VBSR Forums

A tool for non-profts, put on your board member hat

2010-04-26T14:14:21Z

Hello,

I recently launched a we-based application winwinapps.com. It combines, donations, free email marketing, ticketing, registration, surveys and more. I am based in Burlington, and am hoping you will help steer new users my way. To learn more check out winwinapps.com, follow me on twitter @winwinapps, visit our youtube channel youtube.com/winwinapps send me a direct email anna at winwinapps dot com or try my cell: (617) 800-4607. I would love to hear about your organization and see if we can help.

Starting in the fall we will not just serve non-profits, so if you know of any small start ups that might benefit from web presence, credit card processing and super low cost ecommerce have reach out to me.

Thanks for you time

Anna

Great Office Space Available

2010-03-29T10:34:59Z

We’ve got a great group sharing an office space at 209 College Street, Burlington, above Stone Soup and Three Needs. We’ve got room for 3-4 more people!

Bright, sunny, good people. Check it out here: http://www.threewestcollective.com/

Recession changes

2010-02-10T17:23:58Z

In Rita’s newsletter about the annual meeting she asked how this economic downturn has affected our business practices. What a great question!

I’ve thought a lot about it and I realize that some good things have come about. I’ll share a bit of our story would love to hear others.

My business, Vermont Trophy & Engraving has a tag line, “Recognition is Respect Made Visible” and we really mean it. In the fall of 2008 we started to hear from customers that they knew they couldn’t do raises - they weren’t sure if they could do their usual awards either. So we worked to come up with awards that would cost a lot less but wouldn’t be a less ‘visible’ sign of recognition (giving someone a tacky award of recognition is worse than ignoring them completely in my opinion). Actually we all really got into it and came up with some very cool options that are quite affordable compared to our usual engraved items.

Then last February we had the 2nd worst monthly drop in sales in the 14 years we’ve owned the business (the worst was Oct 2001) Our employees got spooked about their job security. Steve told them that if we lost them there’d be a closed sign on the door and we took a deep breath and gave them all (all 4 of them) 10% raises. That level of commitment by us seemed to calm everyone’s fears and they got back to work. (we ended 2009 a bit higher than 2008)

We’ve also noticed that our suppliers were suddenly more helpful - more grateful for our orders, more likely to sharpen their pencils for us. There seems to have been a huge growth in gratitude.... I notice that a lot and I hope it lasts

Experiences with advertising

2010-02-09T22:34:37Z

We (Tamarack Media) have a full service media business, communicating environmental issues. We’ve always received our work through referral from current clients and this has worked great. But as we consider taking on new staff to increase our capacity, we are also thinking about strategic marketing to increase our client base.

I’m curious as to other business’s experiences with marketing, both to clients (or customers) in Vermont and beyond. My inclination is to start with who we know, on a small scale. But if there are particular good, negative, or peculiar experiences out there, it would be great to hear them before we embark. Thanks!

Vermont housing needs and values

2009-12-07T17:22:51Z

What do people need and want. We were primarily a farming community in my area with a summer population that doubled the people locally. That was 40-50 years ago. Now the farms are gone; mostly. It seems to be a suburban model these days. Each home is a hobby farm, or bedroom/child rearing home, or retirement home. Where is the state going?

Antioch University Funding for Sustainable Development & Climate Change Graduate Scholarships

2009-10-26T12:43:10Z

Good Afternoon,

We’re contacting you as a member of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility concerned about environmental and resource issues. We are asking a favor of you and (if applicable) your employees to complete a 5-minute online survey gauging the need for a modified Resource Management Administration/Conservation degree: Master’s of Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Development and Climate Change.

The results will be part of an Antioch National Science Foundation grant proposal. If we are successful, the grant will fund 20 or more graduate students for the degree in 2010 at approximately $25,000 each. This would be a great contribution to our country’s effort to mange the tremendous environmental and resource changes we are facing daily.

Please feel free to pass this survey to your colleagues and other professionals; encourage them to provide input by taking the survey as well.

We are on a very tight time line and need responses to this survey by October 30th.

Take the Survey Now:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Hq_2fCcVCqRRaMfr3la9XIiA_3d_3d

Thanks so much for your speedy assistance,
James S. Gruber, P.E. PhD

Core Faculty, Environmental Studies Department, Antioch University New England
Member IUCN, Council for Economic, Environmental, and Social Policy

Voice: 603-283-2120
Fax: 603-357-0718
Cell: 603-313-1277

Faculty Web Page: http://www.antiochne.edu/JGruber.cfm
ANE Web Site: http://www.antiochne.edu
ANEI Web Site: http://www.anei.org

new web-site for organic children’s clothing

2009-08-26T11:33:00Z

Just passing along the new website for Vermont’s first line of organic children’s clothing: http://www.off-the-gridclothing.com. Please share this with your communities. Many THANKS!

Vermont Vendor for 100PC Copy Paper

2009-06-09T22:08:19Z

Would someone contact me if you know any VBSR member carrying post consumer, non-chlorine copy paper? I’d like to get the Vermont Association of Realtor members to buy local and responsible.

Michael Granger yes at sover dot net

Postpartum Support Available through BC/BS

2009-02-12T00:37:15Z

Postpartum doula services are a great way to support your employee-moms on maternity leave. Our care is reimbursed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, and we are trying to get the word out about a) What we do & how it helps new moms succeed and b) that it is reimbursed by BC/BS. If you have elected BC/BS for your employees and are interested in more information about the importance of postpartum planning/support or other related topics, please contact us We can also help your business earn a “breastfeeding friendly” designation from the Vermont Department of Health.

Lisa
Director
MamaDoula
735-1430