Sisters celebrates a leading citizen

Thursday night belonged to Bonnie Malone - to celebrate her 60th birthday - and to do what she likes best: help SOAR (Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation).

The scene was the main theater at Sisters Movie House. The characters were all Sisters old-timers with a few newcomers scattered in for color. The main course, a "Roast," was a rich dish of reminiscences and laughs as one-by-one friends and associates affably added a taste of shared memories.

Malone, adorned with a sparkling crown and red feathered boa, regally listened to all that was dished out with a smile on her face and laughter in her eyes.

Teasing about old times abounded from a large panel of presenters, including Bonnie's sister Carol Cruickshank, Bonnie's nephew Matt Smith, expounding his list of Bonnieisms, Sisters' first City Manager Becky Lou Hummer and RE/MAX Town & Country Realty co-owner Peter Storton, who ended his comments on a more serious note speaking of Bonnie's dedication to the community.

"There's a lot of reason to have so much respect for her and what she's done," he said.

Vicki Yost kidded about Bonnie's driving skills, and Eric Dolson, The Nugget's publisher, reflected back some 25 years, commenting that he and Bonnie came to Sisters at about the same when the town housed more bars than churches. He remembered the column, "Around Town" that Bonnie wrote for the newspaper. "It was easy to tell that she could write better than I could. ... I'd spend four or five hours writing stories of the Forest Service, and I'd go to The Gallery on a Wednesday morning and everybody was reading 'Around Town' and the classifieds," he said.

Bonnie's "Roast" culminated in a surprise visit from none other than "George W. Bush," portrayed by Greg Garritson, outdoor and programs director for SOAR. In jest "Bush" was introduced as one of Bonnie's best friends. Referring to her with a typical Bushism as "Dr. Barney Malone," the "President," a little foggy about his time line, wished her a happy 70th birthday.

For SOAR's executive director Carrie Ward the evening was everything she had hoped and more. Approximately $2,000 was raised for SOAR, and the organization was given a public venue to sincerely thank Malone for her years of service. Malone has served on SOAR's board of directors since the organization was founded in 1995; she is currently its president.

SOAR provides recreation, sports and enrichment programs for Sisters' youth and adults. According to Ward, the organization has an operating budget of approximately $750,000.

In 1998 area voters approved the formation of the SOAR District, a special taxing district.

Approximately 25 percent of SOAR's funding, according to Ward, comes from taxes levied within the boundaries of the SOAR District; the district's tax base is 22 cents per $1,000. Serving some 14,000 residents, the district's boundaries are similar to those of the Sisters School District.

Another 25 percent of SOAR's funding comes through the work of the SOAR Foundation. The foundation, the recreation district's 501c3 nonprofit arm, organizes fund-raisers, secures donations from area businesses and private residents and seeks grants.

Malone has been very instrumental in developing this financial base.

"Bonnie is such an incredible advocate for SOAR. And she's such an incredible fund-raiser. You can't get past her without her asking for money; where ever we go people write checks for SOAR...," Ward said. "I don't know that SOAR would be here today if it weren't for Bonnie's contributions," Dolson added.

SOAR receives the remaining 50 percent of its funding from fees charged for the services it provides.

The foundation raised over $1,000,000 in 2004 to build SOAR's new community center.

Although residents often think of SOAR as providing programs mainly for Sisters' youth, SOAR offers an abundance of recreational and enrichment activities for adults. Ward told The Nugget that a current priority for SOAR is the development of programs for seniors and activities to help native Spanish speakers become more comfortable using English (see related article, page 4).