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All members receive an Award Brochure in the May issue of the Journal of Art Education. This is the an opportunity to inform others of the process, responsibilities, and timelines. Copies can be downloaded from the NAEA website or contact the NAEA Awards Coordinator via phone, email, or fax.
Who May Nominate?
Individual members, State/Province associations; and Special Issues Groups.
All award nominations packets are sent directly to NAEA by October 1. All award nomination packets are sent to the NAEA office—unless otherwise indicated in the Award Brochure—for verification of membership and processing. The award packets are then sent to the Award Committees/Chair; it is important to print the exact award title (as listed in the Award Brochure) on the nomination form so it is directed to the appropriate committee. Prepare one packet, per person, per award.
The State Art Educator Award is the one exception. State award committees/Chair report to the NAEA Awards Coordinator the awardees’ name, address, and NAEA ID# on state letterhead signed by the association president. No nomination packet is required.
Award committees process the nomination packets and report recipient names to NAEA by November 1. Please submit the awardees’ complete name, address, NAEA ID#, and exact award title.
Awards nomination packets received after November 1 will be processed on a delayed basis, and mailed to the recipients in the summer. This deadline must be communicated frequently at all levels.
The NAEA Awards Coordinator will send a list of award recipients to the NAEA Board and Elects by December 1.
Award Chairs send letters to all non-winners as soon as possible after receipt of December list. It is imperative that those who do not win awards be notified immediately. A sample letter is available from the NAEA office. For those chairing student awards, please return slides and letters to applicants in a timely manner.
NAEA Awards Coordinator sends congratulatory letters to award recipients with information about convention award presentations and requests press release information. Releases are sent December – January to the awarded and the two media contacts they designate.
NAEA Awards Coordinator sends award recipient list to all state presidents and editors by February 1. This enables all NAEA board and state officers advance time to plan for NAEA convention onsite activities.
Award recipient names are published in the April NAEA News.
The NAEA awards program has grown at a rapid rate in recent years. The number and volume of awards range from state, regional, divisional, to national levels (NAEA processes as many as 300 awards per year.) This rapid rate has not been without some confusion and disappointments. Some of these include:
Replication of Awards
Many states have governance structures similar to NAEA, they also have awards of the same title and type. Often, because states have certain criteria, procedures, and guidelines, it is expected that “NAEA does it the same way.” Some states/divisions/regions include perks to awardees other than the award. NAEA does not fund travel, hotel, luncheon tickets, cash prizes, or convention registration fees for recipients.
Automatic Progression
Some divisions/regions have an automatic awards progression policy (a winner at a lower level is automatically considered for nomination to the next level). NAEA has no such policy. While divisions and regions may consider state or other awardees for national awards, it is their internal process, not an NAEA policy.
Passing the Box
Because of the turnover of officers and award chairs, “Passing the Box” is an essential element in the awards process. At all levels within the association, a method must be established for turning over the responsibility of awards administration to a new chair. Without the overt training and review of the awards process, many must rely on hearsay rather than the documented process.
Read and Study the Criteria
Careful consideration should be made for each award and nominee. We often get nominees that are clearly not eligible for certain awards. We also receive last minute fill-in awardees so “all the slots are filled.” There is no NAEA policy that each award must be given every year. To simply “fill” award slots dilutes the quality and integrity of the awards program.
Tips on Overcoming Barriers in the Awards Process
Get serious about the process itself and take concrete steps to communicate and inform others about the procedures.
The Situation
The Association provides an array of documentation on the awards process and support materials that are not fully utilized.
What Must Be Done
These documents must be leveraged to inform and communicate the process to others.
Examples
Utilize the Award Brochure at convention during business and developmental meetings and hearings; employ materials about the role, process, and timetables found in the Division and VP Handbooks; review the process with state representatives at summer retreats; encourage officers and committees to anticipate the Award Booklet in the May issue of the Journal or download the brochure from the NAEA homepage; repeatedly follow-up via letter, fax, email, and in news columns. More specifically:
- Outline the award process and the responsibility for who does what, when, and why.
- Include the name of the NAEA Awards Coordinator, phone number, fax, and e-mail as a resource for any questions or technical assistance.
- Award recipients (including students, parents, teachers) must be notified about policies regarding the funding of travel, hotel, luncheon tickets or convention registration fees.
- Repeat the above tips until the process works.
NAEA Awards Coordinator
1916 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1590
703-860-8000
Fax 703-860-2960
E-mail: awards@arteducators.org
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