Current News

2much Media of Burlington accompanied their client, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, on a recent trip to Mexico and Guatemala. The goal was to come back with footage that GMCR could use in a variety of ways to raise awareness about the growing Coffee Crisis.
If you’re not already familiar with the Coffee Crisis, it won’t be long before you are. After all, coffee, preceded by oil, is the world’s most traded commodity. The issue isn’t about a shortage in quantity, it’s quality that’s at stake. The small, multi-generation arabica coffee farms of Central America and other traditional coffee producing regions are struggling due to the increasing availability of lower quality and less expensive robusta beans from coffee sources such as Vietnam.
"There are social, agricultural, political and economic angles to this story," says Bill Kinzie of 2much Media. "It’s not all that different from what the dairy farmers here in Vermont have been dealing with."

I AM Presentations is proud to announce the recent web mastering outsourcing agreement reached with Best Breed of Findlay, Ohio. Best
Breed is a national premium dog food manufacturer and has brought its web requests to Vermont's I AM Presentations, owned by Michael
LaRocque of Swanton, who has developed interactive websites for numerous Vermont companies including Vantage Press, Burnt Mountain Designs, Pastore Financial Group, to name a few.

The Vermont Mentoring Partnership (VMP) is hosting the sixth annual “Mentors Make A Difference” conference on Monday, May 5, from 8:30-4:00 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Burlington. The Conference is open to adults and youth 13 years of age or older.
The Conference attracts 400 to 500 youth and adult participants, offering over 30 workshops serving Vermont youth and service providers from the mentoring community. Through a dynamic program designed for youth and adults alike, Vermont’s mentoring community will attend workshops to share ideas and strategies, improve and promote mentor programs, and strengthen team-building skills while exploring life principles.

SoVerNet announces that it is now
providing high-speed Internet business access to two more Vermont
communities: Randolph and Saint Albans.
With the introduction of SoVerNet Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line or
SDSL service to Randolph and Saint Albans, businesses within the
geographic limits of the technology now have high-speed connectivity to
the Internet at speeds far superior to those provided by dial-up Internet
access.
SoVerNet's high-speed broadband service is available at speeds between
160K and 1,544K. Customers are required to purchase a dedicated data line
over which the service is provided. The customer may also need to
purchase a modem, and, a router depending upon their networking needs.
The service is fully monitored 24/7 for reliability. Set-up time takes 2
- 3 weeks from time of order to turn-up.
SoVerNet has a booklet on SDSL services which is available on

This Earth Day, April 22, Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless provider, is encouraging consumers to protect the environment and give back to the community at the same time by donating no-longer-used wireless phones and equipment to its HopeLineSM phone recycling program. Since 1995 Verizon Wireless has collected more than one million wireless phones from consumers. This has kept over 200 tons of electronics waste out of landfills, and has benefited hundreds of victims of domestic violence nationwide. With as little effort as it takes to clean out a junk drawer, an old wireless phone can become a lifeline rather than a landfill addition.
Customers of any wireless carrier can easily donate a wireless phone – regardless of condition – at any of the more than 1,200 Communications Stores nationwide, or by mail.

Vermont Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Carl Spangler announced on April 15 that Christopher Barbieri, Vermont Chamber President, is resigning his position effective November 1, 2003.
Barbieri has been the leader of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce for 33 years. “It is with mixed emotions that I admit that as time moves on, there are other experiences and interests I want to pursue,” Barbieri wrote today in an open letter to all Vermont Chamber members. “With my years of experience, I look forward to expanding economic opportunities for Vermont in the rapidly growing regions of Asia and the Pacific Rim.”
Barbieri will be relocating to Shanghai as the Vermont Chamber’s International Trade Liaison in Asia. He will be responsible for fostering trade relations between Vermont businesses and businesses from Taiwan, Mainland China, and Hong Kong.

STATE – APRIL 2003

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Douglas taps Dubie to head
Homeland Security Advisory Council

A new satellite campus in Williston will bring several popular Vermont
Technical College programs to Chittenden County in the fall. The College
plans to offer selected associate's and bachelor's degree programs at its
Blair Park facility to full- and part-time students.
"Demand for our programs continues to grow in Chittenden County and the
northern part of the state," says Vermont Tech president Allan Rodgers,
"Our Blair Park campus will bring Vermont Tech within reach of those who
want to enroll, and prefer to live at home."
Programs at the Williston campus will include associate's degree choices
in Computer Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology,
E-Commerce Technology, and Business Technology and Management. Computer
Engineering Technology will be offered as a bachelor's degree as well, and
students who already hold an associate's degree in a technology field can

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce 2003 Traveler’s Guidebook is the key for a peaceful Vermont getaway as spring, summer, and fall grow slowly into Green Mountain hills and valleys.
The 2003 Vermont Traveler’s Guidebook offers listings, a comprehensive resources section, and editorial. Lodging, restaurants, attractions, shopping, and more are listed by town. Extensive lodging descriptions and colorful photos of accommodations will help the most discriminating traveler identify the site of the perfect family vacation or romantic escape.
The Guidebook resources section speaks volumes, pointing the way to Vermont agricultural fairs, wineries, and cheese makers. Visitors will easily find the best fishing holes, golf courses, hiking, historic sites and churches, maple sugarhouses, gardens, farmers’ markets, and more.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce 2003 Vermont Country Inns and B & B’s Guide is here.
Panoramic mountain views from a gazebo, peaceful walking trails, antique furnishings, gardens bursting with color, outdoor jacuzzis, in-room fireplaces, working farms, fresh local food and wine. Vermont country inns and B & B’s offer hundreds of choices, captured in just a few words: history, romance, fine food, and family.
The 2003 Country Inns and B & B’s guide contains listings in towns from Andover to Woodstock, offering valuable information about accommodations, from intimate to stately, located in secluded villages or in busy downtowns. The Top Ten Summer Events and Top Ten Fall Events are also listed.
Chris Fogg, Vermont Chamber Vice President of Travel & Tourism, noted, “Vermont country inns and B & B’s are not far, but their unique style and atmosphere puts them a world away.”

Windham Injury Management Group of Berlin, Vermont is pleased to announce that Debra White, RN, BSN, CCRN, CCM has joined their organization as a Medical Case Manager.
Windham Injury Management Group is a Northeast regional provider of Managed Care, Medical Case Management, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Ergonomic Services staffed with experienced professionals who help our customers reduce the risk of work-related injuries, hasten recovery, shorten the return to work cycle, and control costs. We do this by providing our customers with an integrated program of ergonomics, managed care, medical case management services and vocational rehabilitation services.

Vermont Chamber President Chris Barbieri announced that Christopher Fogg has been named the new Vermont Chamber Vice President of Travel and Tourism.
Formerly the Director of Marketing for the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Fogg has lengthy sales and marketing experience. He has worked with the Vermont Convention Bureau, the Burlington Free Press, and . in Boston.
Fogg has an Associate Degree in business administration from North Shore Community College in Danvers, Massachusetts. He assumed his position with the Vermont Chamber in March 2003.
Fogg replaces Sue Kruthers, who vacated her position to become the Vermont Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs.