This photo of the Condon Elks Lodge dates back to the early 1950s when the lodge was founded.
The aura of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Condon Elks Lodge No. 1869 stretches far and wide, and the attendance at the Condon Lodge's 71st Anniversary celebration proves it.
Elks Lodge members from throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho were on hand Saturday, Dec. 16, when the Condon Lodge celebrated its 71st year since it was instituted in 1952. In December that year, over 300 members of the Heppner Elks Lodge were meeting in Condon as the Gilliam-Wheeler contingent of the Heppner Lodge. Grand Lodge allowed the formation of the Condon Lodge and officers of the Heppner Elks Lodge No. 358 installed the Lodge's charter officers and the saga began.
Seventy-one years later, Heppner Lodge officers remain involved in the Condon Lodge's 'Annual' celebration by conducting the new member initiation ritual. During those seven decades, members of the Condon Lodge have distinguished themselves and the Lodge by serving as officers of the Oregon State Elks Association and on a number of state and Grand Lodge committees.
Two Condon Lodge members have served as president of the Oregon State Elks Association – the late Bill Flatt in 1973-74 and Nick Bettencourt who is OSEA's current president, 2023-24. Bettencourt was also selected as State Officer of the Year in 2015-16; and Harry Hartley, who died in December, was selected to the OSEA Hall of Fame in 2007 and was named Elk of the Year in 1993-94.
The solemn Death of a Member ritual was performed in memory of Harry Hartley during the afternoon Lodge meeting, noting his long-time dedication to the principles of Elkdom.
During this year's Annual, the Condon Lodge gained four new members in a ceremony performed by the officers of the Heppner Lodge. Initiated were Tara Williams Nelson, Andrew Newell, Randall Casey and Turner Lear. The Condon Lodge boasts a membership of 349 members.
Current officers of the Condon Lodge are Janet Cutsforth, Exalted Ruler; Cassandra Flatt, Leading Knight; Kara Davis, Lecturing Knight; Mary Potter, Chaplain; Roy Nelson, Inner Guard; Jessica Isley, Tiler; and Laurie Roberge, Musician. Heppner Lodge officers stepping into the chairs for the initiation ceremony were Corey Sweeney, Exalted Ruler; Shawn Lazinka, Leading Knight; Donald Matthews, Loyal Knight; Tony Clement, Lecturing Knight; Tate Gentry, Esquire; John Doherty, Chaplain; and Bill Canaday, Inner Guard. Honoring OSEA President Nick Bettencourt, and the Condon Lodge, by their presence were William Lindsay, Grand Lodge committeeman from Spokane; Steve Johnson, Grand Lodge committeeman and Idaho past state president from Nampa; Greg Balint, Washington past state president from Pasco; Bob Shaw, Idaho past state president from Coeur d'Alene; Ben Braden, state vice-president from Washington; Randy Morgan, OSEA trustee from Enterprise; Ed Parmer, OSEA trustee from Gateway-Gresham; Doug Riggs, past state trustee chair and OSEA committeeman from Baker City; Rick Shipley, OSEA past state president from Hillsboro; Dan Lowe, OSEA past state president from Independence; Blake Whitsan, OSEA vice-president from Salem; Charlie Caughlin, OSEA vice-president from John Day; Laurie Roberge, OSEA musician from Condon; Tom Winters, OSEA photographer from John Day.
The Lodge meeting also served as the official visit to the Condon Lodge by OSEA Vice President East District Charlie Caughlin of John Day, who spoke briefly on the many charitable missions of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in particular Meadowood Springs Speech Camp near Milton-Freewater, the Betty Hise Foundation for Cancer Research, the Elks Youth Eyes Service, and the new OSEA Lodge Improvement Fund initiated this year by OSEA President Nick Bettencourt.
While Lodge was in session at the Memorial Hall, the Lady Elks Tea was held in the Lodge dining room. A dinner of Hawaiian luau fare, prepared by Lodge Trustee Ted Shaffer and cook Aly Smedlock, was served in the Lodge room, followed by a fund-raising auction, conducted by Nick and Frank Bettencourt, earning $3,200.50 for the Lodge's local charities.
A presentation of a $3,000 grant was made to the Condon Food Pantry during the dinner.
The funds were made possible through the Condon Lodge and the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant program, and the donation was accepted by Kolona Morin, Food Pantry manager and volunteer Susan Walters. The Condon Elks Lodge has donated $9,500 local food pantries in the past recent years.
In an additional raffle of a Blackstone gas grill, which had been donated to the Lodge by Nick and Cody Bettencourt, $640 was raised for the Lodge's Kitchen Remodel Project. The grill was won by Jan Lindsay of Spokane.
New officers for the Condon Elks Lodge will be elected in February and will take office when the new Lodge year begins April 1. An installation of officers ceremony is tentatively scheduled for April 13.
Reader Comments(0)