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GMA Takes Vermont to Court Over GMO Labeling Law

Associations Now

The Grocery Manufacturers Association, with three other trade groups, filed a lawsuit against Vermont last week, arguing that the state’s first-in-the-nation law requiring GMO food labeling is unconstitutional. It’s official: The food industry is suing Vermont over its first-in-the-nation law mandating the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Vermont’s law has no such contingency.

Vermont 98
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Vermont Becomes First Mover on GMO Labeling

Associations Now

There are no conditions on Vermont’s efforts to regulate genetically modified organisms: Unlike other Northeastern states, where GMO labeling laws are contingent on what their neighbors do, Vermont will go it alone when its law goes into effect in 2016. Vermont, home of Ben & Jerry’s (a company that supports GMO labeling and is making many of its products GMO-free), is on its way to becoming the first state to mandate labels on foods that contain GMOs.

Vermont 62
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Food Industry Threatens Lawsuit Over Vermont GMO Labeling Law

Associations Now

Peter Shumlin signing a bill into law last week, Vermont is on its way to becoming the first state to regulate labeling of genetically modified foods. It wasn’t a surprise when Vermont’s governor signed a bill into law last week that mandates the labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms. More details below: Signing the bill: Vermont Gov. Ready to fight back: Vermont officials know that a legal fight is coming.

Vermont 71
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Window Maintenance & Replacement: Caring for a Crucial Building System

All the Blogs

Deteriorated windows can lead to problems with other building envelope systems, including façades of all types, from clapboard to masonry and everything in between. Read the article……………………… Buildings Condo & HOA Articles Maine Articles Maintenance - General Massachusetts Articles New Hampshire Articles Rhode Island Articles Vermont Articles

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Dorothy, We Aren't in Vermont Anymore. : Off Stage

Off Stage

12, 2009 - Dorothy, We Aren't in Vermont Anymore. 12, 2009 - RE: Dorothy, We Arent in Vermont Anymore. Off Stage. 12.00. Normal 0. false false false. EN-US X-NONE X-NONE. MicrosoftInternetExplorer4. Your association have a problem? An over-riding concern that needs to be discussed and examined by the membership as a whole? Let’s say it’s an issue of whether or not the association should take a position on the location a proposed new highway in your community.

Vermont 45
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Say Cheese: Groups Celebrate National Farmers Market Week With Photo Contests

Associations Now

The Vermont Farmers’ Market Association, in collaboration with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, hosted a similar photo contest during the two weeks leading up to National Famers Market Week. The two groups asked people to submit selfies taken at local markets to the VTFMA Facebook page, and winners received gift certificates to their favorite Vermont farmers market. The number of farmers markets in Vermont, and throughout the U.S. ,

Vermont 105
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Association Brain Food: 3.17.23

Reid All About it

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community… Online learning. With for-profit and higher ed competition growing, your association’s online courses must stand out in the crowd. But excellent content isn’t enough to gain market share.

Denver 243
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Association Brain Food: 3.24.23

Reid All About it

The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community… I’m going away for eight days on a hiking vacation in southern Utah, so I’m not publishing Association Brain Food the next two Fridays, March 31 and April 7. You’ll see the next edition on Friday, April 14.

Chicago 195
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Association Brain Food Weekly: 12.14.18

Reid All About it

Dave Kestenbaum, Director of eRating Certification for Sustainable Transportation at the University of Vermont. The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community… It’s the most wonderful time of the year… (sing it with me). Some of us get to take time off during the holidays. What to do, what to do… WBT Systems has a suggestion for you: get your learning on.

Vermont 285
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Controversial GMO Labeling Bill Stalls in Senate

Associations Now

The chamber’s decision to pass on the measure, for now at least, leaves Vermont’s first-in-the-nation mandatory GMO labeling law untouched months before it’s expected to take effect. As a result, a forthcoming law in Vermont that would make the state the first in the country to require GMO labeling remains on the books less than four months before it takes effect July 1.

Vermont 43
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How to Seed Enthusiasm at Your Next Conference

Smooth The Path

I am a rails-to-trails kind of bicyclist so, I stepped up my game a week ago when I went to northern Vermont to mountain bike on Kingdom Trails. One afternoon we finished our ride at about 5 PM and were relaxing on the lawn of an outdoor bar when the sky opened up and poured. Everyone raced for an awning (which was kind of funny since we all were very muddy, dirty, and sweaty).

Vermont 79
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Associations Keep Eye on Budding No-Homework Trend

Associations Now

From Vermont to Texas , individual educators and entire schools are showing a willingness to get rid of out-of-classroom work. But Mark Trifilio, principal of Orchard School in South Burlington, Vermont, doesn’t think that approach really works anymore. In recent weeks, schools around the country have been discussing in earnest the idea of dropping homework from their curriculums altogether.

