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| To the Store Locator |
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| Seal of Quality |
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The Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and enhance country stores, while preserving their unique heritage and contributions to their communities.
This site can help you plan your trip through Vermont, as you stop at our Independent Country Stores for food and fuel and souvenirs and conversation and new friendships. Our individual store pages tell you what products and services you can find, offer pictures of the stores along with local history background, and give links to local sites and other information.
September is Vermont's sixth Independent Country Store Month. Proclaimed by Governor Jim Douglas again this year, the month is dedicated to picnics, gatherings, parades, and celebrations of the diversity of Vermont products, all surrounding Vermont's historic country stores.
The Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores is Vermont's creative and independent-minded store organization, consisting of individual businesses that meet historical and business criteria and high standards of service.
The Alliance, which led the call for the proclamation by writing the document and gathering support from it far and wide, is also celebrating the start of its eighth successful year.
The Alliance's more than 50 member stores (listed at their website http://vaics.org/) are holding a month of product tasting, including cheese, honey, syrup, ice cream, and milk, and celebrating with balloons, banners, artwork contests, picnics and barbecues.
There is a lot to celebrate, according to Charlie Wilson, chair of the Alliance and owner of the Taftsville Store, which was featured on the cover of this month's Woodstock Magazine. "Country stores are back," he said, "and they're better than ever. Every one of our members is leading the way in providing Vermont products." Also featured this month in Vermont Magazine is Currier's Market in Glover.
Already a leader in offering home-grown goods, the Alliance has also launched a product label that includes quality items such as sodas, soaps, bread mixes and condiments, which are only available through members stores.
The group's popular website has gotten a facelift, and new projects are underway -- new online tour maps, an upcoming "passport program" and Country Stores of Vermont: A History and Guide, written by the Alliance's executive director Dennis Bathory-Kitsz.
The Alliance, under the umbrella of the Vermont Grocers' Association, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and enhance country stores, while preserving their unique heritage and contributions to their communities. The Alliance is supported by member store dues, a host of associate members, underwriters and grants.
For more information on participating in Independent Country Store Month, for the latest newsletter, or for an application to be an Alliance member, contact Charlie Wilson at 802-457-1135 or taftsville@vaics.org, or visit the Alliance website at vaics.org.
The new guide to Vermont's independent country stores has rolled off The History Press. Country Stores of Vermont: A History and Guide was written by the Alliance's executive director Dennis Bathory-Kitsz. The 256-page guide covers the history of country stores and includes ten tours with driving directions and maps, with sixty modern and historical photos. If you're visiting Vermont, this book is a must-have! The book is available at Amazon.com or any of our country stores or local bookshops. There is a Vermont Public Radio audio postcard about it and also it was the cover story on Seven Days
The Vermont History Expo was great this year, as was the annual meeting. Here is an essay by Bill MacDonald about the History Expo and here is a photo gallery from the annual meeting. And this year Panton General Store celebrates 100 years! Download this fantastic poster celebrating Panton! (smaller version in the newsroom). And we have a new signcard you can use -- check out the newsroom for that one, too! Also, the Snowsville: Snowsville General Store was featured in Vermont Magazine's May/June 2008 issue; here is the article..
Planning your Vermont trek? Stop for directions, lunch, souvenirs, and the best of Vermont hospitality along the way! Use the Tour Map of Country Stores to help make the most of your visit to the Green Mountains! Our maps are now updated.
Look for the banner or the Alliance decal and know that you're in one of Vermont's genuine independent country stores!
Discover more about Vermont's independent country stores with our links to articles and television shows. Watch the CNN and NBC News stories, read about us in the Boston Globe and New York Times. There are other videos and news articles in the Newsroom or you can watch our own homemade video of available in streaming Real Media or Windows Media formats. Watch "Vermont's Independent Country Stores"
The Alliance is introduce its new line of products made especially for us -- Vermont Village Foods. Look for the store-brown label with the store-sun-mountains logo! Only members of the Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores carry Vermont Village Foods!
You can become a member of the Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores. Qualifying stores must meet historical and service criteria, but Associate Members and Friends are always welcome!
Annual Membership Meeting 2008!Thursday, May 8, 2008
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Along with our stores members and wonderful Associate Members and Friends, we are proud to present our major corporate sponsors for 2005-6: Long Trail Brewing Company and Cabot Creamery Cooperative.
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Alliance Offices Vermont Grocers Assn. 135 North Main Street, Suite 5 Rutland, VT 05701 Tel: 802-775-5460 Fax: 802-773-2242 countrystores@vaics.org |
Chairman Charlie Wilson PO Box 2 Taftsville VT 05073 Tel: 802-457-1135 taftsville@vaics.org |
Executive Director Dennis Bathory-Kitsz 176 Cox Brook Road Northfield VT 05663 Tel: 802-659-4223 bathory@vaics.org |
