Quilt Show celebrates volunteers

It's the volunteers that make the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show the biggest and most popular show of its kind in the world.

Last Sunday, many of those volunteers were treated to dinner, music, prizes and fellowship as the show's organizers paid tribute to their efforts.

Some 500 volunteers are needed to make the event fly, according to Executive Director Ann Richardson.

There are 175 quilt hostesses; 130 hangers; 50 to 60 people to take quilts down and a 16-member "quilt rescue" unit.

About 80 people work in the quilt show office, taking in quilts, assigning them spots around town and making sure quilts get back into the right hands at the end of the show.

Recruitment of volunteers starts early.

"We start in January," Richardson said. "People actually sign up to work in the Quilt Show office before we ask. They love that - 'cause it's air-conditioned."

Other volunteers perform specialized tasks.

Chuck Humphreys earned honors as Volunteer of the Year for his leadership of a project to create new quilt display frames.

The dinner was held on the lawn outside the FivePine Convention Center. Musical entertainment was provided by The Anvil Blasters.