Results of the Membership Vote & Looking Ahead
- Yes votes: 272 or 80.24 %
- No votes: 54 or 15.93 %
- Abstain: 13 or 3.83 %
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on this exploration, one truth has become unmistakable: the most meaningful part of this process has been you—the conversations we shared, the insights you offered, and the sense of community that has guided every step. As we move forward, we want you to continue feeling informed, heard, and included. If you have questions—about the vote, the transition, or what these changes mean for you—please reach out. Your voice is essential to this community.
A merger with Thoreau Farm strengthens exactly what we value most. It gives us the stability, shared infrastructure, and welcoming public home we need to focus our energy where it truly belongs: on people, programs, and the exchange of ideas. We can invest fully in the conversations, scholarship, and shared experiences that bring Thoreau’s work to life for scholars, readers, and newcomers alike.
Thank you for your trust, your participation, and your commitment to this shared mission. Together, we can build an organization that honors our history while boldly shaping a future rooted in connection—inviting the world in and carrying Thoreau’s ideas forward with clarity, purpose, and community at the center.
Next Steps
1. Board Votes
In accordance with our bylaws and the plan established at the outset of this discussion, both boards—the Thoreau Society and Thoreau Farm—will now convene to formally enact the membership’s decision. This would take legal effect on January 1, 2026.
2. Administrative Consolidation
Following the board votes, we will begin the administrative integration of our two organizations. This includes aligning financial management and donor systems. The new (combined) board will begin negotiating a new contract for the Executive Director. These changes are all behind-the-scenes improvements; all programs and projects will continue uninterrupted.
3. Outreach Planning
We will also resume our work with consultants regarding the messaging and visual identity for the Thoreau Alliance and its two public-facing components: the Thoreau Society and Thoreau Farm. Our goals will be to support more effective outreach for sparking interest in Thoreau’s life and works, stewarding the Farmhouse and Thoreauviana, fostering education and place-based learning, and welcoming both longtime scholars and newcomers to Concord and into Thoreau’s world. This process will be thoughtful and collaborative, ensuring that we reflect both our deep history and our forward-looking purpose.