Well friends, it's that time of year again. The legislative session is again underway so it's time for us to let them hear our voices! Join the environmental community in asking our legislators to secure a cleaner, healthier Vermont at the 5th annual:

Citizen Action Day

February 13, 2008

Last year over 200 citizens from all over Vermont were concerned enough about protecting Vermont's air, land and water that they committed to taking a day off from work to attend a day-long event in Montpelier.

During this year's event, citizens will be briefed on the Vermont Environmental Collaborative's 2008 legislative priorities and trained on lobbying techniques from do's and don'ts, to state house lingo and procedure. 

The agenda for the day:
9:00   - 10:00 -- Registration and check in
10:00 - 10:10 -- Welcome
10:10 - 10:50 -- 2008 Environmental Legislative Agena Overview provided by VACV Executive Director, Todd Bailey.
10:50 - 11:00 -- Power to the people - comments from Elizabeth Courtney, Vermont Natural Resources Council Director and Environmental Representative on the Governors Climate Change Commission
11:00 - 11:45 -- Lobby Training
11:45 - 1:00   -- Individual and group lobby meetings
1:00   - 2:00   -- Debrief: Share key insights you learned in your meeting. Network! And get inspired by a special guest speaker

Please take full advantage of the day by talking to your legislators about the 2008 priorities along with your concerns and hopes for Vermont's environmental future.
 
Legislators need to continue to hear from the overwhelming majority of citizens in Vermont who value clean air, clean water, and open spaces.

Contact VACV for more information and how you can get involved in protecting what is special about Vermont!

Or, go to www.vpirg.org/lobbyday/ to register in advance.

On the steps of the Vermont State House, over 200 Vermonters gathered to call for leadership from Vermont's highest elected official - Governor Jim Douglas. Vermont is blessed with Congressional leaders working hard in the U.S. Capitol to press for the strongest climate legislation necessary to tackle the magnitude of the problem we are facing. In stark contrast, Vermont's third-term Governor vetoed a promising climate change and energy bill this past spring. At this event, attendees enjoyed homemade Vermont apple pie and ice cream as a fun and yummy way to highlight the fact that leadership on climate change is as American as apple pie.Former Vermont Governor Phil Hoff spoke about the need for leadership from elected officials - and from ourselves. Vermonters were asked to submit their ideas on what they'd do as leader of Vermont to combat climate change. Authors of three good ideas stood up on stage to describe their vision for action. Groovy blues music, including a hit called "Big Boss Gov" (written specifically about Governor Douglas' lack of leadership on global warming) provided fun bookends to the event. Despite the chilly November air, Vermonters of all ages turned out in large numbers to add their voices to this historic day and demand that leaders - at the local, state and national level - muster the courage and conviction necessary to confront the challenge a warming world presents us all

To read executive director, Todd Bailey's, Step It Up 2 speech, click here