LITTLE COMPTON — Whether regarded as a sequel or one of a kind, "The Women of Little Compton Calendar 2006" goes on sale this week, with a press run of 1,250. If the smash success two years ago of "The Men of Little Compton Calendar 2004" is any guide (1,000 copies sold in nine weeks), it will sell out quickly.

The names of the featured women and "their months" have been kept secret by the coordinators of the calendar project. It is known that Galen Snow is 'Ms.' February, Jane Cabot is March, Mary Gagnon is May, and Caroline Wordell is December.

The women each approached their participation uniquely. Ms. Snow said that at first she didn't want to be involved because, she said, "there are other people who've done a lot more than I've done for the community."

However, "my family voted 3-1 against me because they wanted me to do it," she said. Her picture was taken in front of the community center where she has volunteered for 10 years.

"You gotta be kidding," Mary Gagnon (May) said was her reaction when asked. "It knocked my socks off. I'm honored to death. I'm waiting for what the reaction's going to be." Ms. Gagnon's picture was taken in front of Wilbur's Store, in which she said she was raised and where her mother Teresa Velez worked for many years.

Caroline Wordell (December) had her picture taken in a 1956 Chevrolet BelAir in front of a Christmas tree farm. "I'm honored to be asked," she said. "I'll probably not get another chance to be a calendar girl. I'm in the company of some pretty neat women."

How the women who participated were chosen remains something of a mystery. Jim Marsh, who refers to himself as the "volunteer coordinator" for the project, described a selection process that appeared to be both comprehensive and deliberately vague.

A couple of dozen people were consulted, he said, including the board and senior staff of the Little Compton Community Center, for which the calendar project is a fund-raiser.

"A list of perhaps 50 names was then created," he said. "We then consulted various people around town — mostly other women — and probably there were 20 of those folks." Then he, Marjory O'Toole, and Sally Swart "winnowed the list down to the final twelve."

He said they tried to achieve a broad representation among age groups, those with an interesting and diverse background, and those with a demonstrated involvement in and love for the community and who have played a distinctive part in its life.

The calendar project started two years ago, culminating then in the men's calendar, and raising between $8,000 - $9,000 for the center. Organizers hope this year's effort, with a larger press run, will exceed the previous total and earn about $10,000.

Both the men's and women's calendars share the same photographer, Sally Swart of Cantin Photography studio in Tiverton Four Corners, who donates her services for the project. Working in black and white for the calendars, Ms. Swart is a Little Compton resident herself. She said she spent the better part of a year, off and on, working on the project -- developing the concept for each subject and the location, scheduling, photographing, and editing and retouching.

Scheduling was apparently difficult. "Women are overscheduled," she said, "and were extremely difficult to schedule. Men on the other hand were much more available and loved having their pictures taken." She also noted that "many of the Little Comptonites wanted their dogs with them."

Jane Cabot (March), Ms. Swart said, was one who did. Her picture was taken with her brown dog in a field of cows that turned out to include some bulls, something that was discovered when one of the bulls decided to charge her dog.

Copies of the calendar are available at the community center for $15 ($18 by mail). According to Mr. Marsh, copies will hopefully be available at the Sakonnet Golf Club, Wilbur's Store, and the Walker and Country roadside stands.

Mr. Marsh said he didn't know what calendar project would come next. Children? Animals? He said he doesn't know. As for dogs of Little Compton, he said, "I personally think that's a dreadful idea."

BY TOM KILLIN DALGLISH

tdalglish@eastbaynewspapers.com