history of E2M
The Birth of the E2M Concept
October-November, 1999
Michael Garjian, a long-time technology innovator/manufacturer and holder of nine worldwide patents, first articulates the ideas that will eventually become the foundation of the E2M economic model.
E2M.org Comes into Being
11AM, January 1, 2000
On January 1, 2000, inspired by the turn of the millennium, Garjian registers the E2M.org domain name, one of the first of Millennium 2000 to be issued in America. In the backyard studio of the Easthampton, MA home owned by Garjian and his wife, Irene, he pens the first written page of what will eventually become the E2M manuscript.
The E2M Manuscript is First Printed
March-May, 2000
At the urging of an administrator at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Garjian returns to his studio, commits his ideas to writing, and produces the manuscript titled “E2M, An Economic Model for Millennium 2000.” He prints only twenty-five copies of this small, blue, thirty-four page document, each of which is numbered and marked as “Confidential.” The manuscripts are given to a group of close associates and friends for comment.
E2M Attracts its First Advocates
June-August, 2000
Inspired by the E2M manuscript, Courtney Raiph, then Steve Rogers express interest in contributing their efforts to the E2M model. Garjian begins meeting with them to discuss strategies to take E2M to the next step.
Nashawannuck Kayak Becomes the First Prospective E2M Company
August 1, 2000
Nashawannuck Kayak, a prospective Easthampton business partnership between Scott Cook of Wilderness Experiences and Michael Garjian, announces its intentions to adopt the E2M standards. This company will apply to the Easthampton City Council for permission to operate a kayak rental business on Nashawannuck Pond in Easthampton. The announcement is attached as a sidebar to a front page feature story about Nashawannuck Pond published by the Daily Hampshire Gazette on August 1, 2000, thus becoming the first public mention of E2M in a newspaper.
E2M.org is Incorporated
August 30, 2000
With Garjian as President, Raiph as Clerk, and Rogers as Treasurer, E2M.org is incorporated as a Massachusetts non-profit organization.
The E2M.org Board of Directors is Recruited
September, 2000 to May, 2001
Discussions with business and political leaders result in the addition of four prestigious individuals to the E2M Board of Directors, bringing the board's membership to seven. Listed in order of their appointment, the new members include Benjamin Swan, Massachusetts State Representative for the 11th Hampden District; L.B. Eddy, CFO (Retired), Stan Home Products; Mary Jane Bacon, Western Massachusetts Senior Aide to Massachusetts State Senator Stan Rosenberg; and Jon Niedzielski, Chief of Staff to Massachusetts Congressman John Olver.
The E2M Private Forum
December 12, 2001
As a result of many private conversations about E2M, Garjian acquires a considerable number of supporters. Upon learning of E2M, Gregory S. Prince, Jr., President of Hampshire College, offers to host a private E2M forum at his home. Garjian invites his harshest critics as well as ardent supporters to the December 12, 2001 forum. Sponsored by the Alternative Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, the forum attracts twenty-seven of the most noted academic, business, financial, political, social, governmental, and non-profit leaders in Western Massachusetts, The forum is moderated by Julie Graham, a Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Garjian delivers a fast paced, information intensive presentation. As he had hoped, the subsequent question and answer period finds both skeptics and enthusiasts, yet it leaves Garjian and other E2M supporters satisfied because even the harshest critics cannot uncover any unanticipated, inherent problems. The E2M model remains strong, unscathed, and ready to move on to new frontiers. At the end of the forum, Gregory Prince offers E2M.org the use of the Hampshire College Red Barn as a venue for an E2M public forum.
The E2M Organizing Committee is Formed
January, 2002
As word of E2M begins to spread, more advocates come forward with ideas and support. The first organizing committee is formed and begins to meet weekly in Easthampton, MA. Initial members are Janet Bunce, Jay Flanzbaum, and Mary Westervelt.
E2M Public Forum at Hampshire College
February 26, 2002
The first E2M Public Forum is held at the Red Barn at Hampshire College at 4PM on February 26, 2002. The event is advertised only by flyers, word of mouth, and a WFCR radio news announcement. Although the hall is arranged to accommodate an audience of thirty people, more than sixty arrive to watch an excellent multimedia event moderated by Julie Graham with considerable audio, video, and Internet technology provided by Webhall Studios. Discussion relates broadly to issues facing our economic system and how we might overcome them. Due to intellectual property considerations, the specific structure of the E2M model is not discussed. However, the audience of educators, students, citizens, non-profit organizers, and others is very warm, connected, enthusiastic and aware of current issues. During the subsequent question and answer period, which Garjian describes as feeling somewhat like meetings held by student activist groups during the 1960s, a number of audience members offer to join with the organizing committee to provide legal, structural, and other forms of needed support.
