Contact
Jennifer Krause
Jennifer@dh-cpa.com

Sales levels increasing employment remains stable; capital spending decreases demands for Shumlin to address healthcare and broadband issues

Williston, VT January 31, 2012 – The Certified Public Accounting firm of Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs – PLC, located in Williston, Vermont, conducted an Economic Survey earlier this month regarding the future of Vermont-based businesses. The survey was based on one developed and used by the Vermont Business Roundtable. The survey was completed by more than 50 state businesses.

The firm’s client base, made up of organizations located across the state, responded to a range of questions. Respondents were asked to identify their type of industry, headquarter location and scope of marketplace along with forecasting their company sales, capital spending, employment status and best venue for advertising. In addition, they were asked to identify economic issues that respondents would like to see addressed by Governor Shumlin in 2012.

Vermont industries surveyed included construction, educational services, finance and insurance, health care and social assistance, hotel and restaurant, manufacturing, professional and technical, retail, transportation and warehousing and wholesale trade.

Respondents were asked how they anticipated their companies’ sales changing over the next six months. Over half (55%) foresaw their sales increasing by 10% to 30%. Only 10% estimated that sales would decrease by the same percentage range. Approximately 31% believe their sales levels will remain the same for this period.

When asked to forecast their companies’ capital spending over the next six months, 56% indicated they would see decreases of over 70%. Only 34% indicated they would increase their capital spending.

On the employment front, 46% of the businesses surveyed responded that they did not anticipate any changes in their companies’ employment levels over the next six months. However, 38% intend to hire one to three people in the same time period. Only 4% of respondents indicated they will decrease hiring by three to ten people.

Of these Vermont businesses surveyed, it was revealed the use of online advertising surpasses print, radio and television combined (39% versus 16%, 6% and 4% respectively). However, “other” forms of advertising including word-of-mouth, sales calls, meetings and client referrals came in at 35%, slightly behind online advertising including social media platforms as the best venue for advertising in the Green Mountain state.

Respondents indicated they want a number of business economic issues addressed by Governor Shumlin this year. Not surprisingly, concerns over rising healthcare costs and the need for improved broadband service top the list.

How does Davis & Hodgdon’s managing partner, John Davis, sum up the results? “The waters appear calm and this is significant in terms of moving forward,” shares Davis. He continues, “These economic indicators, based on a sampling of thriving Vermont-based organizations doing business in- and out-of-state, show promise. Sales are projected to increase, employment is stable and businesses are still remaining prudent with capital spending somewhat decreasing. We also see that business owners are demanding the Governor address important issues like healthcare costs and improved broadband service. All of this bodes well for our state’s economic future. Compared to some other states, I believe we are in an enviable position to move forward.”

For complete survey results, go tohttp://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e5gqy6wigwhzwc0k/results

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VTDigger

Contact
Tracy Penfield or Chelsea Sargent
(802) 685-3138
csargent@safeart.org

BRADFORD, VT – Oxbow Middle School students are welcoming in the new year with artistic expression and healthy relationships. The week of January 30th SafeArt and the SafeArt Teen Ensemble will join Oxbow’s 8th grade team leading interactive lessons on relationship dynamics, the impact of trauma on the brain and safe ways to be proactive bystanders. This is SafeArt’s fourth time coming to Oxbow this school year. In the fall, SafeArt worked with 9th graders, 10th graders faculty and staff.

At the beginning of the week the 8th-10th graders are invited to watch the SafeArt Teen Ensemble deliver a performance addressing issues that are important to them such as bullying, body image, and self-harm. Through song, poetry, dance and short skits the Ensemble delivers a message of hope, using humor to balance the seriousness of the topics they address.

The conversation students have with the Ensemble after the performance sets the stage for talking about difficult issues in a respectful environment. The eighth graders will use movement, and music to engage these difficult topics, then choose a topic and create an art project that explores progression towards resolution or taking the next step. At the end of the residency the students can, and most do, choose to present their piece to the rest of their grade.

SafeArt’s program has been welcomed to the Oxbow Middle School for the past three years. Teachers value the impact that these residencies have on their students.

“All of us were deeply moved by the kids and what they shared in their performances. We do see a change in the way they interact…to be sure it is a “felt sense” and anecdotal, but we feel that Safe Art made a real difference in the way they see themselves and each other.” – Mary Chin, Oxbow High School Art Teacher.

