News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Kathy Deggendorfer (with flowers) was named Sisters’ Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce.
Sisters’ reputation as an arts community has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years, largely thanks to the efforts of KathyDeggendorfer.
The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce honored Deggendorfer for those efforts on Thursday night, February 17, naming her Citizen of the Year at the organization’s annual awards banquet at Eagle Crest Resort.
The award is a tightly kept secret, but Deggendorfer said she “knew something was up because I saw all my buddies, the people from the folk festival, (wood sculptor) Skip Armstrong — without any wood chips on him, (musician and filmmaker) Joe Leonardi.”
Deggendorfer was quick to share the credit for the endeavors that have raised Sisters’ profile as an arts community and helped establish a true local “arts industry.”
She is a longtime board member of the Sisters Folk Festival, where she was instrumental in establishing the Americana Project education program in Sisters schools. She spearheaded the My Own Two Hands art show and auction that raises funds for arts programs — and has become a significant event in its own right.
Deggendorfer and her mother Gert Boyle of Columbia Sportswear established The Roundhouse Foundation to support the arts.
But she shifted the spotlight away from herself in her acceptance speech, recognizing others for their contributions. In particular, she thanked her daughter Erin, who returned to Sisters from college and established Fast Creek Productions, an event production business that is deeply involved in producing local events, including the Sisters Folk Festival and My Own Two Hands.
“She is a huge asset and I am so thrilled she has moved back to be with us,” Kathy said.
Wild Dusty Rose won honors as Business of the Year. Owner Pat Capps thanked the chamber and the members, noting that the success of the business is dependent upon the support of the community.
The business is a true family affair and the chamber audience enjoyed being introduced to the newest member of the concern: Pat’s newborn granddaughter Grace.
Schools superintendent Ted Thonstad and activist and school board candidate Rob Corrigan accepted a special Organization of the Year Award on behalf of the committee that campaigned successfully for a local option levy for school operations.
“It’s exciting to be a superintendent of a school district that’s so well connected to the community,” Thonstad said.
Chuck Fadeley earned the President’s Award for his long service to the chamber.
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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