VNRC's Summer Celebration: An Energizing Event

July 2007

VNRC’s annual meeting and summer celebration in late July was a smashing success — pure Vermont summer at its finest. The late-day sun shone on the deep Green Mountains, the Mad River rippled nearby, and smiling faces abounded.

There were many great elements to the evening that combined to make our 44th annual meeting at the Inn at Lareau Farm so successful. There were fresh, local greens and fresh-from-the-outdoor-oven American Flatbread, as well as inspiring commentary from conservation leader Peter Forbes, the director of the Center for Whole Communities, and renowned author Bill McKibben. The festivities culminated on the dance floor with people boogying down to the zydeco grooves of local talent ‘The Goat Broke Loose.’

Many of the more than 150 people who gathered at the Lareau Farm also walked away with fabulous items from VNRC’s silent auction. Lucky winners will enjoy, among other things, stays at local inns, ski passes to some of Vermont’s best ski areas, stunning art and photography, and a framed, Vermont-specific Doonesbury comic strip.

For VNRC staff and Board, it was reinvigorating to reconnect to our members and supporters who share our vision for Vermont. There was clearly a common thread uniting those at the event; a shared reverence, respect and commitment to protecting the environmental, economic and community qualities that define life in the Green Mountain State. Staff, board, members and keynote speakers all spoke about the need for VNRC and others to continue efforts that ensure the state develops and sustains a vibrant, healthy, beautiful Vermont.

There were lots of inspiring comments that evening that offer a glimpse into the uplifting and energizing mood of the evening. Among them were the words of VNRC’s long-time friend Bill McKibben:

“We need a movement that is as morally serious, as urgent, passionate, as willing to sacrifice as the civil rights movement was a generation ago,” McKibben said. “If we can build that kind of movement quickly, then we have some chance of dealing with these serious and in some ways overwhelming problems. … For that to happen here, we need VNRC in the vanguard doing that work.”

Buoyed by a successful event attended by many of the people who make our work possible, VNRC is ever more committed to building that movement. The work VNRC began nearly 45 years ago to protect Vermont’s natural resources and environment continues strong. To our friends and supporters — old and new — our annual meeting was an important opportunity to share with you, hear from you, and celebrate with you our shared commitment to this mission. We look forward to many more opportunities to celebrate the work we all do together to safeguard and strengthen the Vermont we love.

For those of you unable to join us on July 29, click here to check out some photographs from that beautiful summer evening in the Mad River Valley.

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