An added benefit of the SafeArt curriculum is that it helps schools meet the Vermont Legislative Act 1 mandate that went into effect at the beginning of the school year. The mandate is part of a larger effort to reduce sexual violence and requires schools to offer age appropriate sexual violence education to students grades K-12.

This goal is in line with SafeArt’s core mission to engage the transformative power of the arts to prevent and heal abuse and other traumas.

“I like to believe that if SafeArt had come to my high school when I was a teenager that I wouldn’t have spent the next decade in an abusive relationship.” – Tracy Penfield, Founding Director of SafeArt.

The Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation has granted SafeArt three years of funding to work with Oxbow’s middle and high school students and provide a Making SafeArt! trainings to local faculty, staff and practitioners about being trauma informed and integrating the arts into any classroom environment or practice.

At SafeArt, we believe in the power of the arts to create personal and social change.

Learn more about SafeArt on our website: www.safeart.org. For more information, call (802) 685.3138, email info@safeart.org, or visit www.safeart.org.

VTDigger

Contact
For media questions, please contact Stephanie Dasaro at 802-279-9773.

Waterbury, VT – 01/18/12 – The Vermont Department of Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn today officially announced the appointment of Joe Flynn as the Director of Vermont Emergency Management (VEM). Flynn, who is no relation to Commissioner Flynn, has been the Rail Director for the Vermont Agency of Transportation since 2009. Flynn was a critical leader within VTrans’ Irene emergency response operation, serving as the Commander of the VTrans Regional Response Center in Dummerston. He then served as an operations director in the Irene Recovery Office, where he is still working under the direction of newly appointed Recovery Officer, Sue Minter.

“Flynn’s previous management experience on the select board in South Hero, as a deputy sheriff with Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department, and as a the retired chief of the South Hero Volunteer Fire Department, will serve Vermont well in his role as VEM director,” said Commissioner Keith Flynn about Joe’s recent decision to accept the position.

On being appointed as director Joe Flynn said, “I am pleased to have the opportunity to continue my work in post-Irene recovery, as well as move Vermont forward in emergency preparedness. It is an honor to accept this position and work closely with many of my colleagues in Public Safety.”

Flynn will transition to the to the position in the beginning of February. The previous Director of Vermont Emergency Management, Mike O’Neil, was appointed as Executive Director of Fire Safety in December of 2011. Peter Coffey, the interim Director of Vermont Emergency Management, will remain Deputy Director of Operations and Logistics at VEM . With respect to the question of the Irene Recovery Office’s plan following Joe’s move to VEM, the Recovery Office will be working to replace him in the near future.

For media questions, please contact Stephanie Dasaro at 802-279-9773.

###

Stephanie Dasaro | Vermont State Police – Public Information Officer

103 South Main Street | Waterbury, Vermont 05671

802-241-5277 (desk) | 802-279-9773 (cell)

VSP Website | Facebook | Records Requests

VTDigger

Where is Sen. Bernie Sanders when he is needed? We are well aware that he has worked tirelessly in calling our attention to the outrageous salaries paid to the captains of banking, finance and industry. He has been successful in getting their compensation levels lowered to the tens of millions and then he disappeared. Bernie, we need your advocacy in other arenas because the high salaries being doled out are affecting us in more ways than the Wall Street bankers compensation levels.

Here are just a few examples: going to the movies, attending a sporting event or enrolling in college.

I’ve read on the Internet that the reason my senior citizen movie ticket is now $11 is due to the high cost of producing the movie (sounds just like what’s going on in health care). And it is, I’ve discovered, due to the extraordinary annual income compensation paid to actors; just imagine!

Here’s some actors and what they make:
•Tom Hanks – $25 million
•Nichole Kidman – $14 million
•Leonardo DeCaprio – $25 million
•Samuel L. Jackson – $10 million
•Tom Cruise – $25 million
•Sandra Bullock – $15 million
•Jennifer Lopez – $12 million
•Mel Gibson – $25 million
•Denzel Washington – $30 million
•Richard Gere – $30 million

These levels of compensation are just pricing me out of being able to see a first-run movie — I gather I’ll have to do without and wait a few years and view the movie on TV.

