May 27, 2010 – Thanks so much for coming this evening and celebrating Conexions with us. We are grateful to have this time together to see you and to thank you for all of your support. We also are excited to share with you our plans for moving forward.
Before I go further, I’d like to thank all of the people who helped make tonight possible. High Ground Organics donated produce, Karen Harwell brought oranges, cherries and flowers, Joanna made her famous chocolate chip cookies and Samantha made the frittatas. Karen and Joanna set up the spiral walk, Mari made all of the visual displays with the help of Bill, and Susan Osofsky, Gloria, Lydia, and Jan helped with setting up and the food prep. As always, it was a group effort and fun to work together to make this happen!
We started our celebration today with the spiral walk, which lets us experience the evolutionary journey of the universe. Our evolutionary journey has been the context for our work, which begs the question, “how do we adapt as humans to ensure that life on Earth continues to flourish?”
These days, this question is more relevant than ever, as is the work that we have been doing through Conexions. However, when we did a business plan some months back and assessed what it would take for Conexions to survive, it was clear that we needed to adapt to our current economic conditions. We needed to look for new ways to continue our work, without continuing the organization.
Although Conexions is closing as an entity, Conexions’ projects continue to evolve.
The Enneagram team is creating a for-profit group called enneSolutions to continue offering its services.
Exploring a Sense of Place will focus on distributing its books and mentoring groups and individuals who are interested in creating their own program.
Getting Going Growing is planning on being part of Acterra’s Urban Ecology program, and I will be working with the Mountain View Whisman School District's school garden program.
Green Fork is organizing the Edible Landscaping Tour through Common Ground again this July and the Midtown Community Garden will be under the fiscal sponsorship of Acterra.
Sustainovation is applying for fiscal sponsorship through Acterra and Earth Island Institute to continue its programs.
The Walk through Time project will be taken over by The Hero’s Journey Foundation.
Peninsula Permaculture will stay under our 501c3 as part of PLANT!, which is taking over our non-profit status. PLANT! is becoming a new Agricultural Land Trust, which is much needed in our region.
We urge you all to stay involved and continue supporting these efforts. You will continue to hear from the projects that you have been associated with. However, in honoring our relationship with you, we will not be giving, selling or trading your name out to other efforts.
Additionally, we will keep a web presence at Conexions.org so that people can continue to find us.
Although Conexions is closing, our journey continues. You are each a part of our journey and we look forward to continuing to deepen our commitment to this planet and strengthening our relationships with you.
Now we hope that you will stay, enjoy the refreshments, and this time together. Thanks again for coming!
