Over 500 people celebrate Colleen Haag’s retirement

Over 500 friends, family, co-workers, a former Governor, Vermont’s Secretary of State, Town Clerks from across the state and townspeople showed up last Thursday to honor longtime Town Clerk/Treasurer Colleen Haag in a retirement celebration held at Shelburne Museum’s Pizzagalli Center. Guests were asked to bring canned food donations in Haag’s honor to the event to support the Shelburne Food Shelf. Nine boxes of food and over $500 was collected.

A Shelburne native, Haag has served Shelburne as Town Clerk since Sept. 21, 1982. She has made her mark locally, regionally and even internationally by dedicating her time to serving on multiple committees throughout her 34 years of service. A few of the organizations she has made an impact on include: the Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary, where she has been actively involved in the Hands to Honduras program; the Shelburne Charlotte Hinesburg Interfaith Projects (SCHIPs); the Shelburne Business Professional Association (SBPA); Haag served as President of the Chittenden County/Grand Isle Town Clerk Association; as Chair of Shelburne 250th Committee; for the Shelburne Food Shelf; for the Veterans Monument Committee; and for over 12 years mentored Shelburne Community School students so they could receive a hands-on civics lesson.

On a professional level, she helped found the Vermont Certification program for Town Clerks/Treasurers; attended the New England Institute for Town Clarks for 22 consecutive years and served as President of the Vermont Clerks Association in 1990 and President of the New England Clerks Association in 2003. She received the Town Clerk/Treasurer of the Year award in 1994. She obtained a Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation, a distinction only a few Vermont Town Clerks have earned.

At her celebration last Thursday, there were several speakers including Governor Jim Douglas, a close friend and mentor of Haag’s, and Secretary of State Jim Condos, with whom Colleen has worked closely over the years.

In addition, Haag was presented with several surprises (and it was a surprise that she did not know any of them before that evening!) including: a proclamation delivered from Governor Shumlin proclaiming Sept. 15, 2016 Colleen Haag Day; a $250 donation the Shelburne Food Shelf was presented by Shelburne Boy Scout Troop 602; a bench dedicated to her at the Veterans Memorial presented by Sam Feitelberg, Chair of the Veterans Memorial Committee; a Public Service Award to be presented annually in her name honoring someone in Shelburne who has served the Town in an exceptional way; an Award of Appreciation from the National Association of Secretaries of State; and an area of Town Hall to be named Haag Hall, presented by the Selectboard. Shelburne Poet Laurette Rick Bessette also wrote a poem in her honor.

Dedicated to Colleen Haag

Our Town Clerk

Let us as a community,

Being grateful and sincere,

Remember your dedication

To our town thirty-four years.

Numerous committees you’ve chaired,

Countless hours and miles.

Keeping our town’s best interest

Through challenges and trials.

Shelburne has always been your home,

It is where your heart belongs.

Your leadership and compassion

Always tireless and strong.

This is not a final goodbye,

For we know that you’re not through.

Our town still needs your guiding hand.

There is still a lot to do!

— Rick Bessette

What’s next for Haag? “De-clutter my house and maybe spend a couple of months south in the winter,” she said, and, never one to stop volunteering, she added, “become more actively involved with my community at the Terraces.” Haag’s last day is Oct. 10.