Vermont Digital Economy Project Assisting Local Nonprofits in Plymouth

Posted on 08/07/2013 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

From Betsy Tonkin, Plymouth Historical Society

Rob Fish is assisting the Plymouth Historical Society in building a website. Part of the focus of this project is to share and collaborate with other organizations in the area. A free, skills workshop has been planned for Wednesday, Aug. 14th, from 6:30-8:00 pm at the former Plymouth Elementary School. The event is open to anyone interested.

During the month of August, representatives from community nonprofit organizations in Chester, Plymouth, Randolph and South Royalton are invited to participate in online skill building discussions aimed at using digital tools to build stronger and more effective organizations. The discussions are being organized by the Vermont Digital Economy Project, a project of the Vermont Council on Rural Development.

According to Rob Fish, the project’s nonprofit advisor, “Vermont’s strength is a direct result of the strength of the community organizations that step up in time of need, or provide ongoing assistance to members of the community in need. These free events are a great chance for local nonprofits to get to know each other, share ideas, and learn about online tools that will assist them to better communicate their message, fundraise, and collaborate.”

Since late spring, Fish has been working with nonprofits in Bethel, Rochester, Woodstock and Ludlow. Assistance has included helping groups to create Facebook pages, sign up for Google Apps for Nonprofits, integrate online fundraising, and, for a few organizations, assistance in building or significantly upgrading their websites. The Woodstock based Ottauquechee Community Partnership (OCPVT) is one of several local organizations (other examples) that benefited greatly from participating in the project.

“As a result of our work with Rob Fish and the Vermont Digital Economy project we will save $1,296 per year that we previously spent on phone, email and website. This is money that can now go directly to our local programs,” said Ottauquechee Community Partnership (OCPVT) executive director Jacqueline Fischer. “In addition, Rob built our capacity as an organization through giving us the skills to manage our own virtual infrastructure. This investment in our community is considerable, since we make a little go a long way.”

The workshops are then followed by a series of free trainings and one-on-one consulting opportunities designed to assist local nonprofits in harnessing the revolutionizing potential of digital technology, from social media to cloud computing and more.

Workshop Schedule:

  • Chester Nonprofit Digital Skillshare Workshop – Tuesday, August 6, 2013 – 6:00-7:30 PM, Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St Chester, VT 05143
  • Royalton Nonprofit Digital Skillshare Workshop – Thursday, August 8, 2013 – 5:00-6:30 PM, Building A Local Economy (BALE), 35 South Windsor Street South Royalton
  • Plymouth Nonprofit Digital Skillshare Workshop – Wednesday, August 14, 2013 – 6:30-8:00 PM Old Plymouth Elementary School, Route 100 Just North of Plymouth Town Office.
  • Randolph Nonprofit Digital Skillshare Workshop – Thursday, August 15, 2013 – 6:00-7:30 PM, Vermont Tech Enterprise Center Business Incubator Location: 1540 VT Route 66 Randolph

Organizations attending the workshop or requesting one-on-one advising help are requested to fill out a short needs assessment survey prior to the meeting. The survey and information on future workshops can be found at http://vtdigitaleconomy.org/

Created by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) in response to the 2011 floods, the Vermont Digital Economy Project’s mission is to construct more resilient communities, by helping Vermont communities, businesses, and nonprofits better use online tools as a way to speed flood recovery, spur economic development and job growth, and improve community resilience to disasters.

For more information, please contact Rob Fish at rob@vtrural.org. Additional information on nonprofit advising and other services offered by the project can be found at http://vtdigitaleconomy.org/

Learn more about who we are helping:

Rob Fish
Nonprofit Advisor and Community Organizer
Vermont Digital Economy Project
Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD)
(802) 488-5143
rob@vtrural.org
http://vtdigitaleconomy.org/

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/VTDigitalEconomy; Twitter: @VTDigitalEcon

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 08/05/2013 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

7/28/13

What a great turnout for the Reach Out Luncheon last Thursday. Norm Aubin & Rudy Gross were cooks extradinaire at the grill, which Laurence very kindly loaned us from the Echo Lake Inn. Since we did not have a speaker, I read a short story about a lost cockatiel named Rocky, then we talked about angels in our lives. During my illness, there have been many & some of them were sitting right there!

