Annual Report July 2014–June 2015
2012
VITAL COMMUNITIES
AT THE HEART OF A VIBRANT UPPER VALLEY Staff
Board of Directors
Back Row (left to right)
FY15
Nancy LaRowe, Valley Food & Farm Beth Roy, Valley Food & Farm Tom Roberts, Executive Director Becka Warren, Valley Food & Farm Stephanie Carter, Database Ron Hiser, Finance Emily Gardner, Events, Corporate Relations, Local First Alliance Lauren Whittlesey, Valley Quest, Volunteers
Ellen Arnold, Plainfield, NH Clifton Below, Lebanon, NH Gail Dahlstrom, Etna, NH Karen Liot Hill, Lebanon, NH Jenny Levy, Norwich, VT Barry McCabe, West Hartford, VT George Newcomb, Norwich, VT Janet Taylor, Fairlee, VT Dan Weinstein, Grantham, NH Stan Williams, Norwich, VT
Front Row (left to right)
Carole Petrillo, Bookkeeping, HR Sarah Simonds, Energy Allison Rogers Furbish, Communications, Energy Stacey Glazer, Leadership Upper Valley, Web Media Bethany Fleishman, Transportation Aaron Brown, Transportation
NEW IN FY16
Interns and Fellows Emma Bergeron, Tristan McCutcheon, Nicolle Moore, Alanna Ojibway, Anna Ramsey, Kristi Wilkinson, Star Yesman
Board Fellows from Tuck School of Business
Bill Geraghty, Hanover, NH Jenn Hayslett, S. Royalton, VT Sally Kraft, Hanover, NH Ronald Shaiko, Hanover, NH Cindi Taylor, Meriden, NH Peter Thurber, Canaan, NH Sarah Boole, Mike Cacchio (FY15) Ryan Amico, J. Sebastian Restrepo (FY16)
Annual Report
Dear Friends, You have accomplished great things for the Upper Valley this year through your support of Vital Communities. Because of your generosity, in the last fiscal year (July 1, 2014–June 30, 2015) we worked with residents, municipalities, and organizations across the Upper Valley to: • Help another 180 households in 10 towns go solar through our Solarize Upper Valley initiative – for a total of over 300 new solar installations, 1.7 megawatts of renewable energy, and $6.6 million in economic activity; • Support local farm-to-school programs in bringing local foods and agriculture into classrooms and cafeterias at 43 schools serving more than 9,000 students; • Align four Valley Quest curricula to Common Core standards to make it easier for teachers and students to engage in adaptable, hands-on learning; • Honor 10 Upper Valley Visionaries who have helped make the Upper Valley vibrant; • Create new workshops and resources to help commuters reduce their reliance on driving alone; • Increase Local First Alliance membership to almost 90 businesses, helping build a strong local economy that sustains the region we love; • Close our fiscal year in the black; • And so much more. Our last fiscal year was a time of leadership transition for Vital Communities, as both of us stepped into our new roles in the organization. Throughout the transition, our staff and programs continued to catalyze significant positive change in the Upper Valley. We all look forward to accomplishing more important work in the region for years to come. Our Annual Report celebrates the highlights of Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15), including the many donors, volunteers, and community members who make this work possible. On behalf of the entire staff and board of directors, thank you for your continued commitment to building Vital Communities.
Tom Roberts Executive Director
Bill Geraghty Chair, Board of Directors
Clay Hill Farm. Credit: Stephen Furbish Cover: Farm workers, apprentices, and interns toured nine Upper Valley farms, including Four Corners Farm (pictured), during the fourth season of our Upper Valley Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT).
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orking
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ogether for
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Nearly 1,000 attendees connected with local farms and food at Flavors of the Valley, our annual tasting expo for locally grown and produced foods.
Enjoy Valley Farm Fresh
p mond
hoto
Taste the Valley. Visit a farm. See where your food comes from. Enjoy. Repeat. Eat Valley Farm Fresh.
Drum
Valley Food & Farm interviewed and surveyed more than 600 consumers, farmers, independent grocers, and restaurant owners to complete a local foods market assessment. We spent the spring preparing for the launch of Valley Farm Fresh, our new campaign to help local consumers connect with local foods. We also continued to coordinate relationships between employers and farmers who deliver community supported agriculture (CSA) shares right to the workplace—helping people with limited shopping time connect with local farms.
Molly
CONNECTING CONSUMERS WITH LOCAL FOOD
Local farms, markets, recipes & more—valleyfarmfresh.org
Annual Report FLAVORS OF THE VALLEY Our 14th annual local food tasting expo in April was a delicious experience for 900 attendees and provided a fun and successful marketing opportunity for 48 local farms, food businesses, and related organizations. It’s great to welcome new vendors every year along with our region’s long-established farm and food businesses, which still are making great connections to customers and retailers at Flavors.
“Last summer my favorite day of the week was Thursday—the day that Edgewater Farm delivered my CSA share to my work! Having a CSA share gave me the opportunity to try produce that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise. Thank you Edgewater Farm!” —Miranda Fullerton, Dartmouth Printing Company
John Gaeddert from Root 5 Farm and Valley Food & Farm Manager Becka Warren enjoyed the White River Junction VA Medical Center workplace market. Credit: Kaitlin Haskins
2015
UPPER VALLEY FARM TO SCHOOL The Upper Valley Farm to School Network (UVFTS) formally merged with Vital Communities on July 1, 2014, expanding the network’s capacity to build an active culture of school wellness for grades K-8 in the Upper Valley. Through UVFTS we offered mini-grants to seven schools in New Hampshire and 11 schools in Vermont to complete farm-to-school projects. We also worked with Vermont Harvest of the Month to develop monthly Harvest Lessons and train more than 50 educators on their use. In total we worked with 43 Upper Valley schools serving more than 9,000 students.