Global Sustainability Festival
May 3-5, 2002
The E2M organizing committee is invited to install an informational display at the Global Sustainability Festival at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Committee members Janet Bunce and Mary Westervelt represent E2M.org during the weekend. Michael Garjian is invited to make a private presentation at one of the several seminars offered by the festival organizers. Considerable student interest is developed.
E2M Regional Economic Council (REC) Established
June 6, 2002
The first E2M Regional Economic Council (E2M-REC) is established in Western Massachusetts under the fiscal authority of Community Trust, Inc. (CTI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation first established in 1988. The Board of Directors of CTI is expanded from six to thirteen individuals in anticipation of broader service to the community. Members include men and women possessing broad community, social, and financial service backgrounds. Additional members will be added to the E2M-REC during the next year.
National Planners Conference
June 15, 2002
Michael Garjian is invited to make a private presentation on E2M at the National Planners Conference in Holyoke, MA. Garjian's comments attract the interest of a young man named David Bisson, a summertime student legislative aide to Massachusetts State Representative Ellen Story.
Student Presence at UMass-Amherst
September, 2002
David Bisson, an attendee at the National Planner's Conference, meets with Michael Garjian with the request to use E2M as the focus of his Citizen Scholars Community Service Learning project at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His request is granted and sets the groundwork to establish a firm E2M presence at the university.
Students for Sustainability
September 23, 2002
Students for Sustainability (SFS), a sub-committee of the UMass Amherst Faculty Senate ad-hoc Committee on Sustainability, is introduced to E2M by Bisson and Garjian.
UMass E2M Seminar
November 4-6, 2002
A seminar is held at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst to provide a glimpse of E2M for a number of students and invited guests. E2M is well received and a front-page story is printed the next day, November 5, by the Daily Collegian, the UMass-Amherst student published newspaper. On November 6, Bisson and Garjian are invited to make an E2M presentation to the UMass-Amherst Board of Student Businesses, the body that represents all student-operated businesses on campus.
E2M Recommended by Students for Sustainability
December 10, 2002
The UMass-Amherst Students for Sustainability committee formally recommends to the Faculty Senate that that body embrace the E2M economic model.
Franklin County CDC
January 29, 2003
Garjian meets with upper management personnel of the Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC) in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The FCCDC is one of over sixty CDC's in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts whose mission is to address economic development, small business, and affordable housing issues. The Franklin County CDC is a state-wide leader in its work in economic development and small business issues. It administers loan funds totaling over $2,000,000 for small business development, provides business counseling services to hundreds of local small businesses, and operates a state of the art food processing center, among many other initiatives. At the meeting, the management of the FCCDC unanimously votes to express support for the E2M model and affirms their desire to work together with their Board of Directors to provide up to $250,000 for funding E2M companies.
Ed Bisson Joins Organizing Committee
April 1, 2003
E2M crosses the “generation gap” as Ed Bisson--father of organizing committee member David Bisson—joins the organizing committee. Ed proves to be a valuable contributor in a number of important areas relating to policy development and website enhancement. E2M.org founder Michael Garjian sees this event as a milestone in E2M's development and comments, “Although Ed and David have divergent opinions in certain areas, they both share a common passion for the goals of E2M. This is an important validating moment for it shows E2M has appeal to all generations. This is essential if we are to build the economic movement we desire.”
UMass-Amherst School of Management Forum
April 8, 2003
E2M.org presents a forum at the UMass-Amherst Isenberg School of Management. The forum is well attended by undergraduate and graduate students as well as professors, and helps gain the support of several SOM faculty members.
UMass Student Government Organization
May 7, 2003
After several weeks of meetings with David Bisson, two sub-committees of the UMass Student Government Association (SGA) vote to embrace E2M. As a result, Student Senator Dan Pozmanter places E2M legislation on the agenda at the May 7 general body meeting of the SGA, which represents over 18,000 undergraduate students. The full text of the legislation states:
“WHEREAS financial sustainability and self determination are important to the success of the University of Massachusetts and the local region; and
WHEREAS the E2M economic model proposes new and compelling methodologies to achieve financial sustainability and self-determination;
BE IT RESOLVED that the administration, Faculty Senate, Graduate Student Senate, Student Government Association and representatives of E2M.org collaborate to determine what policies, procedures, or programs might be established at the University of Massachusetts to help the University and the local region become more financially self-sustaining through use of the E2M economic model.”
