The Pine Knot Legacy Award

At the spring meeting of the East Texas Historical Association (ETHA) in College Station, the board of directors approved the implementation of a new award to honor the exemplary work of county historical commissions and small, non-profit heritage groups in the East Texas region. The Pine Knot Legacy Award, which includes an honorarium to fund further work, is designed to honor those organizations that have, over time, demonstrated a continuing interest in the preservation and promotion of regional heritage through a variety of programs. While applicants for the award need not be members of the ETHA, the winner will be selected in part based on how its ongoing efforts reflect the central goal of the association: to foster the preservation and enhancement of East Texas' rich and diverse past.

Founded in 1962 on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, the ETHA is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2012, and the establishment of the new award is a reflection of the association's pride in its own history and outreach. The winner of the inaugural Pine Knot Legacy Award will be announced at the ETHA conference in Nacogdoches on September 29, with a more formal public presentation later in the organization's home county.

Criteria

The Pine Knot Legacy Award, presented by the East Texas Historical Association (ETHA), honors the exemplary work of county historical commissions and small, non-profit heritage groups in the East Texas region. It is designed to recognize those organizations that have, over time, demonstrated a continuing interest in the preservation and promotion of regional heritage through a variety of programs that reflect the association's central objective of fostering a greater appreciation for and understanding of the rich and diverse history of East Texas. The award includes an honorarium of $500 to support the winner's ongoing preservation efforts.

Nomination information:

• Nominees will be from the East Texas region.
• Organizations may nominate themselves, although nominations will also be accepted from other groups or individuals.
• Nominees are not required to be members of the ETHA, although preference will be given to those organizations that are.
• Nominations will be evaluated on the following criteria:
• Evidence of long-term commitment to heritage preservation or interpretation (rather than for a single project);
• Diversity of programming;
• Evidence of team/organizational involvement (rather than the work of one individual);
• Partnership with other local organizations;
• A commitment to public heritage education.
• The deadline for submitting nomination forms is Wednesday, August 1, 2012 . The winner will be notified via mail and announced at the September meeting of the ETHA. The formal presentation of the award, however, will occur in the organization's home town or county.
• Application form may be filled out online, and must be submitted via email only to Dan K. Utley, Chair, Pine Knot Legacy Award Committee
  (dku@suddenlink.net ).

Questions regarding the award requirements may also be sent to the same email address.

Nomination form (Download Word Document)