d e m o c r a c y

a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

2010 National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award

The Medallion Award is a program established by the National Association of Secretaries of State in 2001 to honor individuals, groups, or organizations with an established record of promoting the goals of NASS in one or more of the following areas:  improving elections, with special emphasis on voter education and increasing voter participation; civic education, including the teaching, promotion, and study of this subject; and service to state government--specifically, as it relates to improving democracy in the state. 2010 recipients were:

Frank Bryan, University of Vermont - for his commitment to preserving the town meeting tradition in Vermont

Burlington Free Press - for extraordinary coverage of Vermont's 2010 election

John Cushing, Milton Town Clerk/Treasurer - for 40 plus years of service and leadership in Vermont

2010 Vermont Secretary of State’s Enduring Democracy Award

The Vermont Secretary of State Enduring Democracy Award honors individuals and organizations that have shown an outstanding commitment to promoting democracy in the Vermont.  2010 recipients were:

Ellie Beckett, Katherine Levasseur, and Courtney Mattison - Student interns - for their commitment to the successful passage of Proposition 5

Susan Clark, Middlesex Moderator - for her commitment to enhancing local democracy in Vermont