News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Fisher announced that he is resigning as executive director effective June 30. His duties will be taken over by Chamber Manager Adrienne Van Bemmel.
"It's a good time," Fisher said.
The chamber has combined its visitor center and business offices in one new location and expanded its activities to an extent that, Fisher said, requires full-time direction.
"You can't do it justice with a part-time job and I didn't want a full-time job," Fisher said.
Fisher, who spent 34 years with the Oregon Department of Forestry before retiring to Sisters, is moving into a new phase in his life.
"I'm doing some writing and we're going to travel," Fisher said. "We bought our second motor home and we're going to do some traveling."
Fisher's wife, Doreen, indicated that she was well pleased with their new lifestyle plans.
Fisher took his position as managing director of the chamber in April of 1991.
At that time, Fisher said, there were 83 members in a relatively informal organization. He cites his role in creating a growing, professionally staffed, operating business as his greatest accomplishment with the chamber.
Under Fisher's direction, the chamber has grown to some 190 members and, Fisher said, become "more visible and more service-oriented."
Fisher said he worked to cultivate a good working relationship with the City of Sisters, and he expressed satisfaction at the way that relationship has blossomed.
Fisher said he sees a growing role for the chamber in the Sisters community.
"I think we'll continue to grow in membership," he said. "I think it's going to evolve real fast."
He sees the chamber taking a lead role in economic development of the Sisters area, working to attract more clean, light industry and entrepreneurial firms to the area.
Chamber of commerce management and directorships can be volatile positions, and Fisher said he has seen many people come and go in the seven Central Oregon chambers.
His five years at the helm are unusual.
"I'm proud of that," he said, "that I've survived five years where other chambers have gone through two or three directors."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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