Following a discussion period with Pozmanter, Bisson, and Garjian, the SGA votes to pass the legislation, thus establishing the students at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst as the first student body to formally embrace E2M.
E2M First Stage Infrastructure Complete; Second Stage Begins
May 19, 2003 to May 7, 2004
The E2M organizing committee agrees at its May 19 meeting that all elements of the E2M first stage infrastructure are now in place for the Western Massachusetts E2M Economic Community. E2M has established the core structure of the first E2M Regional Economic Council, has achieved significant written or verbal support of elected officials who represent Western Massachusetts on local and federal levels, has completed the first steps to include UMass-Amherst in the E2M model, and has attained the support of educational leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, non-profit organizations, and individuals. One second stage E2M initiative is to formalize the UMass-Amherst E2M initiative and infrastructure. During this time, Bisson, Garjian and other E2M organizers consolidate support among Student Government Association members, faculty, high level staff, and administrators. The Student Government Association establishes a Select Committee on E2M to further the UMass-Amherst E2M agenda. The first initiative is to establish a research program to advance a technology known as HGV, a Heat Generating Vessel invented by Diane Harris, Robert Gray, and Arnie Voehringer. The high-tech HGV contains a helio-gaseous vortex. The H-G vortex, a tornado heated to one-third the surface temperature of the sun, de-molecularizes and consumes virtually any substance introduced into the vessel with unprecedented low levels of atmospheric emissions. The E2M Select Committee recommends that the University explore the development of this technology through a collaborative research project involving students, faculty, staff, administration and other parties, and that any royalty streams and subsequently formed companies adhere to E2M standards.
Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund (WMEF) to Assist E2M Companies
August 28, 2003
An upper-level manager at the Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund (WMEF), the largest regional organization dedicated to funding low/moderate income entrepreneurs, expresses support for E2M. WMEF, with a combined portfolio and lending capacity of $3,100,000, offers its assistance in funding future E2M companies.
E2M Model Granted Patent Pending Status
November 21, 2003
The United States Patent and Trademark Office grants "patent pending" status to the E2M economic model. This status was sought to legally define the structure of the E2M model, maintain regional, national, and international consistency, and erect a barrier to entry for any entity that might attempt to diminish the power of the E2M Economic Community by producing "counterfeit" models in an attempt to confuse the public.
E2M.org Names New Board Member
December 15, 2003
Debbie Eaton, Senior Business Development Specialist for the Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund (WMEF), is named to the E2M.org board of directors. Her focus will be on board administrative responsibilities and E2M board relations with the independent E2M Regional Economic Council.
E2M.org Names First Regional Economic Council Members
December 15, 2003
The E2M.org board appoints the first seven individuals to the independent E2M Regional Economic Council. Appointees are Maureen Carney, Field Officer, Mass. AFL-CIO; Linda Desmond, Director of Senior Volunteer Programs, HCAC; Debbie Eaton, Senior Business Development Specialist, WMEF; Daniel McKenna, President, Principal Profits Asset Management; Steve Rogers, President, Rogers Management; Alan Singer, Director, Franklin County CDC Loan Fund; and Tony Taylor, Nueva Esperanza, Holyoke, MA.
E2M.org to Contribute to United Way of Hampshire County
December 18, 2003
The board of directors of E2M.org announces its decision to contribute ten percent of the undesignated funds received by the E2M-REC to the new Vision Fund established recently by the United Way of Hampshire County (UWHC). These funds will be used by the UWHC to mitigate a number of social problems defined by the local community in a UWHC conducted survey. Michael Garjian announces the gift to the UWHC board at its December 18, 2003 meeting.
First Two Companies Join the E2M Economic Community
March, 2004
On March 1, 2004 D.A.M. Enterprises, a start-up company owned by Springfield, MA entrepreneur David Morgan, becomes the first E2M certified businesses. D.A.M. is preparing to import Jamaican coffee beans to the United States and open an ecological education village on its affiliated coffee plantations in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Three days later, HGV Technology formalizes its prior commitment to becoming an E2M certified company when Diane Harris, a company principal, signs the E2M membership agreement.
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (CEERE) Embraces HGV Technology
July 15, 2004
Dragoljub Kosanovic, Ph.D., Assistant Director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (CEERE) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, offers the center's support to further develop the HGV technology.
New E2M.org Website Launched
July 23, 2004
In collaboration with Giannina Silverman, President of Rocket Ranch Design, E2M.org launches its redesigned website.
