NIRSA Regional Award of Merit
Nomination & Selection Process

Deadline: January 15

Purpose

This award is provided as a means of recognizing the outstanding contributions of individual members, made on either a regional or statewide basis, within NIRSA. The award is intended to acknowledge exceptional performance or dedication, to encourage creativity and innovation, and to establish a standard of excellence in professional achievement.

Eligibility

To be eligible for nomination, the individual should meet all of the following criteria:

• Hold current membership in NIRSA;
• Have held continuous membership in NIRSA for five years preceding the nomination for award; and
• Have worked or resided in the region during the period of time for which the award is based.

Selection Criteria

Nominees for the award should demonstrate exceptional performance in one or more of the following areas:

• Leadership of a pioneering nature, in the formulation or development of regional/state activities;
• Significant contribution to the establishment, development or operation of a NIRSA endorsed regional or state conference, workshop or tournament;
• Significant contribution to the cultivation of individual or institutional NIRSA membership within the state or region;
• Extraordinary dedication or creativity exhibited as a member of a regional/state NIRSA committee;
• Significant contribution to NIRSA publications, media presentations or special projects conducted on a regional or state-wide basis; or
• Significant contribution to the implementation of the Association's affirmative action objectives, conducted on a regional or statewide basis. It is additionally recommended that the vice president for each region not be nominated strictly because he/she occupies that position, but rather for other contributions made to the region or state.

Selection Process (updated 9/2008)

The selection process shall be coordinated by the regional vice president of each respective region. The following process shall be used consistently in each region:

• Regional Award of Merit winners will be appointed to serve for two consecutive years on the Regional Award of Merit Committee. During their first year they will serve as vice-chair, in the second year they will serve as the chair. The Regional Vice President shall appoint a minimum of two additional NIRSA professional members from within the region to serve (each committee member should represent different states from the region). If one of the two Regional Award of Merit winners has left or leaves the region, a previous recipient will be appointed.
• The chair shall publish the process for nomination in an appropriate fashion, and shall accept all nominations of qualified individuals received prior to the deadline.
• The deadline for nominations shall be January 15 each year. All nominations shall be kept in confidence by the committee members.
• Nominations shall be accepted from only current members of the region.
• Committee members shall select no more than one recipient of the award each year.
• The committee chair shall notify the Assistant to NIRSA’s Executive Director of the award recipient’s name by February 1 of each year, so that award materials may be prepared.
• Nominations will be carried over for one year.
• The names of all finalists shall be published in the vice presidents' regional newsletters, however the winner shall remain confidential until the award is presented.

Nature of the Award

The award itself shall be a standardized plaque with inscription, which is consistent from year to year. The award shall be provided by the NIRSA National Center.

Presentation

The award shall be presented during the NIRSA Annual Conference, during the regional business meeting of each region. In practice, the regional vice-president makes the presentation to the award recipient. In addition, a brief acknowledgment of the award recipients shall be included either during the Honor Award Banquet, or an equally appropriate setting within the conference. The names of the award recipients shall also be published in a regional newsletter, and in the NIRSA Know newsletter, in timely fashion.

NIRSA National Center staff liaison is Executive Office.