Center for Rural Studies 30th Anniversary Symposium
Saturday, October 4, 2008 (9 am – 6:30 pm)
Mt. Mansfield Room in UVM’s Davis Center
Information/ Registration: http://crs.uvm.edu/30years
This symposium will include speakers, panel discussions and displays on Vermont’s civic culture and food systems, and strategies for responding to rural needs and improving education and outreach. Moderators include Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Roger Allbee, and Dan Gillmor, author and electronic communication visionary. More than just a celebration, CRS hopes to move into the next 30 years energized by your ideas, involvement and participation.
There are potential initiatives that are linked with each of three sessions throughout the day. Of specific interest to Vermont libraries may be the morning session (9-11:30 am) as the potential initiative will center on support to Vermont’s libraries as social, cultural and
informational hubs for their immediate locale.
This all-day event is free and open to the public although registration is strongly encouraged! You’re welcome to come for a session or stay all day. Registration for the lunch ($18) is open until September 26, so register now!
Event Contacts: Jess Hyman (jhyman@uvm.edu) or Anna Masozera (802.656.2606; amasozer@uvm.edu)
SYMPOSIUM AGENDA DETAILS:
<8:30 Doors Open – Refreshments>
9:00-11:30 Vermont’s Civic Culture: reflecting CRS work with issues facing local government
Moderator: VT Sec of State Deb Markowitz
Keynote by CRS co-director Fred Schmidt: Rural, why bother?
Presentation by Chip Sawyer: Changing community structure and demographics in VT
Panel Discussion: Implications of change for local communities in VT
Panel Participants: Paul Gillies of the Vermont Institute for Government, Paul Costello of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, VT Sec of State Deb Markowitz, and Fred Schmidt of CRS.
<11:30 Lunch featuring VT products – $18 with registration online by
September 26>
1:00-3:30 Value-Added Components of Vermont’s Food Systems
Moderator: VT Sec of Agriculture Roger Allbee
Keynote by Jane Kolodinsky: New Themes in Vermont Agriculture: Branding, labeling, marketing, and consumer concerns
Panel: The diversified agricultural scene in Vermont today
Panel Participants: Andrew Meyer of Vermont Soy, Helen Jordan of VT Agency of Agriculture, Megan Sheradin of VT Fresh Network Travis Marcotte of the Intervale Center, and Allen Mathews of the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
<4:00 Reception with CRS Founder Fred Schmidt>
5:00-6:30 Panel Discussion: Communicating with Rural Communities-responding to rural needs and outreach strategies
Moderator: Dan Gillmor, author of “We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People” and director of the Center for Citizen Media
Additional Panel Participants: Chris Braithwaite of the Barton Chronicle, Dick Drysdale of the Herald of Randolph, Lauren-Glenn Davitian of Ch 17