Valley Futures

Fifteen UVM students presented the findings of their semester-long partnership with the Mad River Valley on December 8th at the Big Picture Theater (original post). For the second year in a row, the Mad River Valley has served as the focus of a University of Vermont course within its Community Development & Applied Economics Department. The  service learning course, titled Local Community Initiatives, had the students working closely with a handful of the Valley’s community organizations and taking an active role in local projects. The class focused on the different ways that community-members work together to identify challenges, resources and solutions and how they envision their future.

Below are links to the presentations and final products for three projects (a) develop recommendations for interpretive installations along the Mad River Path, (b) provide feedback and recommendations for the mission and organization of Mad Bikes of Waitsfield, and (c) survey food producers and consumers in the Mad River Valley and identify challenges and opportunities for local food efforts. Click on the pictures for the presentations and the links for the reports.

Joshua Schwartz at the Mad River Valley Planning District and class instructor Chip Sawyer are planning a third installment of the course to take place in fall 2011. Solicitation of projects will take place in the spring.

UVM_MRPA_Final_Report.PDF

MadBikes_Final_Report.PDF

MRV_FOOD_Final_Report.PDF

Tags: Agriculture, Transportation by Joshua Schwartz
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On the evening of December 8 at the Big Picture, Mad River Valley residents are invited to hear about the experiences and recommendations of UVM students, who have been working on local projects.

For the second year in a row, the Mad River Valley has served as the focus of a University of Vermont course within its Community Development & Applied Economics Department.  The 15 students in the service learning course, titled “Local Community Initiatives,” have been working closely with a handful of the Valley’s community organizations and taking an active role in local projects. The students are learning about the different ways that community-members work together to identify challenges, resources and solutions and how they envision their future.

At a Sept 15^th kick-off meeting at the Knoll Farm, the students met with residents of the Mad River Valley and initiated their projects. The three projects are (a) to develop recommendations for interpretive installations along the Mad River Path, (b) to provide feedback and recommendations for the mission and organization of Mad Bikes of Waitsfield, and (c) to survey food producers and consumers in the Mad River Valley and identify challenges and opportunities for local food efforts.

The students will present the final deliverables and recommendations of their projects at 6:00 PM at the Big Picture Theater on Wednesday, December 8.  Each of the student groups will give their presentation and then welcome questions and comments from Mad River Valley community members.  Celebration and conversation will follow.  All Valley residents are invited.

“It is exciting to witness this truly dynamic collaboration between UVM students and Mad River Valley citizens,” explains Joshua Schwartz, Executive Director of the Mad River Valley Planning District. “We are looking forward to the student presentations on December 8^th.

Local groups that the students have been working with include Mad Bikes of Waitsfield, the Mad River Valley Localvore Project, the Mad River Path Association, the Mad River Valley Planning District, and the Valley Futures Network.

“We’ve experienced a second great semester of partnership and contact with Mad River Valley groups and residents,” says course lecturer Will “Chip” Sawyer.  “This Valley represents a rich ‘laboratory’ for students to learn first-hand what it is like to engage in your community and try to make a difference.  That is the primary educational goal of the course.”

In the summers of 2009 and 2010 Sawyer worked closely with Joshua Schwartz of the Mad River Valley Planning District, and other members of the Valley Futures Network, to communicate the course idea to Valley residents and collect ideas for student projects.  Sawyer reports that planning will soon be in the works for another round of the course in the fall of 2011.

Tags: Agriculture, Announcements, Transportation by Joshua Schwartz
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For the second year in a row the MRV is partnering with UVM in a service learning course in the Community Development Applied Economics Department entitled Local Community Initiatives. The description is as follows:

Students will take an active role in local projects addressing a variety of essential community issues in the Mad River Valley region of Vermont with our course partners, the Mad River Valley Planning District and the Valley Futures Network. Through local project work, case studies, course texts, student research and class discussions, we will learn about the different ways that community members work together to identify challenges, resources and solutions and how they envision their future.

As stated above, the intent of the course in relation to VFN is two-fold, participate in specific projects and analyze VFN as an effective community group. The students will visit the Valley on at least three occasions: once to familiarize themselves with VFN and kick-off group projects (9/15), participation in various specific projects, and a final time to present final projects (12/2 or 12/9).

The students will break into groups to focus on the following three projects throughout the semester:

• Mad River Path Interpretive Materials (Autumn Foushee)
• Mad Bikes Research (Laura Brines)
• MRV Local Food Market Study (Jill Arace).

The kick-off event is scheduled for Wednesday, 9/15, 7- 9:00 PM at Knoll Farm. This is the first opportunity for the students to meet and understand VFN, along with initiating their student projects. All VFN folks, along with those interested in learning more about VFN, are encouraged to attend. This is also a dessert potluck, so please bring your tastiest treats to share with our neighbors and guests.

The success of this project is dependent on VFN member involvement! Let’s make a strong showing for our guests and our future at tomorrow night’s event.

Tags: Agriculture, Announcements, Transportation by Joshua Schwartz
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This fall marks the beginning of a new relationship between the Mad River Valley and the University of Vermont’s Department of Community Development Applied Economics. An undergraduate service learning course, titled “Local Community Initiatives,” will analyze and participate in a handful of the Valley’s community organizations.

The 14 UVM students in the course will partner with the Valley Futures Network and Mad River Valley Planning District to take an active role in local projects in the Mad River Valley. Through local project work, case studies, course texts, student research and class discussions, the students will learn about the different ways that community-members work together to identify challenges, resources and solutions and how they envision their future.

The students will break into groups to focus on three projects throughout the semester: a research-based analysis of the organizational structure of the Valley Futures Network, a similar analysis of the Mad River Path Association focusing on membership, and an inventory of renewable energy projects in the Valley. 

A dessert potluck kick-off event is schedule for Wednesday, 9/16, 6:45-9 PM at the Center for Whole Communities’ Knoll Farm. This is designed as an opportunity for the students to familiarize themselves with the Valley, meet members of the community, and initiate their student projects. All residents and visitors are encouraged to come and learn more about the work of the Valley Futures Network and the student projects.

The timing of the kick-off event is such to accommodate those that will be participating in the MRV Chamber’s Annual Meeting (5:30-7 PM on 9/16 at the Warren Town Hall). For more information contact the Mad River Valley Planning District’s Joshua Schwartz at 496-7173.

Tags: Announcements, Energy, Transportation, Uncategorized by Joshua Schwartz
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The compelling documentary, Garbage: The Revolution Starts At Home, will be shown for free on April 16th,  7 pm at the Barre Opera House. In addition, the Greenpeace’s Rolling Sunlight solar demonstration truck will be in Barre throughout the day on the 16th.

What if you had to live with every scrap of trash, pollution, and waste you created? Would you find uses for the garbage of your life, or be overwhelmed by it? Find out how one family lived with every scrap of garbage they created for three months, at a special FREE screening of “Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home,” presented by Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District, the Agency of Natural Resources, and Community for a Greater Barre. This powerful documentary skillfully and succinctly puts all the information in one place – from melting glaciers and oil slicks to our neighborhoods and into our homes – so anyone can connect the dots between our daily actions and the reactions that affect us and our planet.

The event will also feature a visit from the Greenpeace’s Rolling Sunlight solar demonstration truck. The Sunlight carries a bank of working solar panels that will power an educational activity for area school kids following an early matinee showing of the film and will store the extra power in batteries to power coffee makers and other appliances to serve refreshments for evening showing attendees.

The Sunlight will be touring Vermont all April as part of Greenpeace’s local work to support the development of renewable energy in Vermont, and the on-time closure of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant in 2012.

Tags: Announcements, Energy, Transportation by Joshua Schwartz
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Ride board at Sweet Pea

Carpooling in the Valley:

There is a casual rideboard set up under the covered walkway outside Sweet Pea Natural Foods. The little box contains pencils and notepaper to either leave a message or take down information.

