The Salisbury Forum, Inc. , Where Ideas Come Together, is a regional forum for the exchange of ideas and information regarding topics which affect our lives in the community, region, nation and the world. We sponsor four or five public meetings a year, drawing upon nationally-recognized speakers.
Admission to Salisbury Forum events is free, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and donors.
Donations to The Salisbury Forum are most welcome! Your generosity will help us continue to invite exciting speakers from across the country, while permitting the Forum to make all events open to the public at no charge.
We are grateful fo the continuing support of three organizational sponsors, The Friends of the Scoville Memorial Library, Salisbury School and The Hotchkiss School, and the many community members who have donated regularly to the Forum. We hope you will consider making a donation if you have not already done so this season.
For questions, suggestions, or comments, please email the Forum.
Board of Directors of The Salisbury Forum
Walter DeMelle, President – A resident of Lakeville since 1970, Walter retired in 2011 after 41 years on the faculty of The Hotchkiss School where he served as Director of the Library.
Claudia Cayne, Vice President – A founding member of the Salisbury Forum, Claudia is Director of the Scoville Memorial Library.
Carey D. Fiertz, Treasurer – Carey is President of Export Risk Management, Inc., which specializes in export finance, trade credit, and political risk insurance.
Gretchen Babarovic, Secretary – Gretchen served for many years as Chief of Staff for the late Peter Jennings, ABC news anchor. She is Project Coordinator for The Civic Life Project, a not for profit organization, whose goal is to use documentary filmmaking to further civic engagement by conducting workshops with selected high schools and colleges.
Lisa Carter – Lisa is a Norfolk resident and Social Studies teacher at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She is a former management consultant and member of a museum foundation board of directors.
Laurie Dunham – Laurie is the Development Director at the Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut. For many years she worked in the admissions office at Indian Mountain School.
Josh Hahn - Josh serves as Assistant Head of School and Director of Environmental Initiatives at The Hotchkiss School.
Roderick C. Lankler – A trial attorney, Rod is a retired partner of a New York City law firm.
Bill Littauer – Bill was a radio and television reporter, anchor and executive news producer in Washington and New York. He is now retired in Lakeville.
Nina Mathus – Nina was a Senior Vice President of Audits & Surveys, Inc. and Roper ASW. Retired after 35 years serving Fortune 100 companies with marketing research, both domestically and internationally, she is now active in a number of local organizations.
Mary B. O’Neill, PhD – Mary teaches philosophy at Western Connecticut State University and is the former adult program coordinator at the Scoville Memorial Library.
Lisa Sheble – Lisa is Chair of the Philosophy and Religion Department and teacher of Photography at Salisbury School. She is a recent graduate of Hartford Seminary.
Jeanette Weber – Jeanette is a former Senior National Educational Consultant and Editor involved in product development, sales, marketing, and educational presentations nationally and internationally for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Publishing.