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2 <br /> 1 Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she toured Partnership Academy today and said <br /> 2 Principal Stan Farrington is doing a great job with the transition to a new location. She said the <br /> 3 new gym is great and the students didn't have a gym at the previous school location. Principal <br /> 4 Farrington said when comparing fall semester last year to spring, the discipline numbers went <br /> 5 down, and academic scores went up. She said there is a quiet room and also areas for students <br /> 6 to learn outside of the classroom. She said she also attended the ribbon-cutting for the Wonderful <br /> 7 House last week with Chair Bedford and Commissioner Hamilton. She said the Wonderful House <br /> 8 is bridge housing in Chapel Hill and is named after a peer support specialist and former resident <br /> 9 manager, Wonderful Buie who passed away earlier this year. <br /> 10 Chair Bedford announced that today is National Voter Registration Day and encouraged <br /> 11 people to register to vote and check their voter registration. <br /> 12 Vice-Chair Greene said she spent most of the day in Durham facilitating a panel as part <br /> 13 of a summit on Clean, Connect Communities sponsored by the Southern Environmental Law <br /> 14 Center. She said it stressed the necessary connections between transportation planning, land use <br /> 15 planning, and affordable housing in the interest of the climate and livability. <br /> 16 Commissioner Hamilton said she recently attended the Area Agency on Aging Aging <br /> 17 Advisory Council meeting and the director of the voting program with Disability Rights North <br /> 18 Carolina spoke about how to Access the Vote. She said if anyone is assisting someone with <br /> 19 disabilities get out to vote, Disability Rights NC has a program and can visit accessthevotenc.org <br /> 20 or call 1-888-WEVOTE-2 for more information. She said this is a non-partisan organization. <br /> 21 Commissioner Richards said she forgot to mention that she attended the JLOW board <br /> 22 meeting last month and they are working on a strategic plan as well as doing a lot of work on the <br /> 23 water rules for all members. She said this is an exciting collaboration and encouraged board <br /> 24 members to serve with this group next year as part of their committee selections. She said they <br /> 25 will be having an annual meeting in February. <br /> 26 <br /> 27 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> 28 a. Proclamation Honoring Emergency Management Professionals and Proclaiming <br /> 29 September 30, 2024 as Emergency Management Professionals' Day <br /> 30 The Board approved a proclamation recognizing the invaluable contributions of the Emergency <br /> 31 Management Professionals in Orange County and proclaiming September 30, 2024 as <br /> 32 "Emergency Management Professionals' Day" in Orange County. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 BACKGROUND: In 1951, the North Carolina General Assembly officially acknowledged the roles <br /> 35 and duties of state and local governments in preventing, preparing for, responding to, and <br /> 36 recovering from natural or man-made emergencies, as well as hostile military or paramilitary <br /> 37 actions. Nearly 26 years later, in 1977, North Carolina legislators enacted the North Carolina <br /> 38 Emergency Management Act. This Act solidified the responsibilities concerning the protection of <br /> 39 vulnerable individuals and property, swift and effective rescue operations, care and treatment, <br /> 40 and the coordination of efforts to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters <br /> 41 involving federal, state, local, private, and quasi-governmental entities. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the field of emergency management has seen <br /> 44 significant growth as communities and organizations worldwide acknowledge the crucial role of <br /> 45 professional emergency managers. Orange County has a rich legacy of maintaining an <br /> 46 outstanding emergency management program led by skilled professionals dedicated to <br /> 47 enhancing the resilience of the community. Emergency Managers from Orange County have often <br /> 48 been called to serve throughout North Carolina and across the Country during times of crisis due <br /> 49 to their professionalism, vast knowledge, and extensive experience. Many of these professionals <br /> 50 have served in various capacities to shape local, state and federal policy, shared their knowledge <br /> 51 by educating new emergency management practitioners, and/or continued their service in highly <br />