SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT SERIES
Passing Values to the Next Generation Bill Ney '80
In 1976, I was a freshman in public high school in Connecticut. I loved learning and was a good student, but my mom had passed in 1975, and my home life was unstable. Concerned that I might not graduate, someone suggested to my dad that he send me to boarding school. We toured several places in New England, all of which felt institutional. When we pulled into the WMS campus, Nancy Henderson, the then-director of admissions, met us in the driveway with her two big Newfoundland dogs, and we both instantly felt it was the right place. It seemed sacred, almost magical, and it still feels that way to me today. I was transformed by my experiences there, and I know a lot of other people who were as well. I started my sophomore year at WMS in 1977. My teachers were demanding, but never condescending – there was mutual respect which was very empowering. Soon after arriving, I saw the school’s geodesic dome, which had fallen into disuse. I asked my science teacher Dan Rose about it, and the next thing I knew, I had started a big project to get the dome cleaned up and running again. It was a lot of work to scrub it down and remove all the mold, but Dan and other students pitched in, and by winter it was lush with plants. The inspiration for the dome came from the New Alchemy Institute (now The Green Center). It was intended to be a self-sustaining system, with a huge water tank for raising tilapia for food. WMS’ dome is no longer, but it was a sight to behold in its day. I have plans to get a dome at my current house so we can grow our own vegetables year-round! These back-to-the-Earth experiences initially pointed me toward an undergraduate degree in marine biology, but two years in I discovered computers, had a change of heart, and went in a different direction. I don’t regret having spent more than 30 years in tech, not least because I met my lovely wife on my first day at Xerox, and we’re celebrating 30 years of marriage! In February 2020, I wanted to change my professional direction, so I penned a letter entitled, “What do I want to do for the next 20 years?” At the top of the list was “Be an advocate for the environment.” I shared my letter with my sister, and she quoted the poet and Sufi mystic Rumi: “What you seek is seeking you.”
55
ECHOES |
2021 – 2022
A few months later with the pandemic underway, I was working on my front porch when I was approached by a solar salesperson canvassing the neighborhood. We had a long conversation about how much the technology had improved in recent years. I started doing some research and interviewed some other solar companies – the third was PosiGen, where I now work. What really resonated with me was PosiGen’s story. The founders, Tom and Lisa Neyhart, started the company after Hurricane Katrina. Seeing that disadvantaged communities of color in New Orleans were the last ones to get their power restored, they set out to address this disparity by installing solar panels. I sent in my resume, met the leadership team in Connecticut, and now I help all families get access to affordable solar, regardless of their income or credit score! I’m glad I’ve found a company that’s altruistic and doing the right things for the right reasons. Unlike other companies that target affluent homes and will only work with individuals who have a high credit rating, PosiGen is committed to enriching neighborhoods and communities. In fact, they won’t even install solar unless it will save the customer money! When I arrived at WMS in 1977, I wasn’t really thinking about the environment – but spending so much time in the outdoors with people who cared about the natural world imbued me with an abiding appreciation for nature. I thank WMS for starting me on the path of sustainability and environmental conservation. I have passed these values down to my children, and WMS continues to pass them along to future generations.