A reminder about the festivities at the Notch on Saturday, 8/4. Come enjoy craft demonstrations, wagon rides, sheep shearing, & live music. Bring your appetite for the Emergency Services chicken BBQ!

Condolences go out to Steve & Cindy on the sudden passing of their beloved horse, Rocky. Hopefully a suitable companion for Moses will be found soon. Thanks to Shawn Bemis for helping with the burial.

Another upcoming event is the Tyson Ladies Aid Bazaar, taking place on Sat 8/10 at Veterans Memorial Park in Ludlow from 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM. Folks may remember that it used to be held at Tyson Church on the 3rd Thursday of August, but times have changed & there is more exposure in Ludlow & better attendance on the weekend.

There is still an amazing food table with lots of luscious baked goods. Gift certificates & various theme baskets are offered in the raffle – something for everyone & you get to place your tickets individually for whatever suits your fancy. A yummy chicken BBQ with tables under the trees provides a great lunch. There will be a book sale, too!

Tyson Ladies Aid is a group of ambitious & lively ladies (the husbands often lend a hand) who fund-raise to support the Tyson Library, help with the monthly Reach Out Luncheon (along with Tyson Church), & contribute funds for many community needs in the surrounding area. Scholarships this year went to graduating seniors Marina Turco at BRHS & Kiersten Weiss at WUHS

Some of you may have experienced delays as a portion of the Kingdom (Tyson/Reading) Rd was being paved. A minor inconvenience & what an improvement! That reminds me, a warm welcome to Tyson for Morgan, JP, & Harper.

Lastly, please contact Terry Bascom at 802-672-5390 or at terry.bascom@yahoo.com with ideas for the use of the former Plymouth Schoolhouse. Terry has been hired by the town to help facilitate the utilization of this space. Possible ideas are a retail or business space, but it is hoped that other community events/programs can be provided there as well, such as classes, demonstrations, or service & informational programs.

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Tyson Ladies Aid annual bazaar, August 10th, 10am – 2pm

Posted on 07/30/2013 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

From Sally Scarp

The Tyson Ladies’ Aid Association will hold its 103rd annual summer bazaar on the green at Veterans Memorial Park in Ludlow, Vermont on Saturday, August 10th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine. The event will feature a chicken barbeque with corn on the cob and homemade coleslaw and baked beans. Baked goods, such as pies, cakes, cookies and bread will also be offered for sale.

“This is such a fun event, especially since Ludlow no longer celebrates the zucchini harvest”, said Janine Norman, one of the organizers.  “We have some amazing bakers who are very proud of their wares and the natural ingredients they use. This year we will continue our basket raffle for over 50 themed baskets made and donated by our members”, she continues. “Two new additions to this year’s bazaar is the addition of a crafts sale and a book sale.”

The Tyson Ladies’ Aid Association was founded in 1880 to raise funds to bring a church to Tyson.  In 1887, the Ladies had purchased the Tyson Iron Works office and established the Tyson Library at that site.  After a period of inactivity, they reorganized in 1910 and have operated continuously since then, using money raised to support the library, fund scholarships and benefit the local community.

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 07/29/2013 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

7/21/13

A little advance notice about Plymouth Old Home Day at the Historic Site, which is Saturday, 8/3 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Taking place since the early 20th century, this year it coincides with the 90th anniversary of Calvin Coolidge’s “Homestead Inaugural.” Plan to join the fun – wagon rides, sheep shearing, & craft demonstrations. A barbershop quartet will be on hand & of course come for lunch to the Plymouth Emergency Services chicken BBQ!

