Mite Society, Area Churches on List
Vermont’s Oldest Nonprofits
Recognized at State House

On Tuesday, 17 of Vermont's oldest nonprofits, along with five nonprofits that are celebrating their centennial year, were honored by Secretary of State Deb Markowitz at an awards ceremony at the Vermont State House.

The Vermont Centennial Nonprofit Awards recognize nonprofit organizations that have operated in Vermont for at least 100 years.

"It is important to recognize Vermon’s nonprofits for their longevity," Sec. Markowitz commented. "It takes a tremendous amount of dedication and support to keep a nonprofit active for 100 years."

Any nonprofit that has been in operation in Vermont for 100 years or more can participate in this awards program, she said.

For information about each of the nonprofits honored this week, visit: www.sec.state.vt.us/2007_np_winners.html.

Centennial Honorees

Of the five nonprofits at—or just past—their 100th anniversaries, two are from the White River Valley:

• Gifford Medical Center Auxiliary, Randolph, est. 1906; and

• Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire, White River Junction, est. 1907

The 17 other nonprofits honored June 12 are well past their 100th year. Those organizations from White River Valley towns are listed below, in order of their founding dates:

• United Church of Chelsea, est. 1789;

• Tunbridge Congregational Church, est. 1792;

• Universalist Society of Strafford, est. 1798;

• Washington Unitarian Universalist Church, est. 1843;

• Mite Society of Gaysville, est. 1861; and

• Gaysville Community Church, est. 1864.

Also honored was a nonprofit with members throughout the state: the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient & Honorable Society of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Vermont, est. 1794.