On September 7, with the election of a brand new and unpaid board of directors, The Hinesburg Record finalized a year-long initiative to become a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. While just one step in The Hinesburg Record’s 37-year journey as a news organization, it is a significant one.
Meet the new directors!
Tom Giroux
Tom was born and raised in Hinesburg, and is back full-time after spending 22 seasons managing Florida golf and country clubs. Florida is still in his blood, as he drives “snowbird’s” cars back and forth 16 to 22 times a year, and has made the drive 197 times. He is one of the founding fathers of the Recreation Committee and still an active member; but now instead of coaching, he plays a major role in the July 4th parade and the Concerts in the Park, and maintains Bissonnette Field. Tom has volunteered for decades for the Vermont Marathon and now is on its commission, as well as on the Board of Directors for Vermont Twin State Soccer. He is busy each fall assigning and refereeing soccer matches for three middle schools, keeping 17 soccer and field hockey fields painted, and keeping the clock for CVU’s varsity soccer matches (and Florida trips on the weekends). He has written many articles over the years for The Hinesburg Record and thinks highly of the paper his mother co-founded.
Pat Mainer
Pat has had the pleasure of living in Hinesburg since the early 1970s, essentially her whole adult life. Inspired by June Giroux, she has volunteered for The Hinesburg Record in one way or another most of the time since the early 1990s. She feels that with the advent of electronic media, and The Citizen published weekly, the paper version of The Hinesburg Record might be a bit less relevant, but The Record is still part of the glue that makes Hinesburg not just a town, but a community and a wonderful place to live, work, recreate, and raise a family.
Ginny Roberts
Ginny Roberts moved to Hinesburg 25 years ago with her husband, Geoff Gevalt, and their three children. She immediately took to living in a small town and has come to appreciate this vibrant community and the beauty of Vermont. She recently retired from her job at Hinesburg Community School, where she developed and ran the Connecting Youth Mentor Program. She continues her work on the Hinesburg Community Resource Center, as a volunteer and board member for the last 15 years. She has embraced the concept of a volunteer-run, community newspaper from her first days in Hinesburg and lent a hand as copy editor for many years. She is proud to be joining The Record board. Ginny enjoys tending her extensive perennial gardens, walking in the woods and time with friends.
Dotty Schnure
Dotty and her husband, Willem Leenstra, have lived inHinesburg since 1986. They raised their two daughters here, and enjoyed many years of Hinesburg schools, sports and other activities. Dotty spent her career with Green Mountain Power, where working with the media was one of her responsibilities. She was often seen on TV, reminding people to be safe during outages and updating on storm restoration. She loves singing in the South County Chorus, and is part of the a capella group In Accord. Dotty feels fortunate that both of her daughters, sons-in-law and her five grandchildren live nearby, with homes in Hinesburg and Shelburne.
Richard Watts
Richard Watts is the Director of the Center for Research on Vermont; a senior lecturer in the Department of Geography and the founder of the Center of Community News (CCN). Richard is also the co-director of the Reporting & Documentary Storytelling Program; and a former coordinator of the internship program in the College of Arts & Sciences. In coordination with CRVT, the College of Arts & Sciences created the Community of Practice intern program which led to the successful spin off of the Community News Service.
We are still here!
Long-time president Kevin Lewis, vice-president Cathy Ryan, and treasurer Mary Jo Brace retain their positions. They plan on continuing doing what they’ve been doing for many, many years now!
Donations to The Hinesburg Record are now fully tax-deductible
Formerly, The Hinesburg Record had been registered with the state of Vermont as a nonprofit entity, and not federally as a nonprofit. When The Hinesburg Record received revenue in excess of operating expenses, those revenues went back into the community in the form of donations to other local organizations such as Hinesburg Community Resource Center, Hinesburg Community School Mentoring Program, the food shelf, chorus program and scholarships at Champlain Valley Union High School.
In the past few years, The Record operating expenses have exceeded its income. While The Record has received relatively few donations over the years, it is hoped that by becoming a 501(c)(3), it can actively fund-raise and return to operations that are “in the black.” Any donations to 501(c)(3) charitable organization are now fully tax-deductible.
More importantly, The Record will continue to be a vital, involved and committed part of the Hinesburg community, and for years to come.
For more about The Hinesburg Record – and in particular how it has educated readers, grown the community and benefited local business – please read “It Makes a Village” on The Record website at hinesburgrecord.org.
A huge thank you goes out to Mary Jo Brace and Kevin Lewis, who spent countless hours over many months running the red tape gauntlet that is the process by which a 501(c)(3) is registered.
Thanks also go to Adam Miller at Pease Mountain Law, who advised and consulted in the 501(c)(3) process, as well as wrote the new bylaws for The Hinesburg Record.