The Fraternal Order of Eagles came to Virginia in 1904; and for the last 118 years have been donating their time and funds to multiple needy causes at the local community, state, region, and national levels.

As a non-profit, it is not our goal to get rich, but to give away funds raised through food & beverage sales, as well as, a variety of fund raising efforts. Today, and for the past several years the Virginia State FOE has donated in excess of $1M dollars to aid in the betterment of their fellowman; aid in research to fight major diseases and simply help those in their time of need.

The newly proposed rules (enclosed in this posting) by the recently installed Virginia State Gaming Committee, if implemented "in their entirety" would cripple our organization and bring our mission of "Helping People" to a trickle.

Not being able to compensate those who work to keep our membership moving forward in our Aerie Homes with earnings from our "Charitable Gaming" proceeds (which would be 10% of the overall earnings) would make it all but impossible to have such personnel on site at our locations.

Again, our use of Charitable Gaming Proceeds make up the greater majority of funds we raise to aid others; we give 100% of our surplus proceeds to charity in one way or the other. With 28 Chartered FOEs in the State of Virginia; there are only 1 or 2 that would survive such a rule change and in essence would mark the end of an era with the FOE in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I am certain this is not the intent of the Committee.

Thank you for listening and please give your strongest consideration to adjusting the following proposed changes:

1. Not being able to pay employees from Gaming Proceeds.
2. Limiting the use of Gaming Proceeds in anyway.
3. The percentage of Net Profit that must be given to Charity as opposed be used on anything else to keep the FOE afloat.

Very Respectfully,

Rock Ruark

Junior Past State President

Virginia Fraternal Order of Eagles