Register for the Environmental Action Conference

I am looking forward to this year’s Environmental Action Conference this Saturday, October 29 at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph. If you aren’t planning on attending already, join me and many others and get in on the fun!

Register now

to join VNRC, our partner organizations, and over 250 activists ready to learn and take strategic action on Vermont’s most pressing environmental issues. The full-day conference is chock-full of skill and knowledge-based workshops, networking opportunities and inspiring speakers including Gov. Shumlin who will present awards for citizen leadership, too!

Don’t miss over 25 workshops including:

Effective Citizen Lobbying, Inside and Outside the State House

Have you or your organization ever wanted to change the laws of Vermont? Experienced lobbyists will share stories about what lobbying techniques work and which may be counterproductive. The panelists will draw on their extensive experience to outline how citizens can lobby lawmakers face to face, under the Golden Dome, and also how they can advance proposals through channels outside the State House. Also on the panel will be a lawmaker who will offer his personal advice for citizen lobbyists.

Revitalizing Vermont's Rural Economy

Vermont’s working landscape provides innumerable environmental services in addition to its role as a foundation for the development of the green economy. This panel will share perspectives on the next stage of the working landscape economy, discuss challenges and opportunities in the sector, and invite participation in the campaign of the Vermont Working Landscape Partnership to build a new generation of entrepreneurship as a foundation for the future of the state.

Measuring what Matters – Well-Being Measures and Social Policy in Practice

Explore how alternative measures of well-being can help guide policy toward sustainable futures that really increase genuine progress. We will show how the GPI (Genuine Progress Indicator) and GNH (Gross National Happiness Surveys) are being used to evaluate progress and policy development in Vermont and other states and countries.

Registration closes Thursday afternoon, so make sure you reserve your spot now. More workshop and agenda information available on the website. Make sure to check out the video from last year to get a taste of the conference (I created it!)

Thanks for all that you do,

Nina Otter and the VNRC Team

PS – Thanks to everyone who came out for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival last Thursday. From the impressive silent auction to the tasty food and drinks to the films that capture vignettes of the environmental success stories and reflection on our beautiful planet, the event was a huge success. Thank you especially to all our new members, welcome to VNRC!