Vermont Folk Rocker and Vermont Attractions Association present heirloom rocker to the Governor’s office
May 21, 2014 – Burlington, Vermont
The Vermont Attractions Association was honored to present a specially designed, Vermont Folk Rocker to the Office of the Governor of the State of Vermont, Governor Peter Shumlin on May 21st at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel.
The rocker made by Jim Geier of Vermont Folk Rocker is highlighted with the Vermont Freedom & Unity seal and was gifted by the Vermont Attractions Association in appreciation for Vermont’s support of tourism, and promotion at Vermont Welcome Centers.
About Vermont Folk Rocker and Jim Geier
I designed the Vermont Folk Rocker in 1975 in my woodshop at Howard and Pine Street in Burlington Vermont. What first began as a 4 legged chair soon became a rocking chair. After many design changes, the Vermont Folk Rocker rocking chair has now been awarded a US Patent.
For the next 15 years I made hundreds of different pieces of furniture, custom work and kitchens. Designing and making things, almost anything, was my passion. I made just a few rockers a year, along with different sizes of rockers, stools, dining chairs and swings, tables, dressers, etc.
In 1990 I relocated my shop to Starksboro VT and then exclusively focused to refining the rocker design. Today, 7 to 10 employees, from Addison County, work for Vermont Folk Rocker. Each year we make 250 to 300 rockers, each one is signed, dated and guaranteed. About one third are shipped throughout the country and occasionally to Europe or Australia. The rest go to New England, and the Eastern U.S. Many are picked up at my showroom as people vacation in Vermont. They often express amazement at the beauty of Vermont and often talk about the beautiful Welcome Centers and the helpful people who work in the rest areas. I have had many conversations about the beauty of the state and I talk about our billboard law that because we keep signs to a minimum, it’s worth keeping the rest of the state beautiful.
I grew up in East Greenbush NY, attended St. Michael’s College in Colchester, left to teach for a year and for the army for 3 years and came back for good in 1970.
I have traveled this country quite a bit and although there are many spectacular sights out there, Vermont is the most beautiful, and it always feels good and right to come back home.
