Gaye Symington on “You’ve Gotta Run for Office!”

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First Log Lunch at the New Log!

On Friday, November 6th,  Log Lunch was lucky to have Gaye Symington as the first official speaker at the new and improved Log! Gaye graduated from Williams in 1977 as an Art major and Environmental Science concentrator. Gaye is a strong believer in a nonlinear career path, which is seen through her exciting and interesting jobs thus far. After graduating she opened a whole grain bakery in New Jersey before returning to Williamstown to work at CES. Gaye then went to business school at Cornell University. She served twelve years in the Vermont House of Representatives, the last four of those as Speaker. Now Gaye is the President of the philanthropic organization, High Meadows Fund, which supports sustainable farm and food enterprises through the reduction of fossil fuel use and promoting resiliency initiatives to address climate change.

 

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Gaye Symington and Professor Sarah Gardner

Gaye’s Log Lunch talk was centered on her work in Vermont Environmental Policy, specifically in legislation promoting sustainability through regulating energy, land use and agricultural practices. The main environmental issues in Vermont include; excessive fossil fuel use for heat and transportation, water pollution, depleted soil, habitat fragmentation, and irresponsible land use (suburban sprawl). Gaye worked hard to advocate for legislation that addressed some of these issues and is now extending her work through the High Meadows Fund. Gaye’s dedication to promoting sustainability is an inspiration and should motivate others to do their part in addressing environmental issues. In her concluding remarks Gaye shared her advice on how everyone can get involved in environmental policy.  In addition to voting and getting to know your state representatives, Gaye strongly recommended running for office. She admits that was never in her mind as a career options, but from her experience she knows how important, influential and rewarding a position in state legislature can be.

 

 

– MaryKate O’Brien, ’16