Sister Spotlight: Get to know Lifetime Member Sister #29

She's an original! She's one of a kind! This lifetime member has seen it all over the course of this Sisterhood's 20 years!
We asked Kristin M. some questions about herself and her kinship with this group so you could get to know her a little better.

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Sister #29! What year did you join and how did you ever learn about Sisters on the Fly back then?
I saw an article in the April, 2002 issue of Country Living Magazine. I fell for the campers and the cowgirl boots.
I was already an angler and had been invited to join several women’s fishing groups but they all looked pretty hard core. This one looked fun. There was a contact number in the back of the magazine. It was Sister #1 Maurrie. So it began.

I joined, sort of. There was no website at all. You got a manila envelope in the snail mail outlining the upcoming fishing trip (there were maybe two trips a year back then). You sent in a check and you were in. Reflecting back on this now, you could just throw the itinerary away because this was "Sisters on the Fly By the Seat of Your Pants." Your hair'd be wet from a shower because dinner was supposed to be at camp, but the next thing you knew you were drying it out the car window on the way to town for a meal at the local joint.

Most of the really low number members joined with camper trailers, right? That was a requirement?
Yes, no one got her number until she got a camper. Dolly V, a 1957 Leisure Home I dug out of its resting place and dragged home, was my first of many vintage camper trailers. The fun began- house paint and curtains.
A few years down the road I saw another camper with a for sale sign. There were three women living near me and each had a spirit I admired, strong fun women and so this camper came to be Montana Belle. Off we went, several of us headed to Arkansas for a gathering.

You have traveled far and wide with SOTF. Has there been an epic one ( biggest or farthest or longest) ?
Yes, after that, Maurrie, Becky, Maize and I drove on through the Smokey Mountains and up through Washington, DC (I would not advise this while pulling a camper!). We camped in Annapolis, Maryland, then headed back to our homes in the west. Seven thousand miles in all. Oh, the memories I’ll have for my nursing home days from that trip alone but also from so many others!

What has been the key element that SOTF has brought into your life?
I have made a friend in nearly every state. Real friends. Sisters. Much has changed over the years but one thing has not- the women attracted to this Sisterhood. The diversity in all areas with one common thread: To share outdoor adventures with other women. There is a bond I don’t think easily found in other large groups.

Do you have a Sisters moment you can share, be in inspiration, hilarious, dangerous, scary, empowering??
Do I have a “Sister” moment to share??? Have you got an afternoon? I have been inspired by all the women I’ve met. I’ve laughed till I wet my britches. I’ve been in the back seat of a car on a gravel road wondering if we were sliding into the side of the mountain or no, into the river. Thankful for the skill of our driver, we did neither.
I’ve experienced so many thing I never would have on my own. Driving down a winding road as part of a vintage camper caravan keeping in touch with our walk-in talkies. Wrong turns, dead ends, becoming somewhat of a parade through a small town because someone needed a latte. Helping put a camper back on its hitch after dragging it by its safety chains. Catching a trout from a drift boat maned by a hunky fishing guide while sipping wine. Private concerts under the stars. Riding a ski lift to dinner wearing a crinoline and cowgirl boots. It just gets better every year. I’m on auto renew, I don’t want to miss a minute of the fun.

Any Sisterly wisdom you can impart on us here?
I learned from a wise woman from Pennsylvania, that when bathing in a river, put shampoo in your dry hair before going in. Once you step in the freezing water you have only one option. Dunk your noggin!

"Girl Time-" The Benefits of Female Friendships

We love this insightful article written by a Counselling Psychologist with her very comprehensive list of the benefits of having girlfriends in your life, ladies.

Here are a couple of those:

· There aren’t any taboo topics while talking to them. We can talk just about anything — if things are good, they are excited for us; if not they encourage and support us in whatever we are going through.

· Even if we don’t say anything, they can read our mind, and never fail to show us compassion.

· They walk with us through everything — death, divorce, illness; are each other's cheerleader, offering a helping hand and reminding us of the "glass half full."

· They infuse in us   energy and optimism

Read the whole article HERE.

 

Sister Spotlight: Braving Her Fears with Sisters

(This blog post was written & contributed by Sister on the Fly #8835, Lynda F.)

Bravery....
I am told I am brave. I am living my truth. My motto is "everyday is an adventure" and I share this with my spouse of 30 years, Barbara Bond (Sister #8837). While some are looking for the "stereotype", we are too busy putting on our heels and lipstick. My challenge is putting on boots and foregoing that lipstick to step outside in nature. I found this in the Sisterhood and it changed my life.

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-Sister #8835
-Member 1 yr, 2 months
-Sister Friendships in:
TX, NM, CA, WI, WA, OK, VT, AZ, CO, MT, MN
-Sister Lessons: Bravery

The friendships made through SOTF have been life changing. The impact of participating in Sister Corps1 PA has been life changing. Bravery is a part of many aspects of my life but has eluded me where nature & animals come into play.

I grew up in Boston, rode the subway and played amongst the high rises. In later years the closest I got to camping was at the beach (we live at the beach).