Its great to see all the cool alternative transportation initiatives taking hold here in the Valley.  Carpooling is gathering steam on the state level and I expect that this is going to become more organized and accessable in the near future.  There are some informal carpooling groups already doing their thing right now. It’ll be great when the various efforts to establish carpooling in the region come together into a cohesive whole.

Tags: Transportation by Dave Cain
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Notes from Valley Moves meeting 7:30-8:45AM, February 2, 2009 at
Three Mtn. Cafe. (Please feel free to let me know if I missed anything.)

In attendance:

Liz Weller, Laura Brines, Don Wexler, Dara Torre, Sue Frechette, and
David Cain

General talk about plans for the Walk N’ Roll Festival, which is
scheduled for May 11-15 with activities on the weekends at either
end. May 11-15 coincides with National Bike-to-Work week. Question
about whether the farmer’s market begins on the 16th. No one is quite
sure. (Note:I’ll look into that-Dave)

Consideration of helmet fittings, safety classes at the schools,
coordinating w/ Sugarbush’s family recreation day. Should the schools
each have their own safety events, or should they be offered as
general events? When should these happen during the week? Discussion
ensued with general sense to gather more info and firm up ideas later.

Dara committed to contacting the valley schools and getting a sense
of their involvement. She said Moretown and Warren are contractually
committed to offering safety courses as a part of Safe Routes to
Schools grant.

General discussion about how we might involve Harwood. Don said the
Environmental Club could be an avenue. Tom Horn has previously done
some activities with the school clubs.

Don said the Byway should have signs in place the time the W&R
festival happens. Kiosks will come later. There was general agreement
that the Byways event would happen again on the Sunday (10th or 17th?).

Sue is looking into a kids bike swap and is contacting others who
might have advice on this project. Don is going to contact Mad River
Riders on behalf of the Byway.

General discussion about the importance of education to facilitate
understanding and safety between drivers, cyclists, and walkers.
Moretown is looking at traffic calming ideas.

Dave said he’d be making new Bike-to-Work/School/Market  signs and
suggested a painting party later in the spring.

Sue is aware of a 3hr safety course and it looking into that.

Agreed next meeting at Gen Wait House on Thursday, 12 at 6:30 PM. Liz
will confirm that we can use Wait house.

_______________________________________________

Tags: Transportation by Bobbi Rood
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Valley Moves Meeting Minutes   January 8, 2009, Wait House, 6pm
Present:  Sue Frechette, Stan Ward, Liz Weller, Bobbi Rood, James Foreman, Erin Russell Story, Dave Cain, Joshua Schwartz, Laura Brines, Brian Fleischer
Agenda:
Working Group Reports:
*  Shared Transportation: James Foreman and Erin Russell Story, Co-Chairs
The State “Go VT” organization has had a staffing shake up, their website will not be up & running until March ’09 (many months later than expected);  James is developing a website, Madriverforum.com, which he hopes to introduce at the “Hopeful Inauguration” celebration for feedback.  One of the features of this forum will be that folks can post info re. carpooling or vanpooling  possibilities…
James will submit an article about the new website, etc. to the VR in February.

*   Valley Walk and Roll Festival- Dave Cain, Chair
The Festival will be May 11-15, which coincides with the National Bike to Work Week; The State “Way to Go” week, which encourages businesses to support alternative transportation ideas will be, May 5-8.  Dave has been in touch with Steve Gladzuck, of “Way to Go”, and some joint PR will take place.
The Festival will be the same as last year’s, with some new ideas under consideration:
•    A Bike Clinic-  folks would learn how to maintain their bikes by working on the fleet of Mad Bikes (helping the Mad Bikes get serviced while learning new skills)
•    A bike swap (similar to the Ski & Skate Sale)
•    A Women’s Bike Clinic, sponsored by Sugarbush
•    A raffle for a new bike  (fundraiser for the Mad Bikes)
•    2-3 hour bike education courses
•    Other?
Next meeting of the Valley Walk & Roll Festival Working Group:  Feb. 2, 7:30 a.m. at the Three Mtn. Café.  All are welcome!