8TH ANNUAL UPPER VALLEY ENERGY COMMITTEE ROUNDTABLE SEES LARGEST CROWD EVER
98
ATTENDEES
REPRESENTING ENERGY GROUPS
3
37
REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS
AND
20
ENERGY BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS PLUS Woodstock students tossed pizza at the 2015 Trek to Taste in June, using a mini-grant from our Upper Valley Farm to School Network to showcase their skills.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS
OUR VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES (FY15) ADVISORY COUNCIL: Lisa Cashdan, Norwich, VT • Jon Chaffee, West Lebanon, NH • Steve Christy, Lebanon, NH • Delia Clark, Taftsville, VT • Glenn English, North Haverhill, NH • Charlotte Faulkner, Hanover, NH • Sharon Francis, Charlestown, NH • Byron Hathorn, White River Junction, VT • Rick Hausman, South Ryegate, VT • Harvey Hill, Charlestown, NH • Sandra Hoeh, Hanover, NH • Henry Homeyer, Cornish Flat, NH • Biddy Irwin, Newport, NH • Barb Jones, Grantham, NH • Peggy Kannenstine, Woodstock, VT • Carola Lea, Lyme, NH • Dick Lewin, Hanover, NH • Jane Kitchel McLaughlin, Lyme, NH
Annual Report
Volunteers in Cavendish were among those leading Solarize campaigns in nine Upper Valley towns during the summer and fall of 2015.
SOLARIZE UPPER VALLEY CONTINUES
TAKING STATEWIDE ENERGY LEADERSHIP
Solarize Upper Valley launched campaigns in 19 communities with five local installers and helped hundreds of residents go solar during FY15. Through Solarize Round Two, which ran in 10 towns from October 2014 through January 2015, 177 homeowners signed contracts to go solar. Solarize Round Three launched in nine towns in June 2015 and continued into the fall.
Energy Program Manager Sarah Simonds was appointed co-chair of the New Hampshire Local Energy Solutions Work Group in January 2015. Under Sarah’s leadership, the group launched a Strategic Energy Action Toolkit for town energy committees, an important new resource to help committees prioritize town energy projects and connect with resources across our region and beyond.
“Solarize is one of the best-organized efforts I have seen here in the Upper Valley.” —Solarize Hanover volunteer
Charlotte Metcalf, Norwich, VT • Lizann Peyton, Norwich, VT • Bill Ploog, Lyme, NH • Betty Porter, Norwich, VT • Sylvia Provost, White River Junction, VT • Allie Quinn, Hanover, NH • Barry Schuster, Lebanon, NH • Bruce Schwaegler, Orford, NH • Anne Silberfarb, Norwich, VT • Rebecca Smith, Concord, NH • Stuart Smith, Lyme, NH • Vicki Smith, Lyme, NH • Peter Stein, Norwich, VT • Steve Taylor, Meriden, NH • Fred Thomas, Thetford Center, VT • Peter Welch, Norwich, VT • Diana Wright, Thetford Center, VT
2015 GROWING & PROMOTING LOCAL FIRST Local First Alliance membership continued to grow—up 6% in FY15 to 87 Upper Valley businesses. Local First is more visible than ever thanks to a successful media campaign in FY15 featuring public service announcements (PSAs) created by students through our first Upper Valley High School Communications Competition in June 2014 with the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center. The winners of our second annual competition in June 2015 were Becky Kelecy of Hartford (print PSA), Damien Murray of Lebanon (TV PSA), and Tess Johnson of Hartford (radio PSA).
VitalCommunities.org The winningThank print PSAyou submission by sponsors Becky Kelecy of Hartford. to our
CORPORATE COUNCIL: Jim Varnum (Chair) • Susan E. Mooney, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital • Terry Appleby, Co-op Food Stores • Rick Mills, Dartmouth College • Dan Jantzen, Dartmouth-Hitchcock • Paul Bozuwa, Dartmouth Printing Company - Sheridan • Peter Van Oot, DRM Downs Rachlin Martin • Evan Smith, Hypertherm • Becky Smith, Kendal at Hanover • Karen Colberg, King Arthur Flour • David Kim, Kleen Envoy Service, LLC • Steve Ensign, Lake Sunapee Bank • Kathy Underwood, Ledyard National Bank • Need a local business? Find all of our members in our online directory! David Clem, Lyme Properties • Steve Christy, Mascoma Savings Bank • Kevin Donovan, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center • John Kuhns, Newspapers of New England • Ken Holmes, North Branch Construction • Jeff Goodrich, Pathways Consulting • Stephen Lawe, RSG • Clay Adams, Simon Pearce • Tim Briglin, Tuckerman Capital • Tom Roberts, Vital Communities Scan this QR code or go online to VitalCommunities.org/LocalFirst
Annual Report SUPER QUEST: GENERAL STORES The 2015 Super Quest guided participants to 12 quintessential New England general stores. These hubs of our communities are bustling centers of commerce as well as a small town tradition. Teams traveled throughout the Upper Valley, enjoying the Maxfield Parrish blue skies at Anne’s Country Store in Plainfield, checking out the model train display at the Brownsville General Store, visiting the oldest continually operated general store in the United States in Bath, and many more! Each site contained a clue to a secret word, revealed only after all sites had been visited. We encouraged teams to make an outing of their visit, suggesting additional Quests and other activities nearby.
