The Friends of the Union Meeting Hall

In December 2019, the Friends of the Union Meeting Hall (FUMH) was established to maintain and protect the building as an architectural and historical treasure. FUMH have been working to understand the scope and costs associated with repairing and restoring the building . The revitalization of the Union Meeting Hall will foster human connection in a digital era, acting as a gathering space for an array of community events and programs and anchor to stabilize the town center. In alliance with the Ferrisburgh Historical Society, the Town Hall, and the Rokeby Museum, the Union Meeting Hall will help to create a cultural corridor in our town that celebrates the unique cultural identity of Ferrisburgh .

Our Board Members

President - Ashley LaFlam

Since the inception of the Friends of the Union Meeting Hall, Ashley has used her skills from her construction background to move the rehabilitation of the Union Meeting Hall forward, ensuring that the project is a success. She studied at Champlain College, where she graduated with a at B.S. in Hospitality with a focus on Event Management. Since graduation, Ashley has acted as the Business Director for the local design/build firm she and her husband own, being responsible for all financial and compliance aspects of the company. In addition, she manages all the marketing including social media, website, and project journals.

Over the years Ashley has never lost her passion for event planning and decided to apply her experience towards philanthropic causes. After learning about the uncertain fate of the Union Meeting Hall Ashley began focusing her time on saving the building while brainstorming ways to make it a vital part of the community again. She’s excited to see the building being used as a valuable resource for the Ferrisburgh community for many generations to come.

Kate Yarbrough - Vice President

Kate grew up in New Hampshire, where her love of old buildings and her career in documentary filmmaking began. Her first student film featured the architecture of the historic Enfield Shaker Settlement, with its famous Great Stone Dwelling, which led to her first job, working as an editorial intern for Ken Burns ("JAZZ," PBS). She received her B.A. from Middlebury College and her M.A.L.S. from Dartmouth College.

As a Producer, her accredited social documentary film work has appeared on FRONTLINE/WGBH, the Sundance Channel, BBC, Ikon/Humanistische Netherlands, SBS Australia, SVT Sweden, TV 2 Denmark, and YLE Finland. She has professional experience in grant writing, as well as an abiding love of the architectural vernacular and the social culture of New England.

Now, raising three young sons with her husband, in their 210 year-old, stone farmhouse in Ferrisburgh, Kate is grateful to have stepped away from media and found a way to focus her efforts on historic preservation and working to strengthen the fabric of her rural community.

Mary Neffinger - Treasurer/ Secretary

Mary serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Friends of the Union Meeting Hall. She earned a Bachelors of Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has worked in research, in academia and most recently as a community organizer. Since having children, she has held many volunteer positions in the community including leading after school programs at Ferrisburgh Central School, Open Gym Coordinator, Four Winds Coordinator, Girl Scout Troop Leader, and Board Member for the Vergennes Swim Team. She has reviewed grants for the United Way. In her spare time, she rides horses, runs marathons and ultramarathons, expands her homestead, and takes her husband and three kids on adventures.

Kristen Kuhns - Trustee

Money follows mission and fundraising is an essential part of elevating mission for all nonprofits. With over ten years of experience in strategic fundraising, Kristen is experienced working with staff and volunteers to support impactful missions. Kris thrives in volunteer engagement, partnership development, data-driven fundraising, and creating successful strategies to achieve stated objectives. Her analytical and organizational skills, coupled with her personality and passion for philanthropy, make her a favorite among staff and volunteers of her client partners. Kristen has successfully led campaigns over goal for various Case priorities including new construction, historic preservation, renovations, programs, endowments, debt reduction, and annual fundraising. Combined with previous experiences, Kristen has raised over $100,000,000 throughout her career. She has a track record of recruiting, managing, and deploying resources for over 250 volunteer leaders. Kris has also worked with clients to develop and implement successful annual fundraising programs, leading one client to a 32% year-over-year increase in annual fundraising in a single year. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Kris pioneered strategies and materials to support staff and volunteer leaders in conducting successful virtual gift requests. Born in Maryland, Kristen moved to Vermont with her family after her father retired from the military, graduating from Vergennes Union High School in 2006. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts (University of Maine, '10) and Master of Arts (Georgia State University, '12) in Anthropology.