Dear Melanie,

It is my great pleasure to tell you that the awards committee for the Doris Duke Preservation Award has met and deliberated and we are pleased to inform you that you are one of the winners of the very first of these prestigious preservation awards.

As you may be aware this award is offered jointly by the NRF and the City of Newport.  The award was instituted not only to recognize the very best in historic preservation but also to send a signal about what the committee considers to be important current issues in preservation in Newport.

The committee was composed of people who were all knowledgeable about Newport and comprised a group of expert local and regional preservationists as well as representatives from the Newport City Council and the Historic District Commission.

The awards committee noted with your project that the intent and execution of the project:

• Strived to keep as much original fabric as possible
• Was a project that proceeded with care and deliberation
• Conformed to the Secretary of the Interior's standards
• Gave equal standing to retaining character and features of both the interior and the exterior of the building
• Maintained in all respects the spirit of the building

Furthermore we felt that this sent a message that small businesses could take to heart in that it was completed to the highest preservation standards and yet represented a difficult but achievable goal in a moderately sized structure.  We thought that it showed that historic structures properly preserved can add character and viability of a business, although this is perhaps particularly true in the case of your own field of real estate.

The Awards Presentation will be held on Spetember 14th...The award itself has been specially commissioned from Providence glass artist Steve Easton.  Although the award goes to the property owner we realize that owners may wish to acknowledge their contractors or architects too and we will provide a certificate for those people if you request it.  In addition there is another presentation at City Hall although that has yet to be scheduled by the city so details will follow...

...Any profit form the cocktail party will be put into the newly established Doris Duke Fund for Historic Preservation which will make public grants around Nepwort County to support worthwhile preservation projects.

We look forwawrd to seeing you on September 14th.  Once again please accept our heartiest congratulations.

Sincerely,

The Awards Committee