Rod - Nearest Oregon Chapter is Mid Valley, located in Brownsville (about halfway between Salem and Eugene, exit 216 on I-5) Meeting are the first Sunay of the month at 1:30 PM at the fire station on the east end of town. Except when that w/e falls on a holiday. About 90 miles from you. Next two meetings are May 6th and June 3rd. If you folks can make the trip, would love to have you. Used to be a chapter in Roseburg, there may be enough interest in the area to get it cranked up again, you would have to do some checking around on that and work with the office on that one. I can also put you in contact with the regional membership person, and he can help on that. Our state director used to be in the old Roseburg chapter, and he may know some that would still be interested, or at least contacts for you to get out and do some prospecting.
There are two GPAA claims about 30 miles east of Cottage Grove (one is a bear to get to the creek and back out, high clearance vehcile highly suggested- this is the Paradise claim), Cat is accessable by passenger car. Also 3 claims in Quartzville area east of Sweet Home that the chapter has adopted, all accessable by passenger car.
Anything I can help with, feel free to drop me a PM.