Six volunteers from the Anasazi Heritage

Recipients of the Take Pride in America Awards (left to right): Helen Real, LouAnn Jacobson (BLM manager), Llois Stein, Gene Parker, Sue Hensler, and Bill Hensler.

Center were awarded with Take Pride in America certificates from the Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, at an awards luncheon in Delores, Colorado, on Saturday, November 15. Secretary Norton was not able to attend, but arranged to have a videotaped message played during the luncheon. Those recognized have accumulated a total of more than 20,000 hours in volunteer service at the Anasazi Center. All have volunteered for more than 10 years.

• Bill and Sue Hensler have worked on a multitude of projects at the Anasazi Heritage Center since they started in 1993. Bill and Sue keep track of the museum's visitation and volunteer hours, in addition to working the museum's front desk one full day a week and helping to edit educational curricula.
• Helen Real has worked at the Anasazi Heritage Center since 1993. Helen provides valuable assistance proofreading and editing exhibit panels, brochure text, and educational curricula. Helen also works at the museum's front desk as a year-round and very reliable host.
• Llois Stein has worked on various projects at the Anasazi Heritage Center since 1994. Llois has prepared many artifacts for storage including working on the extensive Chappell Collection.
• Gene Parker has been a volunteer at the Anasazi Heritage Center since 1987. Gene has devoted her time to almost every department at the Anasazi Heritage Center, but enjoys working in artifact collections the most. In 2001, Gene received special recognition by being listed in the Congressional Record.
• Dr. Patricia Flint-Lacey has been a volunteer at the Anasazi Heritage Center since 1982. Dr. Flint-Lacey started as a volunteer for the Dolores Archaeological Project and has since worked on various projects including artifact cataloguing and analysis. In 1987, the BLM recognized her "exemplary contributions" by awarding her the President's Volunteer Action Award.

From October 1, 2002 to September 30, 2003, 60 volunteers donated a total of 7,918 hours to the various departments in the museum, some overlapping between curation, maintenance, interpretation, education, and the museum bookstore. This year, volunteers provided assistance maintaining the museum's demonstration garden and gave summer interpretative tours.

About 50 people attended this year's luncheon to recognize the volunteers who donated their time over the last year. All volunteers were recognized by receiving a certificate of recognition from the Bureau of Land Management and those that contributed 10 or more hours of service also received a copy of the National Geographic publication entitled, Wildlands of the West: The Story of the Bureau of Land Management.

Forl more information on the Anasazi Heritage Center, select this link.