This summer we took a 37 day road trip and 2 of our stops were camping at Yellowstone and Glacier. SOTF had instilled in me “stepping out of my comfort zone”.
Bear signs everywhere. I was convinced I was going to be eaten. A bison strolled within 20 yards of us. I was convinced I was going to be stampeded. Five doe-eyed deer walked shoulder to shoulder. I was convinced I was going to be charged at. But I did it....I camped amongst nature after years of saying “I can’t” for fear of being eaten, stampeded or charged at. I share this picture because even standing there at Glacier I was uneasy wondering what set of eyes were upon me ready to pounce out of the woods...but I did it.

Bravery is empowering....I am a proud Sister who loves her Tribe, the Sisterhood....baby steps....I can’t wait for the Craft-cation event at Leeann M's I will attend soon. For the 2nd year, I have requested to stay in the farmhouse. Rattlesnakes reside there. I am convinced I will get bitten.

What do I get for the Annual membership?

"To join or not to join, that is the question." But it is usually prefaced with "What do you get for the $70 annual membership?"

Sister, it's not about the bootie.  It's more about the beauty.... of this organized sisterhood. It's not the swag, it's the way you wag...

The Material Stuff

So, here are the "tangibles"  you get annually with your membership.

1. When you first join currently, we send a membership certificate (PDF) immortalizing your unique Sister number and the Month and Year you became a Sister on the fly. Yes, mine reads "Sister on the fly # 127, August 2003!" Those are some bragging rights, right there. Bam.

2. For all new & renewing members, on their joining/anniversary date of membership they are mailed a "goodie bag" packet of SOTF branded items. They vary from year to year but always include a thematic commemorative woven patch representing that year at Sisters on the fly. Do the math-  I now have 15 and they are badges of honor with stories to tell woven in them! Members do creative things to display these patches  (sew on clothing, camp furnishing and banner stringers for example). Some examples of SOTF branded swag we have sent in the past: car decals, stickers, note cards, funky fun annual calendar book, mini-tote bags, temporary tattoos, luggage tag, mini banners...

3. Access to our Membership Directory data base to connect with other local women for a new network of like-minded & fun-loving women.

4. Access to exclusive Sisters on the fly-only events and adventures via online members-only booking system (from free events to various costs)

5. Monthly 10% discount promo code on all items for sale on the SOTF website store.

6. Other random promotional deals on 3rd party vendor offers from friends and partners of Sister on the fly.

7. Many private members-only group social media pages (local, regional and national SOTF pages) to share news, creativity, passions, hobbies, crafts and wares sales, local happenings, swapping goods, etc.

8. Sisters on the fly administrative support for members creating, hosting and posting an event on the SOTF website EVENTS portal.

9.Access to  State and/or regional coordinator who is the go-to member for "herding cats" and giving guidance and assistance to new and seasoned members alike.

10. Monthly newsletter and frequent member updates and news.

The Priceless Stuff

Here are the more intangible things Sisters on the fly offers to women. They can be described as benefits of a "sisterhood" and of having a social outreach network.

1. Find your tribe! A network of women all over the country to tap, support and find support from.

2. Expand your horizons, try news things, have an open mind and defy age!

3. Get away from the regular routines of life.

4. Social  networks of women that support safe group travel, travel advice, places to stay with other Sisters all over the country, etc...ready to be tapped and used.

5. There is empowerment with a network of  women creating a Sisterhood.

6. Gathering and socializing with kindred spirits in the great outdoors at private, safe SOTF events is energizing and comfortable.

7. Our SOTF events are private, unlike MeetUp events which are public and published, and provide a sanctuary for women to be adventurous and travel.

8. Meet a variety of women and connect with those who make your life better, happier and more enriched.

9. Let your hair down and be a fun woman among fun women.

10. Beat loneliness, keep living, have a lifeline with Sister son the fly.

These things are truly priceless. Find a true BFF or several in this diverse group, locally or nationally. Gain more happiness in your life!

 

 

How many SOTF Members Live Where?

One big sisterhood

(Updated January 2019)

We do not have "chapters" per se. You might say we are "free-range!" We have no borders and there's no fencing around us! We are one big membership of women (a "Sisterhood") residing all over. Bigger states have bigger numbers of members, of course, and there are denser hubs of members in bigger cities and metropolitan areas. Warmer states more suitable for year-round recreation and camping typically have more members than other states.

No trailer? No fishing? No problem!

You do not need a camper trailer to join in the fun. Even I, a longtime member, use a tent or local motel to attend SOTF events and any overnight gatherings. So you don't either! (If I can do it, you can too!) And just because our name implies fly fishing, a very high percentage of us do not fish nor care to even try. SOTF has evolved quite a bit since it's origins as a small women's fishing group to what it is now- the largest women's outdoorsy social & recreational group in the nation.

