What is the Mason Dixon Conference?
The Mason Dixon Conference is comprised of all Aeries and Auxiliaries in the States of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and West Virginia.
The annual meeting shall be held on the first weekend of April each year or as close to that weekend as possible at a site to be determined by the members in attendance at the annual meeting. When Easter falls on the first Sunday in April, the annual meeting shall be held on the second weekend of April.
The purpose of the Mason Dixon Conference is for the members of the named States to meet annually to raise funds for the Grand Worthy President Elect and the Grand Madam President Elect to help in defraying their expenses in attaining this office. The Grand Presidents Elect shall be the special guests at the annual conference.
The annual meeting shall be held on the first weekend of April each year or as close to that weekend as possible at a site to be determined by the members in attendance at the annual meeting. When Easter falls on the first Sunday in April, the annual meeting shall be held on the second weekend of April.
The purpose of the Mason Dixon Conference is for the members of the named States to meet annually to raise funds for the Grand Worthy President Elect and the Grand Madam President Elect to help in defraying their expenses in attaining this office. The Grand Presidents Elect shall be the special guests at the annual conference.
Mason Dixon Conference History
The Mason Dixon Conference was named – Mason Dixon Reunion at the beginning of 1993. It was an idea of the late PGW Henry M. Funk, otherwise known as Uncle Henry.
To names a few of the beginners that started this journey, Henry Funk, Big Foot McFadden, Robbie Phillips, Shobuck Wilson, Royce Ryan, Skip Brown, Lloyd Carper, Jay Workman etc… The very first event took place in 1990 at Waynesboro Aerie #1758, that’s the time the “dancing girls” evolved. I’m sure everyone remembers them. The next 3 Reunions 1994, Bud Collett, 1995 George Ziebold & Jim West was help at Cumberland Aerie #245.
At that time the word became popular and more Eagles started to attend these yearly functions and one more person came aboard, Jan McFadden. Our next fundraiser for our incoming Grand President was at Wilmington Aerie #74, Wilmington, DE in 1997 for Bill Blum.
Big Foot McFadden, Chairman; Robbie Phillips, Treasurer; Jan McFadden, Secretary. Jay Workman, Annie Munday & Maron Phillips Representatives.
Discussion was help on resolutions read and adopted at the National Convention in Spokane Washington. In particular, the resolution submitted to make the Mason Dixon Reunion a conference. In essence, it was stated that the GA does sponsor regional conferences. If this was sanctioned and make a conference the GA would have to operate this as a conference, with a program set up. The Mason Dixon is a grass roots conference without any interference. Each you’re the GA assigns the GWP-Elect & since 1997 at the National Convention in Spokane a GMP-Elect was added to the conference. It was stated that the whole purpose of the Mason Dixon is to raise money for the Grand Worthy and Madam Presidents-Elects.
1998 – First joint GW & GMP Elect conference at Somerset Aerie #1801 Andy Vollmer & Doris Bateson
1999 – Wilmington Aerie #74 Larry Hanshaw & Linda Heffner
2000 – Clarksburg Aerie #2353 Pete Hardy & Judy Sanders
2001 – Hagerstown Aerie #694 Ed Bollenbacher & Bettie Clark
2002 – Wilmington Aerie #74 Fred Smith & Carlene Corum
2003 – Fredericksburg Aerie #4123 Wayne D. Clark & Peggy Carver
2004 – Gaithersburg Aerie #3509 Sonny Crawford & Pat Lazenby
2005 – Fairless Hills Aerie #2480 Chris Lainas & Roxanne Alley
2006 – Wilmington Aerie #74 Bill Loffer & Stephanie Smith
2007 – Littlestown Aerie #2226 John Potter & Margaret Cox
2008 – Gaithersburg Aerie #3509 Jim Roberts & Pat Durham
2009 – Wayne D. Clark Aerie #4488 Mike Lagervoll & Jean Kerr
2010 – Wilmington Aerie #74 Phil Tice & Mary Myers (Phil was unable to attend for health reasons)
2011 – Carlisle Aerie #1299 Mel Fry & Gwen Stallkamp
2012 – Brunswick Aerie #1136 Ron Stein & Sally Villalva
2013 – Winchester Aerie #824 David Tice & Katie Ziebol
2014 – Clarksburg Aerie #2353 Bud Haig & Gloria Mason
2015 – Wilmington Aerie #74 Chuck Lang & Penny Skinner
2016 – Fredericksburg Aerie #4123 Jerry Sullivan & Judy Johnson
2017 – Salisbury Aerie #4503 Tom McGrath & Hellen Phoner
2018 – Frederick Aerie #1067 Carl Burnett & Althea Lane (Carl was unable to attend for health reasons)
2019 – Staunton Aerie #680 Ron Malz & Gloria Williams
2020 – Fredericksburg Aerie #4123 Dave Smith & Jacque Marble
2021 – Fredericksburg Aerie #4123 Brian Rogers & Brenda Garrioch
2022 – Falls Creek Aerie #965 Rick Powell & Elaine Regi
2023 – Winchester Aerie #824 Chuck Weber & Becky Wilson
2024 - Fredericksburg Aerie #4123 Peter Ackers & Mary Gutierrez
2025 - Falls Creek PA Aerie #965 David Wooster & Becky Pelkey