*  Mad Bikes of Waitsfield- a Town of Waitsfield Committee:  Bobbi Rood, Laura Brines, Liz Weller, Kari Dolan, Peter Lazorchak, Sue Frechette and Troy Kingsbury
The fleet of bikes and all the new bike racks are being stored in James Foreman’s barn;  Laura will write a report for the Waitsfield Town Report;  Hopefully some of the bikes will be worked on by Steve Skilton’s shop class at Harwood Union High School over the winter (Troy will contact Steve);  $2000 grant was received to support this project by the Mad River Valley Rec District.

2.  Valley Moves structure
Working Group Chair functions:  Each working group of Valley Moves has a Chair or Co-Chair.  The Chair(s) will keep in touch via email, and call meetings when needed.  Info regarding these meetings will be posted on the VFN website, via email to the list, and on the new Madriverforum.com
If anyone has a new idea for transportation related project, either share it at the monthly VFN meetings, the quarterly Valley Moves meetings, or communicate via email to create a new working group.

Set 2009 quarterly meeting dates for Valley Moves:
Acting Chairs will: publicize the meeting, create an agenda, take minutes,
bring snacks ☺, etc.
April 9:  Dave, acting Chair
July 9:  Erin, acting Chair
October 8:  Bobbi, acting Chair

VFN Monthly meeting attendance:  we decided not to structure this, 1 or more Valley Moves members will try to attend monthly.

3.  Other ideas:
*  Wind Powered  Electric Cars /Batteries – Dave Sellers:  Bobbi described Dave’s exciting       idea!
•     Brian Fleischer told us about a petition to get businesses in the Ag District (Am. Flatbread, for ex.) to have more flexible zoning possibilities.
•    MRPA survey-  Laura encouraged everyone to do the survey.  The MRPA is in the midst of Strategic Planning.
•    Central VT Rec Trail Group:  Joshua talked about this new initiative, they are working on developing a Central VT Trail Website, similar to Localmotion’s (Burl.)  Hopefully the MRPA will collaborate with this initiative.

Tags: Agriculture, Energy, Transportation by Bobbi Rood
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Q. How long have you lived in the Valley?

A. 31 years! We moved here when our daughter was three months old. We looked at houses all around the Montpelier area, and serendipitously ended up in the MRV. Life works in mysterious ways!

Q. What do you most love about the Valley?

A. Of course, I love the beauty of our Valley, and all of the wonderful outdoor opportunities we have here… but most of all, I really love the people. I never ceased to be amazed by the all the generous, creative, civic minded, wonderful people that live here.

Q. How did you get involved in the Valley Futures Network?

A. I was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in the first VFN retreat at Knoll Farm. I was thrilled to have this opportunity. It was a very special treat to “camp out” at beautiful Knoll Farm with other Valley citizens and have nothing else to do but get to know one another as we thought and “imagined” about the future of the Mad River Valley. Our hope now is that anyone who wants to get involved will do so!

Q. What do you see as the Valley’s biggest challenges as a community looking ahead over the next several years?

A. I think the biggest challenges are all about finding balance- how do we grow and preserve our environment; how do we create more jobs and not lose the intimacy of our community; how do we stay the same and change at the same time…

Q. You’ve been instrumental in starting up the “Valley Moves” transportation working group. How has your experience with this group been for you?

A. Bobbi Rood and I have served as co-chairs of Valley Moves for the past year. Transportation is a hot topic in our community! I’ve really enjoyed diving into this topic because it is something new for me. One doesn’t have to have a depth of experience to get involved. We are all learning together! Valley Moves has an active, committed core group, We’ve been really happy to get a couple of new initiatives up & running: the Valley Walk & Roll Festival, which we expect will be an annual event and the Mad Bikes of Waitsfield, the Valley’s first community bike project. In addition we are committed to supporting the work of the Mad River Path Association. However there is so much more we want to do! There is a great deal of interest in getting carpooling and van pooling going in the MRV. We need more folks to get involved to move this project forward. We are also trying to support the development of sidewalks and crosswalks and bike lanes… there is no limit to the number of important transportation -related efforts this group would like to tackle, but to do so we really do need more people. Bobbi and I would love to pass the torch to new Chairs of Valley Moves, and continue to work on the committee. Actually our next meeting is this Thursday, 7 pm at the Wait House. We hope to some new folks join us!

