VAW '96 organizers counted 1,535 direct participants during "Windows to the Past" outreach events (69% reporting). This "direct participant" count actually underrepresents the impact of VAW '96, as it does not include events that could be independent of VAW '96, exhibits, statewide radio or T.V. programs, or special activities and notices on World Wide Web pages. Two of the big draws that were counted as "direct participation" included "Always in Fashion - 7,000 Years of Abenaki Apparel" in Highgate Falls (212 participants) and "The Northeastern Open Atlatl Championships" at Chimney Point State Historic Site (est. 400). Archeology awareness generated by the other forms of VAW '96 public outreach are more difficult to quantity, but certainly significant. An estimated 400 people per day viewed the exhibit "Prehistoric Ceramics in the Northeast" at UVM's Williams Hall. We reached an estimated 11,600 folks during through three radio/T.V. shows that shed light on the local archeology scene. The popular WCAX Channel 3 "Across the Fence" program focused on the Grand Opening of Mount Independence Visitor Center, Vermont Public Radio "Switchboard" reviewed the best of Vermont archeology, and "Across the Fence" later depicted the "Northeastern Open Atlatl Championships" for a January 17, 1997 showing. Announcements of VAW '96 and the Northeastern Atlatl Championships on the Knapper's Anonymous and other web pages drew global interest.

"Windows to the Past" continued a commitment toward helping a growing number of small Vermont towns and villages reflect on their past. Vermonters generally share a strong sense of local community ties and history. The more grass-roots support for local historic preservation efforts we can encourage through public outreach, the better we can meet goals of promoting good stewardship of our rich and ancient heritage. Public outreach events took place in over 38 localities from Addison to Vernon, augmenting the scores participating in past archeology weeks. Eventually, we hope that every community in Vermont will invite and promote direct involvement in VAW at least once every few years. Regional interest events like Vic Rolando's (VAS) industrial archeology tours in New Haven, Gary Salmon's (Dept. of Forests, Parks, and Recreation) history of the West Castleton Slate Industry, Gordon Cawood's (LCMM) revolutionary war artifact talk held at the American Precision Museum, and Scott Dillon's (DHP) "Collections Day" in Swanton provided a sense of local heritage for relatively small, but important audiences.

Many positive and enthusiastic comments were relayed by VAW '96 event or exhibit hosts on the evaluation forms. John Petersen, who presented "Mystery in the Walls" said a couple of the kids rushed along Park Street in Brandon to check for machine-cut versus wire nails in nearby historic buildings. A Long Trail history buff noted, "Geez, I've hiked this trail dozens of times and never noticed 'dat charcoal kiln or 'dem cellarholes. Prudence Doherty of UVM's Consulting Archaeology Program was asked to leave up the exhibit "Changing Landscapes, Changing Cultures" at the Bailey Howe Library three times in a row, and is now seeking a permanent home for this popular VAW '96 feature. This year folks had a chance to check out two archeology sites with work in progress. "Excavations at the Melodeon Factory," conducted by Kathleen Wheeler in Poultney and "The Archaeology of Vermont's Native People" in Jericho investigated by the Archaeology Consulting Team offered the public some hands-on archeology opportunity.

A unique and diverse mix of archeological and historic events, sponsored by grassroots groups ranging from non-profits to libraries, remains characteristic of our successful archeology outreach. For example, Weathersfield Historical Society organized a clean-up of a local lime kiln, Rutland Free Library offered "Story-Hour" for kids, the Natural Resources Conservation Service summarized recent finds in Richmond, and Carol Nepton of the Abenaki Nation explained Native American repatriation during the "Good Red Road." Besides a strong Vermont or Northeast focus, events like "Celts and Romans in Ancient Britain" sponsored by Barre Books and the "First Arcadian: An Early Sanctuary for the Greek God Pan" at the Ilsley Library in Middlebury provided a touch of exotic breezes through those open windows. Whether big or small, the activities advertised in the VAW '96 Calendar of Events highlighted how archeology helps make Vermont a special place to live and visit.

In addition to the obvious benefits of Vermont Archeology Weeks as measured by event participation statistics or rave reviews of activities, there were a number of indirect gains on the VAW '96 horizon. Attendance at the spring VAS meeting & auction is increasing, and so is VAS membership. A lot of new faces and re-energized familiar ones are becoming involved with Vermont Archeology Week and historic preservation. Vermont Archeology Weeks are growing into high quality public outreach efforts the equal of any in other states and provinces. We have offered tens of thousands of people the opportunity to shed light on their past, raised public awareness about the state's own local archeological resources, increased media coverage of historic preservation activities, and greatly enhanced the appeal of our public events. Good stewardship of the past is vital to Vermont's dependence on heritage tourism. Vermont Archeology Week illustrates the importance of preserving Vermont's significant economic heritage resources.

