Sisters in Sisters celebrates women

Three women wearing sparkling tiaras and black tee shirts decorated with the exclamations "SWEET," "WONDERFUL," "FABULOUS" set the mood for the ninth annual Sisters in Sisters conference Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 29 through October 1.

The event is sponsored by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce with the goal of celebrating womanhood while bringing tourists to Sisters and promoting Sisters businesses.

A portion of proceeds from the event are donated to Central Oregon Battering and Rape Alliance (COBRA). Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cheryl Mills said that the chamber is usually able to give between $500 and $1,000 to COBRA.

"It is not a huge amount, but I know they appreciate it, and we like to be able to do that," Mills said.

The event is held the weekend that hunting season opens. Original organizers wanted to plan something special for all of the "hunting widows" who are left behind during this weekend.

Mills remarked, "We thought about moving it to the springtime, but because it has to be outside and in a tent because we didn't have another facility, September is still nice. And the hunting season thing kind of kept it in September."

Each year the event starts on Friday night with a dinner and entertainment and the antics of Master of Ceremonies Dave Star, who has served in this capacity for several years.

"Participants come from all over the country," Mills said.

This year brought women from Kansas, California, Washington and several places in the Midwest. Participation was down a little this year from the normal 200 attendees; this year's census was closer to 160.

Friday evening's entertainment was provided by a woman comedian from Australia who calls herself Big Purple Undies.

"She was just hysterical," Mills said.

Saturday night's entertainment was Joe Stoddard, a magician, and Susan Rice, a comedian. At Sunday's brunch, Gail Hand, a laughter expert, humored all who attended.

During the day on Saturday numerous workshops were offered. One workshop was about organizing space effectively. Another was conducted by Tomboy Tools, a manufacturer of tools that are ergometrically designed for women. The workshop showed women how to use the tools and gave them the hands-on experience of making serving trays out of tiles. Other workshop topics were financial planning, watercolor painting and drumming to mention only a few.

Hedwich Jacobs of Sisters presented the drumming workshop. Over 25 women attended the morning session at Creekside Park. Hand-held Native American drums that are struck with a drumstick are used. Jacobs said, "The drum leads you to a different place. We share; we do blessings. We dedicate our drumming to ourselves to free the spirits. I just love doing this. It is in me to share this experience." Jacobs organizes a drumming group in Sisters that meets the first Saturday of each month. For more information call 549-018.

So what is it that brings so many women to Sisters for a weekend that is just about themselves?

Patty Parker and Mary Keebler attended the event for the fifth time this year.

"We brought our mother in the past, also," Parker said.

When they came for the first time five years ago, it was the first time the sisters had ever gone anywhere alone together.

"We have always done a lot of stuff together family wise, but we have never just the two of us gone away," Parker said. "This was the first time we ever did that. We had such a good time that we said this time every year we are just going to go away. We could go somewhere else, but we just have so much fun."

When asked what they gain the most out of the weekend, both sisters responded in unison, "The camaraderie."

Bobbi Sorrells from Lincoln City came with her very best friend Sherry Shaffer from Depoe Bay.

Sorrells said, "We were here last year. It is so much fun, and we meet so many nice people."

The pair, who say they bicker like sisters, found out about the event three years ago when visiting Sisters.

"Sisters is such a cute little town," Sorrells said. "I love it."

Sandy Goodsell, one of the original organizers and a past coordinator of Sisters in Sisters, summed up the essence of the event. She said it is, "A celebration of friends and family. Some of these people haven't seen each other for years and years, and they choose to come to Sisters to come together and celebrate their family and friendship."