Anne Heath resigns from SPRD post

Executive Director Anne Heath of Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) has resigned her position, as Anne and her husband, Alan, will be moving to the Eugene area where he has accepted a position with the Forest Service on the Willamette National Forest.

She delivered a letter of resignation to the SPRD Board of Directors on June 6.

"Over the last four years I have had the honor to work on an amazing team that committed itself to building this district into a viable and professional district," Heath wrote. "This work has been extremely rewarding, as I have personally seen the positive changes that have taken place in our community because of this work. Important partnerships have been built and I believe that Sisters is a healthier community because there was a team who believed in and worked toward a vision together."

A job description was posted this week, with the start date for Heath's successor set for sometime between August 15 and September 15. The deadline for applicants will be July 15. Heath plans to stay with the district until August to assist in a transition.

"It is extremely important to me to leave the district in the best possible position that I can. Therefore, I am committed to helping the board of directors and district staff through this process," she said.

Heath noted that, "The district has grown on a large scale over the last four years. Our budget has increased from $300,000 to over $1 million in the next budget year. We have done this without taking on debt, and at the same time built a great staff and produced solid programs."

In her resignation letter, Heath offered the board insight on the qualities required of an incoming executive director:

"The new leader must fully understand collaboration and the ability to come to the table without agendas and an attitude of service leadership... Seek a leader that can develop the future while fully appreciating the values of the past."