As I write this, we still have a wire hanging in our driveway from the storm on Friday night. Thanks to the friends who have stopped to let us know. Tom has marked it with a cone now, until Ludlow Electric gets here to fix it. Glad there is still room to get in & out! Hope others did not a problem….

I have been taking Pilates at 10:00 AM on Thurs mornings at a church in Proctorsville & I have been enjoying it greatly. Jamie has been very good about going slowly, keeping in mind my current limitations. I was the only one in attendance last week, so I was thinking about offering Tyson Church as a site instead, hoping there might be a few other people who would want to participate. It is very reasonable at $10 for the hour, so let me know if you might want to come!

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 07/19/2013 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

7/15/13

Finally – nice weather this past weekend! Seemed to be many bikers on Rte 100 & people enjoying water activities. With many visitors to our area, the roads are a bit more congested & there have been some accidents as a result. Please be careful!

The Historical Society is still busy organizing in their new space at the former school building. Their next meeting will be 8/7 at 7:00 PM, at which time they will set a date for an open house.

Just a note about how well the various organizations in town work cooperatively. The groups that sponsor the Strawberry Festival – Tyson Ladies Aid, Tyson Church, & Emergency Services each contributed to a campership at Bethany Birches this year. Last year, funds went to Farm & Wilderness. It is wonderful to see people working side by side to enhance our community!

The Reach Out Luncheon this month will be Thursday, 7/25 & we will be having a BBQ this time. Considering joining us downstairs in the Community Room of Tyson Church at 11:00 AM.

The first Grace Coolidge Musicale will take place 8/4 from 3:00 – 4:30, featuring Verandah Porche reading from her new book, Sudden Eden & music by Abi Charbeneau. Refreshments will follow at the Wilder House.

Speaking of the Wilder House, glad to hear that Monk Hale is home now & recuperating nicely from his recent surgery.

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Road Closure Notice – July 29-Aug 30

Posted on 07/18/2013 by The Plymouth Press

From Larry Lynds, Plymouth Road Foreman

Hale Hollow Road Bridge #37 will be closed for repair July 29-August 30, 2013.

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Community Activities Coordinator Hired for Plymouth

Posted on 07/12/2013 by The Plymouth Press

From the Plymouth School Building Committee

The Selectboard of the Town of Plymouth is pleased to announce that it has contracted with Mr. Terry Bascom to develop a diverse slate of activities and events for the residents of the town and its visitors. The contract runs from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

This action continues the town’s effort to find new uses for the 3-room Plymouth Elementary School building since its closing in 2009, and to foster a range of community events. It follows from a vote at the March 2013 Town Meeting to approve one year of trial funding. Mr. Bascom will work in consultation with town officials, a committee of interested Plymouth residents, including representatives of the school board, the zoning committee, the selectboard, emergency services and the Plymouth Historical Society, and local businesses, foundations, and organizations.

Terry Bascom has a diverse work background featuring mid-level and senior-level management positions in both for-profit and not-for-profit entities. Prior to 2007, when he semi-retired to Plymouth, Mr. Bascom had been a church pastor, college professor, small business manager, and entrepreneur. Much of his work involved creating or correcting institutional systems to promote organizational functionality and increase cultural vitality, abilities he looks forward to applying to the task of creating a viable, community-centered slate of activities and services for the Town of Plymouth and its guests.

In addition to the time he will devote to his work for the town, Mr. Bascom writes for the sociology of religion website, Insights into Religion, and is editing a book written by a scholar at the Hartford Institute of Religion Research, located in Hartford, Connecticut, that describes the rise and fall of a megachurch. He also manages websites for himself and his wife, Willow, an author and illustrator.

Individuals and organizations interested in learning more about the new use for the Plymouth School, or seeking information about offering classes, programs, events, or services to the people of Plymouth are invited to contact Terry by telephone at 802.672.5390, or by email at terry.bascom@yahoo.com.