Su
per Quest 2015
GENERAL STORES
Bob Sherman of Local First Alliance member Great Eastern Radio worked with TV PSA winner Damien Murray of Lebanon (pictured) and radio PSA winner Tess Johnson of Hartford to record audio for their PSAs.
Barnard General Store
UPPER VALLEY TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION STEERING COMMITTEE: Ben Swanson, Resource Systems Group (Chair) • Van Chesnut, Advance Transit • David Brooks, City of Lebanon • Pam Joslin, Community Alliance of Transportation Services • Joanna Whitcomb, Dartmouth College • Daniel Dahmen, Dartmouth-Hitchcock • Shawn M. Donovan • Stacey Chiocchio, Hypertherm • Matt Coogan, New England Transportation Institute • Patricia Higgins, NH House of Representatives • Wanda Hastings, SAU #88 - Lebanon School District • Jason Rasmussen, Southern Windsor Regional Planning Commission • Laura Perez, Stagecoach • Rebecca Gagnon, The Current • Scott Osgood, Town of Enfield • Carolyn Radisch, Town of Hanover • Matt Osborn, Town of Hartford • Daniel Brand, Town of Lyme • Phil Dechert, Town of Norwich • Nancy Mogielnicki, Town of Plainfield • Rita Seto, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission • Nate Miller, Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission • Aaron Brown, Vital Communities
2015 QUESTING INTO CLASSROOMS Our newly revised Valley Quest curricula launched in early 2015. The curricula are aligned with Common Core standards and give teachers all the tools they need to write Quests with their students. We have themed units on the Civil War, Colonial New England, and Watersheds, as well as an adaptable curriculum, all available for free to local teachers. Questing provides opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and critical thinking, as students make observations, ask questions, gather information, construct new knowledge, share their work, and reflect.
Retired Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital (DartmouthHitchcock) President Jim Varnum was honored at the 2015 Heroes & Leaders Celebration. Credit: Molly Drummond
“Being connected with other local leaders inspired and motivated me to take more chances and get more involved than I ever thought I was capable of.” —LUV Graduate, Class of 2015
HEROES & LEADERS: HONORING VALLEY VISIONARIES This year’s Heroes & Leaders Celebration honored 10 residents whose long-term visions have helped make the Upper Valley a vibrant community: • Barbara Ragle Barnes, Founder, Upper Valley Educators Institute • Matt Bucy, Developer, White River Junction • Dick Cyr, Founder, David’s House • Van Chesnut, Executive Director, Advance Transit • Dick Couch, Co-Founder, Hypertherm • Robert Dean, Founder or Co-Founder of 11 Upper Valley companies • David Goudy, Former Executive Director, Montshire Museum • Jake and Liz Guest, Owners, Killdeer Farm • Carol Langstaff, Founder, Revels and FLOCK Dance Troupe • Jim Varnum, Retired President, Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital (D-H) Tying it all together for the sold-out crowd of 185 people was keynote speaker Len Cadwallader, former Executive Director at Vital Communities. Heroes & Leaders serves as an important fundraiser supporting Leadership Upper Valley.
LOCAL FIRST ALLIANCE STEERING COMMITTEE: Dean Cashman, Lake Sunapee Bank (Chair) • Mundy Wilson Piper, Chippers, Inc. • Terry Appleby and Allan Reetz, Co-op Food Stores • Nichole Romano, Great Eastern Radio • Terry Martin, Mascoma Savings Bank • Jake Blum, Systems Plus Computers • Hal De Bona, WNNE - TV • Emily Gardner, Vital Communities COMMUNITY DISCUSSION LISTS ADVISORY BOARD AND ADMINISTRATORS: Watt Alexander • Heather Alger • Liane Allen • Anne Baird • Mitze Bender • John Benjamin • Mary Berlejung • Stuart Blood • David S. Brown • Skip Brown • Stephen T. Campbell • Jordan Dill • John Erickson • Carolyn Frye • Jen Grant
Annual Report
The Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2015 removed 59,740 pounds of railroad ties from the Mascoma River Greenway as their LUV service project.
LEADERSHIP UPPER VALLEY SERVES Every year, Leadership Upper Valley participants make an impact on the region through one or more service projects they work as a class to organize and complete. Last spring, the Class of 2015 worked with the Upper Valley Trails Alliance to remove invasive plants and 59,740 pounds of railroad ties from the Mascoma River Greenway.
The project will extend the Northern Rail Trail from its current end in downtown Lebanon into West Lebanon, creating a dedicated transportation corridor for bikes and pedestrians. The 21 members of the Class of 2015 graduated in June, representing the ninth year of the 10-month Leadership Upper Valley program.
