WDT History
By Jean Kerber
In 1982, the Portland Association of the Deaf (PACD) was the host for the National Deaf Bowling Association (NDBA) tournament in Portland, Oregon. Funds were needed for this event, so Mike Dinkins proposed having a Timber Contest at Camp Taloali in Stayton, Oregon during the Labor Day weekend. Pat Kelly started up a horseshoe tournament and Bob Jones and Don Burks started up a beer drinking contest using straws to drink out of mugs. This first year, there were about 150 people paying to attend the events and campout for the Labor Day weekend.
For the next 3 years Mike Dinkins was the Chairman of this Timber event with all the profits going to the Camp Taloali General Fund. In 1987, PACD decided to make this an annual event as a fund raiser for the camp at that time, they changed the name of the event to “World Deaf Timberfest, Inc”.
Past Chairmen of this event have been Rod Kerber, Jim Randall, Royal Teets and many others over the years. This event would never have been possible without the volunteerism of so many people who served on all the committees that makeup the Timberfest group.
On the 10th Anniversary of the World Deaf Timberfest there were over 2,500 people from all over the USA and some foreign counties in attendance. This was the all time record for attendance for the last 24 years.
After the 20th Anniversary of this event, the group decided to only hold the event every 5 years and in the years between they would have a “Family campout with limited logging events”.
We hope that your attendance at the 30th Anniversary of the World Deaf Timberfest was an enjoyable and memorable event. Be sure to say “THANK YOU” to all the committee members who have volunteered their time to put on this event which helps support Camp Taloali and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing summer programs.