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 07/12/2013 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

7/5/13

I hope that everyone had a fun & safe 4th of July. The march to the cemetery to lay the wreath from the White House couldn’t have had better weather. Warm, but there was shade for the speeches & a lovely breeze. As we strolled through the Historic Site & ate the chicken BBQ, there were several hundred people milling around.

Although we didn’t stay for the music & other events. We spoke with many folks from various places who were planning to attend these activities. I wish I had known earlier that the Historical Society was open at their new location because I would have included it last week!

The rains of earlier this week caused considerable damage in some neighboring communities, but glad that our area was not greatly affected. You could see some places along the Notch hill that had washed & the lakes are chocolate colored, but we fared pretty well.

I know that with the steamy temps lately it seems a bit strange to think about home heating possibilities for this winter. Yet, as Town Service Officer, I just received notification about help being available under the Green Mountain Power Discount Energy Assistance Program for low-income Vermonters who heat with electricity & through the VT Gas Systems Energy Assistance Program for those who heat with gas. For more info, call 1-800-775-0516.

Some of you may have known Frances (Sis) Hanlon on Dublin Rd. She passed away on 6/8 while staying with her daughter in CT. Pam said that the family would like to have a memorial service for her some time in August. When the date is finalized, I will note it here.

Lastly, I forgot a very important 1st birthday – Josie Flaster turned one year old on 7/2. Congratulations to this lively, happy little girl!

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 07/05/2013 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

6/30/13

Well, the strange weather continues to plague us, but it was definitely a Godsend that the rain halted around 4:00 PM on Wed, allowing the Strawberry Festival to go forward with a good crowd. Thanks to everyone for their hard work & to those who faithfully support this wonderful community event!

As most folks undoubtedly know by now, the money for the Sheriff was reinstated in the town budget by a large majority. It was nice that folks were courteous to one another & there were several light moments during the meeting. It was also encouraging to note that the Selectmen were receptive to the ideas presented, especially the idea to provide more precise details in the contract so that the needs of the town are adequately met.

A fun event will take place at Bethany Birches Camp on Sunday 7/7. First of all there will be the church service led by camp staff at 10:00 AM – complete with energetic singing & sharing of faith journeys. A chicken BBQ will follow that will fill your belly, while the spectacular view will nourish you as well! If you are so inclined, bring your bathing suit & take a dip in the pond. I understand that the camp season is going well, but for further info, please go to http://bethanybirches.org/2013/06/newsletter-2013-summer-programs-events/#sthash.5B7wo3nt.dpuf.

Happy Birthday to Janine Norman on 7/3 – a day before Calvin Coolidge! Don’t forget the BBQ offered at Wilder House following the march to the cemetery!

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 06/28/2013 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

6/24/13

Plymouth student, Christi Harris has recently graduated from WUHS & plans to attend UNH in the fall.  She will major in business & international affairs & minor in Spanish.  Best wishes for a wonderful college experience!

Well, belated birthday wishes to Dot Pingree’s (6/21).  We won’t be able to celebrate at the Reach Out Luncheon this month because there is none!  That is because we are hoping everyone will attend the Strawberry Festival this week.

Congrats to our athletes Calef Hepler – part of 3-4 boys lacrosse team, that had a winning season.  Also, to Holli Olsen who was on the WUHS girls lacrosse team & to Christi Harris on the Cross Country team.

Don’t forget that there are lots of things going on at the Notch!  Kathy Lynds said there over 100 visitors to the Site on Sunday.  Tuesdays there are guided tours with Administrator, Bill Jenney at 2:00 PM.  Wednesdays at 1:00 is the time with Farmer Fred.  On Thursdays, from 11:00 to 1:00 there are displays & activities for all ages sponsored by the Coolidge Foundation.  Something for everyone!  Plan to attend the march with the VT National Guard on 7/4, as they parade over to the cemetery to put the wreath sent by the While House on the grave of Calvin Coolidge.

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