This year witnessed the initiation of our first Excellence in Archeology Awards. Excellence in Archeology Awards are granted by the VAS to recognize individuals, organizations, businesses, or others who have made an outstanding contribution to some aspect of Vermont archeology. In Kentucky, a similar awards ceremony has achieved national acclaim for promotion of good stewardship by private landowners. Nominations are made by the public and submitted for review by a 10 member panel of the VAS Education Committee. In 1996, the Education Committee recommended a total of five Excellence in Archeology Award nominations. The VAS Board approved these nominations unanimously. The Excellence in Archeology Awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the April 27, 1996 VAS Spring Meeting & Vermont Archeology Week Awareness Auction. The VAS honored Chief Homer Saint Francis and Jeff Benay for their outstanding commitment toward repatriation of Abenaki ancestors and fostering public appreciation of Native American issues and archeology. Doug Frink of the Archaeology Consulting Team was recognized for his ongoing public archeology contributions such "Archeology in Our Backyard." Rob Sanford received accolades for fostering archeological site stewardship by publication of Stonewalls and Cellarholes: A Guide for Landowners.

The VAS cited Dr. Marjory Power for her many contributions to student education and volunteerism relating to Vermont archeology. Lastly, thirteen partners accepting an Excellence in Archeology Award for the Skitchewaug Site Preservation Project were: John Titchner on behalf of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cleve Kapala and Ernie Griggs of New England Power Company, Dennis Borchardt and Tom Maclay for the George D. Aiken Resource Conservation District, Rob Sanford on behalf of the Springfield Planning Commission, Bill Steele for the Town of Springfield, Dr. James Petersen of the Archaeology Research Center at the University of Maine in Farmington, Richard Hodge of the Upper Valley Land Trust, Gus Seelig on behalf of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Senator Richard McCormack of Vermont State Legislature, Dick Moore of the Vermont State Farm Service Agency, landowners Ken and Janice Young, landowner Errol Perry, and Paul Bruhn for the Preservation Trust of Vermont. These individuals and organizations provide an inspiration for all of us. We hope that future award ceremonies will continue to build on the foundation of the VAW '96 Excellence in Archeology Award recipients.

Although there are far too many individuals and organizations to thank by name, all event volunteers, sponsors, dedicated fundraisers, and VAW '96 organizers deserve a heartfelt round of applause for their gracious efforts. An outreach week of this magnitude would not be possible without the generous donations of our sponsors, and the vital volunteerism found within the archeological community. VAW '96 netted approximately $13,286.24, of which $11,082.50 or 83%, passed through the Vermont Archaeological Society, Inc. coffers. A large share of the funding came from archeological consultants ($4,149.50), utilities ($3,900.00), and the VAS Auction ($1,876.5). Funding from grants, area businesses, government agencies, non-profit historic preservation organizations, other consultants, educational institutions, individuals, and product sales continues to be vital. We encourage your ongoing financial support of this important program.

Of the total income, $6660.00 was funneled to the state, regional, and other coordinators for VAW '96 services and data entry, $3797.05 was utilized for publications and products, $2109.73 for telephone, mileage, copying, and other expenses, and $419.5 for specific event expenses. We have $299.96 left for next year's coordinators to begin work on VAW '97. The state coordinator hours totaled 524 for VAW '96, of which 126.67 were donated. Ten other volunteers or organizations contributed a total of 500.25 hours. Volunteer hours comprise an estimated monetary contribution of $11270.94. Giovanna Peebles of the DHP reported her in kind services toward VAW 96 as 120 hours or $3600.00. Unfortunately, these totals are estimated to represent less than 20% of significant VAW '96 volunteer and in-kind staff hours. The dramatic underreporting of VAW volunteer involvement is an ongoing concern. Besides getting a clearer picture of our public outreach efforts, the donated hours can also be used as federal match. If you haven't reported your volunteer involvement as a VAW '96 organizer, fundraiser, or event host, presenters, and sponsors, it's not too late to do so now! As state coordinator of the first three Vermont Archeology Weeks, I have been grateful for the immense show of enthusiasm for developing this exemplary outreach event. With your support, the success of future weeks will be assured. Keep illuminating the past!

Kathleen Callum
GEOARCH, Inc. RR 2 Box 2429-1
Brandon VT 05733
TEL: (802) 247-8127
FAX: (802) 247-0107