The Mission statement of the National Folk Organization is to “advance and preserve folk arts representing national, local and ethnic customs as they exist throughout the United States of America; to promote and encourage the exchange of folk dance and dance related folklore in the United States of America and abroad; and to effectively network with those who support these objectives.
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. See list of Honorary Members here. To nominate someone for an Honorary Membership, please read this.
In addition, each year the NFO honors those who have made significant and lasting contributions to the field of folk arts. At the Annual Conference, the Preserving Our Heritage Awards are presented.
Preserving Our Heritage Awards
| Year | Location | Honorees | Information, speeches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Bruceville, TX | Ping Chun, Franklin & Dena Houston, Loretta Kelley, Don Weeda | |
| 2023 | Concord, MA | Tom & Barbara Pixton, Stephen & Susan Kotansky, Joe Graziosi, Martha Forsyth | |
| 2022 | Evanston, Illinois | Adony Beniares and Marcie Van Cleave Dit Olshan & Edie Spear Certificate of Appreciation |
|
| 2021 | Virtual | No awardees | |
| 2020 | Laguna Woods, California | Marty Koenig Bob Liebman Anthony Shay | Additional information: Anthony Shay Marty Koenig Bob Liebman |
| 2019 | Provo, Utah | Gary Fields Craig Miller Lloyd Miller Ed Austin Laraine Miner Clive and Bonnie Romney |
Additional information. Gary Fields Craig Miller Lloyd Miller Laraine Miner Clive and Bonnie Romney |
| 2018 | Tenafly, New Jersey | Ethel Raim and Allegra Fuller Snyder (deceased 2021) | 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 Katherine St. John |
| 2016 | Santa Clara, California | Elsie Dunin and Bill Lidicker | |
| 2015 | Orlando, Florida | Vince & Robin Evanchuk (deceased 2015 (Vince), 2022 (Robin)) and France Bourque-Moreau |
Speech about the Evanchuks Speech about France Moreau |
| 2014 | San Antonio, Texas | Nelda Drury (deceased 2021), Stew Shacklette, and Dick Oakes |
Speech about Dick Oakes Speech about Stew Shacklette Speech about Nelda Drury |
| 2013 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Jerry Duke and Jerry Helt (deceased 2021) | |
| 2012 | Bethesda, Maryland | Sanna Longden and Larry Weiner Mars Longden (deceased 2014) – 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 and Don La Course | Heritage Award Speech 2011 |
| 2010 | Portland, Oregon | Bruce Mitchell (deceased 2021) | |
| 2009 | Estes Park, Colorado | Al Durtka, John Bradford and Ingvar Sodal | |
| 2008 | Orlando, Florida | Marianne Taylor (deceased 2008) | |
| 2007 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Yves Moreau (deceased 2023), Ron Houston, and L. DeWayne Young | |
| 2006 | Seattle, Washington | Marlys Waller, Anne Pittman, Jane Ericson-Harris, and Cathy Dark |
[Co-Authors of Dance a While, a popular resource book for dance teachers] |
| 2005 | Costa Mesa, California | John Filcich | |
| 2004 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Glenn Bannerman (deceased 2020) | |
| 2003 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Vonnie Brown | |
| 2002 | Rocklin, California | Dick Crum (deceased 2004) | |
| 2001 |
Muncie, Indiana |
Sunni Bloland, Morry Gelman (deceased 2011/2), Andor Czompo (deceased 2019), and Ada Dziewanowska (deceased 2021) |
Awards from prior years (A different award system was in place)
| Year | Person Honored | Type of Honor |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Rolf Kaufman George M. Frandsen (NFO Founder) L. DeWayne Young (NFO Founder) Virginia Topitzes San Antonio College Folk Festival 40th Anniversary |
Certificate 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 | |
|---|---|
| Katherine St. John | Persian dance |
| Dick Oakes | International dance; digital archives (Awarded 2021) |
| Sunni Bloland | Romanian dance (awarded 2011) |
| Andro Czompo | Hungarian dance (Awarded 2011 deceased 2019) |
| Elsie Dunin | Dance Ethnologist – Ethnochoreologist; Croatian dance (Awarded 2018) |
| Ada Dziewanowska | Polish dance (Awarded 2011 deceased 2021) |
| George Fogg | English Country dance (Awarded 2011 deceased 2022) |
| Morry Gelman | German, Bavarian, Austrian dance (Awarded 2011 deceased 2011/12) |
| Jerry Helt | Square dance (Awarded 2013 deceased 2021) |
| Margaret Hord | folk costumes and textiles (Awarded 2011 deceased 2013) |
| Ron Houston | International dance; archiving (Awarded 2018) |
| Yves Moreau | Bulgarian dance (Awarded 2019 deceased 2023) |
| France Bourque-Moreau | French-Canadian dance, especially for children (Awarded 2019) |
| Allegra Fuller Snyder | Dance ethnologist/ethnochoreologist (Awarded 2019 deceased 2021) |
| Virginia Topitzes | Spanish dance (Awarded 2011) |
