Kids and Benny the Beaver at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties’ Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
The Salem social scene has been hopping over the last three months and there are dozens of events still to attend. One of the hits of the fall is always the Civil War Auction held by the Boys and Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk County.
The event brings together Duck and Beaver fans for a fight to the finish to win silent and live auction items, all to benefit children in our community through their local centers and mentorship.
The event, held last Saturday at the Salem Convention Center, started in 2004 at Creekside Golf Club. Eventually, it grew so large that the event had to be moved to the convention center. It needed all that space to accommodate hundreds of auction items, cheerleaders, and of course, our favorite mascots, Puddles and Benny. Kids from the club enjoyed joking around with Benny.
Impressive auction items included duck and beaver themed quilts by Kathy Morgan and a new Evolution Classic golf cart donated by title sponsor Bonaventure Senior Living. If you were really lucky you could outbid your friends for two tickets to see Blake Shelton. Jeff Kelly and his family at Kelly’s Home Center always show up and this year. They donated a new barbecue.
Baltazar and Kara Campuzano attended. Kara was recently named Mrs. Oregon. Dan and Lora Dorn admired the Fireball whiskey guitar. Curt and Barb Arthur sported black and orange plaid shirts. Don and Theresa Lulay went as platypuses with Oregon colors on the one side of their jerseys and OSU on the other. Back in the corner, auctioneer Paul Schultz collaborated with his team Douglas DeGrande and Rich Martin.
The crowd cheered after team fight songs were played and led by enthusiastic mascots and cheerleaders. Director Sue Bloom reminded guests of lives were by their donations. The benefits of the club were emphasized with a life story from a former club member, Robert Castaneda. He gave kudos to Hailie Peplinski for influencing his future. She reported that they raised enough money at the event to support two of their clubhouses.
Find out more at /bgc-salem.org or call 503-581-7383.
Paul Shultz, Douglas DeGrande and Rich Martin prepare for the auction at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Puddles and U of O Cheerleaders at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Baltazar and Kara Campuzano attend the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Eric Page, Curt and Barb Arthur and Candy Page attend the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Kathy Morgan’s quilts at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Dan and Lora Dorn attend the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Benny and OSU Cheerleaders at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Fireball Whisky guitar on auction at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem-Marion and Polk Counties Civil War Dinner and Auction at the Salem Convention Center recently. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Mary Louise VanNatta is a Salem public relations professional writing a regular column for Salem Reporter. Tell her about your upcoming event at [email protected] or follow her on Facebook.
