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As we advance towards 2024 with an infusion of energy and spirit, we look back at our many successes over the past several months. We secured reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums – the gold standard of museum excellence – granted to the top 3% of museums in the country. We also secured a 4-star rating with CharityNavigator – a ‘seal of approval’ for the philanthropic sector, granted to only the top 25% of the 1.6M charities evaluated. We hosted numerous educational programs, expanded partnerships, and welcomed more visitors than in years past, all with the goal of being the best stewards, storytellers, and advocates that we can be.
The energy at our recent Annual Meeting was palpable. I invite you to check out this video that best captures our accomplishments over the past year. We were pleased to welcome the Honorable Sara C. Bronin of the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as our keynote speaker, and appreciated her remarks that placed Annapolis within a national preservation framework. We were also proud to honor four extraordinary individuals who share our dedication to preserving Annapolis’s heritage with our 2023 Preservation Awards.
We look with optimism to the work ahead. The next few years will be defined by more milestones and commemorations, including the 50-year anniversary of the William Paca Garden Plant Sale in 2024 (mark your calendars for May 11-12)!
I would like to close by recognizing my incredible team here at HA, who constantly achieves a standard of excellence. Last weekend’s Colonial Yuletide celebration was no exception (if you missed it, check out the photos from the Capital Gazette)!
And lastly, allow me to thank all of you – our members, our donors, our volunteers, and our champions – who support our work to preserve and protect Annapolis, one of the best historic cities in the nation and a place many of us choose to call home.
Wishing you and yours a blessed holiday season.
With gratitude,
