NCMC Annual Conference Awards

The purpose of the NCMC awards program is to recognize, encourage, and promote excellence within the activities of the museum community and organizations in related fields of interest. Through these awards we will focus public attention on the outstanding programs, projects, and services offered by museums around our state.

2012 NCMC Award Winners

Alderson Lifetime Achievement Award went to Bettty K Phipps formerly of the Greensboro Museum of History

Professional Service Award went to: Perry Hurt from the NC Museum of Art

Awards of Excellence went to:

James K. Polk Historical Site for the “Young Hickory News”

NC Museum of History for “The Story of North Carolina Exhibit Guide.”

Hart Square Foundation for “Hart Square: One Man’s Passionate Preservation of North Carolina’s Pioneer Heritage.”

Awards shall be presented in the following categories. Judges reserve the right to grant no awards or to grant more awards in case of a tie.

I. Awards of Excellence
NCMC Awards of Excellence are presented to museums in North Carolina that produce an exhibit, program or publication (traditional print or web based) which demonstrates excellent utilization of the resources available to that institution. The Awards Committee may grant up to six Awards of Excellence each year.

Judging Criteria for the Award of Excellence
A museum's size, budget and staff will be taken into consideration by the Awards Committee in evaluating the nomination. Other factors which may be considered include:  How much did the project benefit the public? What was the museum's accomplishment relative to its resources? Nominated publications, programs or exhibits must premier or be active during calendar year 2011.  Long-term exhibitions must have opened in 2011.

• Nominees for the Awards of Excellence must be Members of NCMC, and nominations must be made by an NCMC Member. Institutions may nominate themselves.
• Projects, publications and exhibits nominated for the Awards of Excellence must have been completed during calendar year 2011. However, projects or programs that were implemented in 2011 but continue over a longer period of time may also be considered. Long-term exhibitions must have opened in 2011.

II. Professional Service Awards
NCMC Professional Service Awards shall be presented to any individual currently employed at a North Carolina museum who has distinguished him/herself in the museum field and/or have professionally advanced the role of museums or that of the North Carolina Museums Council. The committee may grant up to two professional  awards each year.

Judging Criteria for the Professional Service Award
The nominee must be an Individual Member of or be employed by an Institutional Member of NCMC.  Preference will be given to museum professionals whose work and contributions have statewide impact and who have had a depth of experience with museums in North Carolina. Preference will also be given to nominees who have a demonstrated record of membership and service with the North Carolina Museums Council organization.

• With the exception of the Lawson Award, nominees for the NCMC Professional Service Award must be Individual Members of NCMC, or employees or retirees of an Institutional Member of NCMC.  Nominations must be made by an NCMC Individual Member or Institutional Member.

Dennis T. Lawson Memorial Award
The Dennis T. Lawson Memorial Award honors deceased members and supporters of the museum profession in North Carolina. The award was created in 1987 in honor of Dennis T. Lawson, director of the High Point Museum and Historical Park, a respected and admired colleague who died suddenly and unexpectedly during the preceding year. This award may be presented in memorial to one individual each year.

William T. Alderson Lifetime Achievement Award
The William T. Alderson Lifetime Achievement Award retired (still living) museum professionals for a lifetime of service to demonstrate NCMC’s respect and admiration for the body of work they accomplished in their career. This may be awarded to one individual each year. In addition to standard award recognitions Alderson Award winners will receive a special gift.

III. Awards of Special Recognition
The NCMC Awards of Special Recognition honor an individual, group, or business affiliated with a museum in North Carolina who has demonstrated significant interest and support in the programs, goals, and policies or made significant contributions of time, money, or ideas to a museum in the state. Up to three NCMC Awards of Special Recognition may be awarded each year. The Awards Committee may choose to make no award or to make multiple awards in one or more categories:  Individual or Individuals including museum volunteers; Group or Organization; and Business, Corporation or Foundation.

Judging Criteria for Awards of Special Recognition
A nominee in this category must be affiliated with an Institutional Member of NCMC or be an Individual Member of NCMC, and nominations must be made by an NCMC Member. Preference will be given to individual or group efforts reflecting great initiative and/or single-handed and long-term commitment to an organization or project. Examples of a contribution may include in-kind assistance, institutional board service, project leadership, docent/volunteer service, community project leadership, or funding of a special project.

• Nominees for the Awards of Special Recognition must be affiliated with museums that are Institutional Members of NCMC. It is not required that the individual, volunteer, group or business nominated be a current Member.

Benefits
Winners are recognized during the Awards Presentation held during the NCMC Annual Conference. Awards provide a vehicle for promoting institutions through media news releases, membership, and fund-raising campaigns. Awards can reinforce the quality of a museum's programs in grant proposals.
Each winner will receive a framed certificate; letter from president to corporate headquarters; recognition on website and in newsletter; and complimentary lunch and recognition at the annual meeting.

Notification and Recognition
The Awards Chair will notify winners by February 16, 2012 and invite them to the annual meeting to accept their certificates. The Awards Chair of NCMC will arrange to have the recipient and/or their designee of the Lawson and Alderson Awards attend the annual meeting.

Nomination Deadline and Return Policy
Deadline for submissions for the 2012 awards will be January 31, 2012.
All materials submitted will become the property of NCMC unless the nominator provides a self-addressed return envelope with adequate postage for the return of materials.

Nomination Procedures
Fill out the requested nomination information for your category completely, without modifying the list of requirements, include as much information as possible. A description of the nominated program or project must be included on the nomination form, even though support materials are included.
Projects will be evaluated solely on the materials provided. Applicants are encouraged to submit as much relevant material as possible. Supporting materials should be confined to an 8.5" x 11" notebook or binder format.

A nomination package must include three (3) copies of each of the nomination information and all requested materials listed below:

1. Award of Excellence should include:
- Financial statement
- Institutional brochure
- Mission statement
- Project description, purpose and budget
- Photographs
- Project publications
- PR materials (press releases, newspaper articles)
- Audience evaluations or reviews

2. Professional Service Award should include:
- Years of service in museum profession (minimum of five) and all positions held in museums
- Service to NC museums and involvement in NCMC and other professional organizations (SEMC, AAM, etc.)
- Minimum of three letters of support from professional peers that represent a cross section of the North Carolina museum community

3. Awards of Special Recognition should include:
- Complete description of contribution
- Supplemental data such as total hours contributed, amount of money raised, type of in-kind service
- Statement describing how the museum's goals and policies were enhanced

Mail Nominations to:
Matt Edwards, Executive Director
Mount Airy Museum of Regional History
301 North Main Street
Mount Airy, NC  27030
Contact Matt Edwards at 336-786-4478 or by email mjedwards@northcarolinamuseum.org with questions.

Online resources:

• Professional and Service Award Criteria
• Awards Nomination Form
• NCMC Awards FAQ

- A list of the past recipients of the Professional awards can be found here.