The Titanic resurfaces for 72nd Elks Annual Celebration

CONDON, OR - During the 72nd anniversary celebration of the Condon Elks Lodge held Dec. 14, nine new members were initiated into the Lodge, the largest 'class' of new members to be initiated in several years.

The newest Lodge members of Condon Elks Lodge No. 1869, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, are Chanel Kelly, James Spisla and Shannon Binder, all of Condon, Noah Levine of Wilsonville, Pat Becker of Tualatin, Greta LaRue Salvo of Bend, Meredith Conlee of Spokane, Corey Lohman of Canby, and Art Beyers of Tualatin.

The new members brought the Lodge's total membership to 355.

Fifty-three Lodge members from Condon and from around the state and Washington and Idaho were in attendance to help the local Lodge celebrate its 72nd year as a charitable fraternal organization in Condon.

Among the special guests for the occasion were Past Grand Exalted Ruler Roger True from Kennewick, Washington and Past Grand Exalted Ruler and Oregon State Sponsor Keith Mills of Filer, Idaho; Past Grand Lodge Administrative Assistant Lynn Bittick, Past Grand Lodge Trustee Joe Basil, Grand Lodge Ritual Committee Area 8 Rick Shipley, Grand Lodge Government Relations Area 8 Steve Johnson, Washington State Elks Association Vice President Ben Braden, Oregon State Elks Association East District Trustee Randy Morgan, OSEA Chair of Trustees Joyce Middleton, Past OSEA Trustee Doug Riggs, OSEA Assistant Sgt.-at-Arms Mike Cronk, OSEA President-Elect Blake Whitson, OSEA Past State President Kim Duty and member Kirk Mitchell.

In keeping with a 72-year tradition, the officers of the Heppner Elks Lodge No. 358 were in Condon to perform the new member initiation ritual.

Heppner officers included Shane Lazinka, Exalted Ruler; Donald Matthews, Leading Knight; Tate Gentry, Loyal Knight; Wacy Coil, PER/Lecturing Knight; John Doherty, Esquire; Bill Canaday, Inner Guard; and Corey Sweeney, PER/Chaplain.

The extravagant 'Titanic-themed' evening featured a seating arrangement with name tags denoting survivor and non-survivors of the tragic sinking of the 'Titanic' in the Atlantic Ocean in April 1912. The dining arrangement featured the grand piano in the center of the room which the 'Titanic' pianist reportedly continued to play as the ship went down. An iconic wall-sized print of the bow of the 'Titanic' was hung in front of which many pictures were taken during the evening. An authentic five-course meal of chicken and beef was served with cream puffs for dessert, prepared by Sabrina Wagenaar and Sally Drinkwine. The dinner hour began with a solo of the 'Titanic' theme song, 'My Heart Will Go On,' performed by Virginia Basil.

The traditional fun-time fund-raising auction held following the meal raised $4,725 to be used towards the Lodge's charitable missions. Nick Bettencourt, who has distinguished himself in Elkdom as Past Exalted Ruler, Past District Deputy and Past OSEA State President, and now Lodge secretary, conducted the auction with assistance from his father and fellow auctioneer Frank.