Vermont 97
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GMO Labeling Battle Heats Up in Senate

Associations Now

With a Vermont law requiring the labeling of foods that have been genetically modified about to take effect, the U.S. The bill would effectively make efforts to legislate the issue at the state level, most notably in Vermont , null and void. “Vermont’s law should not be blocked. It was supported by a majority of Vermont citizens and lawmakers,” the association wrote.

Vermont 42
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American Legion to Female WWII Vet: Yes, You’re a Member

Associations Now

A Vermont World War II veteran was granted membership to the American Legion earlier this summer—just days before she died at the age of 91. The Vermont native, who served with the Marine Corps during World War II, found out in June that she was becoming a member of the American Legion. The group’s national commander, who has worked to raise the position of women within the organization, says he made the effort a personal mission.

Vermont 74
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New Hampshire Looks to Kick-start Craft Beers With Marketing Nonprofit

Associations Now

In Vermont, 20 percent of the craft brews sold in the state are made there, according to Granite State Brewers Association (GSBA) President Bill Herlicka. The economic impact of craft brewing on New Hampshire is actually higher than it is on Vermont, according to a Brewers Association study [PDF]. 19 The number of licensed breweries in the state, according to The Eagle-Tribune.

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Medical Societies Speak Out on Proposed Aid-in-Dying Bills

Associations Now

The topic has gained little traction on the presidential campaign trail, though last month Vermont senator and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders spoke out in support of physician-assisted suicide at a forum hosted by the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations. Vermont, Oregon, Washington, and Montana, along with California, have passed such bills.). Though the California Medical Association has taken a neutral stance, other groups in the U.S.

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Governors Association Helps Members Leverage Possibilities of the Great Outdoors

Associations Now

Governors from a number of states, including Maine, Oregon, Vermont, Montana, and Nevada, took part in the network’s launch last week. The National Governors Association’s new Outdoor Recreation Learning Network will help state leaders share strategies for maximizing one of their greatest resources: nature. The 50 states have a lot of the great outdoors to share, protect, and promote.

Utah 52
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Antique Groups Feel Pressure of Anti-Ivory Rules

Associations Now

Several states have already instituted bans or are in the process of cracking down on ivory sales, including Vermont. “People are having trouble connecting their grandmother’s piano with terrorism,” Vermont Rep. As states and the Obama administration crack down on the sale of ivory, antique groups are challenging legislation in order to ensure the exemption of legally obtained ivory goods.

Vermont 61
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Up Your Name Badge Game

Associations Now

that predicted I would own two houses, including a vacation home in Vermont, by my early thirties. Name badges are a staple of association conferences. Three elements to keep in mind when designing your next attendee badge. Do you remember the first time you wore a name badge? I don’t. But I was reminded a few months back when I was going through some boxes at my parents’ house.

Vermont 105
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Heart Association Encourages More Colorful Eating

Associations Now

It’s about adding colorful, nutritious, and vitamin-packed fruit and vegetables to meals instead of choosing unhealthier options,” Dr. Rachel Johnson, nutrition professor at University of Vermont and past chair of the AHA Nutrition Committee, said in a statement. “It’s The American Heart Association is making sure you get your daily dose of fruits and veggies with its +color initiative.

Vermont 94
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Has the Ice Bucket Challenge Spawned Charity Jacking?

Beth Kanter

In the early days of social fundraising in 2008, Erin Ennis who took a winter dip in Vermont’s Lake Champlain as part of a personal challenge to raise money for Special Olympics Vermont.

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Wednesday Buzz: Win Over Gen Z With VR

Associations Now

“For a nonprofit organization or a company that leads through corporate philanthropy, virtual reality can put Gen Zers directly inside the environments they are most passionate about, from a remote village in a Third World country to a bee farm in Vermont,” writes Kate L. VR technology may help your organization connect with Gen Z. Also: A common piece of career advice may actually be hurting women. Do you have plans to win over Gen Z?

Vermont 51
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The Happy Healthy Nonprofit Book Tour: You Are Invited To Join Us

Beth Kanter

Cabot Creamery Co-operative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and makes a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and butter. Aliza Sherman and I never dreamed that our book, The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout , would be such a needed resource in the nonprofit field when we started writing it last year.

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Maine Principals Adopt Policy for Transgender Athletes

Associations Now

” Maine joins Colorado, Vermont, and Washington as states with transgender high school student-athlete guidelines, according to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. Maine became the fourth state to approve a program that allows transgender high school student-athletes to play for sports teams that match their gender identity.

Maine 80
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Secular Groups Play Up Political Clout of “Nones”

Associations Now

“Sanders defines God in a very different way than the way most Americans do, and in fact, a way that would be compatible with nontheistic humanists,” Speckhardt told the Post , adding that the Vermont senator has rarely spoken of God in “supernatural” terms.

