STARS hosts volunteer appreciation event

Sue Stafford | Last updated Oct 08, 2024 10:7am0

"Stepping Up" was the theme of the third annual Volunteer Appreciation Event held for Sisters Transportation and Ride Share last Thursday at Sisters Depot.

Recognized for their outstanding contributions to STARS over the past year, the STAR Dispatcher of the Year is Debbie Hewett and the STAR Driver of the Year is Rita Weber.

Photo by Sue Stafford

Debbie Hewett, STARS Dispatcher of the Year.

Many individuals, organizations, businesses, and donors were recognized for stepping up over the past five years to establish and grow STARS. Just last June, STARS became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit after four years as the first Action Team of Age Friendly Sisters Country (AFSC).

Board Chair Christy Corzine recognized the transition team, who devoted innumerable hours creating the governance for the new non-profit which included Rennie Morrell, executive director, Christy Corzine, board chair, Gayle Sawyer, board secretary, Susan Utterback, board treasurer, Tom Gonsiewski, director of operations, John Finley, director of information technology and driver manager, Shelly Smith, Annie Marland, passenger relations, Toni Landis, Frank Flannery, Karen Thrower, dispatcher manager, Mike Deal, AFSC, and Peggy Tehan, bookkeeper.

Morrell shared the inspiring story of STARS with the volunteers at the Depot gathering (see sidebar).

To learn more about STARS and/or to volunteer go to their website at http://www.starsride.org.

The story of STARS

Rennie Morrell

Our story was, is, and will be a story of a community STEPPING UP. In late 2018 a Citizens4Community (C4C) initiative identified transportation as a barrier to being able to age in place in Sisters.

Then in 2019, Toni Landis, Annie Marland, and Marcy Kuhlman stepped up and founded STARS on the back of a napkin while having tea at Suttle Tea. They even purchased an online software which none of them knew how to set up, but they knew what they wanted and how to get others to step up. That was exactly 5 years ago.

AFSC stepped up to be a fiscal sponsor so STARS could focus all their attention on operations. This was hugely helpful, and we could not be more appreciative.

At Toni’s urging, Tom Gonsiewski, Karen Waddell and I stepped up to implement the software and a STARS was born. Soon after, Frank Flannery stepped up to manage the online software, help us make modifications, and to train our users. Then Norene Gonsiewski stepped up to take charge of our terrific social media. What a team we were making!

Drivers and dispatchers were stepping up immediately filling out our team and making sure rides were happening. When COVID hit, many continued to help with medical rides, meals on wheels, and vaccination rides. We were growing while other rideshare organizations shut down.

Over the last year our operations team with Tom Gonsiewski as director of operations, John Finley as driver manager, Karen Thrower as dispatch manager, and Annie Marland as passenger relations have stepped up to meet our rising demand for rides. It will be no surprise to anyone here that since we were last together demand has increased by 34 percent, we have booked and completed 647 round trip rides, and drivers have driven 28,500 miles.

Grantors like Roundhouse Foundation, C4C, Ford Family Foundation, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, St. Charles, and Rumberger Foundation stepped up to support our efforts and nothing could have been accomplished without their help and advice. We are grateful to them all.

Donors have also stepped up. From small passenger donations, to caring community supporters, to 100 Women Who Care Sisters member donations, they have made our challenges immeasurably easier, and we hope they know how grateful we are for their kindness.

As for this event, we have given businesses the opportunity to step up and show their gratitude for how STARS makes Sisters a healthier and more caring community. We have door prizes we will draw and announce those businesses who have supported us with these prizes. Additionally, each person here is asked to take a coffee mug donated by St. Charles. It has our tagline: ‘Keeping Sisters healthy, one ride at a time.’ Inside the coffee mugs are gift cards from Bedouin, Wander+NW, Paulina Springs Books, Sisters Coffee, and Fika Sisters Coffeehouse.