Vermont Tiger

Correction

Art Woolf will be on VPR at 6:00 PM this evening.  Not 7:00 PM as previously reported here.

Tune In

To VPR, tonight at 7:00, to hear Art Woolf talking about "My Vermont," with Steve Delaney.

Art Woolf On VPR

Tuesday, May 20th,12:00 Noon.  With Doug Hoffer.  Talking about affordability.

On the Radio

I'll be on the Mark Johnson Show on WDEV radio today (Wednesday) at 9:00 am talking about the state economy and fiscal issues along with Paul Cillo of the Public Assets Institute.   Listen in at WDEV AM and FM in the Burlington-Waterbury area or on line at http://www.wdevradio.com/index-home.asp

Important Event

Ethan Allen Institute sponsored speaker and discussion on climate change.  Click here for details.

Lady Killer

At the very least, New York women seem susceptible to his combination of smarts, sense of humor, and impeccable fashion (I've only ever seen him in a tuxedo or a navy pinstripe suit with red tie and matching handkerchief).

The gentleman in question would be Mark Steyn.  Who will be speaking in Middlebury, this Wednesday.  No word, yet, on whether he will be wearing a tuxedo.

Kluster For Breakfast

The Vermont Venture Network breakfast on  Thursday will feature a talk by Ben Kaufman, founder and CEO of Kluster.  For details, go to the adjacent column.

Mark Does Middlebury

There isn't anyone like Mark Steyn.  One reads him for the sheer pleasure of the language and for the inevitable laughs and almost forgets that Steyn is dealing with the most serious -- indeed, urgent -- matters of our time.  He is fearless, prolific, literate, cosmopolitan, earthy, and a lot of other things besides being a flat out hoot.  His defiance of the stinky little orthodoxies of our times has so incensed the PC police of Canada that he has been hauled up on charges of heresy and disturbing the common complacency.  He will be speaking at Middlebury, April 2nd, and he is not to be missed.  If you think you have better things to do, or that it is too far to drive, buy his book America Alone. 

It will change your mind. 

Pitch Perfect

On Friday the 14th, approximately 60 people gathered at Bolton Valley's Timberline lift and lodge for the third annual Vermont Peak Pitch, hosted by FreshTracks Capital.  We had a larger turn out at this year's event than we have ever had before.  Bolton Valley had done a great job grooming the slopes.  Coverage was good and there was a nice layer of corduroy which softened throughout the day as the temperature warmed.  Attendees were very complementary of the conditions and everybody was smiling.

Peak Pitch takes entrepreneurs and pairs them with investors and advisers for a six minute chairlift ride.  The entrepreneurs give the chairlift version of an "elevator" pitch,  gather some feedback, and answer questions.  Entrepreneur s who have made an especially compelling pitch are given a fake $1 million "Peak Pitch Check" by the investor/adviser.  At lunch the Peak Pitch Checks are tabulated and the three companies with the most checks get to participate in the post-lunch "pitch off" where the winners are picked by applause. 

Vermont’s Entrepreneur of the Year Dinner

Attend if you possibly can and celebrate .