Reggie Hazel • Niko Horster • E.D.M. Landman • David Lavie • Dan Leavitts • Joanne Lendaro • Patricia McGovern • Bob Merrill • John Morris • Kevin O’Hara • Bob Raiselis • Robert Rinaldi • Chuck Sherman • Erin Sterner • Tig Tillinghast • Victoria Traudt • Stan Williams • Sally Wilson • Teo Zagar • Stacey Glazer, Nancy LaRowe, and Sarah Simonds, Vital Communities VALLEY FOOD & FARM ADVISORY GROUP: Chuck Wooster, Sunrise Farm (Chair) • Kate Duesterberg, Cedar Circle Farm • Dot Benham, Co-op Food Stores • Janet Taylor, Crossroad Farm • Sally Wilson, Hanover Area Farmers’ Market • Carola Lea • Amy Richardson, Richardson Family Farm • Jim McCracken, Willing Hands • Nancy LaRowe, Beth Roy, and Becka Warren, Vital Communities
2015 SMART COMMUTE EXPANDS
THE BIKES WIN THE RACE
The number of participating Smart Commute organizations increased to 45 this year as we expanded the program to include more towns, schools, and workplaces throughout the Upper Valley. In addition to consulting with workplaces on programs to lower the costs of commuting, we focused in FY15 on getting students and residents involved in transportation. We helped Smart Commute members organize school walking and biking events, formulate a company telecommuting policy, host an evening gathering to discuss future vanpools, and more.
In late 2014 our Transportation Program held an event to answer a simple question: Is it fastest to get from Norwich to Hanover during rush hour by taking the bus, riding a bike, or driving alone and finding parking? Two cyclists, two drivers, and a handful of Advance Transit riders gathered in front of Dan and Whit’s on a chilly late October morning to find out. The results? Our cyclists zipped ahead to victory. How much time could you save by biking between Norwich and Hanover? Our experiment suggests at least 15 minutes each way—nearly three hours per week!
The first Bike/Walk to School Day at Hartford Memorial Middle School drew 150 student participants.
NEW BIKE EVENTS We launched new hands-on events to get Upper Valley residents on two wheels, such as Bike-toSchool Days and Everyday Bicycling Workshops for adults. Our first-ever Bike/Walk Day with the Hartford Memorial Middle School was a great
success, as 150 students joined us on a sunny May morning to get to school in an active way. We now also offer classroom-based and on-road biking workshops to teach you the rules of the road and the skills needed to navigate it safely.
ENERGY ADVISORY COUNCIL: Len Cadwallader (Chair) • Bill Bittinger, Bittinger Associates, LLC • Marianne Barton, Catalyst Financial • Gail Dahlstrom, Dartmouth-Hitchcock • David Gaudet and Jenny Levy, Hypertherm • Leigh Cameron and Julia Dundorf, New England Grassroots Environment Fund • Kevin Peterson, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation • Kate Epsen, New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association • Clifton Below, One Court Street Associates • Bob Walker, Sustainable Energy Resource Group • Kevin Geiger, Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission • Michael McCrory, Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission • Sarah Simonds, Vital Communities
Annual Report
A NEW LEADER
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
In October 2014, former Executive Director Mary Margaret Sloan moved on from Vital Communities. After four months under the interim leadership of Hilde Ojibway, we welcomed Tom Roberts in February as our new Executive Director. Tom has over a decade of successful leadership experience in Upper Valley nonprofits, and years more working in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors on issues of justice, housing, children, and healthcare. His skills as a fundraiser, facilitator, leader, and community voice are already serving Vital Communities well.
Vital Communities honored Nancy Mogielnicki, formerly of Plainfield, NH, as our 2014 Volunteer of the Year. As a key volunteer for the Solarize Cornish-Plainfield initiative, Nancy helped more than 20 homeowners go solar in her community. For years she also represented Plainfield as an active member of our Upper Valley Transportation Management Association Steering Committee, and she is an enthusiastic supporter of many Vital Communities projects.
“There is something for everyone among Vital Communities’ offerings, and they make it really easy to be an effective volunteer.” —Nancy Mogielnicki, Volunteer of the Year 2014
Volunteer of the Year Nancy Mogielnicki, left, was honored at our annual Open House with an award and gift presented by Transportation Program Manager Aaron Brown and Valley Quest/Volunteer Manager Lauren Whittlesey. Credit: Molly Drummond
LEADERSHIP UPPER VALLEY BOARD OF GOVERNORS: James Britton, River Valley Community College (Chair) • Bill Geraghty, Geraghty HR Consulting • Stacey Chiocchio and Alex Jaccaci, Hypertherm • Jason Achmoody, Ledyard National Bank • Joan Collison, RiverRun Medical Office • Jon Liland, Sheehan, Phinney, Bass + Green PA • Peter Blodgett, Thetford Libraries • Betsy McClain, Town of Hanover • Randy Heller, UVRide • Stacey Glazer and Tom Roberts, Vital Communities
2015
E
D SUPPO E AN RT U (F Y N E V 1 18%
36%
In Fiscal Year 2015, our revenue exceeded expenses by $6,299. This favorable bottom line was made up of a $9,351 decrease in unrestricted funds during the year and a $15,650 increase in donor-restricted funds to be used in Fiscal Year 2016 or beyond. We also successfully merged the Upper Valley Farm to School Network into the Valley Food & Farm program as of July 1, 2014.
BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS & DUES
FOUNDATION GRANTS
$
1%
IN-KIND DONATIONS
871,653 TOTAL
1%
OTHER INCOME
6%
PROGRAM INCOME
27%
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
10% Our Finance Committee, which GOVERNMENT GRANTS & CONTRIBUTIONS meets regularly, is committed to a strong, healthy organization. A rigorous review of our financial practices is performed annually by an independent certified public accounting firm.
The fieldwork for the Fiscal Year 2015 review of our financial statements was completed by Tyler, Simms and St. Sauveur of Lebanon, NH The review was positive in all material respects and accepted by the Board of Directors on September 25, 2015. To request a copy of our complete financial review, please contact Ron Hiser: Ron@VitalCommunities.org or 802.291.9100 x104.
