by Molly Hottle, The Oregonian
Monday July 06, 2009, 7:33 PM
An estimated 10,000 Elks club members in Portland for a national convention are wasting no time helping the local economy.
"Everyone is telling each other about the restaurants," said Rick Gathen of New Jersey, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks for 16 years. "I've been to the last 14 conventions, and this is the host city that is the friendliest and the most eager to please."
City officials expect members attending the 145th Elks National Convention, which began Sunday at the Oregon Convention Center, and their families to spend $5 million during the five-day event...
Read more at OregonLive.com >
