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Jim Fisher promised two years and served five as director of the Sisters Area
Chamber of Commerce, and now he is finally hanging up his spurs.
Fisher announced that he is resigning as executive director effective June 30.
His duties will be taken over by Chamber Manager Adrienne Van Bemmel.
"It's a good time," Fisher said.
The chamber has combined its visitor center and business offices in one new
location and expanded its activities to an extent that, Fisher said, requires
full-time direction.
"You can't do it justice with a part-time job and I didn't want a full-time
job," Fisher said.
Fisher, who spent 34 years with the Oregon Department of Forestry before
retiring to Sisters, is moving into a new phase in his life.
"I'm doing some writing and we're going to travel," Fisher said. "We bought our
second motor home and we're going to do some traveling."
Fisher's wife, Doreen, indicated that she was well pleased with their new
lifestyle plans.
Fisher took his position as managing director of the chamber in April of
1991.
At that time, Fisher said, there were 83 members in a relatively informal
organization. He cites his role in creating a growing, professionally staffed,
operating business as his greatest accomplishment with the chamber.
Under Fisher's direction, the chamber has grown to some 190 members and, Fisher
said, become "more visible and more service-oriented."
Fisher said he worked to cultivate a good working relationship with the
City of Sisters, and he expressed satisfaction at the way that relationship has
blossomed.
Fisher said he sees a growing role for the chamber in the Sisters community.
"I think we'll continue to grow in membership," he said. "I think it's going to
evolve real fast."
He sees the chamber taking a lead role in economic development of the Sisters
area, working to attract more clean, light industry and entrepreneurial firms
to the area.
Chamber of commerce management and directorships can be volatile positions, and
Fisher said he has seen many people come and go in the seven Central Oregon
chambers.
His five years at the helm are unusual.
"I'm proud of that," he said, "that I've survived five years where other
chambers have gone through two or three directors."