5)
We are pleased to report that Vital Communities ended the 2015 fiscal year in a strong financial position. We continued to have a healthy cash position and diversified revenue streams.
R
Letter from our Treasurer
1%
ENDOWMENT INCOME
ENSES (FY15 EXP ) 26%
VALLEY FOOD & FARM
14%
TRANSPORTATION
$
8%
FUNDRAISING
865,354 TOTAL
9%
ADMINISTRATION
12%
ENERGY
15%
OUTREACH
5%
VALLEY QUEST
George Newcomb Treasurer (FY15)
6%
1%
CORPORATE COUNCIL
LEADERSHIP UPPER VALLEY 4% LOCAL FIRST ALLIANCE
VALLEY QUEST ADVISORY GROUP: • Elizabeth Adams (Chair) • Lorna Holcombe, Grovetown Elementary School • Sharon Miller-Dombroski, Kendal at Hanover • Bill Hammond, Marion Cross Elementary School • Amy Vanderkooi, Montshire Museum of Science • Steve Glazer, Poetics of Place • Dan Weinstein, RSG • Russell Hirschler, Upper Valley Trails Alliance • Kristen Coats, UV HEAL Healthy Eating Active Living • Lauren Whittlesey, Vital Communities
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS OUR INDIVIDUAL DONORS (In-Kind Donations in Italics)
100,000+ Anonymous 1,000–99,999 Anonymous (2) Cynthia & Ray Barrette Andrea Reimann Ciardelli & Tom Ciardelli Kathleen Dolan Charlotte & Charles Faulkner Gail Holmes Sue Kirincich & Chuck Wooster Carola Lea Denise Lyons Jane Kitchel McLaughlin & Peter McLaughlin Charlotte Metcalf Nini & Rob Meyer Ron Miller Susan & Clayton Simmers Elizabeth & Robert Stragnell Marilyn & Skip Sturman Jenny & Stan Williams Joanne & Doug Wise 500–999 Anonymous (2) Sue & Don Foster Kathy & Bill Geraghty Christina & Harvey Hill Jennifer & Campbell Levy Lorie Loeb & Tom Roberts Ruth Mayer & Peter Blodgett Nancy & Peter Mogielnicki Amy & Joseph Morel Sara & Kenneth L. Norcross Kathy Petuck & Clifton Below Linda & Rick Roesch Jennifer & Mark Schiffman Sarah & Bruce Schwaegler Janet & Tim Taylor Cindy & Jim Varnum 100–499 Anonymous (6) Elizabeth & Clay Adams Lynn Adams & Simon Carr Brooke & Jim Adler Loretta & Todd Allen Susan Almy
Havah Armstrong Walther & Ryan Walther Ellen Arnold & George Moore Susan & John Arnold Tracy Bach & Brian Lombardo Rebecca Bailey & Jim Schley Kathy & Mark Blanchard Ruth & Peter Bleyler Marion & Putnam Blodgett Carol F. Boerner, M.D. & David H. Bowen Lynnette & Charles Bohi Sally J. Boyle Daniel Brand Susan & Peter Brink Trudi Brock Suzette Brooks Masters & Seth Masters Aaron Brown Matt P Bucy III Joan Burchenal Judith & Phil Bush Nancy & Harry Byrd Mary Ann & Len Cadwallader Carol Campbell & John McKenna K Carriere Lisa Cashdan & Peter Stein Stacey & Nick Chiocchio Kathy & Peter Christie Joan & Daniel Collison Anne L. Cook Suzanne Cronkite Tina & David Cullenberg Gail & Karl Dahlstrom Cindy & Rob Daley Jill Davies & Nigel Hollis Julie & Jay Davis Deecie & Jock Denison Closey Dickey Debbie Diegoli & Ingrid Anderson Mary & Robert Donin Stephen Ensign Samantha Estes Sean Fleming Linda & Stephens Fowler Denise & Gregory Froehlich Carolyn & Milt Frye Robert Fullem Dori & John Galton Elaine Geyer
Laura Gillespie Happy & Clark Griffiths Midge Guise Mary Ann Haagen & Charles DePuy Janet Miller Haines Marion M. Hampton Susan Hardy Emily & Richard Hausman Jenn & Thornton Hayslett Brooke Herndon & Eric Miller Debra & Bruce Hettleman Patricia Higgins & Scot Drysdale Karen Liot Hill & Andy Hill Linda & Ed Howes Nancy & Larry Huot Amelia Ihlo & Dan Weinstein Pam Jenkins & David Kotz Corlan Johnson & Richard Neugass Anne Kapuscinski & Wayne Barstad Ruth & Alan Keitt Rita & Greg Kennedy Sara & Ron Kobylenski Carol Langstaff & James K. Rooney Nancy LaRowe Rebecca Lovejoy & Kevin Peterson Jennifer MacMillen Jennifer Manwell & Charles Sullivan Pauline M. Marran Mary McBryde & George Newcomb Denise & Barry McCabe Stephanie & Philip McCaull Betsy McClain & Chris Kennedy Jim McCracken Dr. Martha McDaniel & Dr. Stephen Plume Marc McKee Carolyn & Peter Mertz Lyn & Donald Miller Valerie Miller & Ralph Fine Corb Moister, Jr. Margaret & William Montgomery Sheila Moran & David Millstone Allison Moskow Deborah J. Mozden Mary C. Mudge Giavanna Munafo & Jim Walsh Judy Music & John H. Vogel Nancy Nash-Cummings & Richard Cummings
The list has been prepared with care. However, if we’ve inadvertently omitted your name, please contact us.
