conservation

 Andy Simon, Ruby Perry and Charles Simpson of Save Open Space Burlington, share insights into the organization's goals and mission.  More info: www.saveopenspaceburlington.org

Karen McKenny, South Burlington Energy Committee member and Patty Tashiro, South Burlington Energy Prize Volunteer, share insights into the competition and the 'Kick Off to the Prize Party!' scheduled for January 24th, 1pm at Tuttle Middle School.

South Burlington is in the semi finalist round of the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition.  The Prize challenges participating communities to tap their imagination and creativity, and work together with their local governments, residents, and utilities toward a shared goal of continually reducing energy consumption. The winning community will receive $5 million to spend on energy efficiency projects that benefit the entire community and is chosen based on actual energy reduction and on how innovative, replicable, and scalable our programs are.

More information at: https://www.facebook.com/energyprize

Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations, hosts Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams.  They highlight a business operated by returned Peace Corps volunteer Charles Kerchner, who served in the Dominican Republic 2001-2003. Vermont is nationally ranked on the 2011 Peace Corps Top State list for per-capita volunteer production, with 47 currently-serving Peace Corps volunteers. Historically, Vermont has produced 1,422 Peace Corps volunteers who have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries in which they have served.The University of Vermont ranks No. 5 on the 2012 top Peace Corps volunteer-producing colleges and universities in the medium size category, with 42 undergraduate alumni currently serving overseas. Since the agency was founded in 1961, 801 UVM alumni have served in the Peace Corps.