1. Congratulations, Harold French, the flagpole is installed in the Stockbridge Cemetery. You fought a good fight.
2. We are losing two of the more qualified members of the Finance Committee. Ed Lane is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a former actuary and university adjunct professor of finance and economics. Bill Vogt retired from a 30-year career at JP Morgan Chase & Co. where he held various management positions in corporate and municipal finance, as well as private banking in New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Lagos and London. Gentlemen, thank you for your service. Gary, please, replace them with folks of equal caliber. We heard the resumes, let’s raise the bar.
3. After four decades as Director/CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum, from Laurie, in her own words:
Dear Carole,
As a friend of the Museum, I write to share the news of the beginning of my and the Museum’s next chapter. This morning the Board of Trustees and I announced the thoughtful process of leadership transition ensuing over the next 12 — 18 months.
There comes a time in every institution when it is time to initiate succession and now is the right moment for the Board to select our next leader who will carry the Museum’s work forward. Serving as the director of Norman Rockwell Museum since 1986 has been the privilege of my lifetime. During these years, I have been blessed to work alongside visionary colleagues who have grown NRM to be the wonderful Museum we steward today. Working with each of them is a joy, and I am confident that this moment of transition will flourish because of you. Your support is at the heart and soul of this museum’s mission, and I have every confidence we will steward NRM into the future.
Museums are vital institutions, holding places to memorialize human achievement, as well as to inspire, gather, and invite reflection around contemporary times, through bringing visual creativity to the forefront. This mission seems more relevant than ever, leading the important work that NRM gives to the world at a time when our civic institutions are vitally needed and there is so much to be inspired by Norman Rockwell.
I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to steward Norman Rockwell Museum to become a global thought leader through the art of illustration. I hold immense gratitude to the many generations of trustees, staff, the Norman Rockwell Family, patrons, artists, our Stockbridge and museum community, our visitors, and of course, our namesake artist, Norman Rockwell.
In the near future, little will change. I will continue in my role for the next year as the board conducts its leadership search. We will pursue our work together, ensuring a strong, smooth leadership transition.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Laurie Norton Moffatt
4. Congratulations to the Berkshire Waldorf High School (BWHS), its Board Chair Teresa O’Brient, Executive Director Steven Sagarin, CFO Patrick White, the Board of Directors, architect Pam Sandler, and General Contractor Carl Mercieri, you did it! BWHS is finished. Town Hall is saved. Kids will be laughing and learning in Stockbridge for decades to come.