Think Regional

All our members are grouped in 10 basic geographical regions to help facilitate local or regional gatherings and events and to communicate better on a colloquial level. Those regions are:

1. SOTF PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION 
(Canada, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, E. Washington, W. Washington)
2. SOTF WEST REGION (California, Nevada, Hawaii)
3. SOTF SOUTHWEST REGION (Arizona, Utah, New Mexico)
4. SOTF TEXAS REGION (Texas!)
5. SOTF ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION (Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, So. Dakota, No. Dakota)
6. SOTF HEARTLAND REGION (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma)
7. SOTF MIDWEST REGION (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois)
8. SOTF NORTHEAST REGION
 (New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, NH & VT)
9. SOTF MID-ATLANTIC/
APPALACHIA REGION (Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, MD, PA, NJ & DE, Tennessee)
10. SOTF SOUTHEAST/
GULF COAST REGION 
(North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi)

By the numbers---

Below are how many active, annual dues-paying Sisters on the fly members there are in these states & foreign countries
(as of January 2019).

CANADA- 34

Alabama- 101
Alaska- 16
Arizona- 300
Arkansas- 100
California- 885
Colorado- 286
Connecticut- 28
Delaware- 13
District of Columbia- 3
Florida- 281
Georgia- 220
Hawaii- 4
Idaho- 173
Illinois- 106
Indiana- 81
Iowa- 40
Kansas- 86
Kentucky- 52
Louisiana- 70
Maine- 30
Maryland- 56
Massachusetts- 58
Michigan- 101
Minnesota- 62
Mississippi- 36
Missouri- 162
Montana- 165
Nebraska- 26
Nevada- 75
New Hampshire- 25
New Jersey- 55
New Mexico- 75
New York- 126
North Carolina- 160
North Dakota- 14
Ohio- 145
Oklahoma- 170
Oregon- 227
Pennsylvania- 81
Rhode Island- 10
South Carolina- 70
South Dakota- 36
Tennessee- 111
Texas- 1,153
Utah- 46
Vermont- 20
Virginia- 121
Washington- 363
West Virginia- 18
Wisconsin- 65
Wyoming- 80

To learn more click HERE.

To reach out and learn more, email us.

Thanks for checking out Sisters on the fly. Hope to see you as a member soon.

 

Before Joining SOTF You want more Info, Right?

You found us!

I'm so glad you found Sisters on the Fly. It's such a fun organization.

Sisters on the Fly is a really unique group. It's comprised of women of all ages, lifestyles and marital status who have joined together to spend some time away from our normal lives and loved ones to just relax, play, enjoy this amazing world we live in, and meet other like-minded women who want to broaden their horizons. My favorite thing about SOTF is that it gives us the opportunity to be a part of a community no matter how mobile we are. That's a tough thing to find in this day and age.

Joining the group is a fairly simple process. You just sign up & pay your initial annual Membership Fee of $70.00 on the main Web Site: www.sistersonthefly.com. There is a JOIN button that will lead you through the sign-up process. You can choose to auto-renew each year or play it by ear (and not pick the auto renew option).

Private Sisterhood & Info Database

Once you have signed up you will have full access to the entire membership roster and all the events on the calendar, worldwide. So, if you are traveling or are a snowbird you can attend any events that have space available in any area you are visiting or living.

I’m sure you will be glad to hear that until you are a member you will not have access to the Sisters contact info for member safety sake. Once a member, you can reach out to the Sisters in your area to get together for coffee or lunch, so you can immediately start to get to know them.

Events Near You

The Sisters on the Fly events are generally scheduled for the state or region that gals live and their personal interests. And since the members put on the events we are only limited by our own imaginations. Once you’ve been to an event you can start thinking about the events you would like to Hostess. Have a look on our website at our SOTF Activities Daily Calendar that we post for a general overview of what’s going in the world of SOTF and where we are and when throughout the year. (Not every single event is there as there are new events being born daily.)

No trailer? No fishing? No problem!

You don’t need to have a trailer at all to participate, let alone have a vintage trailer. They are just a great tool so you have a safe warm place to nest while resting before the next day’s fun. Many of our members have new trailers or stay in cabins, hotels, tents, teepees, or create a bed in their SUV. The most important thing is to come & enjoy the Sisterhood. Trailers are convenient & they are such a fun creative outlet which explains why we love them.

Maurrie Sussman & Becky Clark, the real-life sisters that started Sisters on the Fly, are avid campers and fly fishers. Thus, our name & the basic intent of the group. However, it has become so much more than that, and fly fishing isn't required, because we can enjoy any event the members think up and put on. We love to try new things, so our events are incredibly varied.

State & Regional Hubs

We don’t have chapters. This is a national organization and we have members in every state. As a “traveling” club the members set up campouts or special events and everyone, Nationwide, is welcome to attend (first come first served). So, once you join you want to watch the events tab on the website to make sure you don’t miss an event.

It’s always best to just take the step & join the Sisterhood! It's a year to year subscription and you can "try" it for a year for $70. If you don't love it, you do not have to renew when your membership is up (calendar year).

We have over 10,000 Sisters Worldwide and some states have huge numbers of Sisters such as Texas & California, but all 50 states and Canada are growing all the time. You only need a couple of other gals to make for a lovely camping trip. You will however need to be willing to travel as this is not a sedentary group. We love to travel & meet with other Sisters with the same interests.