Club History
The organization began in 1947 when Serafina Uberuaga Mendiguren thought of organizing a Basque Ladies Club in Ontario. She communicated her idea toTimmie Yraguen Echanis and together they called a meeting which marked the beginning of the Ontario Basque Ladies' Society. The club would later be known as the Ontario Basque Ladies' Club, Ontario, Basque Club, and finally the Ontario, Oregon Basque Club.
In the beginning, the club met at the homes of members. Over the years meetings were convened at various locations around Ontario until the club inaugurated Ontario Basque Center in 2007.
Early Members of the Ontario Basque Ladies Club
Charter Members attending the first meeting were:
Timmie Yraguen Echanis |
Josephine Echanis Keim |
For many years, the Basque Ladies Club remained just that, however, since 1994 men have been welcome to join. Membership is composed of Old World and American born Basques and their families. Ontario Basque club members collaborated in the formation of North American Basque Organizations, Inc. (NABO) and Ontario Basque club became a member of NABO in 1973.
Past Presidents and Vice Presidents
|
President |
Vice President |
1948 |
Sera Uberuaga Mendiguren |
Elsie Rivard Yturri |
1952 |
Josephine Echanis Keim |
Unknown |
1953 |
Georgia Yturri |
Josephine Yost |
1954 |
Martina Yraguen Echanis |
Marie Bilbao |
1955 |
Marge Jones Plaza |
Sera Uberuaga Mendiguren |
1956 |
Marie Mendive |
Martina Yraguen Echanis |
1957 |
Marie Mendive |
Martina Yraguen Echanis |
1958 |
Marie Uriarte |
Timmie Yraguen Echanis |
1959 |
Marge Jones Plaza |
Juanita Yraguen Hoff |
1960 |
Juanita Yraguen Hoff |
Ramona Gabiola Barinaga |
1961 |
Jackie Plaza |
Kay Cornwall Plaza |
1962 |
Pat Echanis |
Luci Sagasta Egurrola |
1963 |
Ramona Gabiola Barinaga |
Pat Echanis |
1964 |
Ramona Anderson |
Ramona Gabiola Barinaga |
1965 |
Irene Ybarzabal Bates |
Ramona Anderson |
1966 |
Petra McCrary |
Irene Ybarzabal Bates |
1967 |
Sera Uberuaga Mendiguren |
Petra McCrary |
1968 |
Georgia Yturri |
Sera Uberuaga Mendiguren |
1970 |
Kay Cornwall Plaza |
Maureen Plaza |
1971 |
Kay Cornwall Plaza |
Maureen Plaza |
1972 |
Dolores Echanis |
Unknown |
1973 |
Dolores Echanis |
Vicky Mendazona Tuttle |
1974 |
Vicky Mendazona Tuttle |
Elena Bengoechea Calzacorta |
1975 |
Marie Mendive |
Juanita Yraguen Hoff |
1976 |
Juanita Yraguen Hoff |
Sara Echevarria Plaza |
1977 |
Juanita Yraguen Hoff |
Sara Echevarria Plaza |
1978 |
Sara Echevarria Plaza |
Martina Yraguen Echanis |
1979 |
Ramona Gabiola Barinaga |
Pat Echanis |
1980 |
Pat Echanis |
Ramona Gabiola Barinaga |
1981 |
Grace Lacouague Mainvil |
Pat Echanis |
1982 |
Grace Lacouague Mainvil |
Linda Mendive Scott |
1983 |
Merce Calzacorta |
Mary Calzacorta |
1985 |
Mona Smith Mendiola |
Trish Mendiola Walchel |
1986 |
Trish Mendiola Walchel |
Linda Mendive Scott |
1987 |
Trish Mendiola Walchel |
Linda Mendive Scott |
1988 |
Linda Mendive Scott |
Grace Lacouague Mainvil |
1989 |
Linda Mendive Scott |
Grace Lacouague Mainvil |
1990 |
Grace Lacouague Mainvil |
Martina Yraguen Echanis |
1991 |
Martina Yraguen Echanis |
Vic Eiguren |
1992 |
Vic Eiguren |
Sandy Pagoaga |
1993 |
Sandy Pagoaga |
Helen Marquina Smith |
1994 |
Grace Lacouague Mainvil |
Mona Smith Mendiola |
1995 |
Paula Mendiola Fritts |
Mona Smith Mendiola |
1996 |
Dennis Mendiola |
Mona Smith Mendiola |
1997 |
Dennis Mendiola |
Sandy Plaza |
1998 |
