money for religious functions, school and sports programs and funerals, along with a variety of other needs as they arise.

Perdue stressed that people do not need to be members of the club to participate in the events. She encouraged everyone to participate in the events the club holds and give back to the community.

The New Year's Eve dance will start at 8 p.m. and run until 1 a.m. Tickets are $25 per couple and $15 for singles. Snacks will be included and entertainment will be provided by Anthony Rosas and the Silver Rose Band.

The Eagles Club, Perdue said, is a place where people can gather and spend time with others in a safe and comfortable environment.

Plans are already in the works for events in 2005. The club will be holding a dance Jan. 14, starting at 8 p.m. There will also be a Mardi Gras party and dance Jan. 29, at 8 p.m., and a Super Bowl and matanza party all-day Feb. 6. The cost for all events is $5 each.

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