Bernie, where I’ve been completely shut out is going to see sporting events. Albert Pujols, the former St. Louis Cardinals player and now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, will be receiving $254 million over the next few years or so. Which means that, once again, I’ll just have to watch baseball on TV.

Bernie, let me ask you why is it necessary to pay college football coaches so much and why haven’t you looked into this?

For example:
•Mack Brown, coach at Texas, is paid $5.192 million.
•Nick Saban, coach at Alabama, i s paid $4.683 million.
•Gene Chizik, coach at Auburn, is paid $3.5 million.
•Urban Meyer, coach at Ohio State, is paid $4 million.
•Huston Nutt, coach at Ole Miss, is paid $2.756 million.

Bernie, you know what eventually will happen and it’s starting already, is that the cost of a college education will be out of reach for many. And speaking of college salaries, just look at what these college presidents receive (as noted in the 12/5/11 N.Y. Times):
•Mountain State University’s president, Charles Polk, has annual compensation of $1,844,000.
•Stevenson University’s president, Kevin Manning, has annual compensation of $1,494,000.
•High Point University’s president, Nido R. Qubein, has annual compensation of $1,390,000.
•Chapman University’s president, James L. Doti, has annual compensation of $1,542,000.

High Point and Mountain State are in North Carolina and West Virginia and are small universities. Where’s all this heading Bernie? The April 3, 2011, issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education pointed out that E. Gordon Gee, president of Ohio State, received $1.8 million. The sole consolation here is that it is $2.2 million below what his university’s football coach is paid.

And, Senator, if we are to lower our vigilance on salaries being paid in these areas, it won’t be long before we see a huge spike in executive directors’ salaries paid in the nonprofit world. It seems like it is beginning already for some executive directors:
•Heritage Foundation — $948,000
•New York Philharmonic — $2,649,000
•Evans Scholars — $2,049,000
•Wildlife Conservation — $725,000

Bernie, I’ll be the first to admit that I have little knowledge as to what a movie star, football coach or a professional baseball player should be compensated. Compensating someone with millions of dollars for 165 baseball games, a dozen or so football games or appearing for 30 minutes in a 90-minute movie is outside of my skill set. Likewise, compensating a CEO of a company, college or a nonprofit with millions of dollars I must leave to the “experts” on salary compensation — I’m sure there are many around.

What I am somewhat knowledgeable about is identifying political lip service. And your zeroing in solely on excessive (and outlandish) salaries paid to a few corporate executives and ignoring other areas where outlandish compensation is paid, fits the description of political insincerity. So, may I ask that you look into the above when you have some time. All I wish is to be able to see a movie for $5 or a major league baseball game for $10 or so.

VTDigger

Contact
Martha Trombley Oakes; Vermont Technical College
802.728.1732; MTrombleyOakes@vtc.vsc.edu

Randolph, VT, January 9, 2012 – Vermont Technical College President Philip A. Conroy has announced that former Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Roger N. Allbee, has been named consultant and advisor to the President and the College. In this position, Allbee will assist in helping the Institution position itself to address the technical and applied knowledge skills important to students interested in agriculture and related food systems.

“We’re excited that Roger will be putting his expertise to work at Vermont Tech,” said Dr. Conroy. “One of the college’s areas of growth is diversified agriculture; with Roger’s broad and deep interest in the field, he’s well equipped to help VTC respond to new developments in the industry.”

“Vermont is experiencing a renaissance of interest in agriculture and local food systems — from vegetables to vineyards, artesian cheeses and farm-raised beef,” said Allbee. “The state’s higher education system must be supportive of those things, teaching students about the cultural, economic and environmental issues involved in managing these businesses. As the only technical college chartered in the state of Vermont, Vermont Tech is best suited to build upon its strengths while collaborating with other state colleges as well as the State’s Land Grant, the University of Vermont.”

Allbee’s career in agriculture includes a stint as executive director of the USDA Farm Services Agency for the State of Vermont and a long-time consultant in agribusiness and international trade. He co-founded AGTECH, an agricultural trade and export concern that was the first U.S. company to market cranberries and cranberry products in Hungary and the Czech Republic. As secretary of agriculture, Allbee administered one of the agencies with the most diverse and publically watched responsibilities in the State of Vermont. Under his leadership, the agency oversaw animal health and welfare; agricultural development, weights and measures; water quality and nutrient management; invasive and exotic pests and pesticide certification; seed, feed, and fertilizer testing; milk and meat processing inspection/certification and food safety; and international trade and policy.

