VPR Welcomes New Members To Its Board Of Directors

Vermont Public Radio has elected three new members to its Board of Directors to serve three-year terms:

Scott McArdle of Starksboro Scott McArdle of Starksboro is a Senior Philanthropic Advisor for the Vermont Community Foundation in Middlebury, Vermont and formerly served as the Foundation’s Vice President for Donor Relations. Scott has been with the Foundation since 2001. Scott also serves on the board and is former staff director for the High Meadows Fund, a foundation within the Vermont Community Foundation focused on reducing reliance on fossil fuels, improving the sustainability of  Vermont’s food system, and promoting smart land use. He has also served as staff and board member for several other charitable foundations and funds within the Community Foundation.

April Cornell of Burlington was born in Montreal and moved to Vermont in the early 1990s. She is an artist, designer, and businesswoman whose colorful apparel and home furnishings are distributed throughout North America. She spends much of her time at her factory in New Delhi, where her products are produced. She is involved with an NGO called The Giving World Foundation, which sponsors projects through an umbrella organization, Concern India. These projects primarily support formal and informal schools for first generation learners in India. April is a trustee emeritus of Champlain College where she served on the board for 11 years.

Elizabeth Glenshaw of Lyme, New Hampshire is Clean Yield Group's Managing Director. Elizabeth started her career creating a community-banking program for a Vermont bank that focused on ensuring access to credit for low-wealth communities. Subsequently, she worked for two SRI asset-management companies, managing portfolios for clients who wished to integrate their social values with their financial objectives. Elizabeth's last position was with the Calvert Foundation, which assists non-profits in low-wealth and impoverished communities. Elizabeth is president of the board of the Vermont Community Loan Fund, serves as an advisor to People’s United Bank (formerly Chittenden Bank), and is vice president of the board of the Upper Valley Rowing Foundation. She also has an advisory seat with the Upper Valley Region of New Hampshire Charitable Trust and has served on the board of the Social Investment Forum.

"We are delighted to have these distinguished individuals join our Board," said VPR President and CEO Robin Turnau. "VPR is fortunate to have such a dedicated group of volunteers who provide expertise, counsel, and guidance to our organization.”

Board members are selected for their commitment to the mission and goals of VPR, and for their expertise in various fields. More information about VPR’s Board of Directors can be found at VPR.net.

Mark Vogelzang's farewell thoughts

Dear VPR friends & family:

I wanted to let you know that I am stepping down from my work at Vermont Public Radio after 15 wonderful years. I’m heading to NPR in Washington to help our larger public radio system raise new philanthropic support in partnership with member stations. It’s something that I’ve been thinking about for some time now, but this was the right moment.

The decision wasn’t easy. We all love this region, as Vermont is a terrific place for public radio, and with such wonderful staff, listeners, and supporters, it’s a bittersweet moment. The station leadership will continue to be in excellent hands as the VPR Board of Directors has chosen Robin Turnau as our new President and CEO! The transition will be a smooth and seamless one as Robin assumes her new role on February 1st.

Fifteen years is a long time in the life of an organization, so when I look back and see what VPR was like in 1993, and what our listeners thought of us then, it's clear to me that Vermont Public Radio has changed enormously, but so has VPR's impact on our community. The station has a leadership role in journalism and the cultural life of this region, with all the responsibility and hard work that comes with the territory. I'm immensely proud of the programming VPR offers every day, and how it’s focused on you, our listeners, far away and close by, who quietly and enthusiastically continue to support us year after year.

Our team at VPR has completed a number of important milestones in the last few years – the change to two distinct networks in October ‘07, along with the growth in listeners and financial support in the past year. The expansion from 3 to now 9 full-power FM stations, with state-wide NPR news and classical networks reaching more audiences than ever before, and the daily news programming of Vermont Edition and more…all worthy efforts that continue to make a difference for Vermonters.

Change is in the air these days, but I'm a firm believer in a bright future for public radio, for VPR and for all of us – here's to VPR's next 15 years!

I’ll continue to support this great organization, and I know you’ll keep supporting it too! Many thanks....

Mark Vogelzang