Women's Gathering returns

After a four-year hiatus, Bigfork's Women's Gathering is back by popular demand.

The annual winter program had been a staple in the community for more than a decade before organizers took a break, and now the Bigfork Museum of Art & History is reviving the tradition this month with a two-day gathering Feb. 19 and 20.

A group of women in the community started the event for something to do in the winter as a program where women present to women, said museum director Marnie Forbis. The museum took over organizing in 2000, but stopped in 2006. Due to a number of requests for the program, the six-member committee has decided to bring it back, with some changes.

The event used to focus around one theme, but that was challenging, Forbis said.

"It was getting more and more difficult to find subject matter," Forbis said.

This is why the new Women's Gathering now features a smattering of topics to appeal to a variety of interests. It's also increased in length from 1 1/2 days to two.

This year's featured presenters include speaker Elouise Cobell, executive director of the Native American Community Development Corp. who is known for her suit against the federal government for the mismanagement of the Individual Indian Trust funds. Cobell, who is a great-granddaughter of Mountain Chief, spoke at a prior Women's Gathering and will be Saturday afternoon's speaker.

Winnie Greenshields from the Agency on Aging will give a workshop on recent changes to Medicare on Friday morning, followed by Susan Kuhlman with Save a Sister presenting the Artful Bra Project, which will be on display at the museum. A few surprise presenters are also scheduled for the event.

Saturday's event will also bring the program "Two Gals Gossiping About Early Montana," in which two actresses will portray the stories of Mrs. Emma Slack Dickensen, a schoolteacher in Missoula in the late 1800s, and "madam" Mary Gleim.

Attendance is limited to 80 people due to space constraints.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. each day and the sessions will end at 2:30 p.m. including lunch downtown. The program is organized so attendees will finish by mid-afternoon so they have plenty of time to visit local businesses, which is another reason for the event.

For previous programs, women have come from all over the state, including Missoula and Great Falls.

One year's program usually brings out speakers for the next year, as women begin to share their stories, Forbis said.

"Different people we have in the community have lived fascinating lives before they got here and some live fascinating lives once they get here," Forbis said.

The exclusively female event has raised some eyebrows in the past, Forbis said.

"Everyone kids that (if we have a Women's Gathering) we should have a Men's Gathering," she said. "I say we just need someone to step forward to organize it."

The cost for the event is $40 for members of the museum and $45 for non-members. Lunch Friday will be at La Provence and Saturday at Showthyme.

Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who are interested in only partial attendance are encouraged to call close to the event to see if they can be accommodated in openings. First priority will be given to women who want to attend the full two days.

For more information, call the museum at 837-6927 or visit www.bigforkmuseum.org.