March 2008

A letter from our Executive Director:

Dear Friends,

Every year is a year of growth on the farm, and this year will be no exception. In addition to growing delicious vegetables, flowers, and herbs for our CSA shareholders and our hunger relief recipients, we are also increasing our programs this year to serve more of our community. With increased staff capacity, we will reach more people than ever before. We hope you’ll find ways (many of which are listed in this newsletter) to get involved!

This year will also be a year of transition. Over the last two years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the first Executive Director of Waltham Fields Community Farm. We have made great strides, and the organization is strong and healthy. Thus, it is a bittersweet moment for me to announce that I will be leaving my position in July of this year. I am thrilled by the progress we have made together, and truly love the work of this place. I am also very excited about the work that lies ahead for me. I will be embracing an opportunity to start up a small foundation to be based in Boston. I am humbled by this responsibility, and very grateful for the support that the staff and board of Waltham Fields have offered me as I prepare to embark on this new venture. The board has asked me to join the Advisory Board when I leave, and I am very happy to do so.

As I prepare for this move, I want to offer my thanks to all of you for the wonderful experience I have had here at Waltham Fields. I have been consistently inspired by the commitment of everyone associated with Waltham Fields Community Farm – volunteers, shareholders, members, donors, staff and board. Every day, your contributions weave together to create an incredible and important resource for this community. I have been honored to be part of it, and look forward to continuing to be involved in a different role.

With many thanks,

Meg

A letter from the Board of Directors:

The year 2008 will indeed be a year of growth and change at Waltham Fields Community Farm. In Meg Coward’s two years as the farm’s first Executive Director, she has displayed remarkable leadership in ensuring that the organization upholds the spirit of our mission and vision. Two years ago, our all-volunteer Board of Directors was happy to hand over the day-to-day business of the Farm to a professional. Since then, Meg has done a great deal to define the Executive Director’s role in our organization. Because of Meg’s dedication, generosity, and abundant good judgment, we are a much stronger organization today.

In 2006, Meg helped finalize our first three-year Strategic Plan, which guided our activities for the first time in 2007. She worked closely with the rest of the staff to create workplans that were aligned with the Strategic Plan and thus efficiently pursued our goals and mission. Along the way she has helped create an organizational environment that feels open, supportive, and energized. Much of Meg’s efforts over the last two years have focused on supporting the development of both staff and board capacity. Today, the Board is a strong, collaborative group focused on guiding the future of this organization we all hold dear. And though we are very sad to see her go, it is largely thanks to Meg that we are in such great shape to make the transition to a new Executive Director.

Of course, our most important job now is to find a new Executive Director for Waltham Fields Community Farm. An Executive Director Search Committee is in place, chaired by board member Sam Robinson, and is ready to start receiving applications from candidates. The job description will be posted on our website. We welcome your help in finding people who might be interested in this exciting role! If you know anyone who would be interested in joining us in this capacity, please encourage them to contact Sam at srobinson@neasc.org. This new Executive Director will be joining an organization that is vibrant, strong, and growing.

With best wishes for a bountiful 2008,

Judy Fallows, Board President