[Ohio-Talk] Your reminder for the Gavel Materials 2019.

Wed Sep 18 09:59:40 UTC 2019

Description and Instructions for 2019 NFB Ohio Gavel Awards
1.	The Chapter Gavel Award will go to the outstanding chapter Of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in 2019 and the Division Gavel Award will go to the most effective division. The division  and chapter Gavel Award recipients will receive $50 along with a certificate. The chapter or  division that wins the Gavel Award three times consecutively will receive a plaque and a gavel. If the Awards Committee decides that a chapter or division has conducted an outstanding activity, that chapter or division will receive a $25prize plus an opportunity to make a presentation describing the activity during the convention. In order for members of any chapter or division  to vote at the Convention this year, all reports must be submitted by October 1, 2019, even if you choose not to compete for the Gavel Award.
2.	
If you are not competing, please send your report to President Richard Payne by email: rchpay7 at gmail.com.
2. The Chapter on the Move Award is presented to a chapter that demonstrates significant growth in philosophy and fundamental Federation activities.
3. The Alfonso Smith Award is presented to the outstanding blind Federationist for service to the blind of Ohio. Please note that this is a statewide award, so the service should be statewide to be considered. A letter describing the accomplishments of your nominee for this award must be sent to the awards committee By October 1, 2019 for consideration.
4. The Ruth Garwood Award is presented to an outstanding sighted Person for service to blind people across the state. This person need not be a Federationist. A letter describing your Candidate’s work with the blind must be sent to the awards committee By October 1, 2019 for consideration.
5. The Knall-Garwood Award is presented to a Federationist for long and loyal service to the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. This does mean long and loyal service to the state affiliate and not to an individual or local chapter. A letter describing your candidate's work with the organization must be sent By October 1, 2019 to the awards committee in order to be considered.

The awards committee makes the following requests to those preparing materials.
* Type Nomination letters and reports.
* Outline in the form of sentences in nomination letters and reports. Only one Question requires that the answers be in paragraph form.
·	Make sure to check your spelling and grammar so that your chapter or division will receive the maximum number of points available for each question.
·	It is recommended that you appoint a small committee to complete the form; a group effort often has an advantage.
·	Once all applications and nomination letters are carefully proofread and completed, send by email to Heather Leiterman at Hdleiterman74 at yahoo.com by the deadline Tuesday October 1, 2019.

Unfortunately, applications and nomination letters received after the October 1, 2019 deadline cannot be considered by the Awards Committee.
The awards committee is available until Sunday September 29, 2019 to proofread your documents with you prior to the Tuesday October 1 deadline. This step is not a requirement but, is available for your convenience. All awards committee members are available to answer questions until the Tuesday October 1, 2019 deadline.
Should you need additional information please contact Heather Leiterman at Hdleiterman74 at yahoo.com
 ph. (614) 962-1333.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Now, let's begin working toward celebrating our accomplishments and securing a stronger Ohio affiliate!

Sincerely,

The NFB of Ohio 2019 Awards Committee

Heather D Leiterman Chair 
Ali Benmerzouga
emily Pennington
Jerry Purcell
Annette Luts

Gavel Award 2019 Chapter Questionnaire

Chapter name:

Chapter president's name:

Date:

Current membership:

Membership Last year:

 Number of new members joining this year (worth 1 point each):

Before September 30, 2019, how many business meetings will your chapter have conducted Since September 30, 2018 (worth 1 point each)?

How many members are registered with NFB-NEWSLINE®?

How many new users have signed up this year (worth 1 point each)?

 Does your chapter use social media? If so, please explain.

Is your chapter on the PAC plan? Also, how many individual members are on the PAC plan? (1 point for chapter and 1 point per member)

1. How does your chapter promote the goals, philosophy, and activities of the National Federation of the Blind among chapter members and the general public (worth up to 10 points)?

2. Civic Activities: Aside from participating in local, state, and national Federation activities, in what community programs have your chapter members been involved?Examples: social or political causes, religious institutions, Civic organizations, or student activities (worth up to 10 points). Be sure to give examples of how each activity demonstrates a blindness skill or promotes The National Federation of the Blind. Examples: “One member demonstrated the use of the KNFB reader to a person; one person explained a computer screen-reading program; Two members used Braille to read scripture in church; Five members used canes and guide dogs at a town meeting conducted by our member of Congress.” 

3. In what forms of advocacy are your chapter members involved (worth up to 10 points)?  (The definition of advocacy that will be used is: public support or recommendation of a particular cause or policy. Synonyms are: support for, backing of, promotion of, campaigning for, pushing for, and arguing for.) Please note that this question has three parts so that we can determine how closely our chapters and divisions are working together and how much we see ourselves as part of the state and national organizations. Be sure to answer each part of this question. 

