(A 50-year anniversary gets more than a day on the Front Page, as a reminder of who’s been fighting the good fight, even when it becomes a delaying action.)

The Vermont Natural Resource Council is celebrating its 50th year of service to the twin causes of environmental protection and sustainable living.  It could be argued that the VNRC is one of the key reasons why Vermont has come to stand head and shoulders above the rest of the country, in terms of responsible living; and deserves some of the credit for the state successfully building a green “brand” to compliment that initiative.

Theirs has often been a thankless job.  I have first-hand knowledge of this bitter truth, as the VNRC came to bat for the Northwest Citizens for Responsible Growth (for whom I serve as spokesperson) when we undertook to protect the local St. Albans environment and economy from an “unstoppable” big box Walmart development on prime agricultural soils.  

That struggle lasted ten years, against all odds; and even though we failed to prevent permitting for the global giant, in the course of our effort much important groundwork was laid for revitalization of the traditional downtown of St. Albans, and many significant precedents were negotiated that will, in the long run, mean better land-use decisions going forward.

On Saturday, September 22,  Vermonters have a chance to say “thank you” to the VNRC, by purchasing tickets in support of the organization and attending the 50th anniversary celebration at Shelburne Farms, featuring Van Jones as the keynote speaker.  

Jones is president and co-founder of Rebuild the Dream, a platform for bottom-up, people-powered innovations to help fix the U.S. economy. He has a 20-year track record as a successful, innovative and award-winning social entrepreneur.

The event will feature local food and drink, music, and a number of other distinguished speakers, including Bill McKibben, John Ewing of Smart Growth Vermont, and (a personal favorite of mine) Canadian activist Maude Barlow, author of an eye-opening volume on our imperiled water supply, “Blue Gold.”  

Here, again, is the ticket link.

This event succeeds in combining many of my “favorite things.”

I’ve already mentioned the significance of the VNRC to me; and my enthusiasm for the work of Maude Barlow.

Even if you are not familiar with “Rebuild the Dream,” anyone who is a fan of “Real Time with Bill Maher” has no doubt seen Van Jones articulate the position of science on environmental issues most eloquently and persuasively on a number of occasions.

Bill McKibben needs no introduction to GMD readers.  Apart from his international reputation for climate activism through 350.org, Bill has long been known to drop into these pages from time-to-time.

John Ewing, and Smart Growth Vermont, will also be known to most in the GMD community.  Their powerful visioning on behalf of economically strong and sustainable communities for all Vermonters recently increased its impact when Smart Growth Vermont formally joined forces with the VNRC.

Vermont entrepreneur Will Raap, formerly CEO of Gardeners Supply and current advocate for “Slow Living,” and World Resources Institute founder and Vermont law school professor Gus Speth round out the roster of great speakers.

Then there is the opportunity for a fall visit to one of Vermont most beautiful locations, Shelburne Farms.

Add local food and beverages and local music and you have a venue that is worth many times the price of admission!

I have to assume that every single candidate for statewide office will consider this a premier event and be sure to join the crowd of several hundred environmentally conscious Vermonters that will be on hand and skew “most likely to vote” in the upcoming election.

Like the DJ’s used to say: “Be there or be square.”( cue echo effect)