Portraits of Sisters - Rennie Morrell
On the hangar wall of her duty station in Corpus Christi, Texas, hung a sign reading, "Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way." Rennie Morrell made the choice to lead that day and her path to Sisters has reflected her sense of duty to community and country ever since.
She stunned her family when she enlisted in the Navy at age 18. In Corpus Christi, she was an Aviation Admin but her decision to lead opened the door to a bachelor's degree in sociology and an officer's commission in 1983. She ultimately served a total of 22 years in the Navy, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Commander with stations in Japan and the Pentagon. She specialized in training and technology throughout her career. Her and husband, Jim, frequented Sisters on vacation and made the permanent move in
2000. She looked for local opportunities to serve and became one of the original founders of STARS - Sisters Transportation and Ride Share. She also assisted in implementing the ride booking software which manages the whole process from request to delivery. In 2024, STARS provided 726 roundtrip rides with drivers completing more than 32,000 miles. For Rennie, serving her community was the next logical step after a career serving this country. "I feel I was always built for a life of service. It's in my makeup," she says.
STARS Board Chair Letter to the Editor 2/5/2025: Pause to reflect
STARS Board Chair letter to The Nugget News editor:
In looking forward to what we want to accomplish with Sisters Transportation and Rideshare (STARS) in the coming year, I pause to appreciate the journey of the past year and embrace joy in our recent achievements. We are deeply grateful to be a part of the Sisters community and for the support, collaboration, and shared commitment that made the past year so meaningful. What a year!
STARS volunteers get emergency first-aid, CPR training
Northwest Emergency Medical Training, led by owner and instructor Tracy Trotter in partnership with instructor Dr. Bradley Rethwill, provided a lifesaving CPR and First Aid course to 13 dedicated volunteers from STARS (Sisters Transportation and Ride Share) on January 29, at The Canoe Club in Sisters. The instruction aimed to equip volunteers with essential life-saving skills that can make all the difference when assisting the most vulnerable members of the community.
Sisters nonprofit is a fundraising success
Sisters Transportation and RideShare (STARS) announced that its year-end ride sponsorship drive has raised a total of $8,100.
The STARS volunteer rideshare program provides Sisters Country residents with free non-emergency rides to medical appointments in Sisters, Bend, and Redmond. STARS “riders” are unable to drive themselves or afford private ride companies, and many rely on the service regularly. Each STARS ride costs an average of $50 and the organization set a goal of raising $5,000 — the equivalent of 100 sponsored rides — during its fundraiser, which kicked off on Giving Tuesday in late November and ran through December of 2024.
STARS seeks ride sponsorships
Sisters Transportation and RideShare (STARS) announced its ride sponsorship “drive” is launching on Giving Tuesday, December 3, and will run through December 31. STARS is a volunteer ride share program that provides Sisters Country residents with free non-emergency medical rides to Sisters, Bend, and Redmond. STARS “riders” are unable to drive themselves or afford private ride services, and many say, without the nonprofit, they would need to cancel their medical visits.
Building blocks: Community engagement on the rise
The October Community Builders meeting was held at the U.S. Forest Service Sisters Ranger District garage. Attendees were welcomed by Lauren DuRocher, acting district ranger while Ian Reid is on a four-month temporary assignment on the Modoc National Forest. He will be back in Sisters in early December.