Sandy Plaza |
Ben Plaza |
1999 |
Ben Plaza |
Gene Bates |
2000 |
Gene Bates |
Juli Plaza Gundle |
2001 |
Gene Bates |
Juli Plaza Gundle |
2002 |
Philip Joyce |
Irene Ybarzabal Bates |
2003 |
Philip Joyce |
Frank Yraguen |
2004 |
Frank Yraguen |
Linda Berria Feeley |
2005 |
Linda Berria Feeley |
Irene Ybarzabal Bates |
2006 |
Irene Ybarzabal Bates |
Jim Arritola |
2007 |
Jim Arritola |
Lisa Corcostegui |
2008 |
Lisa Corcostegui |
Martin Espil |
2009 |
Martin Espil |
Lisa Corcostegui |
2010 |
Lisa Corcostegui |
Brian Joyce |
2011 |
Joe Plaza |
Richard Tuttle |
2012 |
Richard Tuttle |
Joe Plaza |
2013 |
Joe Plaza |
Lisa Corcostegui |
2014 |
Lisa Corcostegui |
Vacant |
2015 |
Joe Plaza |
Tara Dominick |
2016 |
Joe Plaza |
|
2017 |
Joe Plaza |
Vacant |
Past Secretaries and Treasurers:
Secretary |
Treasurer |
|
1948 |
Martina Echanis |
Alice Vandewall |
1952 |
Martina Echanis |
Not Known |
1953 |
Alice Vandewall |
Maureen Plaza |
1954 |
Marge Plaza |
Timmie Echanis |
1955 |
Maureen Plaza |
Timmie Echanis |
1956 |
Georgia Yturri |
Juanita Hoff |
1957 |
Georgia Yturri |
Juanita Hoff |
1958 |
Pat Echanis |
Martina Echanis |
1959 |
Ramona Barinaga |
Lois Acaiturri |
1960 |
Kathleen Aspitarte |
Maureen Plaza |
1961 |
Rebecca Platt |
Georgia Yturri |
1962 |
Martina Echanis |
Timmie Echanis |
1963 |
Ramona Anderson |
Virginia Corn |
1964 |
Sarah Plaza |
Virginia Corn |
1965 |
Kay Plaza |
Rebecca Platt |
1966 |
Dixie Veristain |
Luci Sagasta |
1967 |
Georgia Yturri |
Luci Sagasta |
1968 |
Vicky Tuttle |
Luci Sagasta |
1969 |
Kay Plaza |
Luci Sagasta |
1970 |
Pat Echanis |
Juanita Hoff |
1971 |
Pat Echanis |
Juanita Hoff |
1972 |
Rebecca Platt |
Lou Echanis |
1973 |
Kathleen Aspitarte |
Marge Plaza |
1974 |
Judy Franks |
Timmie Echanis |
1975 |
Sera Mendiguren |
Timmie Echanis |
1976 |
Grace Mainvil |
Joan Mallea |
1977 |
Grace Mainvil |
Joan Mallea |
1978 |
Grace Mainvil |
Joan Mallea |
1979 |
Mary Hill |
Juanita Hoff |
1980 |
Helen Smith |
Lou Echanis |
1981 |
Kathleen Aspitarte |
Linda Feeley |
1982 |
Marie Mendive |
Linda Feeley |
1983 |
Paula Fritts |
Trish Mendiola Walchel |
1985 |
Grace Mainvil |
Glenda Mendiola |
1986 |
Paula Fritts |
Chris Franks |
1987 |
|
Chris Franks |
1988 |
Kitty McKinney |
Chris Franks |
1989 |
Kitty McKinney |
Chris Franks |
1990 |
Helen Smith |
Linda Dominick |
1991 |
Babe Yraguen |
Kitty McKinney |
1992 |
Babe Yraguen |
Kitty McKinney |
1993 |
Babe Yraguen |
Linda Dominick |
1994 |
Mary Hill |
Kitty McKinney |
1995 |
Sandy Pagoaga |
Kitty McKinney |
1996 |
Cindy Mallea |
Linda Feeley |
1997 |
Sandy Pagoaga |
Linda Feeley |
1998 |
Maria Tipton |
Kitty McKinney |
1999 |
Maria Tipton |
Juli Plaza Gundle |
2000 |
Christina Tuttle |
Lynda Gastanaga |
2001 |
Christina Tuttle |
Lynda Gastanaga |
2002 |
Christina Tuttle |
Melanie Berria |
2003 |
Christina Tuttle |
Melanie Berria |
2004 |
Christina Tuttle |
Lynda Gastanaga |
2005 |
Christina Tuttle |
Lynda Gastanaga |
2006 |
Audrey Mallea |
Frank Berria |
2007 |
Christina Tuttle |
Frank Berria |
2008 |
Christina Tuttle |
Frank Yraguen |
2009 |
Maria Tipton |
Frank Yraguen |
2010 |
Maria Tipton |
Frank Yraguen |
2011 |
Karen Yraguen |
Frank Yraguen |
2012 |
Karen Yraguen |
Frank Yraguen |
2013 |
Lynda Gastanaga/ Kacie |
Maria Tipton |
2014 |
Lynda Gastanaga |
Maria Tipton |
2015 |
Lynda Gastanaga |
Maria Tipton |
2016 |
Lynda Gastanaga |
Maria Tipton |
2017 |
Lynda Gastanaga |
Maria Tipton |