4. How has your chapter interacted with other NFB chapters or divisions during the past year?

A. List all activities in which your chapter has participated with another chapter or division; How many members took part in each (worth up to 10 points)?

B. List all state-affiliate-sponsored activities in which your chapter has participated; How many members took part? (worth up to 10 points)?

C. List all events sponsored by the national organization in which chapter members have participated this year; how many took part in each (worth up to 10 points)?

5. What fundraising projects has your chapter engaged in during the past year (worth up to 10 points)? 

A. Describe the extent to which chapter members take responsibility for such projects.

B. What role did outside organizations or sighted volunteers play in these activities?

6. Funding the projects and activities of the National Federation of the Blind at the local, state, and national levels is vitally important work for all of us. Answering the following questions will assist the awards committee to compute the percentages of financial support of each chapter. This will enable the committee to make useful comparisons. 

A. What was your chapter's bank balance as of September, 2018? Balance as of September, 2019?

B. After subtracting all expenses associated with fundraising, how much money has your chapter raised during the year ending September 30, 2019?   How much money came in from all other sources during this period?

C. How much money has your chapter contributed to the state affiliate during this period (worth up to 10 points)?

D. How much money has your chapter contributed to the national organization during this period (worth up to 10 points)

7. Take no more than two paragraphs to discuss the ways in which your chapter is a stronger part of the National Federation of the Blind today than it was a year ago (worth up to 10 points).

GAVEL AWARD 2019 Division QUESTIONNAIRE

Division name:

Division President's name:

Date:

Current dues-paying membership:

Membership last year:

Number of new members joining this year (worth 1 point each): 

Total number of members and non-members on your mailing list: 

Before September 30, 2019, how many division board meetings will your division have conducted since September 30, 2017 (worth 1 point each)?

Before September 30, 2019, how many membership meetings or events will your division have conducted since September 30, 2018 (worth 1 point each)?   

How many members are registered with NFB-NEWSLINE®?  

How many new users have signed up this year 2019 (worth 1 point each)?

Does your division use social media. If so, please explain. 

Is your division on the PAC plan? Also, how many individual members are on the PAC plan? (1 point for division and 1 point per member)

1. How does your division promote the goals, philosophy, and activities of the National Federation of the Blind among division members and the general
Public (worth up to 10 points)?

2. Civic Activities: Aside from participating in local, state, and national Federation activities, in what community programs have your division members been involved?
Examples: social or political causes, religious institutions, civic organizations, or student activities (worth up to 10 points)?
Be sure to give examples of how each activity demonstrates a blindness skill or promotes the National Federation of the Blind.
Examples: “One member demonstrated the use of the KNFB reader to a person. One person explained a computer screen-reading program. Two members used Braille to read scripture in church. Five
Members used canes and guide dogs at a town meeting conducted by our member of Congress.”  

3. In what forms of advocacy are your division members involved (worth up to 10 points)?
The definition of advocacy that will be used is: public support or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
Synonyms are: support for, backing of, promotion of, campaigning for, pushing for, arguing for.

4. Please note that this question has three parts so that we can determine how closely our chapters and divisions are working together and how much we see ourselves as part of the state and national organizations. Be sure to answer each part of this question. How has your division interacted with other NFB chapters or divisions during the past year?

A. List all activities in which your division has participated with another division or chapter; how many members took part in each (worth up to 10 points)?

B. List all state-affiliate-sponsored activities in which your division participated; how many members took part in each (worth up to 10 points)?

C. List all events sponsored by the national organization in which division members have participated this year; How many took part in each (worth up to 10 points)?

5. What fundraising projects has your division engaged in during the past year (worth up to 10 points)? 

 A. Describe the extent to which division members take responsibility for such projects.

B. What role did outside organizations or sighted volunteers play in these activities?

6. Funding the projects and activities of the National Federation of the Blind at the local, state, and national levels is vitally important work for all of us. Answering the following questions will assist the awards committee to compute the percentages of financial support for each division. This will enable the committee to make useful comparisons.

A. What was your division's bank balance as of September, 2018?   Balance as of September, 2019?     

B. After subtracting all expenses associated with fundraising, how much money has your division raised during the year ending September 30, 2019? How much money came in from all other sources during this period? 

C. How much money has your division contributed to the state affiliate during this period (worth up to 10 points)?  

D. How much money has your division contributed to the national organization during this period (worth up to 10 points)?

7. Take no more than two paragraphs to discuss the ways in which your division is a stronger part of the National Federation of the Blind today than it was a year ago (worth up to 10 points).

Your message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:

Gavel Materials 2019

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