HCR 259

R-317  Page 1 of 2
2026
No. R-317. House concurrent resolution congratulating Terese Black on being named
the 2026 Vermont Mother of the Year.
                                        (H.C.R.259)
   Offered by Representatives Branagan of Georgia, Austin of Colchester, Bartley of
Fairfax, Bosch of Clarendon, Burkhardt of South Burlington, Burrows of West Windsor,
Burtt of Cabot, Canfield of Fair Haven, Coffin of Cavendish, Dodge of Essex, Durfee of
Shaftsbury, Goslant of Northfield, Greer of Bennington, Gregoire of Fairfield, Hango of
Berkshire, Headrick of Burlington, Holcombe of Norwich, Howard of Rutland City,
Howland of Rutland Town, Kimbell of Woodstock, Kleppner of Burlington, Lipsky of
Stowe, Logan of Burlington, Maguire of Rutland City, Malay of Pittsford, Masland of
Thetford, McCoy of Poultney, Morgan, M. of Milton, Morris of Springfield, North of
Ferrisburgh, Ode of Burlington, Parsons of Newbury, Pinsonault of Dorset, Pritchard of
Pawlet, Quimby of Lyndon, Sweeney of Shelburne, Tagliavia of Corinth, and Winter of
Ludlow
   Offered by Senators Chittenden, Collamore, Mattos, Norris, Perchlik, and Williams
   Whereas, for approximately nine decades, the American Mothers, Inc. organization
has annually honored a mother in each state and territory who “embodies traits highly
regarded in mothers and displays the ability to strengthen family relationships through
maternal energy,” and
   Whereas, the 2026 Vermont Mother of the Year is Terese Black, the mother of two
children and a “bonus” stepchild, and
   Whereas, Terese Black has been described as “a gifted mother, generous to people
from all walks of life, and a loving friend to many in the community,” and
   Whereas, her professional career has centered on helping others improve their lives,
and, for 18 years, she was a teacher in elementary, junior high, and high school
classrooms in Iowa, Chicago, and Vermont, and
   Whereas, the career of Terese Black moved in a new direction when she started a 16-
year tenure as the director of Rutland Dismas House, a residential organization that
“reconcile[s] former prisoners with society and society with former prisoners,” an
important transitional process that assists the residents in rebuilding their lives, and
among other current volunteer roles, she now chairs the governing council, and
  Whereas, the other community groups with which she has been associated are the
Mentor Connector (mentoring a youth for five years), VeggieVanGo, the former
Companions in Wholeness, and Bridge to Rutland (hosting a female asylum seeker for 10
months), and
   Whereas, for Terese Black, her Catholic faith has been paramount, and, for many
years, she has been associated in various ways with the Sisters of the Presentation in
Dubuque, Iowa; is a member of the Sophia Sisters Prayer Group in Rutland and
Concerned Catholics of Vermont; has served on the council at Christ the King parish in
Rutland; and plays the guitar with a folk group at St. Alphonsus Ligouri in Pittsford, and
                                                                            VT LEG #389148 v.1
R-317  Page 2 of 2
2026
   Whereas, for all these exemplary roles, Terese Black is an ideal Vermont Mother of
the Year, now therefore be it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
  That the General Assembly congratulates Terese Black on being named the 2026
Vermont Mother of the Year, and be it further
  Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
Terese Black.
                                                                           VT LEG #389148 v.1