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After closing a successful business in 1999, I wanted
to be lazy, but God had other plans. I felt God's call to have a Women's Conference in Central Oregon.
As I prayed, God gave me a vision.
I contacted Malane Bryant. She connected me with Sara Widsom, Women's
Missions Strategist, Northwest Baptist Convention. Sara agreed to meet with Andi Buerger, Lynai McCoy, Malane Bryant
and me. We shared our ideas with Sara. Later Sara wrote, suggesting the 2004 NWBC Women's Retreat be
held in Central Oregon. The Juniper Baptist Association (now High Desert Baptist Association) agreed to help host the
retreat.
The Convention agreed to sponsor a non-denominational conference and use the name Three Sisters
Women's Conference. The name Three Sisters Women's Conference was chosen before Sara came down by Andi, Malane,
Lynai and Jeanie. The NWBC provided finances and other resources. Women from Central Oregon helped with planning.
Approximately 600 women registered, most from areas other than Central Oregon. Because of the large attendance, the
conference made a profit. NWBC sent the money to High Desert Baptist Association for a women's conference.
A second conference was planned for 2005, using the association's non-profit status. Since the NWBC did not have
a retreat in 2005, some women who attended in 2004 came back. This helped attendance.
We wanted to continue
a non-denominational conference, so I applied for a non-profit status in June, 2006. We received non-profit status
and are operating on our own. We planned the 2007 conference without funding. Operating funds came from conference
fees and donations.
Comments have been made about declining attendance. If you consider that the first year
was a NWBC event and the second year some of those women came back, our attendance is actually coming up rather than dropping
because the majority of our attendees are from Central Oregon.
The Board members for the Three Sisters
Women's Conference are:
Andi Buerger
Arlene Gibson
Janis Carman
Jeanie Prentice
Leslie Toll
Sara Wisdom Anita Rose Donna Lynch
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