The idea for the network grew out of a summer 2007 retreat organized by the Mad River Planning District and held at the Center for Whole Communities. The initial goal was to promote local leadership within Mad River Valley communities. "At last summer's gathering, there were no guaranteed outcomes beyond two wonderful days of conversation," remembers Laura Brines, one of two dozen Valley residents invited to participate in last summer's retreat. "But at the end of our time together, we decided to roll up our sleeves and see if we might create a network to support a number of good ideas or projects already underway, and collaborate on new ones."
The Valley Futures Network defines its mission broadly and inclusively. The full mission can be found at www.valleyfutures.net.
"The Valley Futures Network is a grassroots, citizen effort focusing on building a healthy and sustainable 21st-century future for our Mad River Valley communities. The initial goal of the Valley Futures Network is to build enthusiasm and support across the Valley around a common vision of our future. This vision includes certain critical success factors that are necessary in order to achieve health and sustainability: bolstering healthy local food; designing for energy conservation and independence; supporting a strong, resilient business community; crafting affordable housing for our workforce and young families; and preserving our land for conservation, wildlife and recreation."
"A second major objective of the Valley Futures Network is to help launch and publicize tangible projects that will move The Valley's vision from idea to reality. The new group will make available small grants as 'seed' capital to facilitate demonstration projects or to test new ideas. The Valley Futures Network supports and builds on, rather than duplicates or replaces, the efforts of other individuals and organizations already working towards the health of The Valley. The MRVPD executive director and the MRVPD Steering Committee will work closely with the Valley Futures Network to coordinate and implement projects that move us towards our goals."
To move good ideas into action, the Valley Futures Network has created a number of citizen-led committees focusing on a variety of questions related to agriculture, energy, local currency, a land bank, recycling, habitat and transportation. Interested citizens are encouraged to contact the chairs of each steering committee with their ideas. "We are genuinely excited about the potential of this new network to serve as a citizens' voice in promoting dialogue and collaboration among Mad River's various stakeholders," explained Fayston Select Board member Jared Cadwell, emphasizing the importance of not replicating or competing with existing Mad River Valley projects and organizations already hard at work on many local issues. "Working together, the citizens of the Mad River Valley can craft a healthier and more sustainable future for ourselves and our children, and we invite any interested resident of The Valley to contact us to get involved."
To find out how to get involved, please visit www.valleyfutures.net .
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