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VBSR Marketplace
an online business-to-business marketplace using trade dollars valued the same as cash
Member OfferFrom Conant Metal & Light Gift Certificate for Lamps, Lighting, Restoration 100% Trade  ~~~~~~~~~~
Member RequestFrom Vermont Cookie LoveSki Lessons and Lift Tickets Open to location & date 100% trade.  To Activate Your Marketplace Account and start buying & selling with VBSR members, click here__________________ |
VBSR Bookshelf
A Mighty Storm- Stories Of Resilience After Irene Support Irene Flood Relief!
 Makes a great holiday gift !
VBSR Bookshelf
brought to you by
Northshire Bookstore
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 Greetings!
We were so pleased with the great energy and insights circulating around the Fall Conference. A fantastic collection of businesses and policymakers networked and learned about strategies and opportunities to remain resliient during challenging times. It was especially fitting to be down in the Deerfield Valley and to bring some economic activity to many of the businesses struggling to recover from Irene. Please know there is still an opportunity to apply for small grants from the Vermont Irene Flood Relief Fund!
While VBSR continues tracking Health Care Reform we also want to remind you that the 2012 VBSR rates are now available and also to encourage you to view the special Wellness offerings available to VBSR members, regardless of where you get your health insurance from.
Please also be thoughtful about your gift purchasing this season, and ensure your money follows your values. Support socially responsible businesses and organizations, and your local community. See the information below about the "Mighty Storm" book coming out in Dec. that will be a fundraiser for Irene Flood Relief.
Thank you for all you do and enjoy the season !
Sincerely, Andrea Cohen
VBSR Executive Director
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Remaining 2011 VBSR Events
2011 Public Policy Forum and Reception- Main Street Landing Host Sponsor.
Thursday, December 1, 2011; 3:30-5:00 Forum. 5:00-6:30 Reception.
Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington
Learn about the VBSR 2012 legislative agenda and hear from legislative leaders, including House Speaker Shap Smith about strategy and priorities for the upcoming session.
December Networking Get-Together- hosted by Yestermorrow Design/Build SchoolThursday, December 8, 2011; 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Yestermorrow, 7865 Main Street (Rte 100), Waitsfield, VT Tweet-up! Come learn more about Yestermorrow Design/Build School's programs and tour the facilities. We'll talk about how small businesses and non-profits can employ social media and low-cost "guerilla marketing" to get the word out. If you're Twitter-savvy, come share your successes. If you don't even know what Twitter is, join us to hear more about how it works. Many thanks to our sponsors - Andy Robinson, Common Ground Center, Maclay Architects, Montpelier Construction, Stephanie Lahar and Associates, Vermont Community Loan Fund, and Waitsfield & Champlain Valley Telecom. Montpelier Solo Circle
Tues, December 13, 2011; 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Kellogg Hubbard Library, Hayes Room, Montpelier, VT The topic will be "Working Effectively with the Media". Daniel Barlow, VBSR Policy Manager and former journalist will be leading the discussion. For more information on VBSR's and VBSR members' events, please visit our events pages...
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VBSR Announces 2011 Legislative Leaders
At this year's Fall Conference the 2011 Legislator of the Year awards were awarded to Sen. Claire Ayer, the chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, and now-former Rep. Mark Larson, who served as the chair of the House Health Care Committee for their leadership in putting Vermont on the path to healthcare reform. As committee chairs, they urged their fellow lawmakers to take bold action allowed lots of time for feedback from Vermonters and business leaders - including those who had doubts or concerns about the direction of the debate.
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2010/2011 Buy Local First Coupon Book Makes A Fantastic Holiday Gift
2010/2011 Buy Local First Coupon Book Makes A Fantastic Holiday Gift!
We can't say it enough. Friends and family will LOVE receiving the Local First Coupon book as a holiday gift. Make your shopping easier and support your neighbor businesses. At a cost of $10 it makes the perfect gift for co-workers, teachers, and other people that support you all year long. A list of book distributors can be found here.
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 Local Matters
Shift Your Shopping ! Let's build an annual tradition that strengthens local economies, expands employment, nurtures a sense of community, and provides a more relaxed, fun, and rewarding gift-buying experience. If you join us in shifting those dollars to locally owned, independent businesses, we'll all generate 2-3 times as much economic activity in our community than if we had spent our money at a national chain. __________________________________________________________
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VT Health Reform and Your Business
Agency of Administration Listening SessionsLearn about and input into various financing options for health care reform. It is important that you participate ! Nov. 29, Marlboro College Tech Center, 28 Vernon St, Brattleboro. 7:00-9:00 pm. Dec.13, Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St, 6:00-8:00 pm. Dec.14, Depart. of Health Access, 312 Hurricane Lane, Williston, 6:00-8:00 pm. Health Exchange Workshop at VBSR Fall Conference It may not have been the most fun workshop at the conference, but the session on Health Insurance Exchanges was certainly engaging. The audience of two-dozen southern Vermont business leaders had a host of questions for Mark Larson, the former chairman of the House Health Care Committee who is now the commissioner of the Office of Vermont Health Access. Bram Kleppner, the CEO of Danforth Pewter, was also on the panel (continued here). _______________________________________________________________ |
VBSR Member News
The VBSR 20+ Club
At the fall conference VBSR recognized 13 businesses who have been VBSR members for over 20 years! Their consistent support of VBSR has enabled us to expand and improve the quality of services we provide to our member businesses. Special appreciation to the following businesses:
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Vermont
Conant Metal & Light, Inc.
Maclay Architects
Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery
United Way of Chittenden County
Gardener's Supply
Beacon Manufacturing Company
Danforth Pewter
Catalyst Group Inc.
Solar Works, Inc. (now Alteris Renewables)
Merritt & Merritt & Moulton, Attorneys at Law
Burlington Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO)
Seventh Generation
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