For Immediate Release
January 2, 2006

VERMONT INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

On Saturday afternoon January 14, 2006, the Second Vermont Republic and Vermont Commons (www.vtcommons.org) will sponsor the first of several Vermont Independence Parties (VIPs) to celebrate Vermont History and Independence Month, so named by a resolution passed unanimously by the Vermont Legislature last April.

The celebration will begin at 1:00 p.m. with a presentation by Vermont Papers co-authors Frank Bryan and John McClaughry in City Hall on Main Street in Montpelier. Their topic will be “Blueprints for Vermont Independence.” Following the talks there will be live music by SILO (www.silomusic.com), additional speeches, and revelry at the Langdon Street Café (corner of Elm and Langdon Streets in Montpelier) at 3:00 p.m. A camera crew from Telequebec in Montreal will film the festivities.

“On January 15, 1777, Vermont declared that ‘We will, at all times hereafter, consider ourselves as a free and independent state,'” explains Second Vermont Republic's Executive Director Jane Dwinell. “We believe it's time for Vermonters to seriously consider a second republic, and we're here to provide information and support for our collective cause.”

The Second Vermont Republic and Vermont Commons encourage all our Vermont neighbors to organize VIPs in communities all over our state. For more information about getting involved, please contact SVR Executive Director Jane Dwinell at info@vermontrepublic.org or Thomas H. Naylor at 802-425-4133.

All Montpelier events on Saturday, January 14 are FREE and open to the public.