Newspaper Interview

I had my first newspaper interview on Friday. The local paper heard that the Eagles is listing their property for sale. This may be a huge shock for our members...which might wake them up and make them realize that they need to frequent the facility more than once a year!!!

Kudos to Jody Murphy of the Parkersburg News and Sentinel. He was very accurate in capturing my quotes. I have to admit I was nervous that I might be taken out of context. Nothing was farther from the truth. Everything he quoted was exactly what I said! Who says you can't trust reporters?

Here's the story:

Eagles looking for smaller nest
By JODY MURPHY
POSTED: March 6, 2010

PARKERSBURG - The local Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2307 on Gihon Road is looking for a smaller site.
Lodge President J.R. Ruble said members have voted to list the 25,900 square-foot building and adjoining 28 acres of land for sale.
"Times are tough," he said.
Ruble said a number of factors - declining membership and activity, the health department's indoor air regulations and the widespread growth of video lottery - pushed the need to downsize.
But Ruble was emphatic that the Eagles was not closing.
"We are looking at opportunities to downsize," he said. "We are not closing."
Ruble said the aerie will not have a for-sale sign up on the property and the order will consider several options for sale, such as selling just the building, part or all of the surrounding land or the entire parcel.
Ruble described the group's situation as "house poor."
"You have a nice house, but you can't buy any furniture," he said.
"If we could sell some of the land we could pay down the mortgage and refinance," Ruble said. "We are looking at all kinds of opportunities."
The building was erected in 1998 and was host to numerous banquets including Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Allohak Council of the Boy Scouts, the National Rifle Association and Wood County schools.
"We do everything we can for the community," Ruble said.
The property is listed for more than $2.7 million. The 28-acre site includes a baseball field, concession stand, a pond and picnic shelters. The 25,900 square-foot building includes a ball and banquet rooms, office space, a massive bar area and a fully equipped kitchen.
Ruble said the club has about 2,500 members, but sees less than 10 percent of those members on a regular basis. Ruble has been a member for three years.
Ruble would like to find a more central location for the aerie, similar to former site in downtown Parkersburg. The Eagles used to be at the Boreman Wheelhouse building, along Fourth and Avery streets.
Ruble said the club has enough funding to keep the status quo for two to three years, so the situation is not desperate.
"We are not shutting the doors and we are not accepting a low-ball offer," he said. "But we could see the writing on the wall."