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