Voting in the 2011 VPIRG Board of Trustees election is open now through October 31, 2011. Members in good standing as of Sept. 1, 2011 are eligible to vote. If you have questions about the election, please contact Cassie at cwills@vpirg.org or at 802-223-5221 ext. 5221.
Trustees up for election this term include:
Dan Brush, Woodbury
President Emeritus, Vermont AFL-CIO
VPIRG board member since 2008. Daniel L. Brush, his wife Cassandra and their three children live in Woodbury, VT. Dan was born in Burlington and is the son of a Congregational Minister. He’s a Graduate of the Vermont Police Academy, The George Meany Center for Labor Studies, Wentworth Institute, and has an Associates Degree in Computer Electronics Design. Dan is the Political Director for Local One – L of the Amalgamated Lithographers of America, of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He is also President Emeritus of the Vermont AFL-CIO and Past President of Local 745 of the former Capital City Press of Montpelier. He currently serves on the Vermont Commission on International Trade and State Sovereignty, and on the Teamster’s Human Rights Commission.
Julie Elmore, Westford
Administrator and Communications Director, Sudan Development Fund
VPIRG board member since 2009. Julie Elmore lives in Westford, Vermont where she and her husband Rich raised their five children. She is the Administrator and Communications Director for Sudan Development Foundation, (SUDEF) a Burlington based non-profit that brings health resources, community development and educational services to Southern Sudan. She is a certified EMT and volunteered with Essex Rescue for 7 years and served two terms as Vice-President on Essex Rescue’s Board of Directors. She is a member of the Westford Energy Committee and the Green-UP day coordinator for her community. Previously she served as Chair of the Westford School Board. Julie has been an active supporter of VPIRG’s efforts to create safe, green energy and a universal and financially sustainable health care system for Vermont.
Barbarina Heyerdahl, Shelburne
Mother, educator and activist
A VPIRG board member since 2011, Barbarina Heyerdahl is a citizen activist, lobbyist, and funder engaged in climate change, sustainable agriculture, and community resilience projects. She is particularly interested in how citizens and government can work collaboratively to address challenging environmental problems. Her love of nature and interest in humanity’s relationship with the natural systems that support us was enhanced by her BA in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic. For the past few years her “day job” has been full-time mother of her four children, but over the past 25 years she has worked at environmental organizations, run an organic vegetable farm, and been a parenting educator and fund raiser at Waldorf Schools in Maine and Vermont. Her activism includes giving public talks, organizing awareness raising events, and lobbying the US Congress and Vermont Legislature. She is a member of the Democratic National Committee’s National Advisory Board and a founding member of Climate Champions, a group of politically active funders lobbying the US Senator to pass climate legislation. She is also a member of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Global Leadership Council and Action Fund Board. In addition she is active in the international grassroots Transition Town movement which helps individual communities reduce their energy usage and carbon footprint. She lives in Shelburne, Vermont with her husband and four children.
Drew Hudson, Barre
Founder, We Also Herd Cats Consulting
A VPIRG board member since 2008, Drew describes himself as a cat-herder, wrangler of impossible coalitions, and developer of complex communications and field campaigns. His consulting confab specializes in helping candidates and campaigns identify the messages and tools to effectively mobilize people in pursuit of peace, justice and sustainability — from simple websites to massive voter mobilization and everything in between. Recent clients have included Greenpeace, TrueMajority.org, USAction and others. Drew built his skills in political organizing and communications as a fellow at MoveOn.org, Field Director for the Symington for Governor Campaign and at VPIRG, where he served as Field and Communications Director from 2003-2008. Before settling in Vermont, Drew worked for the State PIRGs and their affiliates in Maryland, Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the Green Corps Field School for Environmental Organizing and New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study.
Biff Mithoefer, Dorset
Author and Yoga Teacher
VPIRG board member since 1995. Biff Mithoefer has taught yoga at Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica, Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, and at workshops in Vermont, Hawaii, and California. He is a 500-hour Yoga Alliance registered teacher, has studied shamanism. Previously, Biff was the President of East Mountain Environmental Services, engaged in the development of large-scale organic waste composting projects and is the former President and owner of East Mountain Transport, a solid waste handling, transportation, and recycling company.
Floyd Nease, Johnson
Executive Director, Vermont Association for Mental Health
VPIRG board member since 2011.Floyd Nease joined the board of VPIRG after serving four full terms in the Vermont House of Representatives, where he served for six years in leadership positions including Majority Leader for the 2009-2010 session. Prior to his service in the State House, Floyd had a distinguished career in social services and teaching, including ten years as the Executive Director of Laraway Youth and Family Services and five years as Director of Internal Development for Washington County Developmental and Mental Health Services. He currently serves on the boards of Voices for Vermont’s Children and the Central Vermont Community Action Council, both of whom VPIRG has collaborated with in recent years.
Dr. Michael Scollins, South Burlington
Retired Doctor of Internal Medicine
Dr. Scollins is a retired primary care internist who practiced medicine in Vermont for 35 years. He spent 20 years in his own practice at Aesculapius Medical Center in South Burlington, before joining forces with Fletcher Allen Health Care (FAHC) – a partnership that last an additional 15 years. Mike is a former President of FAHC medical staff and spent time as one of their attending physicians. He also served as a Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at UVM College of Medicine. Mike has a special interest in cardiovascular prevention, adverse drug reactions, innovative models for health care delivery and cost control. He joined VPIRG as a trustee in 2010.