Allbee resides in Townshend, VT.

VTDigger

Contact
Joe Sinagra, 310-4236

St. Albans – St. Albans Town Resident Joe Sinagra declared his intentions to run for the State Senate from Franklin County, a formal campaign kickoff will occur in the Spring. Mr. Sinagra said, “Franklin County and Vermont are at a cross roads, we are one of the oldest states in the county and we continue to export our young people, as a State Senator I will focus on improving our local and state economy without raising taxes.”

Former Lt. Governor and Fairfield resident Brian Dubie said, “I have known Joe for more than 10 years, he is the type of person we need in the State Senate. I am proud to fully support Joe’s campaign and I will be proud to call him my State Senator.”

Mr. Sinagra grew up in Kingston, NY but moved to Vermont to attend college and is a 1998 graduate of Lyndon State College with a degree in Social Sciences. Mr. Sinagra married the former Vicky Sullivan a 1994 BFA-St. Albans graduate in 2001 and moved to St. Albans Town. It was at that time that Mr. Sinagra began his career as a lobbyist for the housing industry in Montpelier. “During my time in Montpelier I worked with Republicans, Democratics and Progressives to help writes laws that focused on the housing industry. During my time as a lobbyist I worked on many important topics that affect Franklin County from outdated septic regulations to Act 250, I understand the impact a State Senator can have on the future,” stated Joe Sinagra.

Mr. Sinagra plans to spend the next 10 months visiting with Franklin County residents and understanding their concerns for the future. “I want residents to contact me during the campaign and after to let me know what is important to them and how I can help to make our region stronger.” Joe Sinagra said, “As a State Senator I will make the tough fiscal decisions without raising taxes. As a small business owner, I understand the struggles that small business face.”

About Joe Sinagra- Mr. Sinagra has been a resident of St. Albans Town since 2001. He is married to the former Vicky Sullivan a lifelong resident of Franklin County and a BFA- St. Albans Graduate, together they raise two children Spencer and Sophia who both attend St. Albans Town Educational Center. Mr. Sinagra currently serves on the St. Albans Recreation Commission and is a volunteer coach for baseball and soccer. Mr. Sinagra along with his wife run Bounce Around VT a full service bounce house rental business which they started in 2008. From 2003 until November of 2011, Mr. Sinagra served as Executive Officer of the Homebuilders and Remodelers Association of Vermont, the largest housing trade association in Vermont

VTDigger

Contact
Ali Peterson
Ali_Peterson@leahy.senate.gov

Congress Sends To President’s Desk Reforms By Leahy And Graham That Will Elevate National Guard To Joint Chiefs Of Staff; Other Leahy-Graham Guard Empowerment Reforms Are Also Headed To Enactment

WASHINGTON – In a far-reaching and historic advance for the National Guard’s role in the nation’s defense and security structure, the U.S. Senate late Thursday passed and sent to the President’s desk a final defense authorization bill that includes provisions authored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that will give the National Guard its first seat on the nation’s highest military council, the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The final version of the defense bill also includes other major provisions of The National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act (S.1025) authored by Leahy and Graham.  Their bill, with 71 Senate cosponsors, was added to the Senate’s version of the defense bill.  Counterpart provisions had also been included in the House’s version of the bill.

Leahy and Graham are the co-chairs of the Senate’s 84-member National Guard Caucus.  Their bill, S.1025, also known as “Guard Empowerment II,” is the latest in a series of successful efforts led by the Guard Caucus over the last six years to give the Guard a more meaningful voice in Pentagon circles where key policy and budget decisions are made that affect the Guard.

In addition to adding the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the final defense bill also includes other key provisions from the Leahy-Graham bill, including:

(Also see updated news announcement about tonight’s Senate action, below, following Leahy’s Senate Floor remarks.  The Senate late Thursday passed the defense authorization bill that includes the Leahy-Graham National Guard reforms, in a vote of 86 to 13, sending it to the President, who is expected to sign it.)

