About Us
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.
Officers and Directors of The Salisbury Forum for 2009-2010
Walter DeMelle, President - A resident of Lakeville since 1970, Walter is the Director of the Edsel Ford Library at The Hotchkiss School. He also holds the Edgar Cullman ‘39 Teaching Chair. He has served as a library program and facilities consultant for more than thirty independent schools throughout the country.
Sara Wardell, Vice President - A Salisbury resident most of her life, Sara is a retired librarian. She served as a Trustee of Scoville Memorial Library from 1997-2006, and as President from 2000-2006.
Carey D. Fiertz, Treasurer - Carey is President of Export Risk Management, Inc., which specializes in export finance, trade credit, and political risk insurance.
Roderick C. Lankler, Secretary - A trial attorney, Rod is a partner in a New York City law firm.
Gretchen Babarovic - Chief of Staff for the late Peter Jennings, ABC news anchor, for 23 years. Board member of the Connecticut Family and Children’s Aid Society of Connecticut, and Consultant for Special Events to the Centers of Excellence, the auxiliary educational division of the Academic Departments at the United States Military Academy, West Point.
Ricky Bernstein - A full-time visual artist working in Sheffield, MA. Director of “Hands in Outreach,” a small non-profit literacy program for girls in Nepal.
Lisa Carter - Norfolk resident and Social Studies teacher at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Lisa is a former management consultant and museum director in New York City.
Claudia Cayne - Director of the Scoville Memorial Library.
Richard D. Collins - Dick is a retired internist living in Lakeville. He chairs the Program Committee of the Taconic Learning Center.
Franck A. de Chambeau - Franck is Managing Director of Business Transformation Consulting, and has for over 30 years been advisor to senior executives focusing on strategy analysis, planning and implementation. He served as President of the Board during the Forum’s first four years.
Wendy Bailey Hamilton - Former marketing director, now a “full-time” volunteer specializing in fundraising.
Nina Mathus - Former Senior Vice President of Audits & Surveys, Inc. and Roper ASW. Recently retired after 35 years serving Fortune 100 companies with marketing research, domestically and internationally. Now active in the community with a number of local organizations.
Anthony E. Scoville – President of Aerovest, Inc., which specializes in venture investment and scientific research including both the physical and social sciences.
Lisa Sheble - Chair of the Philosophy and Religion Dept., and teacher of Photography, at Salisbury School. Recent graduate of Hartford Seminary.