Claire and Brynn

Yesterday we celebrated another Moon, Wine and Cheese event. This year was extra special, as I got to announce our succession plan.

The MoonCatcher Project has been working on a succession plan for six years now. We know that any healthy organization should start talking about this long before it’s time to actually make the change. We’ve done this with a great deal of care and lots of attention to details.

I have loved dreaming up and developing this project and have been blessed with wonderful colleagues to help guide the way. Though I came to MCP with many skills I had no real training in non-profit management so a lot of the time I was “winging” it. Luckily one of my closest friends works with non-profit  boards and their staff and helped keep us on the right path. She knew “best practices” and gently pushed us to use them. 

We have built a strong and effective project. We have helped keep thousands of girls in school during their periods and have seen many of them go on to become  financially independent women. This makes me smile every time I think of them.

Now I am stepping aside. I will still be involved but I am handing the torch to Claire Jennings and Brynn Watkins. These two women come to us with an already established passion for Period Justice. They have been working to solve this problem for years. They started the Period Pantry project in the capital region, turned it over to MCP in 2024 and are excited to be back growing it.

I know that the health of any successful business is to make sure it’s future is planned for.  Brynn and Claire have the passion and sensitivity to take the reins. They also have the skills of this new generation. We never thought to “get everything on paper”. When asked for an SOP the best I could do was point to my head. “It’s all in here or in Linda’s head”. Well, that has changed. We’ve been using this entire year to slowly and carefully get everything in order. Folders and files now have all the information needed to transition. Claire and Brynn have traveled to Africa and facilitated MoonBees. They have planned fundraisers and tabled at community events. They jump in whenever needed and exceed our expectations every time. January 2027 they will be the co-directors of The MoonCatcher Project.

I am totally confident that Claire and Brynn will move this organization forward in extraordinary ways. More girls will stay in school, learn about menstrual management and reproductive health and fully participating in their lives and communities. Menstruators in our own communities will have access to products every day of the year. 

I couldn’t be more sure that we are leaving this project in extremely capable hands. I am so grateful for this.

And, I know all of you, our wonderful, supporters will help them.

Thank you,

Ellie