Welcome to the November 18, 2008 issue of E-News.

In this Issue

	Online Holiday Auction is Open!
	East Monitor Barn Deep Clean
	School Crews Complete Eco-Friendly Building
	Fall Appeal Begins

Faces Behind Our Success

Lu Van Zeeland served as the coordinator of the School to Earth committee since 2006.  This group was comprised of teachers, parents, local business leaders, friends, and VYCC staff and functioned to support sustainability efforts in Montpelier High School and U32. The work of these volunteers was cutting edge in many respects. One of the outcomes is the “Green Sash”. This award will be presented to students as part of their graduation next May and will recognize the outstanding achievements of students who have melded activism, academics, research, and have made a real difference in their local community.
Lu has been instrumental in connecting youth with the summer VYCC Sustainability Crew, project sponsors with the VYCC, and staff from both Montpelier High School and U-32. She also led effort to design and facilitate Leadership Retreats for Community Crews.  Her infectious enthusiasm and tireless pursuit of new ideas has made all the difference!  Thank you Lu!

 

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Online Holiday Auction is Open!

Our first ever on-line auction with over a hundred items has begun!
Items include: ski passes, museum memberships, gym memberships, snowboards, bike equipment, jewelry, paintings, and more! Get your holiday shopping done early and support three of Vermont's leading conservation and recreation organizations. Visit www.vycc.cmarket.com and as they say “bid early and bid often”!
 

East Monitor Barn Deep Clean

Contributing to a comprehensive and ongoing effort to clean-up the newly purchased East Monitor Barn (EMB) property, 30 volunteers arrived with work gloves and tools on Saturday morning, November 8th, continuing the work of other volunteer groups and some of our school crews. This work is critical as we prepare to dive into the initial stages of the EMB revitalization, which depending on funding, could begin as early as this spring! The group helped with deconstruction in the Quonset hut, cleaned the interior of the EMB, and cleared brush and trees which were encroaching on the buildings.

If you have a group that is interested in contributing to our continued efforts to cleanup and revitalize the East Monitor Barn site, please contact Keegan Tierney, Lands and Facility Manager, at keegan@vycc.org or 434-3969 x141.
 

School Crews Complete Eco-Friendly Building

Our Mount Mansfield Union and Champlain Valley Union year round school crews are very close to completing a large project on the West Monitor Barn property that began this past summer. The final steps in the construction of an on-site composting toilet are almost complete. The structure is designed to serve the eight lean-tos on the Monitor Barns property which are frequently used by our Crew Leaders & Corps Members during trainings or when they are working on projects in the area.  The toilet will also be available for hunters and others from the general public using the land.

Fall Appeal Begins

Friends, Partners, Sponsors! The official “fall appeal” has begun! At this time we need your support more than ever, as it is absolutely critical that we meet our 2008 fund-raising goals! We have reduced our budgets to only the most essential items and are doing everything we possibly can to be efficient, while still continuing to be highly effective. Please help us continue to be able to offer the youth of Vermont the opportunity to learn personal responsibility, gain leadership skills, and help protect the environment.

YOU can make a difference!  To make your donation in support of Vermont’s Youth, contact Kristen Kozik, Development and Event Coordinator, at kkozik@vycc.org or 434-3969 x113 or donate online at www.vycc.org. Thank you.