VITAL COMMUNITIES
Application Information
| Important Dates for 2019-20 |
|
| April 30 |
Application Deadline |
| June 3 |
Decision Notification |
| June 17 |
Scholarship Awards Announced |
| July 15 |
Tuition Due |
| Sept 11 | First Session |
Application Checklist
- Review Participant Responsibilities (below)
- Review the current session schedule to get an idea of what to expect. Agendas, locations, and day planners may change, but the general flow of the day will be similar.
- Review your calendar to make sure you are available for the 2018-19 session dates (the 2nd Wednesday of each month, September thru June).
- Complete the online application.
- Ensure reference letters are submitted on your behalf.
- Apply before April 30. The class is limited to 30.
Tuition
- 2019-20 tuition is $1425 per person.
- The tuition covers lectures, site fees, materials, and meals associated with each program day.
- Costs associated with travel to and from the program are the responsibility of the participants (carpooling is encouraged).
Scholarships
Scholarships
To apply for a scholarship, simply check the appropriate box on the application and we will be in touch. Decisions are made in June.
The Leon and Florence Sturman Scholarship Fund was established by longtime Thetford residents Skip and Marilyn Sturman to honor and remember Skip’s parents, who were both dedicated and well-respected community leaders in Rochester, New York. Over more than 40 years, Leon and Florence Sturman assumed leadership roles on a multitude of civic and religious boards and committees. Often acting as President or Vice President, they furthered the work of a wide range of organizations, from the United Way to the Jewish Community Federation, the Baden Street Settlement House to the Women’s Human Relations Council, the P.T.A. to the Center for Governmental Research. Together they co-founded Rochester’s Sister Cities Program and established a youth exchange program with Rehovot, Israel, for which they received a Reader’s Digest Foundation “Outstanding Achievement” award. Upon the occasion of Leon’s death, one of his law partners said, “Leon felt a very high sense of responsibility to make a contribution to society. He always felt that he had an obligation to give something back.” Certainly those words apply equally well to both Florence and Leon Sturman and help explain why this scholarship fund is a fitting tribute to two special individuals who would wholeheartedly support Leadership Upper Valley’s mission “to inspire, educate, and engage leaders to better serve Upper Valley communities.”
Partial scholarships are awarded to those who apply for scholarships that do not receive the full scholarships that are outlined above. Participants who receive partial scholarships may pay the balance themselves, have employers pay the balance, or arrange to share the balance of the tuition with their employers.
What Happens Once I Apply?
- When we receive your complete application (including two letters of recommendation), we will review it and notify you of our decision by June 1.
- If you are applying for a scholarship, you will receive further instructions with your acceptance.
- Full Tuition Payment is due July 15 for all participants.
Responsibilities of Participants
- Attend all of the sessions. Participants are allowed one excused absence.
- Prepare for session days by reviewing homework materials.
- Turn off/put away all communications devices during the sessions in order to create the best learning environment for all participants and presenters.
- Each class is required to organize and complete a service project.
- Participants introduce presenters (you will be asked to introduce 2-3 presenters throughout the year).
Staff
Rob Schultz
Leadership Upper Valley Manager, Director of Development
Leadership UV
Leadership UV
— Rob Schultz, Leadership Upper Valley Manager, Director of Development
Rob Schultz is the Leadership Upper Valley Manager and Director of Development at Vital Communities. Most recently, he served as Area Coordinator for Granite United Way in the Upper Valley Region. Rob was Executive Director of COVER Home Repair in White River Junction for 9 years. Before working at COVER, Rob was Executive Director for the Farm & Wilderness Foundation for 8 years; helped start a corporate training center for PT Timah in Sumatra Indonesia; and ran programs for Outward Bound in Minnesota, Texas, and New Mexico. He is a graduate of Earlham College and has done graduate work at University of Maryland in International Political Economy. He lives in Hanover with his partner Diane. He sings with Thetford Chamber Singers and is an avid carpenter, cellist, wilderness traveler, and gardener.
What's Happening
Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead
Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Hero [...]
Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who [...]
A Lot Lighter with More Hands: Leadership Upper Valley
On the bright, sunny morning of June 13, Cobb Hill was waking up, and the soon-to-be graduating 2018 Leadership Upper Valley class was just arriving f [...]
Longevity & Commitment: Keynote Remarks from Heroes & Leaders 2018
Editor's Note: Many thanks to Kevin Peterson, Director of Economic Development for the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, who offe [...]
Long-Standing Stewards: Heroes & Leaders 2018
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts a Heroes & Leaders celebration to recognize individuals who make sign [...]
30 Local Leaders Graduate from Leadership Upper Valley
Vital Communities celebrated its Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2017 on June 14, in a commencement ceremony at Harpoon Brewery. Thirty of the region [...]
Closing Remarks for Heroes & Leaders from Markell Ripps
Thank you all for joining us to celebrate the young leaders who are being honored tonight, and thank you to Vital Communities for recognizing their im [...]