Boston Social Forum (BSF)
July 23-25, 2004
Julie Graham, an E2M.org board member and Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and E2M.org Founder Michael Garjian lead three forums on the E2M Economic Community at the Boston Social Forum (BSF). The E2M model is enthusiastically received by BSF attendees, including individuals who have served in high level positions in labor groups, the federal government, academia, the media, and various community organizations.
E2M.org Expands Board of Directors
August, 4, 2004
E2M.org adds two new members to its board. They are Jason Garand, Regional Council Organizer, Springfield Office, New England Regional Council of Carpenters; and David Bisson, Community Partner, Hampshire Community Action Commission. David Bisson is later elected to the office of Corporate Clerk of E2M.org.
Rogers Management Becomes First Existing Business to Earn E2M Certification
September 8, 2004
Rogers Management President Steve Rogers announces that his company has chosen to become E2M Certified. Rogers Management becomes the first existing business to earn E2M certification, and joins start-up companies D.A.M Enterprises and HGV Technology in the E2M Economic Community .
Formal Patent Application for the E2M Economic Model is Filed
November, 2004
Garjian upgrades the Provisional Patent application for the E2M Economic Model to a formal patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office in November, 2004. The E2M model is being patented in order to affirm its uniqueness and to prevent imitation by any entities that may wish to weaken the model or create confusion on the part of the community.
Rick Feldman Joins the E2M.org Board and Western MA Regional Economic Council
March 2005
Rick Feldman, President of the Northampton , Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, joins the E2M.org Board of Directors and the Western MA Regional Economic Council (REC). Feldman owned and operated software and information systems businesses; served as Executive Director of a Federal CAP agency; served as President of Support Our Schools, a major fund-raiser and donor for public education in Northampton . Prior to going into business in 1990, Feldman was an assistant director of the University of Massachusetts ' Cooperative Extension Service, with a focus on community economic development, natural resources, land use, and rural leadership.
Collective Voice, Inc. Declares its Intent to Become an E2M Certified Business
May, 2005
Collective Voice, Inc., a worker-owned collective business based in Western MA , declares its intent to become an E2M Certified Business by signing the E2M Charter Membership agreement. Incorporated in the spring of 2005 with ten worker-owners, Collective Voice helps local non-profit organizations raise money through telephone solicitation, online contact, membership renewals, fundraising parties, and other methods.
E2M.org Board Decides that the Establishment of a Flagship E2M Business is Advisable
June 2005
After hearing an update from E2M.org Founder Michael Garjian about his preparations for launching an alternative energy business based in Western MA , the E2M.org Board of Directors decides that the establishment of this business as the flagship E2M Certified business is advisable.
Mary Westervelt Joins E2M.org Board
August 2005
Mary Westervelt, a long time member of the E2M Organizing Committee and Director of Marketing for the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association, joins the E2M.org Board.
Garjian Forms Vee-Go Energy to Produce Alternative Fuels
August 29, 2005
After researching the alternative energy market and developing strategic business alliances, Garjian forms a sole proprietorship called Vee-Go Energy on August 29, 2005 to produce alternative fuels and act as the flagship E2M Certified Business. Vee-Go Energy Incorporates May, 2006 Vee-Go Energy is changed from a sol proprietorship to a limited liability company. Vegetable Energy Group, LLC, d/b/a/ Vee-Go Energy, is born.
E2M.org Partners with Pierce Brothers Coffee Roasters
May, 2006
Pierce Brothers Coffee Roasters of Greenfield, MA begins roasting E2M Community Coffee, the first E2M branded product. The sale of each pound of this Fair Trade Certified, 100% organic coffee in local stores contributes two dollars ($2.00) locally to create community wealth within the E2M Economic Community of Western Massachusetts.
E2M Organizing Committee Drafts Policies and Procedures for E2M.org and E2M RECs
April 2006-Present
In order to further define the parameters of the E2M Economic Model and the relationship between each of the model's components, the E2M organizing Committee begins drafting policies and procedures for E2M.org and E2M RECs to be presented as recommendations to the E2M.org Board of Directors. In December 2006, the E2M.org Board approves the first round of recommendations and gives the Organizing Committee guidelines for drafting additional recommendations.
Vee-Go Energy Announces its First Product
November, 2006
Vee-Go Energy announces the development of Vee-Go Energy Pellets, a pelletized biomass fuel created using only the waster agricultural by-products of food production. This clean energy fuel is made in collaboration with local family farmer cooperatives using only local suppliers. The formal roll-out of Vee-Go Energy Pellets will be in January, 2007.