VBSR
August 2012
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility
 
Vermont Businesses...Vermont Values. 
In This Issue:
Newest Members
Business Energy Action Challenge
Fall Conference Announced
Hire a Fall Intern!
Call for Nominations
Public Policy Updates
Local First VT
Upcoming Events
E-News Sponsor*

Marlboro College

Offering VBSR Members a 25% Discount on Tuition for their highly regarded Certificate in Nonprofit Management program
 
Classes in Burlington and White River Junction. 
August 27 Financial Aid Deadline.  More information about the program here.  More information about the discount and financial aid here.
 
*Interested in sponsoring VBSR's E-News?  Contact  Scott Buckingham. 
Warm Welcome to VBSR's Newest Members!

__________________

 


An online business-to-business marketplace using trade dollars valued the same as cash!

 

To Activate Your Marketplace Account and start buying & selling with VBSR members,
__________________
VBSR Bookshelf
 

 Global Weirdness: Severe Storms, Deadly Heat waves, Relentless Drought, Rising Seas and the Weather of the Future

by Climate Central Inc.
  VBSR Bookshelf
brought to you by:

Northshire Bookstore 

__________________
Thank you to our VBSR Champion Members for their ongoing support!

 

    Ben and Jerry's
Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew
Gardener's Supply
Green Mountain Coffee
Green Mountain Power
Main Street Landing Logo
NRG Systems
Seventh Generation

Villanti and Sons Printers

__________________
Andrea 2012 Mug   
Reflection and Action

August 28 is the one-year Anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene and it is truly inspiring to see how our communities and businesses have pulled together to support each other over the past year.  August 28 is also Vermont's primary election. In my mind these events have become related. Events like Irene will become more likely as global climate change accelerates and it will not be remedied without bold and decisive political leadership. So, at this time of year lets pause to reflect, make sure to get out to vote, and most certainly enjoy the remainder of this wonderful season.

VBSR has a great line-up of new programs and events planned for this fall. The Fall conference is scheduled for Nov. 14th at Mt. Snow and it would be great if everyone could come out and support the local community in Wilmington that was hit so very hard by Irene. We hope you will engage with the VBSR community at the fall conference and many other times during the remainder of 2012.

Sincerely, Andrea Cohen
VBSR Executive Director  
____________________________________________________ 
 
VBSR to Launch a Business Energy Action Challenge!

Energy efficiency continues to be the best environmental and economical response to ensuring a sustainable energy future. In September, with assistance from Senators Leahy and Sanders, we will begin enlisting Vermont businesses who want to re-commit to energy efficiency. Over a three year period we will work with participants to track electricity and heating fuel usage, obtain technical assistance, and publicly recognize accomplishments through a variety of events and public relations.  VBSR and our project partners, Vermont Energy Investment Corp, and Burlington Electric hope you will join us--stay tuned for more information! 

 

BEA Logo
__________________________________________________   
Fall 2011 Conference
Call for Proposals & Save the Date: VBSR's 20th Annual Fall Conference! 
 
When: Wednesday, November 14th
 
Where: Grand Summit Hotel, Mount Snow, West Dover VT

What: We are excited to announce this year's conference theme: Engagement: Moving the Socially Responsible Dial Forward.  Visit VBSR's Fall Conference Web Page for workshop/panel proposal guidelines, sponsorship details, and exhibitor information. Contact Scott Buckingham for more information! 

 

Plan a Workshop/Panel: Proposal Submissions Due September 10th

 

Sponsor the Conference:  Three levels of conference sponsorship available. Act by September 19th to maximize sponsorship visibility!

 

________________________________________
Hire A Fall Intern!   

If you have ever wondered about hiring an intern, now is the time to learn more! Join over 100 other Vermont businesses in hiring paid interns to assist for a semester or a project and have the opportunity to work with talented you students. 
AllEarth Interns with Tracker AllEarth Renewables hired their first two interns ever this summer and it has been a success for them. Joyce Dicianna, Human Resources Director for AllEarth Renewables says  "A VBSR intern is a true win-win. Our business gets an energetic, fresh perspective to help us grow and our interns leave with a valuable experience for their future careers." Read more here.
 

VT Intern Only    

_________________________________________ 

Call for Nominations to VBSR Board of Directors

T
o cast your nominations please fill out the web form here. Nominations must be received by VBSR no later than Thursday, September 29th. Please contact  Becky Cohen  if you have any questions about the nomination process. Thank you for your nominations! 
__________________________________________________   
Annual VBSR Public Policy Survey and Health Care

It's that time of the year again....VBSR sent out its annual policy survey earlier this week, asking members to respond to questions concerning our organization's policies on everything from health care to genetically engineered food. 

 

If you have a moment, please fill out the survey here. It takes about 15 minutes to answer all of the questions and your responses will be essential to helping VBSR advocate for our policies and programs at the Statehouse during the 2013 session.

 

Last month, we told you about VBSR going to the American Sustainable Business Council's (ASBC) recent conference on building a more sustainable economy. Now, we have more exciting news that strengthens VBSR's ties to ASBC and national health car reform discussions. Our Public Policy Manager, Dan Barlow, has been invited to serve as the co-chair of the organization's Health Care Working Group! Read more here.

 
__________________________________________________  
Local First VTBuy Local Book Updates!

2011-2012 Buy Local Book Coupons will expire at the end of the month. Get out and support your local businesses by using the rest of your coupons. Don't forget that once the coupons are gone, the Buy Local Book can serve as a valuable resource to learn more about the benefits of shopping locally.

The 2012-2013 Edition of the Buy Local Book
will be available for sale as a fund raiser for schools beginning in September and features even more great local businesses than last year ! You can expect to see copies for sale at local retailers in October! Get excited...it's going to be great! 
_________________________________________
Events Calendar Upcoming VBSR Events                  

5:30-6:45 PM; Marlboro College Graduate Center, Brattleboro.
A representative of the Shumlin Administration will update participants on Health Care Reform and the Health Insurance Exchanges. More information is available here.

Forum 4:00- 5:30 PM; Reception 5:30-7:00 PM; Film House at Main Street Landing, Burlington.
VBSR kicks off its series of 2012 Policy Forums with a big bash at the Film House at Main Street Landing in Burlington. Join VBSR members and friends for an informative and interactive policy forum featuring candidates for statewide office in Vermont. More information here.

4:30-6:00 PM; Hayes Room- Kellogg Hubbard Library, Montpelier.
Climate Change Adaption and Infrastructure presented by Louis Porter, Conservation Law Foundation. Please join us in conversation about what we need to understand about how climate change will affect us as business people and community members. Learn more here.

5:30-7:30 PM; VEIC Offices at the Vermont Innovation Center, Burlington.
Come hear about VEIC's energy efficiency, renewable energy and transportation efficiency initiatives and tour their new facilities at our monthly networking get together. Learn more here.

Contact Scott Buckingham, VBSR Membership and Communications Manager, if you are interested in hosting a VBSR Get-Together in 2013. 
_____________________________________________________
VBSR Mission
Our mission is to foster a business ethic in Vermont that recognizes the opportunity and responsibility of the business community to set a high standard for protecting the natural, human, and economic environments of our citizens. We are committed to a multiple bottom line approach to business that values people, planet and profit.
 
Find us on Facebook Follow us on TwitterContact Us

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility
60 Lake Street, Suite 3G
Burlington, Vermont 05401
802/862-8347