A quarter-century later, the nonprofit organization is marking its 25th anniversary by again expanding its reach to southern regions of the state often mistaken for Massachusetts.
VBSR, based in Burlington with a satellite office in Montpelier, drew more than 100 people to its annual meeting at Brattleboro’s downtown River Garden, where members celebrated past accomplishments and cast an eye toward the future.
“What began as a grassroots movement has grown into one of the largest business groups in Vermont,” said Russ Elek, the nonprofit’s communication and membership manager. “It has always been part of our mission to be a statewide organization, and we feel like Brattleboro and Bennington and other southern areas understand what we are about.”
VBSR, with more than 750 members, employs about 15 percent of the state’s workforce that, in turn, generates more than $4 billion in annual revenue. The organization aims to help businesses support workers, as well as to influence public policy on such issues as sustainable economic and energy development, health care reform, social justice and a strong Vermont brand and quality of life.
On Tuesday, that included welcoming Amy Hall, director of social consciousness for the Eileen Fisher clothing company, who spoke about how businesses can bring about change.
“When you’re out doing your shopping, I wonder what sorts of things you think about when you’re making your purchases,” Hall asked people in attendance.
The crowd shouted out such words as “local” and “fair trade.”
“It’s such an enlightened audience,” Hall said. “Not one person said price.”
“We’re all thinking it,” one man responded with a laugh.
Hall, a former New York City fundraiser, boasts a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, a master’s from Columbia University, and, drawing the most local attention, a Sustainable MBA from Green Mountain College in Poultney.
That’s why, in addition to her business background, Hall raises honeybees with her husband and two daughters and has cycled on a self-built bamboo bike from New York City to Washington, D.C., for a charitable fundraiser. (She also plays the bassoon in the Really Terrible Orchestra of Westchester.)
“We’re not doing this just for ourselves,” Hall said. “We want to build a community of like-minded, committed people.”
VBSR hopes to be equally creative in adding members and continuing to advance its mission.
“I think we have a very good voice,” said Elek, who noted the nonprofit has added 130 new members in the past year alone. “But to really have a very loud one, I’d like to see our membership number hit 1,000.”
The organization’s other challenge: Many of its seemingly radical intentions of 25 years ago — equal pay, same-sex rights, GMO labeling — are realities today.
“You can take care of employees and the environment and still make money,” Elek said. “So how far are we going to push the boundaries? We have to continue to find new ways we can further our mission in a smart business sense.”
Kevin O’Connor, a former staffer of the Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, is a Brattleboro-based writer. Email: kevinoconnorvt@gmail.com
