Dear Friends of Transition US (and beyond),
We write to you today to share important news with the Transition community.
As most of you know, Carolyne Stayton has been the Executive Director of Transition US since its founding in 2009. After 11 years of ceaseless and selfless dedication to our community, she is retiring from the position she helped create. Carolyne has worked tirelessly – often at a personal sacrifice – to build the US Transition national hub, and to support community leaders in their efforts to address climate change and economic uncertainty. This is a bittersweet moment, as we will miss Carolyne and her many talents; but we are also celebrating with her as she returns to Canada and family.
Carolyne speaking at the 2017 National Gathering. 
Liliko from Transition Japan and Carolyne at the Transition US office.
There are also grounds for excitement and further celebration in this time of transition as the TUS Board is delighted to announce that Don Hall has accepted the call to serve as Interim Executive Director and Marissa Mommaerts as Interim Assistant Executive Director. Don and Marissa have both been long immersed in Transition and Transition US. We have already enjoyed their leadership roles and are excited about their creative and strategic ideas for the Transition Movement’s future in the US. They are uniquely situated to draw upon the work Transition US has already performed while providing a vision of the challenges and possibilities that await in these critical times.
Don and Marissa’s strategic thinking will be of immense value as the Board and stakeholders set out over the next several months to imagine and guide the next evolution of Transition US. This will be the key work of our Board during the rest of 2020 and into 2021: creating a strategic plan that puts Transition US at the forefront of our quest for a bountiful and just transition to a world based on earth care, people care, fair share, and a respect for limits. We know already through Don and Marissa’s work in training and network-building that providing effective support for local Transition Initiatives will be a key element of that strategy.
We write today full of gratitude – gratitude for Carolyne’s nurturing of the nascent Transition movement in the United States into its current maturity, gratitude for her friendship, gratitude for Don Hall’s and Marissa Mommaerts’ belief in the power of our movement and willingness to lead us forward, and gratitude for all of you who are working to build resilient, just, and empowered communities.
Sincerely,
Mark Juedeman, President, Transition US Board of Directors
Erik Lindberg, Secretary, Transition US Board of Directors
On behalf of the Transition US Board of Directors
P.S. If you’d like to reach out to Carolyne, Don, or Marissa with well-wishes, questions, or ideas for Transition US moving forward, you can contact them at carolyne@transitionus.org, don@transitionus.org, and marissa@transitionus.org.
