Chamber hosts 'Farmers Market' auction

The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual auction last Saturday.

The auction was built around a "Farmers Market" theme, with a decor that spoke of harvests, with a truck spilling over with pumpkins and other gourds, cornstalks and scarecrows.

Roland White helped set the ambiance with old-time fiddle music as auction attendees perused tables loaded with silent auction items ranging from pottery to Pendleton products.

The silent auction carried on for an hour-and-a-half while chamber members mingled and talked. Conversations often turned to the current city council race and to the condition of the economy.

Economic conditions may have played a part in reducing the auction's turnout by about half. Chamber officials noted that the silent and live auctions drew approximately the same bid levels per capita as in the past, but low attendance brought the net numbers way down.

"The auction this year was roughly 50 percent down from last year in attendance," said Jeri Buckmann, chamber events coordinator. "Net income was about $6,000. So we did half of what we did before. However, it was a great event and people had a good time."

Events such as the auction are vital to the financial health of the Chamber.

Buckmann noted that "the chamber is a non-profit not associated with the city. These events generate at least 50 percent of the chamber income along with room tax dollars and membership dues."