Dana Anderson leaves Vineyard House helm

Posted February 21, 2008

The members of Vineyard House, a nonprofit that offers safe and sober housing for Island residents in early recovery from substance abuse, said goodbye to outgoing president Dana Anderson at its annual general meeting on Jan. 24.

Ms. Anderson's goodbye was not limited to the nonprofit she guided for two years. After 30 years on Martha's Vineyard, the former Edgartown selectman and owner of Bickerton & Ripley Books plans to move back to her other Island home of Oahu, Hawaii.

Newly elected board president John Early told meeting attendees that Ms. Anderson guided Vineyard House with a steady hand and helped bring the organization closer to its goal of being able to help even more Vineyarders cope with the disease of addiction.

The organization owns three houses, two for men and one for women. Residents are required to pay rent, attend support group meetings, and undergo regular drug and alcohol testing.

During Ms. Anderson's tenure, the organization acquired land on Holmes Hole Road to build a single campus. The Capital Campaign begun for this purpose by Mary Nada has over $1 million in pledges and contributions according to a press release.

Elected at the meeting was: John Early, president; Mark Jenkins, vice president; Lang Clarke, clerk; Sharon Duncan-Sylvia, treasurer; Dawn Bellante-Holand, director; and Rufus Peebles, chairman, board of advisors.

For more information, contact Vineyard House administrator Kathleen Ferland at kfvineyardhouse@gmail.com or 508-693-8580.