The Van Hornesville Community Corporation is a not-for-profit educational, cultural and charitable organization; it is tax-exempt and qualified to receive tax-deductible gifts and contributions, as well as matching gifts. Annual membership dues, $25 for an individual and $35 for a couple, are tax deductible.

There are at present 54 members of whom all but 11 live in this village or nearby. They include both active and retired farmers, lawyers, business executives, poets, housewives, public employees, educators, merchants, writers, editors, a physician, a surgical nurse, an artist, a ship's captain, a soldier, and a librarian. Twelve are members of the extended family of Owen D. Young.

Planting a Memory Tree at the Mill Pond, Spring 2006The VHCC owns its office and library building, the village park, the millpond and green, the 1845 Millpond Community Center (formerly Millpond Church), the stone grist mill (built 1836; presently leased to the Milk Producers Co-op), the firehouse (leased gratis to the Fire District), and the woodland area east of the Owen D. Young Central School, where the school's Robert B. Woodruff Outdoor Learning Center is located. The maintenance of buildings and grounds, gardening, and other similar efforts result in the corporation's largest expenditure of funds and are the most visible examples of our work. But we do other things, as well.

These include sponsorship of popular music concerts in the park and by the millpond, a Christmas brass concert in the Community Center, showings of the works of the village's considerable artists' community, and (newly planned) tours of village gardens and historic houses. The corporation also makes grants to the school for prizes to outstanding students, to the Superintendent's discretionary fund for special projects, and to the Town of Stark for a summer youth recreation program run jointly with the school. In 2002 we began support of the Van Hornesville/Jordanville Food Pantry, both with funds and with the work of several of our members. Many local families have been helped by these efforts.

Fishing Derby at the Mill PondThe VHCC also attempts to keep track of policies and events at the local and state level that might affect the village and its affairs. We are in regular touch with school officials and the town board. We do not, however, take partisan positions or attempt to influence legislation.

Every two years the members elect a board of directors of five to nine individuals. The directors, in turn, appoint the officers: president, vice president, executive director, secretary, and treasurer. Officers and directors receive no compensation. They attend to the business of the VHCC between meetings of the general membership. All members are encouraged to participate actively in our work.