Serving Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Orleans & Washington Counties of Vermont
July 2010
Survey
We ask our readers to take just a few moments to complete the following short survey. We want to be able to bring you the most useful information about your local United Way and need to know how many do read (or, even just quickly scan) our newsletters and if they are helpful for the work you do and the support you give to the community.
GMUW and the CASH Coalition
CASH stands for Creating Assets, Savings and Hope and there just may be CASH Coalitions forming in the Green Mountain United Way service area. Christine Curtis and Shannon Dilley, Stakeholder Relationship Tax Consultants with the Internal Revenue Service, have offered to partner with Green Mountain United Way to form CASH Coalitions in Washington County and the Northeast Kingdom. Exploratory meetings have taken place in Berlin and St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Economic Advancement has been a major initiative of GMUW and other agencies across the region, all engaging in similar activities. The CASH Coalition will bring numerous groups of interested parties together to share information and collaborate to help low income individuals move from poverty level subsistence into self-sufficiency. The CASH Coalition model is based on three components: Earned Income Tax Credit, Free Tax Assistance Sites and Asset Building.
GMUW Promotes Healthy Choices Through TDI Project
The Prevention Research Center Grant awarded to Dartmouth College in October, 2009 has led to the The Dartmouth Institute forming a study on the cardio-vascular health of targeted groups in three communities: Keene, NH, Manchester, NH, and St. Johnsbury, VT. St. Johnsbury was selected because the Fit and Health Coalition at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) has been active with Vermont's Blue Print for Health since 2004 and serves 30,000 residents in Caledonia and southern Essex counties in Vermont.
The Action Learning Collaborative team in St. Johnsbury consists of representatives from NVRH, the VT Department of Health and Green Mountain United Way.
The specific aim of this team’s project is to improve the heart health of all employees working at Weidmann Electrical Technology in St. Johnsbury, VT. Weidmann employs 250 people who work three shifts manufacturing electrical insulation for transformers. The team has concentrated on the vast array of vending machines available to Weidmann employees in their “break rooms”. The goal is to increase the number of Healthy Choices by a significant number and that all Weidmann employees will have the tools and techniques to make healthy choices by the end of the 18-month project period.
Educational sessions have been held with employees during their lunch breaks and the team has attended meetings of the Weidmann Wellness Committee made up of representatives from management, employees and outside consultants. This project will definitely lead to measurable results.
NEK "Ride the Realm" Bike Ride
Green Mountain United Way is READY and SET for its first annual Northeast Kingdom “Ride The Realm” bike ride. The GO will take place on August 21, 2010. Teams and individual riders may choose between two bike routes, both starting and ending at Burke Mountain. The 45-mile loop goes along Route 5 to Barton, around picturesque Lakes Crystal and Willoughby, and back to Burke. The 80-mile loop goes past Barton to Derby Center, by Lakes Salem and Seymour, through Island Pond and back to Burke.
Sponsors of the ride are Saint J. Automobile Company, Passumpsic Savings Bank, Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital and Burke Mountain.
Riders may register on line at www.BikeReg.com or go to www.gmunitedway.org and click on "GMUW NEK Bike Ride: August 21, 2010". There will be strategically located rest stops and a free T-shirt for every pre-registered rider. A cool, clear, rain free day is almost assured. So, REGISTER TODAY!!
Calling All Golfers
Coming soon is the 4th Annual GMUW Golf Classic scheduled for August 28, 2010 at Montague Golf Course in Randolph. Registration will begin at noon with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. There’s a limit of 32 teams, so sign up now to be sure of a spot in the tournament.
- $280 fee per team of 4
- Fee includes greens fee, cart and dinner following the event
- Dinner sponsor: Barry Chouinard of Northfield
- Hole-in-One contest sponsored by Courtesy Toyota of Berlin
- Major tournament sponsor: Gardner Insurance Services, East Barre
- Several prizes to be awarded
Upcoming Events
| Aug. 21, 2010: | Green Mountain United Way’s First "Ride the Realm" Bike Ride starting and ending at Burke Mountain in East Burke, VT. A 45-mile loop and an 80-mile loop have been mapped out, both including scenic lakes, ponds and gorgeous Vermont countryside. Check it out at www.gmunitedway.org under Special Events. You can register at www.bikereg.com.
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| Aug. 28, 2010: | 4th Annual Green Mountain United Way Golf Classic at Montague Golf Course, Randolph, VT. Call 802-229-9532 for more information.
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| Sept. 18, 2010: | Three Lake Paddling & Sculling Tour in Orleans County by the Craftsbury Outdoor Center for the benefit of local food shelves via Green Mountain United Way. Paddling and sculling will take place on Lake Willoughby in Westmore and Crystal Lake in Barton. For more information, contact Larry Gluckman at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center at 802-586-7767. |
| Sept. 22, 2010: | Green Mountain United Way annual Campaign Kick-Off at The Steak House on the Barre-Montpelier Road starting at 7:30 a.m. |