OneMontville Community Movement Tries To Foster A Spirit Of Unity

OneMontville is a community movement to unite -- in a culture of acceptance, inclusion and kindness -- every member of the Montville Township community. On Friday, May 20, 2016, OneMontville will hold the 1st Annual Green In Day. All residents, students, faculty and business owners are asked to wear green. Anyone who lives, works or visits Montville, Pine Brook or Towaco, New Jersey, is asked to wear green on May 20.

“If we all participate, we can succeed,” said Superintendent Dr. René Rovtar. “By wearing green on Friday, May 20, we are visibly demonstrating that Montville Township is a community of acceptance, inclusion and kindness.”

According to the OneMontville by-laws, “The mission of OneMontville is to create and promote a climate of acceptance, inclusion and kindness which teaches and celebrates respect for one another by embracing and being enriched by the diversity that comprises the Montville Township Community. The mission can only be fully accomplished through the involvement and commitment of community leaders, religious leaders, business leaders, and residents of all ages, races, religions, ethnicities, abilities, gender identity or sexual orientation.”

OneMontville is the result of more than sixty concerned citizens taking action to promote a town-wide culture that celebrates respect for others by embracing diversity. Led by Rovtar, the OneMontville movement began November 4, 2015.

“Please help us to create a very visible representation of the fact that we are all OneMontville no matter who we are,” Rovtar recently asked members of the Montville community. “Residents of all ages, business owners and their employees, everyone…Please wear green on May 20.”

Since November, Rovtar has worked with a team of representatives from the entire community; politicians, parents, students, religious leaders, community organizers, Township Committee members, parents, School Board Members, teachers, administrators, business leaders and even a liaison to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, to develop an on-going, town-wide, movement of acceptance.

A separate entity, OneMontville is its own organization in the process of approving by-laws and operating as an independent 501(c)(3). To date the organization has launched an in-school climate of acceptance, inclusion and kindness activity for grades pre-K through eight. OneMontville Monte is a bear that accompanies a journal and gives students an opportunity to write about respect and kindness. Some of the students’ OneMontville Monte’s entries can be viewed on Facebook at OneMontville.

The organization is also making plans for lectures, readings, art openings, fairs, banners and other programs to encourage a climate of respect for all people throughout the entire Montville Township community.

“It is important that this be a separate organization that represents all aspects of Montville, and that it be led by representatives who speak for Montville’s rich and diverse culture,” Rovtar explained. “Though the Montville Township Public Schools will support all programs that promote acceptance and diversity, OneMontville is not only a school initiative. It is a community-wide movement, with ownership, implementation and support shared by all community stakeholders.”

The community can show support for the OneMontville mission by wearing green on May 20. Additional support can be demonstrated by purchasing an “Official” OneMontville Green In Day T-shirt. The Green In Day shirt is only $10, and proceeds from the sale of OneMontville T-shirts will help to fund OneMontville activities that will further the OneMontville mission of acceptance and kindness. Initial goals include providing Buddy Benches at Hilldale and Valley View Elementary Schools, so those two elementary schools can also participate in the very affective Buddy Bench program. Additionally, signs or banners have been proposed to serve as a reminder that Montville is a OneMontville community. A link to the One Montville Green In Day T-shirt order form can be found at www.montville.net.

“Purchasing OneMontville T-shirts will help to support OneMontville initiatives,” Rovtar said, “But everyone can show support for respect and acceptance on May 20 simply by wearing green.”

The OneMontville committee is also offering FREE green OneMontville wristbands as long as supplies last. OneMontville bracelets are available at the Montville Township Public Schools’ offices, 86 River Road, Montville, NJ.

The OneMontville Green In Day will be held Friday, May 20, 2016. All residents, business owners, employees and citizens are asked to wear green in support of the OneMontville mission of acceptance, respect, inclusion and kindness.

CAPTIONS (Photos by Sue Marinello)

1. 1. A new organization with a new logo, “The mission of OneMontville is to create and promote a climate of acceptance, inclusion and kindness which teaches and celebrates respect for one another by embracing and being enriched by the diversity that comprises the Montville Township Community. The mission can only be fully accomplished through the involvement and commitment of community leaders, religious leaders, business leaders, and residents of all ages, races, religions, ethnicities, abilities, gender identity or sexual orientation.” On Friday, May 20, 2016 all of Montville is asked to support respect and acceptance by wearing green for the 1st Annual OneMontville Green In Day. People can further support OneMontville programs by purchasing an official OneMontville Green In Day t-shirt. A link to the order form can be found at www.montville.net.
2. While supplies last, free OneMontville Bracelets are available at the Montville Township Public Schools offices, 86 River Road, Montville, NJ 07045.
3. Members of the OneMontville organization display their green bracelets in support of OneMontville Green In Day. The 1st Annual OneMontville Green In Day will be held on Friday, May 20, 2016. All Montville residents, business owners, employees and citizens are asked to wear green in support of the OneMontville mission of acceptance, respect, inclusion and kindness. Official OneMontville Green In Day t-shirts are also on sale to help fund future OneMontville programs. A link to the One Montville Green In Day T-shirt order form can be found at www.montville.net. FREE OneMontville wristbands can be picked up at The Montville Township Public Schools’ offices, 86 River Road, Montville, NJ. T-shirt link: http://www.shop.classactembroidery.com/Montville-Green-In-Day-TShirt-ginday.htm
4. Members of the OneMontville organization unite with their green bracelets in support of OneMontville Green In Day. The 1st Annual OneMontville Green In Day will be held on Friday, May 20, 2016. All Montville residents, as well as business owners, employees, citizens and everyone visiting Montville, Towaco or Pine Brook, are asked to wear green in support of the OneMontville mission of acceptance, respect, inclusion and kindness. Official OneMontville Green In Day t-shirts are also on sale to help fund future OneMontville programs. A link to the One Montville Green In Day T-shirt order form can be found at www.montville.net. FREE OneMontville wristbands can be picked up at The Montville Township Public Schools’ offices, 86 River Road, Montville, NJ.