Civic Engagementhttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/en-US2012-02-10T12:25:41ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Irene a defining moment and opportunity for Vermont Legislaturehttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2011/12/5/irene-a-defining-moment-and-opportunity-for-vermont-legislat.htmlVCF Staff2011-12-05T15:01:13ZTropical Storm Irene has been a defining moment in Vermont history, House Speaker Shap Smith told his Democratic colleagues during their annual caucus to plan for the upcoming legislative session. The speaker reminded lawmakers of the importance of listening to their constituents, even if they didn’t agree with them.
]]>Volunteers come out to help Irene victims clean uphttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2011/10/31/volunteers-come-out-to-help-irene-victims-clean-up.htmlVCF Staff2011-10-31T20:30:44ZVermonters answered Gov. Peter Shumlin’s call to help their neighbors recover from Tropical Storm Irene during "VT Clean Up Day," which came two months after the most damaging flood to hit the state in recent memory.
]]>Onion City in Bloomhttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2011/6/17/onion-city-in-bloom.htmlVCF Staff2011-06-17T17:29:02ZOver the past few months, Winooski has launched a rebranding campaign, complete with a design-forward new logo and community-building events. These efforts, along with a retooled farmers market, are in part the work of the reenergized Winooski Community Partnership, a downtown business organization aimed at making the city an attractive, vibrant urban center. Link to full article]]>Rutland Approves New Recreation Centerhttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2011/3/2/rutland-approves-new-recreation-center.htmlVCF Staff2011-03-02T15:19:21ZIn Rutland, the most hotly debated issue was not the municipal or school budgets but a $3.9 million bond vote to upgrade the city's recreation department. Link to full article]]>Community radio stations boosts Vermonters' on-air opportunitieshttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2010/5/20/community-radio-stations-boosts-vermonters-on-air-opportunit.htmlVCF Staff2010-05-20T19:04:27ZThe airwaves in Vermont in recent years have increasingly been turned over to the vox populi — the voice of the people. Community-radio stations have mushroomed in numbers in the state during the past decade, giving volunteers a chance to play music, talk about current events or simply entertain listeners within close range of the generally low-powered stations. Community radio, though, is about more than boosting the public’s on-air abilities. It’s about presenting music and thoughts that might not make it onto commercial-radio stations. Link to full article]]>Montpelier hones Master Planhttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2010/5/6/montpelier-hones-master-plan.htmlVCF Staff2010-05-06T17:54:22ZThe Montpelier Master Plan that will provide a framework for the city's development for years to come is moving through the final stages, and the public will have a few more chances to weigh in on the 226-page document before it becomes final, including at a meeting on Monday. The master plan has been in the making for about three years, starting with EnVision Montpelier, a community planning initiative that began in 2007. Link to full article]]>Vermont proposes cutting ads for rules changeshttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2010/4/9/vermont-proposes-cutting-ads-for-rules-changes.htmlVCF Staff2010-04-09T13:59:43ZWhen the state wanted to revise its wetland rules, a paid notice ran in 16 Vermont newspapers, alerting the public to the proposal and explaining how they could weigh in. Those ads would cease or shrink -- replaced by online postings -- under a proposal that is part of the "Challenges for Change" the state is considering to save money and increase efficiency. The move would save an estimated $100,000 paid to newspapers for the ads. "The more accessible the rules are, the better chance people will see them," said Tom Evslin, the state's chief technology officer, arguing that putting the ads online not only will save money but make them accessible to a larger segment of the population. With time, he said, people would get used to looking online for the ads. Link to full article]]>Vermont education group to hold public meetingshttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2010/3/15/vermont-education-group-to-hold-public-meetings.htmlVCF Staff2010-03-15T18:09:43ZA state panel charged with brainstorming ways to slice millions of dollars from education spending will meet in public after critics complained the group’s closed-door sessions are undemocratic. Members of the Challenges for Change Education Design Team decided Thursday that their meetings will be open to the public starting Monday. Link to full article]]>Vermonters sound off during Town Meeting Dayhttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2010/3/3/vermonters-sound-off-during-town-meeting-day.htmlVCF Staff2010-03-03T15:18:24ZVermonters voice their collective opinions today at town halls and high school gymnasiums as annual town meetings convene across the state. Local issues large and small fill agendas, including an effort to repeal instant-runoff voting in Burlington and a question about the continued operation of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. Most polls remain open until 7 p.m. Read about the most-watched issues. Link to full article]]>Rutland Voters To Weigh In On City Budgethttp://www.understandingvt.org/civic-engagement/2010/2/24/rutland-voters-to-weigh-in-on-city-budget.htmlVCF Staff2010-02-24T17:40:26ZOn Town Meeting Day next week, voters in Rutland will have a chance to weigh in on their city's $17 million budget. Historically, it fell to Rutland's board of aldermen to decide the fate of the Mayor's proposed budget. But a charter change approved last year, now allows residents to have a say. Mayor Christopher Louras says that's a good thing. But he says local residents need to understand the consequences of voting down the city's $17 million budget. Link to full article]]>