New England Resident Service Coordinators (NERSC) President Lynn Lippitt (left) presented VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter (right) an award for VHFA's 10 years of support of NERSC.

She made the presentation at NERSC's 10th anniversary conference held at the North Conway Grand Hotel in North Conway, N.H., May 6-9.

VHFA Director of Multifamily Programs Sam Falzone serves on the NERSC Board of Directors.

The next annual NERSC conference comes to the Hilton on Burlington's waterfront April 29-May 1, 2009.

While we can't take time out of the day to draw your attention to each and every nifty gadget the Internet offers, we thought this one might be of interest:

The Vermont Banking Division of the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration is now offering Vermonters free, confidential mortgage assistance on its new toll-free number: (888) 568-4547.

The number, part of the new Mortgage Assistance Program, is intended to help Vermonters facing foreclosure explore refinancing and counseling options.

The program is part of Gov. Jim Douglas's economic stimulus package, which he announced last month.

Gov. Jim Douglas has appointed Thomas N. Pelletier of Montpelier to the VHFA Board of Commissioners.

"Tom's been a highly-respected member of Vermont's lending community for a decade," says Executive Director Sarah Carpenter. "We're all looking forward to the energy and fresh perspective he'll bring to our Board."

He's been President and Chief Executive Officer of Northfield Savings Bank in Northfield since 1998, and fills the vacancy created by the departure of Paul Beaulieu, former Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of Factory Point National Bank.