Special Presentations at the Closing Banquet

At the Closing Banquet of the Annual Meeting 2020, President Bruce Morrill made two special presentations expressing the Academy’s gratitude to two individuals who have contributed their artistic talents to the annual Berakah Award over two to nearly three decades. The 2020 Banquet marked each of their final such contributions. Morrill, accompanied by Don Saliers, first welcomed Ms. Carol Gray, an Atlanta-area calligrapher, to the podium to offer her these words:

Dear Carol, the North American Academy of Liturgy is so grateful for the splendid service you have provided us these 21 years in producing beautiful calligraphic renditions of the Berakah Award we present annually to an outstanding member. We thank you for joining us at table this evening and ask you to receive with our acclamation of grateful praise this token of our appreciation.

Morrill and Saliers presented a bouquet of flowers to Ms. Gray, who acknowledged the banqueters’ sustained applause. Immediately thereafter, Morrill asked Saliers, whose composition of this year’s Berakah citation was his 29th and last, to remain at the podium. Morrill held the framed citation (calligraphy by Carol Gray) as Past President Melinda Quivik read to Saliers the citation she composed at the request of the Academy Committee.

Gracious Wordsmith, generous friend, you, Don Saliers ––lyrical, approachable, jazzy, resonant, and kind— we thank you for decades of fine-tuned images showered on scholars whose work we admire, caring for calligraphy and frames, carrying priceless awards, cutting paths through airport crowds, never breaking the glass.

We bow before your perceptive verse— words that makes us see, pictures we can hear— chosen with love and accuracy.

Sense-inspirer, large-hearted poet, tuned to every honoree, you have long and faithfully graced the traditions of our Academy.

Peace be upon you, Bard of the Berakah.

Following a standing ovation, Saliers turned with Morrill to presenting the 2020 Berakah Award.