October 2006 Press Releases

Vermont Votes for Kids Kicks Off the Election Season - October 13, 2006
Secretary of State Markowitz Joins Montpelier Students to Promote Voting

On the Road to Congress Game Tournament - October 20, 2006
Secretary of State Markowitz hosts game tournament to teach children about running for political office

Orchard Valley School Student Wins On the Road to Congress Game Tournament - October 23, 2006
Jessie Smart of Orchard Valley School in East Montpelier wins statewide tournament hosted by Secretary of State Markowitz

PRESS RELEASE 

Contact Ginny Colbert: 802-828-2148

For Immediate Release: October 6, 2006

 Online Business Renewals Inaugurated

Secretary of State announces new online service

 for Vermont’s Corporations

Montpelier.  Today, Secretary of State Deb Markowitz announced that Vermont’s corporations will be able to file their annual reports online.  Markowitz said, “Many Vermont businesses have been asking us to expand our online services to permit them to file their corporate annual report forms online.  We are very pleased to be inaugurating this new service in response to these requests and expect that soon most of our businesses will choose the convenience of online filing.”   

Every year over 30,000 businesses file corporate annual reports with the Secretary of State’s Office.  These reports require businesses to update information about their corporation and require the payment of a fee.  Businesses that file online submit their form through the Secretary of State’s website, and they pay the required fee with a credit card.   Markowitz said, “We believe that online filing will be good for business in Vermont.  Not only is it more convenient for Vermont corporations, but online filing will also free up our staff to offer even better service to businesses that are starting or expanding in Vermont.”

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 PRESS RELEASE

Contact Janel Johnson: 802-828-1296

October 13, 2006 

Montpelier. Today, Vermont Votes for Kids kicked off its 2006 program at Montpelier’s Main Street Middle School.  Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz joined Main Street School 6^th grade students to talk about the importance of voting to our democracy.  Markowitz said, “We must teach our kids the value of voting at the earliest ages.   By involving youth in the election process today, we can secure the future of our democracy into the future.” 

Secretary Markowitz brought along her Vermont Votes For Kids carnival wheel which she spun for the students and asked them questions about elections and voting.  Markowitz said, “Recent voting history demonstrates how important it is to involve our children in mock election programs.  Out of every ten young adults, only four voted in the last presidential election.”  

Vermont Votes for Kids is a civics curriculum and mock election program sponsored by the Secretary of State’s Office that is being used in schools all over Vermont.  Before casting their ballots, students will participate in an innovative, action-packed, multidisciplinary curriculum that is available online. These studies help students learn how to research candidates and help them understand how elections work.  A six-week Newspaper in Education series entitled Democracy in Action will be distributed by daily newspapers across the state to supplement the Vermont Votes for Kids program. 

Secretary of State Markowitz adds, “Vermont Votes for Kids is a comprehensive solution to a complex problem.  Democratic renewal will only be possible if parents and leaders in education, business, government, politics and the media commit themselves to a new, energetic creative strategy for reconnecting American youth to politics and public life.  My hope is that Vermont Votes for Kids will help us ensure that our next generation of Vermonters will be active participants in democracy.” 

For more information, to access the Vermont Votes for Kids curriculum, and to view the Democracy in Action series, please visit www.vermontvotesforkids.com.

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Grades

PRESS ADVISORY 

Contact Janel Johnson: 802-828-1296

For Release October 20, 2006

On The Road to Congress Game Tournament

Vermont Votes for Kids promotes game to teach children about what it takes to run for congress.

When:   Monday, October 23 from 2:00 – 3:00

Where:  State House Cafeteria, Montpelier, VT 

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On Monday, October 23 at 2:00 p.m., the Secretary of State’s Office will be holding a Vermont Votes for Kids statewide game tournament in the cafeteria at the Vermont State House.  Middle school students from schools across Vermont will compete for trophies by playing the new board game On the Road to Congress. 

On the Road to Congress is a board game that was developed by the Secretary of State’s Office to teach children what it takes to campaign for political office.   

The games will begin at 2:00 p.m. and Secretary of State Markowitz will be awarding prizes at the conclusion of the tournament at approximately 3:00 p.m. Vermont schools sending student representatives to the tournament include Braintree Elementary School, Whitcomb Junior/Senior High School, Williamstown High School, Orchard Valley School, Main Street Middle School, Berlin Elementary School and Sharon Academy.  

The On the Road to Congress board game is one of the civics education resources available to teachers through the Vermont Votes For Kids program.  Teachers and students can visit vermontvotesforkids.com to learn about other free resources that are available throughout the year.  

Any questions about the On The Road to Congress game tournament can be directed to Janel Johnson at the Secretary of State’s Office, 802-828-1296.  

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PRESS RELEASE

Contact:  Janel Johnson, 802-828-1296

October 23, 2006 

Student from Orchard Valley School Wins

On the Road to Congress Game Tournament

Secretary of State promotes new game

to teach students about what it takes to run for Congressional office. 

Montpelier.  Today, the Secretary of State’s Office’s Vermont Votes for Kids program held a statewide game tournament in the cafeteria at the Vermont State House.  Middle school students from schools across Vermont competed for trophies by playing the new board game On the Road to Congress. 

On the Road to Congress is a board game that was developed by the Secretary of State’s office as a companion to the Vermont Votes for Kids mock election program to teach children what it takes to campaign for political office.  Markowitz said, “The On The Road to Congress game is a fun way to teach students about how our democracy works.  It is my hope that after learning about the campaign process through this game, students will have a better understanding of the political races going on around them.” 

After an hour of play, Jessie Smart from the Orchard Valley School in East Montpelier emerged the winner from a field of more than 20 students.  Vermont schools sending student representatives to the tournament include Braintree Elementary School, Whitcomb Junior/Senior High School, Williamstown High School, Orchard Valley School, Main Street Middle School, Berlin Elementary School and Sharon Academy.  

Markowitz said, “The students had a great time playing the game.  Learning about elections can be fun!” 

The On the Road to Congress board game is one of the civics education resources available to teachers through the Vermont Votes For Kids program.  By visiting http://www.vermontvotesforkids.com/, teachers and students can learn more about free civics resources available to them.   

For more information about Vermont Votes For Kids, contact Janel Johnson at 802-828-1296 or visit http://www.vermontvotesforkids.com/.

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