2015 Nita & Robert Z. Norman Patricia & Tom Norton Hilde Ojibway & Bruce Duthu Rosamond Orford Dorothy & Theodore Osgood Mary K. & David W. Otto Barbara Palmer & Dennis Stern Jane M. Palmer Polly & Henry Parker Abbie & Don Penfield Lizann Peyton Liz & William Pierce Miranda Pizinger Jane & Steve Plumley Martina A. Quellmann Allie J. Quinn Susan Reid & Greg Nazarow Stephanie Reininger Denise & Len Reitsma Laura Rice & Michael Wagner Martha & Stephen Richardson Andy Robinson Paula Rossvall & Fritz Weiss Elisabeth Russell Betsy Rybeck Lynd & Lee Lynd Karen & John Sanders Jill & John Schiffman Nan & Joe Schwartzman Anne S. Segal Lynn Sheldon & Daniel Hudnut Anne & Peter Silberfarb Mary Margaret Sloan & Howard Krum Jean & Mike Smith Tom Smith Vicki Smith Jennifer Snyder Jane & John Stephenson Marjorie & Fred Thomas Mary Louise Thorndike Teresa D. Thurston Jessica Tidman & P. Thomas Scull Arifa Toor & John Trummel Robin & Steve Voigt Carol P. Weingeist Kenneth Wells Joan & Robert Williamson Sally & Tim Wilson Rebecca & Andrew Winter Jean & John Woodward-Poor Alice Worth & Peter Van Oot Penny & Peter Wright Susan & James Wright Winnifred Zappala
<100 Anonymous (11) Betty Ann & Bill Aldrich Jacqueline Allen Nancy & Blake Allison Peter Allison Phyllis Arata-Meyers & Robert Meyers Marcia Armstrong Jim Atkinson Ron Bailey Bronwen & Bob Ballou Nina & Roy Banwell Fran & Bill Baschnagel MK Beach & Terry Osborne Shoshana Belisle Betty & John Berlenbach Richard Bircher Willy Black Brandy Blackinton Bill Blaiklock Catherine & John Bourgon Katherine & Mark Bowen Susan & William Boyle Sargent Bradlee, Jr. Ann & Dave Bradley Erica Brinton James Britton Zachary Brock Aaron Brown Christine Brown Virginia Cadbury Nancy & Bill Carter Sarah Carter Stephanie K. Carter Janice & Robert Chapman Ann & David Cioffi Liz Ryan Cole & Chuck Cole Harold Coughlin Shawn D. Courtemanche Patricia Ayres Crawford Elizabeth Crory Robert Daubenspeck Sylvia Davatz Karin Davenport & Jonathan Schechtman Marilyse de Boissezon James Dean Jane & Jack DeGange Phyllis Deutsch Betsy & Larry Draper Paula Driscoll Molly Drummond Alice & Ron Eberhardt Susan & Brian Edwards
Cathleen & William Emmons Margaret Fanning & David Cate Nicholas A. Fiore Sue & John Foster Joanne Foulk & Denis Kelemen Pierre Fournier & Richard Waddell Lisa & John Freitag Karen Ganey Emily & Benjamin Gardner Sylvia & John Garfield Stacey & Steve Glazer Charles Goldensher Nadia & Greg Gorman Christine & Ben Gosselin Linda & Thomas Gray Julia Griffin & John Steidl Dana & Dan Grossman Victoria & Gregory Guenther Carole Haehnel Laurie Harding & Peter Mason Carol Harry & Steve Gagliardone Sheila Hastie & Andy Jones Jill & Bill Hatch Deb Hawthorn Brenda & Bob Haynes Beth Hindmarsh Annemarie Hoffmeister Henry Homeyer Megan Hopkins Shanon Hounshell Merideth Jackson & David Brooks Rita & Edwin Johnson Barbara Jones Phyllis & Arnold Katz Elizabeth & Peter Keene Punam & Kevin Keller Susan Kellogg & Mark Lansburgh Rainie & Larry Kelly Susan & Bob Kessler Joyce & Paul Killebrew Marie Kirn Laird Klingler Debra A. Kraemer & Robert Walker Suzanne Laaspere Kathleen Anne Labbe & Daniel Labbe David Leib Christine Lilyquist Therese Linehan Joanna & Norwood Long Louise M. & Daniel S. Longnecker Martha Esersky Lorden Vera & DeWitt Mallary Ann Marchewka Andrea Marquay
The list has been prepared with care. However, if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve inadvertently omitted your name, please contact us.
