Speakers

Essex Rotary Board has decided not to meet so members have the option to watch the Presidential Inauguration - which starts at noon on January 20.

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Essex Rotary member and Town Selectboard Chair Elaine Haney will review the issues associated with the upcoming vote on the proposed merger of the Town and the Village.  A merger proposal is on the Town meeting 2021 ballot - on March 3.  

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Rick and Molly Jesse are not newcomers to charity work. Devout Catholics, and members of Holy Family Church in Essex, Vermont, they forged a strong association with Friar Suppliers, a 501(c)(3) charity that supports the work of the Little Brothers and Sisters of St. Thérèse in Haiti. Their first mission trip was to Haiti in 2004, followed by a year in Honduras during 2006-2007. Since then, they have made trips to Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

They made the acquaintance of Rodney Herrington of Aqua Research on a mission to Haiti in January 2018. Rodney is the principal designer, and is actively looking for organizations to help get the H2gO and other water purifying systems into the hands of those who need them most. It was this relationship that enabled the concept of Make Water Safe for the World, Inc., to come to fruition.

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Jill Evans, the Director of Community Justice Center - Essex, will update Essex Rotary on the comprehensive process started in Essex to adddress issues associated with racial inequities in Essex.  This includes policing and municipal services and climate.  The Community has emarked on a process of listening, learning and action aplanning among community members, police and municipal leaders.  

Racial Justice in Essex Discussion has scheduld two events to gather information from the general public on Oct 14 and Oct 21.  Jill will update Essex Rotary on the results of the community conversation and next steps to help create a welcoming community.  

The Racial Justice in Essex website can be accessed here. 

COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS. We will gather community feedback about public safety and policing through four listening sessions and an online survey. Please see dates and details below

a.   Wednesday, October 7, 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Zoom. The session is an affinity group for people who identify as Black, Indiginous or people of color. Tabitha Moore will facilitate. We are offering a stipend of $50 to all affinity group participants.
b.   Wednesday, October 14, 6:00 - 8:00 pm - Virtual session open to all people who live or work in Essex
c.   Wednesday, October 21, 6:00 - 8:00 pm - Virtual session to all people who live or work in Essex
d.   TBA -  We will also be engaging community members whose first language is other than English. Details coming soon.

Matt Dunne, former candidate for Governor in Vermont and a Google staff innovator, started CORI - the Center on Rural Innovation, based in Hartland, Vermont.  CORI aims to build sustainable economies in rural areas that have been left behind as technology has come to dominate successful regions of the USA.  Expanded support for entrepreneurship and universal broadband services are central to CORI's work.  

Again, Steve Schmida served as the catalyst that encouraged Matt to share his remarkable community development story with Essex Rotary.  

Matt's impact has recently (Dec. 15, 2020) been recognized by New York Times opinion writer Tom Friedman.  Please take the time to read Friedman's  piece where he credits Matt, in part, for his thinking on a rural development strategy for the next 4 years.  Please take the time to read the column here. 

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Jay Chikobe is an Associate who focuses on design and innovation services for Resonance.  He will share insights about his work in Africa to support the development of entrepreneurs - and creating a culture and climate that allows innovation to thrive.  As an Associate at Resonance, Jay works with Essex Rotary member Steve Schmida to promote sustainable development in emerging economies.  

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