In-Club Recognition Program

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club is fortunate to have members whose Amateur Radio interests and particular skills and experiences represent the full spectrum of our hobby. Each member contributes in his or her own way to those aspects of the Amateur Service that interest him or her most and it is the sum of all these contributions that establish the very fabric of our hobby and our organization. Such contributions should be encouraged by being recognized.

In October 2008 NVARC instituted a recognition program similar to one begun a few years ago within the Quarter Century Wireless Association. The program distinguishes the five principles serving the fundamental purpose of the Amateur Service. It wisely avoids attempting to identify only that single person who seems to be “all things to all people” and naively setting him or her up as “this year’s ‘super ham.’”

The program recognizes that:

The basis of the Amateur Service is to provide a radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:

1. Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
2. Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
3. Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and technical phases of the art.
4. Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.
5. Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill.

[47USC, Vol 5, Part 97.1]

The program is “calendar year” based with the nomination period being the current year and awards given in January. The specific form of the physical award (certificate, plaque, or “dusty bowling trophy”) is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

An NVARC In-Club Recognition Program will be implemented in accordance with the following guidelines:

1. Five independent recognition awards shall be available: 97.1(a) Emergency and Public Service Communications, 97.1(b) Advancement of the Radio Art, 97.1(c) Improvement of the Amateur Service, 97.1(d) Training and Licensing, and 97.1(e) International Goodwill.
   1. The 97.1(a) Emergency and Public Service Communications Award recognizes the recipient for organizing, implementing, or participating in emergency or public service communications activities or for coordinating with local authorities on behalf of the club.
   2. The 97.1(b) Advancement of the Radio Art Award recognizes the recipient for activities specifically related to Amateur Radio in: station design, construction, or maintenance; invention or experimentation; or codification of technical standards or publication.
   3. The 97.1(c) Improvement of the Amateur Service Award recognizes the recipient for educational activities within the club (including elmering or presentations at meetings) which advance other members’ awareness or skills in the communications or technical phases (or both) of Amateur Radio.
   4. The 97.1(d) Training and Licensing Award recognizes the recipient for helping introduce the public to Amateur Radio or increasing the Amateur population through activities in: public speaking, the conduct of licensing classes, or the conduct of examination sessions.
   5. The 97.1(e) International Goodwill Award recognizes the recipient for activities of a non-local nature, including (but not limited to) ragchewing, contesting, net participation, DX-peditioning, or outreach to other clubs.

   The examples cited above are meant to be representative of activities or accomplishments in the respective categories, but not limiting. Nevertheless, “stretching” the kinds of activities or accomplishments in a category merely to justify an award is contrary to the intention of the awards program.

2. Recognition shall be based on a calendar year period, starting with 2008.
3. Only one award in each recognition category shall be made in any year.
4. Every recognition category need not be awarded in any year. (Note the Board member exclusion identified below.)
5. Only NVARC members in good standing shall be eligible for awards.
6. A member may receive only one award of any category in any year.
7. A recipient in any category is ineligible for a subsequent award in the same category for two years. (For example, the 2008 recipient for the 97.1(b) award will not be considered for the 2009 and 2010 years’ 97.1(b) awards but could be considered in any other category in any other year.)
8. Recognition of a member shall be initiated by a club member not currently on the Board. Club members may not recommend themselves or current Board members for recognition. The recommendation shall be submitted to the Board in the form of a letter citing the member’s activities or accomplishments in a single category for the single year of consideration. Prior activities or accomplishments may be cited for context but will not be considered in judging the recommendation.
9. Letters of recommendation for a calendar year shall be dated and submitted prior to 31 December of that year.
10. The Board shall adjudicate the recommendations and make selections during the January board meeting and shall announce the results at the January general meeting. Adjudication and selection shall be based on the business voting practices (e.g., quorum, simple plurality, specified-fraction majority) in effect for the Board at the time. All decisions of the Board are final.

Sample Letter of Recommendation

(This sample is for illustrative purposes only. There is no required format.)

[date]

TO: NVARC BOARD

SUBJECT: Recommendation of [full name] for the NVARC [award category] Award

I personally recommend [full name] for the NVARC [award category] Award. [He/She] is an exemplary member of the club and of the Radio Amateur community.

[Using examples of one or more of the activities or accomplishments noted in the description of the award category, document what the nominee actually did and what made it noteworthy. If there was some specific benefit, say so. Organizing this section as paragraphs or subparagraphs for each example you cite will make reviewing it easier.]

[Name/first name/nickname]’s accomplishments have greatly benefited Amateur Radio and the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club. [He/She] is deserving of our recognition.

[submitter’s name]

For reference (not part of letter)

The 97.1(a) Emergency and Public Service Communications Award recognizes the recipient for organizing, implementing, or participating in emergency or public service communications activities or for coordinating with local authorities on behalf of the club.

The 97.1(b) Advancement of the Radio Art Award recognizes the recipient for activities specifically related to Amateur Radio in: station design, construction, or maintenance; invention or experimentation; or codification of technical standards or publication.

The 97.1(c) Improvement of the Amateur Service Award recognizes the recipient for educational activities within the club (including elmering or presentations at meetings) which advance other members’ awareness or skills in the communications or technical phases (or both) of Amateur Radio.

The 97.1(d) Training and Licensing Award recognizes the recipient for helping introduce the public to Amateur Radio or increasing the Amateur population through activities in: public speaking, the conduct of licensing classes, or the conduct of examination sessions.

The 97.1(e) International Goodwill Award recognizes the recipient for activities of a non-local nature, including (but not limited to) ragchewing, contesting, net participation, DX-peditioning, or outreach to other clubs.

Updated $Date: 2008-12-12 02:02:48 +0000 (Fri, 12 Dec 2008) $