On Friday, October 21, 2011, our dedicated Curator, Grace Moline, was honored by her professional peers and named Illinois Museum Professional of the Year, receiving her award from David Becker, IAM President. Grace was honored during an awards banquet held in Bloomington.
The IAM competitive awards program recognizes the achievements and general excellence of recipients in the museum field. Grace was selected on the basis of her accomplishments this past year and her chairmanship of the multi-county Northern Illinois Quilt Fest. Grace serves as the Chair of our Historic Sites Committee and as the representative from this organization to the Lake-McHenry Alliance of local Historical Societies and Museums.
In 2011, Grace developed and installed a new two-year exhibit titled “Arrival--Harvard in the 1880’s;" mounted a four month museum quilt show with exhibition booklet; and co-authored a McHenry County Quilted Barns and Gardens map. Grace was a 20 year employee with our society. About ten family and friends were in Bloomington to see Grace receive her award. She retired from her full-time staff MCHS position at the end 2011.