The CFF guys have definitely helped, but pinball has been around Oregon for a lot longer than CFF. Read about the pinball wars of Willamette valley at the link below.
http://offbeatoregon.com/1307d-pinball-wars-elkins-vs-teamsters.html
If you join the CFF crew, you can only enter the initials CFF for any high score you get. Anywhere. That's a pretty big enrollment requirement. Better than getting hazed I guess, but still...