Historically these kinds of studies have taken place in Vermont
about once a generation. Statewide conversations took place following
the devastation of the 1927 flood, again in the late 1960s when the new
interstate highway brought big changes and in 1988, Governor Kunin
convened the Commission on Vermont's Future. VCRD initiated the Council
on the Future of Vermont based on its experience in working with many
individual communities around the state (though none yet in The Valley
towns). As common issues (such as global trade patterns, climate
change, erosion of cultural traditions and changes in land use
patterns) surfaced, the time seemed right to take a statewide look at
big picture trends, evaluate the opportunities and challenges ahead and
consider common Vermont priorities.
VCRD was the perfect convener of this work. This nonprofit organization
is known for its work in nonpartisan policy research and collaborative
community planning dialog. VCRD was able to facilitate this discussion
with a long-term perspective and get participants to think beyond
day-to-day politics.
IMPORTANT ASPECT
One of the most important aspects of the CFV work was that it made sure
that it talked to all types of people in gathering information. It did
not just talk to planners, legislators and executive directors of
nonprofits. It talked to veterans, social service providers and
recipients, artists, business owners and employees, students and
teachers, emergency service providers, farmers, downtown associations
and even spent a day at one of the state's correctional institutions
talking with inmates. CFV held meetings in factories, places of
business, churches, schools, and town halls to reach voices not often
heard. Over 4,000 people participated in these direct discussions,
another 1,500 were surveyed by phone and others participated online.
CFV further enlisted the University of Vermont and Saint Michaels
College for research. The Center for Social Science Research at Saint
Michael's College published a study, "Vermont in Transition: A Summary
of Social, Economic and Environmental Trends," as part of this overall
work.
The output of all this effort is the articulation of a comprehensive
picture of the values, concerns and aspirations of Vermonters as they
consider the future of the state. Notably, the findings include a
section of the values we share as a people and a vision of how our
communities, economy, landscape and quality of life might be a
generation from now.
FINDINGS
The findings will be shared with all of us on May 11 during a Summit on
the Future of Vermont at the Dudley Davis Center at UVM in Burlington.
This will not just be a presentation of the findings but a discussion
of what the next steps might be and what we, as Vermonters, do with
this incredible assemblage of information. There will be breakout
sessions on energy, education, agriculture, land use and many others
allowing us as individuals to be engaged in shaping our future.
"Imagining Vermont" was released at the State House April 9 for
legislators, other elected officials, administrative leaders and
Supreme Court Justices. It's online, along with summit registration and
program details, at www.futureofvermont.org.
The Mad River Valley is unique in many ways, but as this report shows Vermonters have a lot in common.
Bob Ackland, Warren, is a board member and treasurer of Vermont Council
on Rural Development and was formerly president of Summit Ventures NE
LLC, owner and operator of Sugarbush Resort.
