A message from our president Walter North
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the website of the Orleans’ Citizens Forum. The Forum is a local, independent non-governmental, non-partisan organization which encourages informed, civil engagement around critical issues facing Orleans and its citizens. We welcome your participation in our programs, feedback and continued financial support. Thank you!!!
Over the last few years we have been busy rolling with the punches of Covid. Our first Fall program (on the Fall Town Meeting Warrants) was to have been an in-person event. That didn’t happen. A quick pivot back to remote, with excellent support from the Town, let the show go on. We thank them, our presenters and our audience for nimbly adapting. The forum on the Warrants was a success with good presentations and strong audience participation.
Our second program this year (on our economic future) was in person. It framed some challenging issues in a format that stimulated thoughtful interchanges. The result: an increased awareness of some of the economic and social linkages complicating inclusive, sustainable economic growth. We are considering further developing some of those themes over the Winter.
One of those issues is affordable housing. The Town has made significant investments in community housing. From earlier programs we have all learned much about the drivers of Orleans’ housing needs. Our November program addressed the background of why the ‘how to build’ part of the affordable housing problem set is so complicated and expensive. It explored what ‘affordable’ looks like in our current world where modest wages (for many, if not most) meet astronomic market housing prices.
These and other substantive programs will continue over our current ‘season’ (September to June) and be supplemented with a Candidates’ Night in the Spring if there is a competitive Select Board race.
I want to thank my fellow volunteer Directors and our partners for their commitment to our mission. Without their help we couldn’t get this done. But the good will of our donors is equally critical. We welcome and appreciate your ongoing generosity.
If you are interested in joining our Board and pitching in to help, we would love to hear from you. Finally, we want our programs to be responsive to the interests of our citizens. If you have an idea for a topic – please let us know.
Sincerely,
Walter North
President
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