Margaret H Shurcliff Award

Mrs. Shurcliff

Nominations Now Accepted For The Inaugural Area I
Margaret H. Shurcliff Leadership Award

THE CRITERIA

The membership and Board of AGEHR AREA I, INC. may present this Award every two years, at the Area I Biennial Meeting, to a present, former, or deceased member, in recognition of noteworthy and lasting contributions to AGEHR Area I, including:;

…teaching effectively
…promoting healthy handbell ringing practices
…organizing and promoting local, statewide or Area I ringing events
…mentoring new choirs and ringers
…upholding the AGEHR motto “Uniting people through a musical art.”

Is there someone special you know who tirelessly promotes handbells and AGEHR Area I? Is there a teacher or director who had the patience and took the extra time to get you and your handbell group up to speed? Just how much do they love and promote handbells? Area I wants to know and reward them.

The level of some of our Area I talent rises above all others. And those are the people we will honor with the Area I Leadership Award, named for Margaret Shurcliff, who began the history of American handbells here in New England. Beginning with ten handbells and ringing with her children at Christmas 1926 on Beacon Hill in Boston, later inviting friends and their friends to her kitchen table to ring with other adults, arranging for others to get sets of bells, setting up massed rings, and continuing with the formation of the New England Guild, expanding to the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers in 1954, Margaret worked tirelessly for over 30 years to promote handbells. Although we may not match Margaret’s level of dedication again for some time, many individuals continue to work hard to make the art of handbell ringing easy and enjoyable.

The Award is modeled after AGEHR’s Honorary Life Membership Award.. The Board of Area I will present the Shurcliff Award at the 2013 Festival/Conference at UMass Amherst. But first, we need nominees. Download a Nomination Form above, complete and put in the mail so that we receive it before December 31, 2012.

As defined in the procedure for the award, all nominations will be sent the AGEHR I secretary. Griff Gall, Area I Chair, has delegated an ad hoc, anonymous committee of three Area I members who will receive and evaluate all nominations for eligibility. This committee will present those nominees that qualify to the Board for vote. More than one award may be given in cases of tie votes, or none awarded if no nominees qualify or a majority of the Board vote is not carried. Please download your Nomination Form, enlist friends and fellow ringers to help complete the form, and return to Area I’s secretary by the December 31 deadline. (Note: Form must be received by Dec. 31.)