Vermont 75
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Emergency Call Groups Aim to Update Standards, Systems

Associations Now

senators have filed draft legislation to dedicate federal funding to Next Generation 9-1-1, which could help NENA deploy the system across the states by the early 2020s, though several states like Vermont and Maine already offer some next-generation services. Following the creation of new emergency call standards and a cross-continental collaboration, people in Europe and North America could benefit from a more efficient, interconnected emergency response system.

Vermont 56
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Essay Contest Harnesses Student Voices to Fight Hazing

Associations Now

Other allegations of hazing in Vermont , Oklahoma , and Ohio all highlight NFHS’s concern over the “growing hazing epidemic,” Hopkins said. “I In conjunction with HazingPrevention.Org, the National Federation of State High School Associations is sponsoring an essay contest that encourages high school athletes to share stories of how they welcome new teammates without hazing.

Vermont 74
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Groups Push Ban on Powdered Alcohol in Massachusetts and Beyond

Associations Now

Alaska, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia have already banned the substance. Powdered alcohol? Yes, there is such a thing. And while the product is currently legal at the federal level, state associations are putting up resistance against its sale, noting the dangers to consumers. Last year, the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau gave the go-ahead for the future sale of powdered alcohol in the United States.

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Role-Playing Exercises: Another Immersive Element for Meetings

Associations Now

Last week, at the 26th Annual Spring Conference of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility , attendees took part in a role-playing exercise where they worked in small teams (acting as the chief sustainability officer of Amazon) to prepare a pitch for a new CSR initiative to CEO Jeff Bezos. Want to get your attendees more engaged in sessions at your meetings? Try adding role-playing exercises where they help solve problems affecting your association’s industry.

Vermont 56
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Study: Association CEO Gender Gap Isn’t Going Away

Associations Now

cents in Vermont. While female CEOs are rising in numbers, according to a new study from CEO Update , their financial compensation has yet to reach the level of their male counterparts, especially at large associations. Women are more likely to find themselves at the top of the association leadership chart than in years past, but the association CEO gender gap persists.

Wyoming 75
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FTC Chair Wants Investigation Into Frivolous Patent Suits

Associations Now

At the state level, Vermont passed a law targeting “bad faith” patent usage. Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez says that patent assertion entities, often called “patent trolls,” may be hurting consumers, and is calling for a deeper analysis of the issue. The “patent troll” may have met its match. The derisive term is used to describe companies that engage in numerous lawsuits based on patents they own but don’t use.

Vermont 49
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Roundup: Ballot Initiatives Make Breakthroughs on Election Night

Associations Now

GMA is currently in a legal battle with the state of Vermont over legislative passage of a GMO-labeling law. Precedents set by passage of key ballot initiatives on issues as diverse as genetically modified organisms, marijuana, and sugary beverages have associations and trade groups speaking out. The top story in yesterday’s midterm elections was the Republican Party’s sweeping congressional and statehouse wins , but that was not the only story.

Hawaii 58
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Association’s Cheese Championship Brings in Gouda Competition

Associations Now

While the competition attracts cheeses from all over the country—including New York, Vermont, California, and Idaho—the home-field advantage is strong for this one. The biannual U.S. Championship Cheese Contest, which took place in Wisconsin last week, is a highly technical competition that highlights its home state’s usual home-field advantage on the cheese front. When the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association puts on the biannual U.S. Championship Cheese Contest , it goes big. Lambeau big.

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Lung Association Raises Alarm on Air Quality

Associations Now

Salinas joined Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont; Elmira-Corning, New York; and Honolulu, Hawaii, on the association’s cleanest cities list, according to a news release. The latest edition of the American Lung Association’s State of the Air study finds that things are improving in many areas, but more than half of the country’s citizens live in areas with poor air quality. The numbers remain especially troubling in California.

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Group Aims to Help School Counselors Face Growing Caseloads

Associations Now

Only New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming, and the U.S. 1,061 The average number of students assigned to each school counselor in California for the 2010-11 school year, according to the American School Counselor Association [PDF]. California’s ratio was the highest in the U.S. The next closest were Arizona (861 to1), Minnesota (782 to 1), and Utah (726 to 1). Virgin Islands have a ratio better than ASCA’s recommended 250 to 1.

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Opioid Addiction Fight Takes Center Stage With Governors

Associations Now

This past weekend, the problem took center stage at the winter convention of the National Governors Association in Washington, DC, where governors on both sides of the political aisle—Democratic Vermont Gov. Opioid addiction has become serious enough nationally that when the association for the nation’s governors had the president’s ear earlier this week, it was the main topic of discussion. And the group isn’t alone in discussing the crisis.

Vermont 48
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Membership Marketing Blog: Membership Marketing Response.

Membership Marketing

Vermont. Membership Marketing Blog. Membership marketing – acquiring, engaging, upgrading, and renewing members – is the cornerstone for associations and relationship driven organizations. Whether you are an association professional or a relationship marketer, join the discussion on the Membership Marketing Blog and share your ideas and counsel. Speaking Engagements. Speaking Engagements. Publications. Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Membership Marketing Response Rates by State.