Q. For anyone interested in the Valley Futures Network, do you have any advice?

A. Please visit the VFN website to read the vision statement and to find out which working group you’d like to get involved with, or suggest another working group. VFN is meant to be accessible and welcoming to all.

Tags: Announcements, Meet Our VFN Citizens Network, Transportation by Rob Williams
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Valley Moves Meeting Minutes
9/25/08
7 – 8 pm

Valley moves…ahead!

Joshua Schwartz, Exec. Dir. Of MRVPD,  presented a recap of the Go Vermont campaign and emphasized that Valley Moves can be instrumental in getting the word out about this van pool/ commuter solution for sharing rides in Central Vermont.

Josh also told us that the Mad Bus will be back this winter and several expressed confusion around this.  There will be a Mad bus meeting in October to discuss winter service.  Josh also explained that there is some renewed interest in year round routes and Sugarbush supports this idea. Currently it runs the Snow Cap Express, between Montpelier High School and Sugarbush Ski Area. GMTA has plans to bring this to the voters at the town meeting in March.  It would not go into effect until 2010.  This would provide a bus and discussion centered on inherent problems with busses, the lack of flexibility and the advantages of the “Go Vermont” van pools.

James Foreman has offered to write an article for the VFN website and the Valley Reporter (10/9) about the van pooling/car pooling issues and he will work with Craig Goss and Rob Williams to provide sign up capabilities to link people and ideas, specific to carpooling/vanpooling on the VFN website.

This was a good opening into a discussion of leadership in the coming months.  Laura proposed the formation of small working groups to take on areas of interest.  These would include the Mad Bikes of Waitsfield and the Valley Walk and Roll Festival, Van and car pools for commuters and a Safe Routes to School group to look at safe crosswalks to tie in the Village Path, movie theater and pizza restaurant in downtown sections of Waitsfield.. This could include the use of speed tables which delineate and separate cross walks on the road.  New members will be sought to join each working group via the VFN website, VFN retreats and VR articles.

Valley Moves Working Groups:

1.    Van Pool/Car pooling: James Foreman & Erin Russell-Story, co-chairs, and Joshua will continue to work on the Van/Car pool ideas and getting the work out and helping for networks. Laura Brines, Sue Frechette and Dara Torre are also working on a crosswalk project.

2.    Mad Bikes of Waitsfield Steering Committee: (a Town of Waitsfield appointed committee) Bobbi, Laura, Liz, Sue, Kari, Peter Lazorchak and Troy Kingsbury.

3.    Valley Walk and Roll group: Dave Cain, Laura Brines, Bobbi Rood, Liz Weller, Sue Frechette…

4.    Safe Routes to School: Dara Torre will facilitate this group.  Dara is writing an VR article for 10/2 issue, which will link Valley Moves with the Valley Safe Routes to School efforts.

A new meeting model was also proposed and agreed upon.
Working group members will volunteer to take turns attending monthly meetings of VFN and providing working group reports and taking minutes for a group list of Valley Moves working groups via e-mail. The VFN Chairs group meets on the second Friday of each month, 7:45 a.m. at the Wait House. Bobbi Rood agreed to cover the next VFN meeting in October.  Laura and Bobbi officially resigned as Valley Moves Co-chairs, and embrace this new Valley Moves structure.  It is possible in the future that new Co-chairs will emerge…in the meantime, we are excited to see how this new structure works!

Valley Moves Umbrella Meetings 4 x a year:
It was agreed that the Valley Moves umbrella group would meet on the second Thursday of the first month of each quarter beginning in January. meeting with subsequent meetings in April, July and September.  Working groups will meet as needed.  A working group can call a special meeting of the Valley Moves umbrella group anytime.  This will be posted on the VFN website and the Chamber calendar.

Tags: Transportation by Bobbi Rood
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