Periwinkle Awards

Eligibility Criteria 

Achievements in one or more of the following areas:

• Significant accomplishment in preserving, promoting, interpreting or encouraging awareness of a Maryland burial site that results in improved public understanding and appreciation of local history and heritage.
• Adherence to the guidelines for conservation and preservation of grave sites as approved by the Association for Gravestone Studies.
• Sustained contributions and demonstration of a long-term involvement (one or more years) in helping to save or protect a Maryland burial site from neglect, desecration or other illegal activities.
• Demonstration of a quality of effort. Has a positive change taken place?
• Sustained achievement in heritage preservation and promotion including historic, cultural or natural resource stewardship, advocacy, or protection within the state of Maryland.

Achievements can be accomplished by engaging in, but not limited to, one or more of the following activities: 

• Physical work (e.g., non-intrusive, physical improvements, landscaping, mowing, or long-term maintenance).
• Archival work (e.g., recording, mapping, photographing, historical research, or contributing information to a known data knowledge base).
• Formation of a Friend’s group and/or society.
• Fundraising activities.
• Education of, and information dissemination to, the public through historic research, publication, or other creative expression.
• Advocate for, or gain community and government support of, saving a Maryland burial site from neglect, desecration or other illegal activities.
• Sponsorship of an outstanding interpretation, protection or preservation project, which includes exhibits, tours, websites, or other activities that promote the burial site. Projects may include:
  — restoration, revitalization or rehabilitation projects;
  — initiation of heritage-related events or tours;
  — stewardship of a burial site or sites; or
  — oral histories, educational programs, historical and genealogical research, publications, creating and maintaining a website, graphic documentation or other similar or related activities.

Award Categories 

Individual(s) Achievement 

This category recognizes an individual(s) for outstanding personal effort and perseverance in helping to save a Maryland burial site from neglect, desecration, or other illegal activities, or increases public awareness of the history, heritage and cultural traditions of the burial site. The recipient may receive a monetary award.

Organizational Excellence 

This category recognizes an organization, business or local government that has demonstrated diligence in helping to save a Maryland burial site from neglect, desecration, or other illegal activities, or increases public awareness of the history, heritage and cultural traditions of the burial site. The recipient may receive a monetary award.

Outstanding Project 

Outstanding projects are those projects deemed worthy of an award however, the project does not meet the criteria for long-term involvement (one or more years). This category recognizes the accomplishment of an outstanding project or activity by an individual, organization, business, or local government that saves a Maryland burial site from neglect, desecration, or other illegal activities, or increases public awareness of the history, heritage and cultural traditions of the burial site. 3

Nomination Process 

Nominations, including self-nominations, can be made by any individual or organization. Completed nominations must include: 

• The nomination form found on page four of this packet.
• A statement about the nominee’s eligibility and contribution to saving a Maryland burial site from neglect, desecration, or other illegal activities.
• Supporting documentation, such as letters of support, photographs, press clippings, and other relevant material.

Nominations must be received no later than March 15, 2019, to be considered for the 2018 Award.

If questions or for further information, please contact the Committee through Eileen McGuckian at phileen3@verizon.net or by telephone at (301) 468-7331.

Selection and Presentation 

The Periwinkle Award Committee will make recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval of the persons, projects, or organizations that are nominated to receive an award. The Committee will contact all nominees with the decision of the Board. Presentation of the award will be made at the Coalition’s Annual Meeting. It is required that the recipient or recipients must be available to make a 5 to 10 minute presentation at our Annual Meeting that is scheduled to be held in Howard County.

Please submit your application by filling out the online form.