VBSR Legislator of the Year

VBSR Awards ‘Legislator of the Year’ to Representative Carolyn Partridge Award to be Presented at VBSR’s 21st Annual Fall Conference on November 20

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) announced Wednesday that Representative Carolyn Partridge, a lawmaker from Windham, will receive the organization’s Legislator of the Year award for her work to pass legislation requiring the labeling of genetically engineered food. Partridge will accept the award at the start of VBSR’s 21st Annual Fall Conference at the Grand Summit Hotel at Mt. Snow in West Dover, Vermont, on Wednesday, November 20.

As Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Partridge helped oversee testimony earlier this year on H.112, a bill that would require the labeling of all genetically engineered food sold in Vermont. The House passed the bill in a vote of 99-42 during the 2013 session. The Vermont Senate is expected to take it up during the 2014 session. Mark Curran, VBSR board member and co-owner of Black River Produce in North Springfield, Vermont, will present the award to Partridge.

“VBSR members believe that consumers have a right to know what is in the food they eat and that GMOs threaten the Vermont brand,” Curran said. “Carolyn was a tireless advocate for labeling at the Statehouse and her leadership has placed the state among the frontrunners of the movement.”

Registration is now open for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility’s (VBSR) Fall Conference on Wednesday, November 20. In addition to the award, VBSR’s largest southern Vermont event will feature a keynote from Jeffery and Meika Hollander, six different workshops, and 35 exhibitors. VBSR expects the conference to draw over 225 attendees to Bennington County.

Registration on or before November 19 is $95 for VBSR members and $110 for non-members. Rates for day-of registration are $115 and $130, respectively. Students and legislators can take advantage of a discounted registration rate of $25. Carpooling is encouraged, and this year VBSR is proud to be working with Go! Vermont, Transportation Underwriter of the Fall Conference, to make carpooling easier and more accessible. Online registration, carpool information, complete conference agenda and workshop details can be found at www.vbsr.org.