Our Town is Too Small to need a Welcome Manual
Every town in Vermont, no matter how small, has a distinct style of organization and set of resources. If your established ways of doing things is important to you, a Welcome Manual would be the most efficient way to share those values and methods with new residents.
We don't need a business directory
The Welcome Manual is not just for letting people know what services and businesses are available in town. It is not the Yellow Pages. The Welcome Manual answers the questions WHO does WHAT, WHERE and WHEN? Plus a common State section for how participatory democracy works, and the latest VT-wide legislation.
Printing a Welcome Manual is too expensive
So don't print it. A downloadable PDF can be put on your Town website for print on demand. Alternately, there may be grants available to provide a quantity of printed copies to your residents.
We don't have the volunteers to get the project done
Writer/ Editor / Designer Cynthia Shelton is available for hire to 1) create a Welcome Manual or 2) coach as few as two residents to assemble the document. Grants available if requested by the Town.
No one moves here from Away
The VT State mandate to "make room" for more residents and the perception that Vermont is a "climate refuge" means that it is very likely your town will see new residents in the coming years. Attract people who share your values by broadcasting them in a Welcome Manual.
I have lived here my whole life and a Welcome Manual isn't needed
Lifelong Thetford residents have said that they enjoy the Welcome Manual because it helps them keep up with changes and they can match names to faces. You may be surprised to learn how your town has changed when you weren't looking!
Making a Welcome Manual is too much work
While it is true that making the initial document can be labor intensive, once the template is established, it is not difficult to update changes as needed. The work will be worth it when new residents move in and feel included in and informed about their new home.
A Welcome Manual would be obsolete before it is even printed
A Welcome Manual is not a static document. It is a yearbook worthy of any historical society records. It is an ongoing statement of mission, values, and What Was. A Welcome Manual compliments but does not duplicate any Town Report, Directory, or Plan. Online versions can be altered annually to reflect any changes in rules or committee members. And best of all, it is crafted to reflect the character and circumstances of your town, with whatever details are important to your residents.
