Two named 'Citizen of the Year'

With tables covered in black and embellished with vases of white tulips, the stage was perfectly set for Sisters' major black tie event of the year - the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Black and White Ball. The FivePine Conference Center was the scene of the annual event last Saturday night, February 9.

Guests enjoyed warm and hearty conversation over a dinner featuring prime rib and fresh salmon prepared by FivePine executive chef David Berger and his culinary team.

Soon the spotlight focused on the main two acts of the evening: the awarding of the 2007 Business of the Year and the 2007 Citizen(s) of the Year.

The lights came down and the image of Jeff Wester, owner of Ponderosa Forge and Iron Works, flashed onto the big screen. Wester is the recipient of the 2008 Business of the Year award. Over a hearty round of applause, Wester could be heard saying: "I decided to support the community as well as I could. If you work hard and try to serve the community, people will come back."

Next, all eyes glanced around the room in curious anticipation before the 2007 Citizens of the Year were named. This year's selection committee did a masterful job of keeping the names of the winners a secret.

Again the lights dimmed and this time the image of Bob Grooney, owner of The Gallimaufry, illuminated the big screen. Grooney brought the house down jesting about John Leavitt, the first person to be honored as 2007 Citizen of the Year. Taken back a little by the recognition that was bestowed upon him by his community, Leavitt said: "It's a very big honor. It's a big surprise. I didn't even know I was up for it."

The final video of the night recapped only a few of the countless contributions the other 2007 Citizen of the Year, Jean Wells, has made to Sisters. A brief glance at the first quilt show some 30 years ago to a visual of the huge crowds today's annual event draws reminded all of the important impact the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show makes on the community.

"It's like the quilt show just makes the whole town come alive," Wells said. "I'm just very honored that you would choose me to share this with John (Leavitt) this year. I always think of Citizen of the Year as someone who does a lot of civic kinds of things. I guess I've never thought of Quilt Show necessarily as a civic kind of thing. I was just surprised. I never thought I'd be considered for this kind of award."

Outgoing president Tate Metcalf honored one more person on Saturday night. He presented Lisa Clausen, owner of Sisters Movie House, with the President's Award. Each year the outgoing president recognizes the person in the community who has helped him or her the most throughout the year.

"I don't think we know the magnitude of her expertise," Metcalf said. "When she sits in our board meetings, she can really help us out. She can lead us in that right direction."

A final highlight of the evening was pointing out the substantial growth the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce has experienced over the past few years. Comparing the organization's 2008 advertising budget with that of 2004 is a small indication of the growth cycle the organization is realizing.

"This year we will spend $200,000-plus. It compares with what we spent in 2004, about $17,000," said Sisters Area Chamber's 2008 president Mike Robillard.

The advertising budget is a combination of Chamber funds and co-op dollars from Sisters businesses.

In March an ad will run in Bend Living. The "close to far away" campaign will try to draw people from local areas to stay in Sisters hotels, said Robillard. Another ad "take a deep breath" will run in Eugene Magazine and Portland Monthly with the hope of attracting residents from those areas to stay in Sisters instead of passing through en route to Bend, Sunriver and other locations. A new Web site is additionally in the making; http://www.sisterscountry.com will launch April 15.

Summing up the current state of both Sisters and its chamber, Metcalf said: "It's astronomical what's going on for the Chamber of Commerce and our little community."