Each year at its annual Conference, the NFO honors those who have made significant and lasting contributions to the field. There is a yearly presentation made of the “Preserving Our Heritage” Award.
In addition, beginning in 2011, the NFO members vote to grant an Honorary Membership to specific individuals who, because of their extraordinary work over their lifetime in support of the NFO’s goals and objectives, deserve to be in this special membership category. To nominate someone for an Honorary Membership, please read this.
| Year | Location | Honorees | Information, speeches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Tenafly, New Jersey | Allegra Fuller Snyder Ethel Raim |
Keynote Address given by Allegra Fuller Snyder |
| 2017 | University City, Missouri | John and Barbara Uhlemann Rex and Nancy Couture Marvin Moehle Katherine St. John |
Speech about the Uhlemanns Speech about the Coutures Speech about Marvin Moehle Speech about Katherin St. John |
| 2016 | Santa Clara, California | Elsie Dunin and Bill Lidicker | |
| 2015 | Orlando, Florida | Vince and Robin Evanchuk and France Moreau |
Speech about the Evanchuks Speech about France Moreau |
| 2014 | San Antonio, Texas | Nelda Drury, Stew Shacklette, and Dick Oakes | Speech about Dick Oakes |
| 2013 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Jerry Duke and Jerry Helt | |
| 2012 | Bethesda, Maryland | Sanna Longden Larry Weiner Mars Longden – Certificate of Merit and Appreciation for creating and maintaining the NFO’s insurance program Katherine St. John – Certificate of Appreciation |
Heritage Award Speech 2012 |
| 2011 | St. Paul, Minnesota | Eva Kish Don La Course |
Heritage Award Speech 2011 |
| 2010 | Portland, Oregon | Bruce Mitchell | |
| 2009 | Estes Park, Colorado | Al Durtka John Bradford Ingvar Sodal |
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| 2008 | Orlando, Florida | Marianne Taylor | |
| 2007 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Yves Moreau Ron Houston L. DeWayne Young |
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| 2006 | Seattle, Washington | Marlys Waller Anne Pittman Jane Ericson-Harris Cathy Dark [Co-Authors of Dance a While, a popular resource book for dance teachers] |
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| 2005 | Costa Mesa, California | John Filcich | |
| 2004 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Glenn Bannerman | |
| 2003 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Vonnie Brown | |
| 2002 | Rocklin, California | Dick Crum | |
| 2001 | Muncie, Indiana | Sunni Bloland Andor Czompo Ada Dziewanowska Morry Gelman |
Awards from prior years (A different award system was in place)
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Rolf Kaufman George M. Frandsen (NFO Founder) L. DeWayne Young (NFO Founder) Virginia Topitzes San Antonio College Folk Festival 40th Anniversary |
Certicate of Merit Founders Plaque Founders Plaque Award Plaque Certificate of Merit |
| 1996 | International Institute of Wisconsin Silver Dollar City C.L.O.G. Rex Burdette JoAnn Gibbs Alexander P. Durtka, Jr. Ralph Piper Bev. B. Wilder |
Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit |
| 1995 | Marianne Taylor Basia Dziewanowska Karin Gottier Andor Czompo Ahmet Luleci Guy Landry Zdravets |
Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit |
| 1994 | Vyts Beliajus (NFO Founder) Millie VonKonsky Sanna Longden David Henry International Folk Culture Center Nelda Drury Springville World Folkfest – UT Vyts Beliajus – 50th Anniversary of Viltis |
Founders Plaque Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit |
| 1993 | Mary Bee Jensen (NFO Founder) Areyto – Puerto Rico International Folk Festival Strathcona Chinese Dance Company – Canada Columbian Folklore Group – Tampa, FL Greek Evzones – Lt. Col. Zacharias Samaras Mengei International World Folk Art Museum Vonnie R. Brown |
Founders Plaque Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit |
| 1992 | Tennessee International Folk Dance Festival International Greek Folklore Society California Traditional Music Society Dora Stratou Dance Theatre – Alkis Raftis Idaho International Folk Dance Festival Summerfest International – Bountiful, UT |
Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit Certificate of Merit |
| The following were granted Honorary Memberships | |
| Sunni Bloland – Romanian dance Andro Czompo – Hungarian dance Ada Dziewanowska – Polish dance George Fogg – English Country dance Morry Gelman – German, Bavarian, Austrian dance (deceased) Margaret Hord – folk costumes and textiles (deceased) Virginia Topitzes – Spanish dance Jerry Helt – Square dance Ron Houston – International dance; archiving Elsie Dunin – Dance Ethnologist – Ethnochoreologist; Croatian dance |