Rick DeAngelis at Vermont Housing & Conservation Board in Montpelier has released more details about the fuel assistance workshop taking place Oct. 1 in Montpelier.

The workshop is for owners and managers of affordable rental housing, and will focus on how those people can assist their very low income residents take advantage of the Vermont Fuel Assistance program.

The agenda will be:

Punch and cake were in order this afternoon, when VHFA recognized Lender Accounting Coordinator Sue Joachim for her 25 years with the Agency.

Sue joined VHFA when the Finance Department was a mere three people. (It's seven now.) Computers were non-existent at the Agency. Instead, upon her arrival, she was issued an adding machine, #2 pencil and a paper ledger.

Oh, how times have changed ...

The Center for Rural Studies (CRS) at the University of Vermont is conducting a series of focus groups to improve the Vermont Housing Data Web site.

These 30-minute sessions will help determine how the site is being used, how it impacts/benefits users, and how it could be improved. Each session will include group discussion as well as hands-on navigation of the site.

Participants receive a $40 gift card, and will be entered in a raffle to win a 4GB iPod nano.

VHFA's Socially Responsible Committee kicked off its Community Awareness Program (CAP) this afternoon, with a lunch-time presentation on energy efficiency by Tim Perrin of Efficiency Vermont.

Tim shared tips on how to make homes more energy efficient, save money and help the environment.

The Socially Responsible Committee is group of VHFA staff members helping assure the Agency conducts its business in a socially responsible manner. The CAP is a voluntary program that encourages VHFA staff members to gather on designated lunch hours to hear from a variety of presenters speaking on issues pertinent to our community.