Remarks Of Senator Patrick Leahy

On The National Guard Empowerment Provisions Included In The National Defense Authorization Act Senate Floor

Mr. President, I rise this morning to call the attention of my colleagues to several provisions of the defense authorization bill that we will consider for final passage today.  These provisions will have a major impact on our defense structure and performance in the years to come.  These reforms were previously included in a bill I introduced with Senator Lindsey Graham in May, S. 1025, which Senator Graham and I nicknamed “Guard Empowerment II.”  As co-chair with Senator Graham of the Senate National Guard Caucus I am pleased to report that the most important of these Guard Empowerment reforms are included in the final version of this year’s defense authorization bill.  These include a provision that will make the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a statutory member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  The Joint Chiefs — our highest military policy council — has not added a member since 1978, when the Commandant of the Marine Corps was finally added as a full participant.

This truly is a significant and historic day for the Guard and for all the Guard does for our Nation.

Many people have asked why this change is so important to make, and why now.  Our Guard has been bravely serving in near-constant rotation with active duty forces overseas for the last decade.  At the same time, Guard troops have been the military first responders here at home.  Yet the Pentagon has not fully caught up with the institutional changes that must accompany those operational changes.  In fact, after all that the National Guard has done over the past ten years, we are hearing rumors that the Air Force has already planned serious cuts to its Guard and Reserve components.  General Schwartz, the Air Force Chief of Staff, announced in a defense publication this week that “we’re going to get smaller.  Active duty, Guard, and Reserve – we’re going to get smaller together.”  Unquote.  But I question the logic of across-the-board cuts, and I would hope that most of us would.  Why does it make sense to cut the Guard when it can provide more force structure and capabilities for less money that is also more experienced and better maintained than any other component of the Air Force?  This is why the Guard Chief must be on the Joint Chiefs of Staff—to provide that vital dissenting view at a time when we need it most.

Looking at the Vermont Guard demonstrates why the kind of cuts General Schwartz has in mind just do not make sense.  The Vermont Guard deployed nearly 1,500 troops to Afghanistan last year.  Before that, the Vermont Guard deployed to Iraq during one of its most violent periods and made unspeakable sacrifices for this country.  Our Vermont Air Guard flew more than one hundred consecutive days of air missions over New York City and Washington after the attacks of September 11.  If we properly man, train, and equip our State Guards, our military leaders will find them the peer of any active duty unit.  In fact, the Vermont Air Guard is one of the first three units to be considered to receive the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.  And not only will the Service Chiefs find their reserve components ready to serve when called, they will find them less expensive over the life cycle of the unit and more experienced to boot.

The defense bill also includes several other provisions of our Guard empowerment bill.  It reinstates the three-star Vice Chief of the Guard Bureau, it institutes the recommendations on federal-state military integration offered by the Council of Governors, it includes a limited authorization of the State Partnership Program, it mandates the consideration of Guard generals for certain vacant positions at U.S. Northern Command, and it requires the Department to produce a costing report that will compare the life-cycle costs of units of the active component with similar units of the Guard and Reserves.  I believe that report, in particular, will lay the groundwork for further collaboration between the Armed Services Committee, the Appropriations Committee, and the Senate National Guard Caucus.  I look forward to many more bipartisan efforts on behalf of our national security and our Guard in the future.

Our National Guard is a superb 21st Century military organization that has been trapped in a 20th Century Pentagon bureaucracy.  These reforms will help clear away those cobwebs.

Mr. President, Senator Graham and I introduced a bill in May that has more than 70 cosponsors today.  We have accomplished much for our Guard in this bill, but our work is far from finished.  I look forward to even more bipartisan consensus on this issue in the future.

•           reestablishing the position of the Vice Chief of the Guard Bureau at the three-star level;

•           increasing the number of Guard general officers considered for senior positions at U.S. Northern Command;

•           helping to clarify the disaster response command relationship among the Guard and the U.S. military commands;

•           authorizing the National Guard State Partnership Program;

•           and requiring reports by the Department of Defense and the Government Accountability Office on the cost of National Guard and Reserve units compared to similar active component units.

The Leahy-Graham Guard empowerment legislation has been endorsed by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Governors Association, the National Guard Association of the United States, the Adjutants General Association of the United States, and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.

