Alumni Spotlight
Rick Norcross, Vermont Leadership Institute, Class of 2006
Residence
Near the ferry dock at the bottom of Battery Street in Burlington. Rick's kitchen is stocked with the original dishes from the Ticonderoga, the legendary Lake Champlain steamer that now lives on the Shelburne Museum lawn. Actually, Rick's entire house is a meticulously organized museum featuring antique posters, furniture, musical instruments, and even "The Iron Claw", a glass case filled with treasures and a mechanical arm that picks up a prize when you insert a coin. Here is a photo.
Day Job
Owner of Airflyte Productions, a special events production house and marketing company.
Projects
Music. Founded Rick & the Ramblers, a Western swing band which recently released CD called "I Rode the Ti". Many songs are originals written by Rick himself and they are perfect for musical localvores. There's even a song about Vermont's Route 7. Check out the Rick & the Ramblers beautiful website, featuring Rick's 1957 Flexible Starliner, the tour bus which serves as the band's transportation.
Festival. Twenty four years ago, Rick started the Green Mountain Chew Chew & Music Festival. If you haven't already experienced it, stop by Burlington's Waterfront Park this summer over the last weekend in June for the tastes and sounds of Vermont's favorite family-oriented feeding frenzy.
Fundraising. Work with the Hardwick Area Chamber of Commerce, NEKArts and the Hardwick Historical Society to fund new granite steps for the Hardwick Town House. Rick grew up in East Hardwick and hasn't forgotten his roots. Rick has also made important contributions to the Vermont State Parks and the Ticonderoga Restoration Fund.
Photography. As former music writer for The Tampa Times (1969-1974), Rick has photographed musicians from Bob Dylan to Elvis. Eighty of his photographs were on display in Burlington's South End for the 2008 Art Hop and at Whitewater Gallery in East Hardwick.
Board member. SEABA, sec/treas of the Vermont Musicians Association, Local 351, American Federation of Musicians, vice president of the New England Conference of Musicians and vice president of the Queen City Police Foundation.
Thoughts on VLI
One of Rick's favorite Vermont Leadership Institute (VLI) memories was the day spent meeting with legislators in Montpelier. "Leadership isn't black and white. VLI teaches you how complex the issues are like health care and the prison system," Rick reflects. "In VLI, we were able to interact with people from all over Vermont with the common goal of bettering our state and society."
What Next?
Running for state legislator in the next election cycle. Go, Rick!
Interview and photos by Karyn Vogel, December 2008.