The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – Waitsburg's Odako Club is no more – at least not in an official capacity. The community service organization will award their final scholarship this June, but intends to maintain its tradition of encouraging students.

The Waitsburg Odako Club was organized in 1949 and still has two charter members – Velma Sickles and Sheryl Conover. Over time, participation dwindled, and the club collected its last dues in 2012.

However, the group has continued to meet in an unofficial capacity. They have a social gathering each Christmas, and carry on the tradition of filling goodie bags for students taking state standardized tests each spring.

Several members met at Joan Helm's home last week to prepare 175 bags for this year's students. Each bag includes a handwritten note, a pencil and eraser, and five Jolly Rancher candies.

Dena Wood

Ivadell Nordheim, Gwen Gobel, Deanne Johnson, Marianne Newell, Ruth Peterson.

"We used to do only about 40 bags, when they state-tested only 4th and 8th grades. Now we make bags for grades 4 through 12, except for 9th grade," Helm said.

The club will be long-remembered for its annual Spring Luncheon and Style Show that brought in scholarship award funds. It has been years since the last style show took place, but the club has been able to continue awarding scholarships from funds they earned during Cycle Oregon in 2012.

This year, they donated $500 to the scholarship fund, but this will be the last time, Helm said. The club members plan to continue meeting for their Christmas social and will keep filling test bags.

"We enjoy encouraging and supporting the kids. It makes a tough day of testing a bit more fun. It was fun to get together and we had a great time," she said.