Building Blocks: Navigating change in Sisters

Each month, Citizens4Community facilitates a Community Builders meeting. Each meeting is hosted by a different Sisters Country organization or business and is designed to help local leaders and community volunteers connect with fellow change makers in Sisters, share current individual or organizational priorities, needs, and opportunities, discuss timely local topics and community challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration and problem solving.

All Community Builders meetings are free and open to the public, and no RSVP is required. They typically meet the third Wednesday of the month from 10-11:30 a.m., but times occasionally change. Check the C4C website for upcoming meeting times and locations. The next meeting is July 24 at Seed to Table.

The June 2024 meeting was hosted by the Sisters Library. Staff members gave a comprehensive report on the past, present, and future of the library, including services to the community, the work of the Sisters and community librarians, and library facilities available for community use.

• Citizens4Community and Sisters Rotary are sponsoring the Sisters 4th Fest, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Village Green Park on the Fourth of July. More details and a full schedule of events at https://sisters4thfest.com.

• 100 Women Who Care — Sisters now has over 100 members. They meet four times a year, commit to decide at those meetings which nonprofit will receive the quarterly donation. Membership requirement is just that you commit to donating $100 per quarter to whomever the group decides. They are currently seeking a space to host over 100 people, with ability to play a slideshow.

• The Lodge in Sisters is undergoing some big organizational changes as they come out of receivership. They have been purchased by a larger organization.

• Romeo’s Joy delivered 15 animatronic cats, dogs, and birds to residents of The Lodge last week, with the help of the Sisters Middle School Sunshine Club. Phase two of Romeo’s Joy is to reach homebound individuals.

• Age Friendly Sisters Country is looking for other locally oriented projects. STARS Action Team is about to become an independent 501(c)(3). AFSC and C4C are organizing an event in the fall to help people get engaged in community-oriented activities called “What Do You Do With An Idea?”

• Sisters Community Leadership Initiative (SCLI) collects trash and delivers water to the forest dwellers/houseless encampments in the surrounding forest. In 2023, they removed 50 tons of garbage, working once a week from 9-11 a.m. They had 25 attendees at a recent open house. They are sponsoring a community cleanup event on July 20, 9 a.m.-noon. RSVP to sisterscli23@gmail.com with your group size. Parking will be available in the Forest Service overflow parking at 201 N. Pine. Wear gloves and appropriate clothing. Snacks and water will be provided. The event is in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and City of Sisters. Republic Services is donating a 30-foot dumpster and port-a-potty to put on site. This year SCLI is working on removing abandoned vehicles and RVs from forest lands. They are fiscally sponsored by Discover Your Forest, a nonprofit that works with public lands.

• Central Oregon Health Council just completed their regional health assessment survey and are in the process of finalizing the health topics for the regional health improvement plan. New work groups will be starting in January, and they would like more Sisters-based voices to share local health topics. Their Community Belonging Measurement Project has good data evaluating how Central Oregonians feel about their sense of belonging in the region and their communities.

• Three Sisters Historical Society is continuing their historic downtown walking and cemetery tours. Sign up on their website. The Sisters Museum is planning to host SPRD’s Camp Kids on July 24th. The museum is open every Sunday during the Sisters Farmers Market from 10-2 between June and October. Their regular hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Sisters Community Garden is looking for a new home. They are currently located next to the airport on Barclay Drive but need to relocate after this summer’s growing season. They have approached numerous organizations and local landowners but are still struggling to find a location. They have been talking with the City about using a small portion of Cliff Clemens Park which would align with the City’s Parks Master Plan. The City asked for community input and feedback which the garden is currently gathering. They have held a tour of the garden and hosted a community meeting to gather feedback from interested parties. They will be making a presentation to the City Council at a future date.