It was a late-summer evening well spent as we welcomed the VNRC Board, members, and friends to our 2019 Annual Meeting last week at Shelburne Farms. We were honored to present Madeleine Kunin, former Governor of Vermont, with the Arthur Gibb Award for Individual Leadership.

During her tenure as Governor, Kunin established the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) and mentored countless environmental leaders. She later founded the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), and is a tireless champion for women in politics. 

Kunin brought a palpable, uplifting energy to the stage as she accepted her award. “Let’s just yell for a moment,” she said regarding our political climate — and the crowd broke out into a howl against complacency. “This is a dangerous time but the pendulum swings — and we can help swing it.”

“When women lead, they make the environment a priority,” said VNRC Board Member Kesha Ram, who co-presented the award. She invoked the legacies of other women leaders, and spoke of the ways that Governor Kunin had mentored her as a young member of the Vermont Legislature.

Thank you, Governor Kunin, for your continued leadership. And thanks, too, to our VNRC members and supporters who joined us to celebrate our year in advocacy. Here’s to many more! Below, find some photos of the event and the incomparable Shelburne Farms.