Betty Barnouw smiles at the cemetery walk.
Betty Barnouw recognized for her service
Every year, the Vermont Historical Society presents the League of Local Historical Societies & Museums (LLHSM) achievement awards. These awards recognize the exceptional work being done by individuals and community heritage organizations throughout the state to collect, preserve and share Vermont’s rich history. This year, VHS bestowed four organizational awards and five individual awards.
The LLHSM Achievement Awards recognize work in a variety of categories and levels. Organizational awards are given for projects undertaken or completed in the past year (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020) at two levels. An Award of Excellence recognizes superlative achievement, impact, and innovation, while an Award of Merit recognizes achievement within the context of available resources and professional abilities. Individual Achievement awards honor a person’s work and commitment to local history over an extended period of time. This year’s awards honored everything from podcast driving tours, to a new collections storage space, to a working, historic bakery. The Individual Achievement Award winners this year together represent decades of exceptional service to their local historical societies and communities.
Awards are customarily conferred each fall at the annual LLHSM Conference. But since this year’s conference was virtual, VHS staff took the awards “on the road”, visiting as many organizations and individuals possible (while still being aware of COVID-19 restrictions) to hand-out awards to grateful, and sometimes surprised, winners. A video about this year’s winners was debuted at the LLHSM Conference on October 31, and is available to view online at youtu.be/bPBvL1nUGpI.
Award of excellence – historic preservation & collections care
Barre Historical Society, with special recognition to Carolyn Shapiro – For the Rise Up Bakery project
Hardwick Historical Society – For the Angell Room Storage project
Award of excellence – exhibitions & public programs
Norwich Historical Society – For the Podcast Driving Tours program
Waterbury Historical Society – For the video project: Waterbury Women- Stories & Inspiration
Individual achievement awards
Betty Barnouw of the Fair Haven Historical Society
Lorraine Lavertu Hussey of the Hardwick Historical Society
Marilyn W. Maxwell of the Island Pond Historical Society
Charles Nye of the Highgate Historical Society
Karen Yaggy of the Richmond Historical Society
