Dear Friends,
In October the RI theme is Community Economic Development
This RI theme is close to my heart. I’ve been interested economic development since I was a child. At a young age I learned about income and costs. In secondary school I learned about bookkeeping and I started to work with my dad. He allowed me to look into his finances and we would discuss the economic aspects of running a farm.
Later I studied economics and learned more about global effects on local economies
Especially this month I am touched by the theme, because the Dutch remember that the south of Netherlands was liberated in the fall of 1944. Eighty years ago Europe needed to rebuild their entire economy. The Marshall Plan help is well known. The Dutch rebuilt the cities and started to create new farming land. The farmers produced food and our economy became one of the richest in the world.
Lately I am thinking a lot about the wars of today. Again economies are destroyed. Other economies are effected by the large number of refugees. Also my community is effected. I realize that although my country is not at war, the Dutch economy is influenced.
Therefore I call upon all REOW members to look at community economic development and see if you can assist locally. I hope you share your involvement with other members and that we inspire others.
Elly Scheepers
President