Leahy said, “The Guard now will have a voice and a policy role suited to the vital role the Guard has assumed in our security structure.  The Guard has grown to become a front-line, 21st Century force, but it has been trapped in a 20th Century Pentagon bureaucracy.  These reforms go a long way toward fixing that problem.  I am pleased that we have come so far in recent years, but much more remains to be done.  I thank my partner and my friend Lindsey Graham for all of his hard work on this effort, and we appreciate the many senators on both sides of the aisle who have helped make these advances possible.”

Graham said, “We stand on the verge of historic change as the National Guard takes its rightful place as a full, permanent member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Since 9/11, the Guard and Reserve have been indispensable to fighting the War on Terror and protecting the homeland.  They have been called up to duty, taken away from their work and families, and sent to far-away lands for long tours to protect our nation.  Their voices need to be heard and they have earned a seat at the table where our most important military decisions are made.  This long-overdue change in policy is a fitting tribute to our citizen-soldiers and the sacrifices they have made on our nation’s behalf.”

Maj. Gen. Michael D. Dubie, president of the Adjutants General Association of the United States said, “The fiscal 2012 defense authorization conference report that came out of committee marks a significant step forward for the men and women of the National Guard.  Several specific issues were advanced that are good for the National Guard and good for America.”

General Craig McKinley, USAF, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said, “If passed, the 2012 Defense Authorization Bill would have a significant impact on the National Guard and our Nation as a whole. It will ensure our civilian leaders have the best possible insight regarding the National Guard’s homeland defense and civil support missions.  It’s also important to acknowledge members of Congress, and particularly Senators Patrick Leahy and Lindsey Graham of the National Guard Caucus, for their outstanding leadership and support on behalf of the more than 460,000 Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard.”

Major General Gus L. Hargett Jr. (ret.), president of the National Guard Association of the United States, said, “National Guardsmen everywhere owe so much to Senator Leahy and Senator Graham for their efforts to give us a voice at the Pentagon.  Their support, their leadership and their determination have the Guard on the cusp of its biggest legislative victory Guard since the Militia Act of 1903 created the modern, dual-mission National Guard.”

Chief Master Sergeant Roger Hagan (ret.), president of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, said, “The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States is once again indebted to Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Lindsey Graham for their victory in successfully attaching language to the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act conference report that will FINALLY make the Chief of the National Guard Bureau a full-fledged member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  The over 412,000 enlisted personnel in the National Guard will directly benefit by having their voice heard loud and clear as the Chief of the NGB will soon be empowered to speak for them as part of the JCS.”

VTDigger

Benchmarks for a Better Vermont invites all Vermont nonprofits and others committed to strengthening nonprofits to a community briefing call on December 6th at 1 pm:

Important Opportunity for Vermont Nonprofits: Vermont nonprofits are committed to making a difference in their communities. That’s why a group of state level “capacity builders” joined together to apply for a federal grant to help you learn how to use performance measurement to transform your organization.

The good news is that our application was successful and we want to fill you in on how Benchmarks for a Better Vermont (BBVT) can help nonprofits gather data and assess the impact of their work. BBVT will raise awareness about systems of performance measurement and offer a ladder of opportunity for nonprofits that includes a statewide nonprofit conference, organizational assessments, tool kits and, for a select group of organizations, an intensive 16 month Performance Institute.

Join Us for a Community Briefing on 12/6: Find out how you can participate and improve the effectiveness of your organization. Join us on Tuesday, December 6th at 1 p.m. for a 45-60 minute conference call designed to brief you on Benchmarks for a Better Vermont. Learn about project goals, plans, and opportunities for your organization to get involved, whether you are a nonprofit, a funder, or a public agency. Project organizers will share information about BBVT and answer your questions.

Reserve your place on the call here.

Brief Background on BBVT: Awarded to Marlboro College by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), BBVT brings together a consortium of partners to strengthen Vermont nonprofits. Common Good Vermont; United Way of Vermont and the United Ways of Addison, Chittenden, Lamoille, and Windham County; SerVermont; the Vermont Community Foundation; and Marlboro College all play key roles.

BBVT begins with a basic training at the Vermont Nonprofit Conference on 3/20/12. Following this, a formal assessment and competitive process will select 15 small to mid-size nonprofits for a 16-­month intensive Performance Institute. We will use a widely recognized model for tracking outcomes, known as Results Based Accountability. BBVT will also convene a group of grant-­makers and other stakeholders to advance statewide discussion of systems of performance management.

