ENews Sponsors
INTERESTED IN SPONSORING VBSR'S NEWSLETTER? E-mail info@vbsr.org
or call 802/862-8347 to secure a space today.
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Welcome New VBSR Members!
Too many to list here...please visit the full list on our web site. __________________ |
VBSR Bookshelf
The Earth's Best Story
by
Ron Koss, Arnie Koss
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VBSR Marketplace
an online business-to-business marketplace using trade dollars valued the same as cash
Member OfferFrom Center for Community LeadershipThe Art & Science of 21st Century Leadership and System Change, Nov 16, 100% Trade Participants explore key leadership topics such as understanding the role of vision and values in effective leadership and learning to match leadership styles with situations.  ~~~~~~~~~~
Member RequestFrom Office Squared5 Gallon Water Jugs on Trade For small office in downtown Burlington. Delivery a plus. 2-5/month.  For more information about the VBSR Marketplace, please visit the web site. __________________ |
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 VBSR at 20
As we prepare for our anniversary celebration this Sunday, we pause to reflect on how far VBSR has come over these past 20 years. While our identity as a group of businesses who believe in the power of business to promote positive social and environmental change has not wavered, our membership has grown in size and diversity. VBSR at 20 has over 1300 member businesses. Our businesses employ 13% of the state's workforce and bring $3.5 billion dollars in gross revenue annually.
At this stage in our development we cannot be marginalized as "fringe" either in the statehouse or in the marketplace (of course we never thought we were). And, we are not going away....60% of our members have been in business in Vermont for more than 10 years. Our way of doing business has never been more relevant or more essential. As we move into our next 20 years, VBSR will continue to assist our member businesses with the tools and policy voice needed to promote socially responsibile business practices. We will expand our SR Journey, promote development of Benefit Corporations, sharpen our policy agenda, and bring you transformative programs and events. VBSR at 40 may be bigger but we will certainly be even better. We hope you are along for the next leg of our trip. Happy 20th to all of our member businesses! There is much to celebrate and we hope to see you Sunday! |
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VBSR Educational and Networking Events
VBSR's 20th Anniversary CelebrationSunday, September 19, 2010; noon - 5:00 pmWest Monitor Barn, 1949 East Main Street, Richmond, VTRain or shine!$10 / adults; $5 / kids under 10 (cash or check at the door) RSVP to info@vbsr.org, or call 802-862-8347RSVPs are greatly appreciated, but you will also be able to buy tickets at the door.Join us for a Sunday afternoon family-friendly picnic to celebrate VBSR's first 20 years and look forward to the next 20! We'll have fine local food, music by Filk and The Willoughbys, plenty of games for kids (and those of you who act like kids), member exhibits, chair massages, and more. This will also be a great opportunity to say "bon voyage" to Will Patten and to welcome Andrea Cohen as VBSR's new Executive Director. Event is open to the public...don't miss it! Please visit our web page for details, or contact Rita at ritab@vbsr.org.VBSR October Networking Get-Together hosted by Maclay ArchitectsWednesday, October 6, 2010
Open house from 4:00-5:15; VBSR event 5:15 - 7:30 pmMaclay Architects, 4509 Main St., Waitsfield, VTJoin us to talk about how you can get to net-zero in your business or home. Details on our web site...To sponsor, please contact Rita Bothfeld at ritab@vbsr.org by the end of business today. VBSR October Networking Get-Together hosted by Green Mountain PowerThursday, October 21, 2010; 5:30 - 7:30 pmGreen Mountain Power, 163 Acorn Lane, Colchester, VTTo sponsor, please contact Rita Bothfeld at ritab@vbsr.org. VBSR 2010 Fall ConferenceTuesday, November 9, 2010; 7:30 am - 5:00 pmThe Grand Summit at Mount Snow, West Dover, VTJoin us for VBSR's largest southern Vermont event of the year! More details and sponsorship information at our web site. ______________________________________________________ |
VBSR Public Policy Update
Addison County Public Policy Forum-- You're Invited !Come and discuss VBSR's legislative agenda for 2011. Topics to include tax and fiscal policy, improved commuter rail, energy supply, health care reform, and economic development policy. Staff, local members, and local legislators will gather Sept. 21, 4:00, at Vermont Coffee Company. More details at VBSR's web site. Many thanks to sponsors Vermont Coffee Company and Vermont Community Foundation.
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 Local Matters
Tune in here for current news about Local First Vermont and other local economies features...
Local First Vermont Resource Guide and Coupon Book Available Soon!
 The Local First Coupon Book will be hot off the press on September 17th, just in time for the VBSR 20th Anniversary party on Sunday, September 19th. The anniversary party will be the first place to get your hands on $2,300 of local savings! Starting September 20th, we will be delivering books to our wonderful distribution sites. Look for copies at Healthy Living, City Market, Small Dog Electronics, Pet Food Warehouse, Shelburne Farms, Brown Dog Books, and more. For more information on Local First Vermont, the Coupon book, and a complete list of distribution sites to date, follow the link to the Local First Vermont web page.
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VBSR Member News
How NE Can Change the World: A Bang for Your Buck in the Berkshires
Want to encourage the local economy? Try printing your own regional money.
excerpt from article in September/October 2010 issue of Yankee Magazine
by Bill McKibben
"...Time-dollar programs derive from old-fashioned bartering, of course, but with an egalitarian twist: Every hour is worth the same thing. Portland's credo states it simply: "Everyone has value, everyone's time is equal, everyone has something to offer. The real economy is people. We value work. We value the work it takes to make healthy children, a healthy community, a sustainable future." It sounds positively Scandinavian.
 If you're a little more hard-nosed, then consider the new Marketplace program launched this past spring by Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and Vermont Sustainable Exchange. It's kind of like barter, too, but highly computerized, and filled with excitingly business-like buzzwords. "We think of it as a recession beater--a cash-flow management tool," says VBSR executive director Will Patten. "Every business has extra capacity, or products it's overstocked on," he explains. "Everyone has extra capacity." Now other member businesses can buy that extra capacity with their own excess, no money involved." Read more...
 $5.5 million broadband awarded Waitsfield Champlain Valley TelecomUS Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch said that a $5.5 million stimulus broadband grant and loan package to Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom, announced today, will help connect their most rural and remote customers to high speed fiber optic Internet access. Read more...
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Vermont Businesses for
