Yesterday, the Center for Rural Studies (CRS) at the University of Vermont held its first focus group to help improve the Vermont Housing Data Web site.

Seven participants joined a handful of group facilitators in exploring and discussing the site during a 90-minute session.

Held on the UVM campus, the group was the first of four to be conducted around the state. Participants receive a $40 gift card, and will be entered in a raffle to win a 4GB iPod nano.

Vermont Housing Data was developed by VHFA and CRS, with support from Vermont's housing community.

This morning we published VHFA's Financial Statements and Required Supplementary Information (PDF) for fiscal year 2008.

We've also published our FY08 production figures for our Homeownership and Multifamily departments.

The Agency's fiscal year ends June 30. Autumn is the time we finalize our financial statements with the assistance of independent auditors KPMG LLP in Burlington.

This is the latest of several quick bios we'll blog of speakers scheduled to appear at the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference, Nov. 18 in South Burlington.

Read about other speakers scheduled to present at the event and register to attend at the conference Web site.

Robert Appel has served as the Executive Director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission (HRC) since November 2001 overseeing all operations of the HRC and acting as legal counsel.

Today is your last chance to register for the 2008 Vermont Statewide Housing Conference for the early-bird registration fee of just $40.

The fee goes up to $50 at close-of-business today — still a bargain, considering you'll get:

• A whole day of events
• Lunch
• Conference goodie bag
• Exclusive online access to conference materials and attendees database following the event

Register online now.