For More Information: Go to bbvt.marlboro.edu or contact Project Coordinator Anne Lezak at bbvt@marlboro.edu

VTDigger

Contact
Daphne Larkin                                                                                                                       
802-485-2886 or 595-3613(m)
dlarkin@norwich.edu
or on Twitter @NorwichNews

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Norwich University’s School of Graduate and Continuing Studies (SGCS) announced the hiring of two program directors.

Dr. Lasha Tchantouridze will take over as director of the Master of Arts in Diplomacy program beginning August 1.

Tchantouridze is replacing Dr. Harold Kearsley, who has been promoted to associate dean of academics.

A former journalist in Tbilisi, Georgia, Tchantouridze has also been a research associate at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg; a visiting associate dean at the School of Governance, Caucasus University, Tbilisi, Georgia; a lecturer in the Department of Politics, University of Winnipeg and at the Department of International Studies, University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; and a visiting professor at The Canadian Armed Forces College, Toronto, Ontario.

Tchantouridze was also formerly a Political Officer in the Soviet Navy.

He holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Film and Media Studies and in Philosophy from Tbilisi State University; an MS in International Relations and a Ph.D. in International Relations from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Gary C. Kessler has taken over as director of the Master of Science in Information Assurance program beginning in September.

Kessler is the president of Gary Kessler Associates, a training and consulting company specializing in computer and network security and digital forensics.

He is also a member of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University (Perth, Western Australia).

Kessler is the co-author of two professional texts and over 70 articles, a frequent speaker at regional, national, and international conferences, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law.

He received his BA Mathematics at Humboldt State University; his MS Computer Science at University of Vermont and his Ph.D. Computing Technology in Education at Nova Southeastern University.

“We are delighted that Dr. Tchantouridze and Dr. Kessler are joining the Norwich family to lead these two important master’s programs,” said SGCS Dean William Clements. “Both bring real-world experience, academic scholarship and strong leadership to SGCS.”

About Norwich University

Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States of America and the birthplace of our nation’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu

Norwich University’s School of Graduate and Continuing Studies (SGCS) builds upon the institution’s 191 year academic heritage with innovative online master’s degrees in a variety of areas. SGCS also offers a certificate in teaching and learning and a bachelor’s completion program. The programs are recognized throughout the industry for their rigor, small class size, high student satisfaction and retention.  http://graduate.norwich.edu/

VTDigger

Date: July 25, 2011

For Release: Immediately

pwater1@entergy.com
Entergy Moving Forward With Vermont Yankee Refueling

New Orleans, La. – Today Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) communicated to its employees that the company’s board of directors voted to approve the fabrication of fuel and the refueling of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in October. This will be the plant’s 29th refueling.

While the company has received a 20-year license extension from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the state of Vermont has refused to grant a certificate of public good to continue operating beyond March 21, 2012. That issue is currently being litigated before the U.S. District Court for the state of Vermont.

“Entergy’s board of directors carefully reviewed the merits of our case and the arguments put forth by all parties during the recent hearing in District Court when we requested a preliminary injunction against the state of Vermont taking any actions to close Vermont Yankee,” said J. Wayne Leonard, Entergy’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Our board believes both the merits of the company’s legal position and the record strongly support its decision to continue to trial scheduled to begin on Sep. 12. On that basis, the decision was made to move forward with the refueling as planned.”

During a typical refueling outage, approximately 120 fuel assemblies, or one-third of the reactor core, are replaced with new fuel assemblies. Additionally, workers use the outage to perform Nuclear Regulatory Commission-required inspections, testing and other work that cannot be performed while the reactor is operating. All told, approximately 5,000 tasks are typically performed during the approximately 30-day period. An additional workforce of 800 to 1,000 skilled laborers is assembled to perform these tasks. These workers come from other Entergy nuclear facilities, craft labor unions and outside contractors.

In April, two of Entergy’s subsidiaries, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the state of Vermont seeking a judgment to prevent the state of Vermont from forcing the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to cease operation on March 21, 2012. On July 18, the Court issued a decision denying a preliminary injunction motion filed by the two subsidiaries.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and more than 15,000 employees.

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Additional investor information can be accessed online at
www.entergy.com/investor_relations
Laurence M. Smith
Manager of Communications
Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee 802-258-4118 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              802-258-4118      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
lsmit14@entergy.com
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