Don Buttfield Award
 by Barbara Davis, Guild School Director The Don Buttfield Award, established in 1998, is given annually by the International Guild of Miniature Artisans to a member of the Guild in memory of Don Buttfield. The Award is given in recognition of a student or instructor whose contributions of time and talents toward the good of the Guild School and whose generosity of spirit reflects the values embodied by Don Buttfield. The recipient is someone who has shown the same unassuming qualities that Don Buttfield possessed in such a large measure and who shines, unselfishly, by sharing his or her talents and skills with others for the benefit of the Guild School. In addition to being a brilliantly talented Fellow of the Guild, Don Buttfield was a longtime summer resident of Castine, and it was largely through his and his wife Nancy’s efforts that the Maine Maritime Academy became the home of the Guild School for the past twenty-five years. The award recipient’s name is engraved on a plaque. At the opening ceremony at the Guild School in June, the recipient is announced and receives the Buttfield Award Rock, a very special rock brought from Castine and engraved with stars. Past winners of the Don Buttfield Award are: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
The Don Buttfield Committee 2008
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Pat and Noel Thomas, 2009 Recipients of the Don Buttfield AwardNoel and Pat Thomas are the recipients for the 2009 award. Because of their excellent interactive teaching style and the great projects they design and create, their classes are extremely popular. They represent team teaching at its very best resulting in a joyous experience totally in keeping with the Guild School spirit. It’s hard to quantify their wisdom and the role they play as a leader among the instructors. They are positive, generous, and the absolute “deans” of the teachers. The Thomases do whatever is asked of them no matter how important or how amusing. Many of these contributions may not be that visible. Twice they have done a special lecture on Lecture Series night; Noel sat on the Painters’ Panel; they presented the first Twenty Year Awards; they spoke at the 20th anniversary of the school. Noel always donates a painting to the auction; and they always have something in the exhibit. Pat serves on the School Committee. They are also well known in the town of Castine; their friendships over the years have strengthened the town’s reception to the “miniature people”. Noel and Pat exemplify the steady excellence that the school is all about. Not only have they been instructors at the school for 27 years, they have maintained a high level of creativity, excellence and leadership that is unparalleled.
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