Annual Report Rhonda & Milton Weinstein Joanna Whitcomb & Bill Mlacak Tilda & Stuart White Peg Willey & John Benjamin Karen B. Williamson Sybil & Peter Williamson Sperry Wilson & Mark Govoni Dolores E. Wolfe Dori & Jeff Wolfe Jeanne & Arthur Young Sallie & Tom Yurkosky
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Laurie & Anibal Sepulveda Nancie & Mark Severs Peggy & Hub Seward Kathleen & John Shepherd Sarah Shipton & James Nourse Mary Shymkiv-Bakker Lisa & Jeffrey Silbert Helen Skeist Alcott Smith Nancy L. Smith Jill Snowberger Cameron & Gus Speth Robert Starkey Kate Stephenson Jon-Erik Storejordet Caroline & Peter Storrs Karen Summer Bonnie A. & E. Clinton Swift Betsy Sylvester Ray G. Theriault (Mrs.) Cynthia Thompson Jeremy Thompson Heather & Steve Toulmin Deb & Jay Van Arman Amy Vanderkooi Renee Vebell & Jeffrey Cohen Erin & James Ward
LE C IR
LEGA CY
Paula & John Maville Rita & Frank McCaffrey Judy & Robert McCarthy Audrey T. McCollum Phebe & Timothy McCosker James Duncan McCutchan Cathy & Scott McGee Pat McGovern Jayne McLaughlin Susan & Bruce McLaughry Erin McNeely & Kevin Schwartz Jennifer Megyesi Lelia Mellen & Bill Shepard Peg & Ed Merrens Sherry & Keith Merrick Ellen Miles Theresa & John Minelli Lianne Moccia & Allyn Field Robert J. Moran June Morgan Skip Morrison Elizabeth & Richard Morse Helene Nagy & David Coker Joanne Needham & Andy Johnson Yoni & Stephen Neirman Donna & Bruce Nelson Lora Nielsen Helen North Joanne & Richard Norton Margo Nutt Hilde Ojibway & Bruce Duthu Ardis Olson & Allen Dietrich Bineke & Abraham Oort Joanne & Donald Page Linda Patchett & Brian Walsh Barbara & Henry Payson Susan & Mark Pepe Carole & James Petrillo Carole & James Petrillo Connie Philleo & Claude Phipps Janet & Peter Pollock Rickey & Dan Poor Becky & Stephen Powell Heather W. Prebish Sarah & David Reeves Becky Rice & Donald Mesec Lise & John Richardson Allison Rogers Furbish & Shawn Furbish Virginia & Ellis Rolett Patricia & Daryl Royce Sue Schiller Carl Schmidt Richard Schramm
Do you want to ensure that Vital Communities will have the resources to continue our work into the future? You can do that through a bequest in your will or trust, by naming Vital Communities as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or life insurance policy, or through another planned gift. We are grateful to those who have already let us know they’ve made a planned gift: • Mary Ann and Len Cadwallader
• Anne and Peter Silberfarb
• Carola Lea
• Mary Margaret Sloan
• Betty Porter
• Jenny and Stan Williams
• Tom Roberts
If you’d like to join our Legacy Circle, please contact Executive Director Tom Roberts at 802.291.9100 x101 or Tom@VitalCommunities.org.
The list has been prepared with care. However, if we’ve inadvertently omitted your name, please contact us.
2015 OUR BUSINESS AND FOUNDATION SUPPORTERS (In-Kind Donations in Italics, * Indicates Multi-year Award) 50,000+ The High Meadows Fund, Vermont Community Foundation* The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation Jane’s Trust Foundation Robins Foundation USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program* Vermont Agency of Transportation* 20,000-49,999 Dartmouth-Hitchcock Mascoma Savings Bank New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Wellborn Ecology Fund New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food* Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Foods & Markets* 5,000–19,999 City of Lebanon Co-op Food Stores Co-op Food Stores Dartmouth College Dartmouth Printing Company - Sheridan Dartmouth Printing Company - Sheridan HOPE Foundation Hypertherm Hypertherm Jane B. Cook Charitable Trust Kettering Family Philanthropies King Arthur Flour Lake Sunapee Bank Mascoma Savings Bank Foundation New Hampshire Charitable Foundation New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Children’s Fund of the Upper Valley Telaka Foundation The Couch Family Foundation USDA Beginning Farmers Rural Development Program Vermont Community Foundation unnamed fund (2) Vermont Community Foundation’s Food and Farm Initiative 500–4,999 A.B. Gile, Inc. Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital The Benjamin Schore 1990 Trust The Benjamin Schore Charitable Fund Casella Waste Services Catamount Solar Chelsea Green Publishing Co.
Christina Heroy Foundation Claremont Savings Bank Claremont Savings Bank Foundation Creare, LLC David’s House DRM Downs Rachlin Martin Emily Landecker Foundation Engineering Ventures Farm Way Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Weinstein Family Fund The Greenspan Foundation Hamill Family Foundation Hartford Area Career and Technical Center Henderson’s Tree & Garden Services Jake’s Market & Deli and Jake’s Coffee Co. John Ring CPA Kendal at Hanover LaValley Building Supply, Inc. Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Ledyard National Bank Lyme School District SAU #76 Montshire Museum of Science Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center New England Grassroots Environment Fund New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Barrette Family Fund, Doug & Joanne Wise Family Fund, Bruce M. and Sarah T. Schwaegler Fund, Griffiths Wennrich Family Fund Nomad Communications Positive Tracks Revels North/FLOCK River Valley Community College RSG Salt hill Pub Schwab Charitable Fund - Morel Family Fund Simon Pearce Stettenheim Foundation Town of Enfield Town of Hanover Town of Hartford Town of Norwich UBS Donor Advised Fund McLaughlin-Kitchel Family Fund Upper Valley Educators Institute Vermont Community Foundation - Sturman Family Fund Village Green Publishing
West Central Behavioral Health Working InSync
<500 Allan’s Vending Service Allan’s Vending Service AVA Gallery and Art Center Bank of America Foundation Barefoot Gourmet Blue Sky Restaurant Group Bucy Family Fund Chase Brook Software Collective-The Art of Craft, Inc. Connecticut River Valley Yellow Pages Copeland Furniture Company Store Crazy Jane’s Elixir, LLC Creative Lighting & Decor Creative Lives Daniels Consulting Dartmouth Coach Dartmouth Regional Technology Center Eco Bella Salon and Vermont Organic Solutions Energy Emporium Enfield Shaker Museum Evergreen Recycling Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund - James C. McCracken Charitable Fund, Miller/Fine Gift Fund, Todd and Loretta Allen Charitable Fund First Universalist Society of Hartland VT Got Weeds? Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce Green Mountain Flour Hanover Friends Meeting Haynes and Garthwaite Architects Hogwash Farm Hogwash Farm Jericho ValVu & Hill Farms Key Communications Killdeer Farm Kleen Envoy Service, LLC LISTEN Long River Studios Longacres’ Nursery Center Lufkin Graphic Designs Main Street Kitchens Mike’s Store and Deli New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Whit and Closey Dickey Fund New London Hospital North Branch Construction Norwich Bookstore
The list has been prepared with care. However, if we’ve inadvertently omitted your name, please contact us.