Meet the 2017 Heroes & Leaders Honorees
Merritt Patridge
Merritt Patridge joined the Tuck School of Business in 2015, where she serves as Executive Director of the Center for B [...]
Connection, Collaboration & Service
With the graduation of this year’s class of 30 participants, Leadership Upper Valley has trained more than 200 community leaders — from bankers to [...]
30 Community Leaders Graduate from Leadership Upper Valley
Leadership Upper Valley Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Largest Class Ever
The largest class yet – 30 participants – graduated from Vi [...]
Vital Communities Program News
Support TLC Campaigns Now!
Invest in your community and contribute to campaigns today! Visit the TLC Upper Valley campaign page The Local Crowd (TLC) Upper Valley is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations, and initiatives ...more
Join Us: Open House December 6!
Our annual Open House is one of our favorite events of the year—a chance to catch up with old friends of Vital Communities, make welcome new connections, and celebrate positive change in the Upper Valley ...more
Exciting TLC Projects to Fund!
Invest in your community and contribute to these exciting campaigns! Whaleback Base Lodge Energy Efficiency Updates, Enfield You might not know this, but Whaleback is run by The Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation (UVSSF), a nonprofit entity, ...more
Shop Indie Local this Season!
Every dollar spent at a local, independent business returns 2-4 times more to be re-spent in the community than a dollar spent at a non-local business. With consumers reporting that they will spend an average ...more
Nov. 19 Green Real Estate Crash Course
Vital Communities is offering its popular Green Real Estate Crash Course again on Tuesday, November 19, at Service Credit Union, just off I-89 in Lebanon, NH. Earn 3 elective credits in VT and NH. Register online at vitalcommunities.org/greenrealestate This is NOT your average CE ...more
Nov. 19 Green Real Estate Crash Course
Vital Communities is offering its popular Green Real Estate Crash Course again on Tuesday, November 19, at Service Credit Union, just off I-89 in Lebanon, NH. Earn 3 elective credits in VT and NH. Register online at vitalcommunities.org/greenrealestate This is NOT your average CE ...more
Fall Guided Quest: Trees of Dartmouth Quest
Join Vital Communities' Valley Quest Coordinator Beth Roy on a guided treasure hunt of the trees of Dartmouth. Celebrate fall as we discover many exotic trees around the Dartmouth College Campus and learn about their ...more
A New Quest to Celebrate the Mascoma River Greenway!
Have you been on the Mascoma River Greenway yet? If not, it is time to check it out. I had a fantastic time follwing the new Quest of the Mascoma River Greenway. I took my ...more
Celebrate Farm to School Month With Our Fall Farm to School Forum
Meet Your Local Farm to School Network! The Upper Valley Farm to School Network invites you to gather in your region to build local connections with peers and Farm to School practitioners, and access resources. Find ...more
From the State House to the Farm House
Calling all Vermont Farmers! You're invited to the second annual From the State House to the Farmhouse event on Sunday September 22nd from 1-4 pm and talk one-on-one with your legislators and influence policy. Across the state ...more
A New Quest in Pomfret, Vermont
Earlier this summer I had the fortune of working with the amazing staff of the Artistree Community Arts Center in Pomfret, Vermont on offering a Questing Camp. Over the week the campers learned about the ...more
Welcome Norwich Solar Technologies!
We are proud to welcome Norwich Solar Technologies as a Local First Promoter Sponsor! The White River Junction-based renewable energy company provides end-to-end solar solutions to businesses in Vermont, New Hampshire, and throughout New England. ...more
2nd Annual Curb The Car Day - Friday, May 17!
On May 17, 2019 the rest of the country is celebrating National Bike to Work Day, but here in the Upper Valley we’ll be taking it a step further with our second annual Curb The ...more
12th Annual Roundtable - May 7
You're Invited! The 12th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable is Tuesday, May 7, 5-8 pm in West Lebanon! This annual gathering of local energy volunteers is open to all, whether you serve on an energy committee, wish to ...more
April Meet-Up Series for Beginning Farmers
We have an exciting project for new farmers in the White River valley portion of our region! The High Meadows Fund is supporting a series of free peer-to-peer gatherings for beginning farmers to build community and learn. ...more
Dazzlingly Reflective, 80's Style
We love pairing style with nighttime visibility, so we've ordered REFLECTIVE SLAP BRACELETS to reward people who bike or walk to Flavors of the Valley on Sunday, April 7! If you bike and walk to the ...more
Get your bike, boots, or shoes ready!
Get your bike, boots, or shoes ready! From our friends at Local Motion comes the Winter Edition of Vermont's Bike-Walk Challenge, February 1 to 8! Simply record two bike or walk commutes in the Go! Vermont app ...more
Seeking Bids from Solar Installers by Nov. 30
Vital Communities is teaming up with Kearsarge Climate Action to launch a Solarize Kearsarge campaign in spring 2019, following on the tails of the upcoming Weatherize Kearsarge campaign launching in January 2019. We are seeking proposals ...more