Sisters Quilt Show challenging but success

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show reports that the 2012 Show was memorable, challenging – and an overall success.

While the Show competed with the weather for attention on Saturday afternoon , the efforts of business-owners, volunteers, and even many visitors, helped contribute to make the event truly “one for the record books”, reports Ann Richardson, SOQS Executive Director.

She further noted that “thanks to everyone, although we lost two hours of the event, all quilts were recovered safe and sound. I guess this had to happen once in 37 years!”

While attendees and retailers agreed that the Show was better attended than ever, there were fears that the early closing may impact quilt sales, raffle ticket sales and membership efforts.

However, thanks to sponsorships, in-kind donations, volunteer commitment, and lower-than-expected expenses in some areas, the bottom line was even a bit higher than last year.

Looking at the Show’s profit-and-loss statements in their monthly meeting last week, Board members were both relieved and appreciative of everyone’s hard work and the positive responses from attendees.

Financial reports showed that:

Quilt Sales & Raffle Ticket sales were negatively impacted by the early closure
The “Men Behind the Quilts” Calendar sales are strong, with only a few hundred calendars left, available on the Quilt Show website (http://www.sistersoutdoorquiltshow.org/events.htm#calendar ) Calendar sales and the auction of quilts at the Premier Party raised close to $20,000 to support the show (thanks to all the “Calendar Guys” and a most appreciative audience!).

Save it for Sunday, which featured Special Exhibit quilts from the Saturday show, brought hundreds of visitors back to Sisters the day after the show. Nationally known quilter, Gwen Marston’s, lecture was attended by over 150 people and the three walking tours were sold out at FivePine Lodge.

The Quilt for Two Rivers project brought new partners, visitors and appreciation for the quality of quilt artist in Central Oregon. The project uses the lens of fiber art to focus on the restoration and renovation work being done in the national forest in Sisters’ own backyard. Two of the Waterfalls of Whychus quilt panels are sold and a donation of $1,500 has been made to the National Forest Foundation to support projects on-the-ground in Sisters. The exhibit will travel for the next year throughout the Pacific Northwest. It will exhibit at the Pacific West Quilt Show in Tacoma August 24 – 26.

Since there is no admission charge to the Show, and many expenses for its production, the event relies on support through sponsorships, grants, membership donations, and several fundraising events before and during the Show. True to its commitment of “giving back” to the community, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show will be donating some of the proceeds back to our Community Partners, including:

$1,000 to Sisters Parks & Recreation for the Malone Scholarship fund. This includes

$856 from the sale of Small Wonders Quilts, and the balance from the general fund in support of the great work SPRD does for the community.

$1,200 to Kiwanis of Sisters from annual Raffle Quilt. A donation based on raffle ticket sales (also!) totaled $856, and the balance from the general fund expresses support and appreciation for the tremendous volunteer effort Kiwanis members put into both the show and ticket sales for the raffle quilt.

$9,500 to Wendy’s Wish Foundation/St. Charles Cancer Center from the Wish Upon a Card Project. This project is in its 6th year; SOSQ has donated a total of $69,000 over the past six years. These funds help pay non-medical expenses for those undergoing life-saving treatment.

$1,700 in donations distributed to Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire Dept., Outlaw Lacrosse and the Nordic Team in appreciation for the significant volunteer efforts on behalf of the event.

The Staff and Board Members of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show sincerely thank all of the volunteers, businesses, and visitors who helped create yet another amazing and inspirational year, to appreciate and support our community.