Annual Report Opera North Pathways Consulting Sheehan, Phinney, Bass + Green PA Silver Screen, LLC South Royalton Market Spring Ledge Farm Sunrise Farm CSA Sustainable Woodstock The Country Cobbler
The Village Butcher Three Tomatoes Trattoria Tuckerman Capital Tyler, Simms & St Sauveur UK Architects, P.C. Unicorn Upper Valley Music Center Upper Valley Ride
Vermont Community Foundation Cashdan/Stein Great Grandmother Fund, unnamed fund Von Bargen’s Jewelry West Lebanon Feed & Supply Women’s Network of the Upper Valley Woodstock Insurance, Inc. Woodstock Pharmacy Working Landscapes Design Group, LLC Yankee Bookshop, est 1935
THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING We’re grateful to those who have volunteered over the past several years. Joanie Alexander Hiram Allen Natalie & Jireh Billings Meredith Bird Miller Adam Blue Don Blunt David Briggs Kate Brown Susan Brown Kris & Stuart Brown-Close Len Cadwallader Leslie Carleton K Carriere Anita Carroll-Weldon David Cate Christina Chamberlain Steve Dayno Debbie Diegoli Dee & Michael Doheny Ruth & Paul Doiron Sarah Doolan Molly Drummond John Dumville Sophia Dwinell Joan Ecker Carol & Jonathan Edwards Lois & Edward Frazer Linda & Michael Fuerst Kathy Gill Emma Glazer Joan Goldstein Sara Goodman & David Hyerle Nancy Goodrich Katie Grauer Jacqueline Guillette JoNell Hamilton Kathy Harrington Lisa Harrington Katrina Hill
Deborah Hinman Jeremiah Holling Melanie Ingalls Andy Johnson Sarah Jonhson Linda & Tom Kahl Krista M. Katz John Lacrosse Kimmy Lavoie Ann Lawless Carola Lea Janet Levasseur Karen Liot Hill Cindy & Tom List Linda Machalaba Erin Madory Phil Major Christina Marts Jim McCracken Mike Mehegan Binky Miller Sharon Miller-Dombroski & Joe Dombroski Janet Miller Haines Janet Mondlak Candy Moore Sheila Moran & David Millstone Kristin Moskalenko-Locke Joanne Needham David Nelson Greg Norman Heidi Olean Jaye Olmstead Gayle Ottman Susan Phipps Janet & Peter Pollock Janet & Eric Peirce Fred Pond Hannah Putnam Lisa Record
Karen Rediker Barbara Rhoad Robert Sand Jim Schley Jennifer & Mark Schiffman Gregory Schwarz Nancy Serrell Don Seville Alicia Simino Susan & Clayton Simmers Mary Margaret Sloan Jason Smith Lindsay Smith Nancy & George Smith Meri Spicer Pat Stark Donna Steinberg Kelly Stettner Brian Stroffolino Ingrid Svensborn & Michael Cole Donna Sweaney Veronica Thurston Bette Tibbetts Robin Tindall Heather & Steve Toulmin Inge & Heinz Trebitz Naomi Wallner David Watts Loren White Sarah White Jane Willard Sally Wilson Andrew Wood Chris Wood Clayton Wood Sheryl Wood Sarah & Ken Woodhead David Yesman Martha Zoerheide Janet Zullo
The list has been prepared with care. However, if we’ve inadvertently omitted your name, please contact us.
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Our Programs
The HEART of a Vibrant Upper Valley
2 0 0 + Quests in
47 Different To w ns 87 Business Mem bers of the Local First Allia nce 4 5 Smart Com mute Workplace s, Schools & Town s 5 0 % of the Reg ion’s Employmen t Base Represente d by Our Corporate Coun cil
3 0 New Leader ship Upper Valley Graduates Every Year O v e r 35 Tow n Energ y Commit tees 3 0 0 + Listings in the Valley Food & F arm Guide 2 0 + Town Dis cussion Lists
Working together for Vital Communities in 69 towns in New Hampshire and Vermont Our Mission Vital Communities engages citizens, organizations, and communities in creating solutions to our region’s challenges. Valley Quest, community-
designed treasure hunts that teach individuals and groups about the places, people, and history that make our region unique. Local First Alliance, promoting local businesses. Valley Food & Farm, fostering relationships that make agriculture a vital part of daily community life. Leadership Upper Valley, inspiring, educating, and engaging leaders to better serve Upper Valley communities. Transportation Program,
promoting sustainable transportation for businesses, municipalities, and residents. Energy Program, moving our region toward energy independence. Corporate Council and Municipal Leaders Group,
fostering a robust and sustainable economic climate by regularly convening the region’s corporate and municipal leaders for discussion, partnership, and collaboration.