[Ohio-Talk] 2026 Awards and descriptions

Sun Jul 26 16:36:03 UTC 2026

>From the awards committee:

 Please take a look at the 2026 Award Description below and attached.

 Description and Instructions for 2026 NFB Ohio Gavel Awards

 The Chapter Gavel Award will go to the outstanding chapter Of the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio in 2026 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, 2026, even if you choose not to compete

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, and 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, 2026 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, 2026 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, 2026 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 William Turner at T
   <Turnerw794 at gmail.com>urnerW794 at gmail.comby the deadline Thursday
   October 1, 2026.

Unfortunately, applications and nomination letters received after the
October 1, 2026 deadline cannot be considered by the Awards Committee.

The awards committee is available until Tuesday September 29, 2026 to
proofread your documents with you prior to the Thursday 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
Thursday October 1, 2026 deadline.

Should you need additional information please contact William Turner at
TurnerW794 at gmail.com.

 ph. (614) 288-4323.

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 2026 Awards Committee

 William Turner, Chair

Jerry Purcell

Jessica Stover

Luann Bowers

GAVEL AWARD 2026 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, 2026, how many division board meetings will your
division have conducted since September 30, 2025? (worth 1 point each)?

Before September 30, 2026 how many membership meetings or events will your
division have conducted since September 30, 2025? (worth 1 point each)?

How many members are registered with NFB-NEWSLINE®?

How many new users have signed up this year 2026?(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

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 particularr 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.

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, 2025?   Balance
as of September, 2026?

 B. After subtracting all expenses associated with fundraising, how much
money has your division raised during the year ending September 30, 2026?
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. Describe what your division has done to promote the legislative
initiatives of the National Federation of the Blind. This could include
inviting a public official to a division meeting, writing letters, making
phone calls, etc. (worth up to 10 points)

8. 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).

GAVEL AWARD 2026 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, 2026, how many business meetings will your chapter
have conducted Since September 30, 2025 (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.)

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.

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.

B. What was your chapter's bank balance as of September, 2025? Balance as
of September, 2026?

B. After subtracting all expenses associated with fundraising, how much
money has your chapter raised during the year ending September 30, 2026?
 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. Describe what your chapter has done to promote the legislative
initiatives of the National Federation of the Blind. This could include
inviting a public official to a chapter meeting, writing letters, making
phone calls, etc. (worth up to 10 points)

8. 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).

Jessica Stover-
President: National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Greater Akron chapter
Co-Chair: Ohio Membership Committee
NFB Ohio: 2026 Awards Committee
330-417-4935
jstover.nfb at gmail.com
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