A piece of very good news for Vermont’s environmental community was announced earlier today.

Two organizations that are particularly near and dear to me, the Vermont Natural Resource Council  and Vermont Conservation Voters (formerly the League of Conservation Voters) have joined in a strategic partnership in order to more effectively pursue their shared mission to protect and preserve Vermont’s most valuable resources, its natural environment and sustainable communities.

VNRC, the state’s oldest Vermont-based statewide environmental group is known for its well-researched advocacy and focus on public education and citizen involvement. VCV has a legal structure that allows it to donate money to legislative candidates, lobby full time at the State House, and hold elected and administrative officials accountable for their votes.

I take particular pleasure in this announcement,  as I have the honor of serving on the board of the LCV.

The structure of the new union maintains each body as a separate entity with overlapping boards and a single Executive Director, Brian Shupe.  

Shupe is already well-respected for his leadership role at the VNRC, and is a perfect fit for the culture of both organizational bodies.

Why, after decades of independence, have these two notable non-profits chosen to make this move?

Beth Humstone, Chair of the VNRC’s Board of Directors explains it this way:

“We need to develop new strategies to meet new challenges and we think partnerships that can expand our impact are key,”

She joins VCV Chair Stark Biddle in emphasizing that the new relationship should bring greater power to the messaging of all Vermont’s many valuable individuals and organizational entities that labor to see Vermont accept a  leadership role in proactive efforts to meet our challenging resource future.

“We have big energy and conservation challenges – perhaps bigger and more complex than ever, and a closer alliance between these two groups, with their complementary missions, will be critical for the coming decades,” Biddle said.

As we embark on a new legislative session, let’s hope that this strategic alliance will bring new energy to the agenda for a sustainable future.