20
Wednesday, April 29, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Summit focuses on
economic vitality
By Jim Cornelius
News Editor
Sisters’ economic engine
is beginning to hum along
more smoothly, and a group
of citizens will gather May 8
to explore how the commu-
nity can get it tuned up and
rumbling into the future.
Sisters Country Economic
Vitality Summit — Shaping
Sisters: Pioneers on the
Frontier of Innovation runs
Friday, May 8, 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. at FivePine Conference
Center. The event is free
and open to the public,
but advance registration is
required; there are a few
places left at the table.
“Our goal is 90 to 95 per-
cent Sisters community mem-
bers — those who want to be
part of shaping our future and
strengthening our economy,”
said Caprielle Foote-Lewis,
Sisters’ economic develop-
ment manager who is assist-
ing with the event.
The event is being orga-
nized by Rural Development
Initiatives and is sponsored by
the Ford Family Foundation.
We’re bringing in outside
resources to offer what
other communities have
done in economically
challenging times…
— Caprielle foote-lewis
Foote-Lewis emphasized
that this is not one more
“visioning” process. It’s
really about forging coopera-
tive approaches to building
Sisters’ economic vitality,
leveraging the community’s
many cultural and natural
assets, and overcoming the
challenges inherent in oper-
ating an economy in a small
community in what remains
a rural and somewhat off-the-
beaten-path area.
“This is not a visioning
process,” said Foote-Lewis.
“We’re bringing in outside
resources to offer what other
communities have done
in economically challeng-
ing times… The takeaway
is that (participants) should
feel inspired to get more
involved in what they’re pas-
sionate about. This is a call to
action; it’s an invitation to be
engaged.”
In order to make that
engagement pay off, there
will be follow-up group work
facilitated by the organizers
and sponsor.
Two keynote speakers will
be featured at the summit.
Kyle Sexton, marketing
strategist with ChamberThink
Strategies in Salem, will pres-
ent “Follow You Anywhere:
The Alignment of Leadership
and Marketing.”
Bob Cooper, CEcD, direc-
tor of corporate relations
for Landmark Development
in Las Vegas, Nevada,
will speak on “Embracing
Change: Striking the Balance
Between Innovation and
Tradition.”
A panel discussion will
cover the “Spirit of Sisters
— Culture of Innovation &
Authenticity.”
There will be a network-
ing lunch and the summit
will close with a discussion
of “Taking Action Locally &
Building Momentum” led by
Noelle Colby-Rotell of Rural
Development Initiatives. A
reception at Three Creeks
Brewing Co. is set for 3:15
p.m.
To register, follow the
link accompanying the
online version of this story at
www.nuggetnews.com.
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541-549-1740
works
541-549-1621
141 W. Main Ave., Sisters
254 W. Adams Ave., Sisters
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, 12-4 p.m.
Donations accepted
Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, 12-4 p.m.
Donations accepted
Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
LETTERS
Continued from page 18
To the Editor:
We want to personally thank all the prop-
erty owners in the Cloverdale Rural Fire
Protection District who, by a strong major-
ity, supported our recent request for a much-
needed bond measure.
We will continue to work with the fire
chief and volunteer staff as a team to manage
a solid plan that will move the district forward
in a fiscally responsible manner for the next
20 years of operations.
Every dollar that we requested in the bond
levy was carefully considered in the overall
plan that was submitted for your approval. We
only asked for the required expenditures to
address critical issues that have affected our
operations. We, as current members of your
district board of directors, take your support
very seriously, and every decision that we
make is ruled by a majority vote of all five
members present at an authorized meeting.
We may not all agree on an issue, but once a
vote has been made all members should sup-
port the decision.
Our board meetings are open to the public
and advertised in public notices. We urge any-
one in the district to attend if they have any
questions or concerns as to how the district is
being managed.
The district has come a long way since its
humble beginning some 50 years ago, and
many teams have been responsible for bring-
ing us to this point in time.
It has truly been our pleasure to serve on
your board of directors for the past four years,
and three of us must now ask for your vote for
our re-election so that we, as dedicated mem-
bers of a proven team, may continue to serve
you for another four years.
Jerry B. Johnson, current board president
John Thomas, current board secretary/
treasurer
Tom Barrier, current board director
s
s
s
To the Editor:
As a former captain in the Cloverdale
Fire District and a 22-year resident in the
Cloverdale area, I have seen the Cloverdale
Fire District progress from a colloquial orga-
nization into a capable professional opera-
tional department the residents can depend on.
With Jerry Johnson, John Thomas, Tom
Barrier and Cindy Kettering on the Board of
Directors, the Cloverdale Fire District has
continued to advance in their fire protection
and emergency medical service capabilities.
The Cloverdale residents can be secure in
their trust of the fire district personnels’ abil-
ity to provide exceptional service in times of
need. It was under the direction and support of
these directors that the district bond measure
was developed and brought to fruition. With
their vision and leadership, the Cloverdale
Fire District is moving forward to design
and build new fire apparatus and equipment
facilities to provide the proactive services the
residents expect and deserve from their fire
district.
The terms on the board for Jerry, John
and Tom are coming up for renewal. I there-
fore strongly recommend the residents of
the Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District
vote to return Jerry Johnson, John Thomas
and Tom Barrier to the board of directors in
this upcoming election. Their experience,
knowledge and understanding of the district,
its changing population and the requirements
therein necessitate you voting for their con-
tinuation on the board of directors.
David Hiller
s
s
s
To the Editor:
My name is Rob Malone; I am running
for the position of director for the Cloverdale
Rural Fire Protection District.
I and my family have been members of the
Sisters Country Community for more than 15
years. I decided to run following the passage
of the bond measure for new equipment and
facilities as I feel strongly taxpayer money
should be shepherded well. I did a little home-
work and found what, perhaps, is an insuf-
ficient level of oversight by the board as it
relates to significant monetary decisions.
I watched the new offices at the end of
See letters on page 30