One hundred and seventeen volunteers. Twenty-three of them new this year.

On August 27, 2026, Hildene held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in Lincoln Hall at Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home.  The property had 117 active volunteers that year, including 23 who joined in 2026.  Together they put in thousands of hours welcoming guests, caring for the gardens, supporting the farm, driving the trams, and helping with special events.  After 20 hours of service, a volunteer becomes eligible for a Hildene membership.  Hildene produces the evening.  We were in the hall last year too, providing audio and lighting for about 125 guests.

The program was remarks in support of the volunteers, then an audio montage of Hildene team members.  We lowered the house lights so the room could sit with it.  The hall stayed with every clip.  Through cocktails and dinner, a Spanish guitar playlist curated by Christine Gorman set the mood and the theme of the evening.  A six-speaker system carried the sound — four QSC K12.2s around the hall, two QSC CP8s as center fills on the stage lip.  Christine Furman and Craig Gemmell worked from a podium mic.  A Yamaha DM3 at the tech table ran the montage, Gorman’s playlist, and two wireless handhelds on standby.  Two ellipsoidal fixtures lit the podium.  Six wireless uplights warmed the stage drape.  House lights came back up for closing remarks.

Pangaea in North Bennington catered — the same kitchen we work alongside at Hildene.  Table flowers were Ann’s, from the Hildene staff: sunflowers that later went home as prizes.  Our job was to keep the technology quiet so the evening stayed about the volunteers.  See last year’s dinner: Hildene Volunteer Appreciation Dinner 2025.