March 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 16
Friends, fun & philanthropy
sunriver women’s club
www.sunriverwomensclub.org
The Sunriver Women’s Club welcomes you – then, now and for what comes next
The Sunriver Women’s Club
invites you to step into a living
story – one shaped by more
than 425 members and still
being written today.
Each member brings a voice,
a memory, a triumph and a
lesson. Together, these stories
form a powerful chorus about
what it has meant and what it
means now to be a woman in
America.
Then: 1973
In 1973, most American
women were still asking for
permission.
Permission to open a bank
account or apply for credit.
Permission to be taken seriously at work.
Permission to imagine a life
beyond the roles prescribed to
them.
Opportunities were expanding, but unevenly and often
slowly. Women were entering the workforce in greater
numbers, yet leadership roles
were rare. Conversations about
equality were gaining momentum, but they were often whispered rather than celebrated.
Community mattered then,
as it does now. Women leaned
on one another for support,
advice and courage, often in
living rooms, church basements and local clubs. These
were places where stories were
shared, confidence was built
and change quietly began. This
is where the Sunriver Women’s
Club was born.
Long-standing club member
Teresa Bowerman vividly remembers those early days.
“We moved to Sunriver in
the winter of 1973,” she recalled.
Like many women of that
era, life was full.
“I was busy with having
kids, so I was a member of the
SRWC but not an active one.
However, the club was small,
so we were ‘all hands-on deck’
with every fundraiser,” she
recalled.
Those fundraisers were spirited expressions of creativity
and camaraderie.
“There was the International
Food Fair at the Great Hall,”
Bowerman said. “We had apple
strudel from a member who
Serving with heart. Teresa Bowerman, second from left, lends a hand at the Sunriver Women’s
Club Tea – one of many ways she has contributed over the years.
had lived in Germany, Mexican food with help from Tres
Jalapeños – everyone brought
what they knew.”
Another highlight was the
Thanksgiving Food Tasting
Festival in 1980 at the lodge,
which even resulted in a small
recipe book. A September
Welcome Tea followed, Mexican-themed and colorful,
with spouses dressed as caballeros serving tequila and hors
d’oeuvres.
Beyond events, the heart of
the club was care.
“Our phone tree was pretty
active,” Bowerman shared.
“Whoever was sick, we all
pitched in and signed up to
provide food.”
Sewing circles, hiking and
skiing groups, a popular dining club – even a sewing group
affectionately called “Stitch
D
B
K
D
B
K
and Bitch” – formed the social
fabric of early Sunriver.
“We were a very small group
of ladies from Sunriver who
believed in philanthropy by
helping Sunriver be a vibrant
and safe place for residents and
guests alike,” Bowerman said.
Now: 2026
Today, women lead companies, run for office, start nonprofits and shape communities
like Sunriver in visible and
lasting ways.
The doors that once required
knocking on have, in many
cases, opened. Yet the need
for connection, mentorship
and shared purpose remains as
strong as ever.
Now, the stories are broader
and more diverse – career
changers, entrepreneurs, caregivers, volunteers, newcomers
and lifelong residents.
The questions have evolved,
but the desire to belong has not.
Women still seek spaces
where they are heard, valued
and inspired.
The Sunriver Women’s Club
is where these eras meet. The
club is a tapestry of lived experience—from women who
remember 1973 vividly to
those shaping what 2026 and
beyond will look like. Here,
you can hear their stories, learn
from their journeys and share
your own.
“SRWC has grown, and I am
in awe of all the opportunities
being offered these days,” Bowerman said.
The club now includes members from across the region with
expanded philanthropy, birthTurn to SRWC, page 17
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Page 16
MARCH 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
Visit us at The Sunriver Home Expo, March 14, 2026
