News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Susan Arends. Photo by Jim Cornelius
Susan Arends has been named chairperson of the Sisters Schools Foundation.
Arends is co-chair of Sisters Starry Nights, the fund-raising concert series that provides the lion's share of funds for the six-year-old foundation. The concert series has raised more than $330,000 since its inception in 1997.
The foundation is committed to becoming less dependent on the fund-raising power of Sisters Starry Nights, according to Arends.
The organizers of the series took this year off and will resume the concerts next year in a new high school auditorium. The result, however, is that the foundation will have less revenue to work with.
The organization reserved some money to address needs as they come up later. However, "there definitely will be less money to distribute," Arends said.
The foundation hopes to become self-sustaining in the long-run through an endowment. Arends said she is committed to following past chairman Rod Morris' path in trying to get that endowment funded to $1 million.
At that point, the foundation will use interest to fund many of the requests that come from the three schools in the Sisters School District.
Those requests are judged on rather strict criteria and not all requests are funded.
Arends also emphasized that donors may target their donations to specific programs such as art, music, science or a particular sport.
"That's the beauty of the foundation," she said. "If you have a passion, you can donate money and the funds are immediately available to the program."
In addition to Morris' retirement, the foundation's original treasurer, Darren Layne, also stepped aside after years of service. Karen Fenty, who also serves on the school district budget committee, has taken his position.
Other foundation board members include Sandy Tartaglia, Glen Lasken, Melinda Witt, Craig Morton, Pat Lamoreaux, Steve Swisher (school superintendent), Anna Morton (student director) and Joan Scannell.
Arends expressed confidence in the board and downplayed her role as chairperson.
"I'm just a facilitator," she said.
Arends will serve through 2004.
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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