Awards Criteria

 

General Award Rules:

1)    To be considered, each award nominee (with the exception of Sponsor of the Year and the Youth Award) must be a member of the Circle of Diamonds.

2)    Only members of the Circle of Diamonds may submit nominations. 

3)    Only a Regional President may submit nominations to the National Office using the Region’s awards process;

4)    Only one nomination per category may be submitted to the National Office from each Region;

5)    A person or organization who has won an award may not be nominated in the same category for a period of five years;

6)    All submissions become the property of the NARC&DC. All or part of the submissions may be reprinted, modified, or posted on the NARC&DC website or other publications without compensation;

7)    Awards must be submitted on the approved awards application form (form NARC&DC-AW#2) and must be typed using no less than 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman.  A one-page (two sides) explanation sheet may be included to continue the rationale.  Supplemental material is encouraged, but is limited to two pages (four sides).  No additional material or pages will be forwarded to the judges;

8)    Four (4) copies of each nomination must be submitted to the NARC&DC; and

9)    Failure to follow any of the above may result in disqualification of the application.            

Awards Time Frame[1]:

Awards Time Frame Non-National Conference Year[1]:

1)    All award applications must be received by the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils by Nov 1st of each year;

2)    Awards judging shall commence on Nov 15th of each year;

3)    Judges will participate in a teleconference on Dec 15th of each year to determine the award winners; and

4)    All National award winners will be notified by January 15th of each year. 

Awards Time Frame National Conference Year[2]:

1)    All awards applications must be received by the National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils by February 1st of each year;

2)    Awards judging shall commence on February 15th of each year;

3)    Judges will participate in a teleconference on March 15th of each year to determine the award winners; and

4)    All National award winners will be notified by April 1st of each year. 

Note: Underserved Individuals and Groups means:  Underserved individuals and groups include limited resource farmers and ranchers, members of minority groups (including American Indians, Alaska Natives and Aleuts), women, and the physically challenged.

 Council of the Year:           

This award recognizes the Council that makes the greatest impact on the priority concerns of the local community and beyond by developing partnerships that contribute to the overall area plan, fostering participation by partners and local citizens (including underserved groups), facilitating efforts to implement projects and ensuring the sustainability of the RC&D Program through good non-profit management. Assess the extent to which the Council is:

1)    Moving toward sustainability through good non-profit management (40%);

2)    Promoting projects with social, economic, environmental, and/or conservation outcomes (20%);

3)    Using innovative approaches in solving local resource concerns (10%);

4)    Fostering community involvement (10%);

5)    Promoting the inclusion of underserved groups in council membership, incorporating the insights and skills offered by underserved groups in council work, and addressing the needs of underserved groups in the community (10%); and

6)    Promoting partnerships and coordination among project partners (10%).

 

Council Member of the Year:

This award recognizes the council member who most exemplifies the ideals of the program by demonstrating effective leadership skills, fostering participation by partners, bringing local citizens (including underserved groups) and councils together to implement projects, integrating the views of various community members within the area and recognizing the contributions of all participants in RC&D activities. The Council member:

1)    Demonstrates tireless and committed leadership skills (20%);

2)    Provides guidance and acts as a mentor to other potential leaders on the council (including youth and underserved individuals) (20%);

3)    Uses innovative approaches (including fundraising) in solving local resource concerns (15%);

4)    Advocates good nonprofit management (15%);

5)    Coordinates local community participation in resource projects, including incorporating the particular skills of youth and underserved groups in council work (15%);

6)    Promotes the RC&D Program outside the immediate RC&D community (10%);

7)    Shares in the recognition of council activities with all program partners (5%).

 

Supporting Organization of the Year:

This award recognizes a sponsoring organization that plays a major role in the leadership and implementation of an RC&D activity through an infusion of time, materials, and/or funding that result in meaningful project implementation while meeting the resource needs of the local community. 

1)    Supports innovative solutions to local resource concerns through council projects (35%);

2)    Promotes the local RC&D Council to other organizations and individuals, which contributes to the implementation of community-wide activities, cultivation of new leadership, innovative projects and overall council excellence (30%);

3)    Supports the council through financial, technical or other resources to help implement local RC&D objectives (20%);

4)    Fosters partnerships and coordination among project partners, individuals and the local RC&D Council (15%).

 

McCarty Award for Outstanding Coordinator:

The award recognizes a coordinator who empowers the council to utilize the RC&D program to its fullest extent, by training council leaders (including underserved groups) and enabling them to operate the organization through good non-profit management.

1)    Facilitates and empowers the council in carrying out its area plan and helps find innovative ways to overcome barriers to implementation of council goals and objectives (40%);

2)    Provides opportunities for council members to strengthen and develop their full leadership potential (25%);

3)    Recognizes the special perspectives and skills offered by members of underserved groups and supports their inclusion in council work through council composition and project implementation (15%);

4)    Facilitates access to various USDA agency programs for utilization by the local RC&D council (10%);

5)    Encourages the council to form partnerships (with community groups, professionals, and government authorities) to implement projects (10%).

 

Outstanding Program Assistant of the Year:

This award recognizes a program assistant who takes the initiative in supporting council activities by anticipating needs, initiating council improvements, and fostering public awareness.

1)    Supports the work of council and coordinator in carrying out the goals and objectives of the council (40%);

2)    Assists the council in performing its non-profit obligations, makes valuable contributions to the council, and goes above and beyond requirements, such as offering innovative suggestions for more efficient council operations (30%);

3)    Fosters public awareness of the RC&D council’s work (through newsletters, speaking engagements, etc.) (30%).


Outstanding Youth Involvement:

The award recognizes a youth who contributes unselfishly for the betterment of their community in concert with the RC&D Council while encouraging other youth to take part in the RC&D program, thus helping “RC&D - Making Things Happen!”

 1)    Makes a substantial commitment to the ideals of the RC&D program (40%);

2)    Takes a leadership role in implementing the goals and objectives of the council (25%);

3)    Involves other youth and organizations in council activities (20%); and

4)    Is committed to bettering the local community through RC&D council projects (15%).

 

[1] For each time in which the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday will be the date the activity will be due or accomplished. (Example: If nominations are due on November 1st, which falls on a Saturday, all Applications will then be due on the 3rd of November which would fall on the following Monday.)

[2] For each time in which the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday will be the date the activity will be due or accomplished. (Example: If nominations are due on February 1st, which falls on a Saturday, all Applications will then be due on the 3rd of February which would fall on the following Monday.)