Chapter Recognition FAQs
Why have a chapter recognition program?
What are the award categories?
Will all the chapters compete against one another for these awards?
How can my chapter be considered for a recognition award?
How will chapters be judged?
When will winners be notified?
Who can submit entry forms or other entry information?
My meeting overlaps the award categories of membership and meetings/education? Can I submit entries for both categories?
My chapter has regional divisions / local chapters. Is it possible for these smaller organizations to participate in the recognition program?
My chapter had a really great membership campaign two years ago. Can we enter this in the membership category?
Why have a chapter recognition program?
First and foremost, the reason to have this type of program is to formally recognize chapter successes and innovative initiatives. Additionally, this program will create a space for the sharing of ideas among chapters, thus encouraging and supporting the activity of all of the ACR chapters.
What are the award categories?
Chapters do many things for their members and for the profession. In light of this, the ACR Committee on Chapters decided to make awards in the following categories:
- Communications
- Government Relations
- Meetings/Education
- Membership
- Overall Excellence
Will all the chapters compete against one another for these awards?
No. There is a great deal of diversity among ACR chapters. The ACR Committee on Chapters reviewed a list of ACR chapters ranked by dues-paying membership size and decided to divide the chapters into four different award divisions:
- Division A – 1-150*
- Division B – 151-300*
- Division C – 301-500*
- Division D – 501-1000+*
*dues-paying members
Awards will be made in each division for each of the four award categories (see above).
How can my chapter be considered for a recognition award?
There are a variety of ways chapters can vie for awards in each of the categories. Within each award category, there are specific forms and types of information chapters may submit to the ACR in order to participate in the program. Most of these submissions can be made via the Internet. Please see Participating in the Chapter Recognition Program for more specific details.
How will chapters be judged?
Members of the Committee on Chapters will serve as the judges. It is impossible to make the judging process completely objective. However, the committee will rely on a mixture of objective and subjective criteria to analyze entries.
Chapters will accrue points for submitting different entry information in each of the award categories. At the end of the award cycle, every January, ACR staff will calculate the point totals for each participating chapter in each of the award categories. The ACR staff will then provide a report to the committee listing the point totals for each chapter, but not revealing the names of the chapters.
From this report the committee will select the top competitors in each division and for each award category. Once the finalists have been selected, the committee will receive a copy of all of the submissions from those chapters in order to review them and make a final judgment.
When will winners be notified?
The ACR will notify the winners early in the year, in advance of the ACR Annual Meeting and Chapter Leadership Conference (AMCLC). There will be a formal award presentation during the AMCLC. Additionally, winners will be recognized in the ACR Bulletin and on the ACR Web site.
Who can submit entry forms or other entry information?
Only chapter officers, councilors, alternate councilors and executive administrative staff are eligible to submit entry forms or other information for award consideration.
My meeting overlaps the award categories of membership and meetings/education? Can I submit entries for both categories?
Yes. It is entirely possible that activities of programs your chapter pursues address criteria in multiple award categories. You are welcome to submit entry information for the same event or program in multiple award categories. However, you will only be allowed to win one award for that event or program.
My chapter has regional divisions / local chapters. Is it possible for these smaller organizations to participate in the recognition program?
Regional divisions or local chapters of an ACR chapter may not participate in this program. However, activities and programs at the regional or local level formally co-sponsored by an ACR chapter are eligible for award consideration.
My chapter had a really great membership campaign two years ago. Can we enter this in the membership category?
Chapter initiatives and activities are long overdue for this type of recognition. In the spirit of equity, however, chapters may only submit entries for activities and work done during the current award year. For example, January-December, 2006 constitutes an award year. Your chapter may submit entries for anything you do this year.
The ACR Committee on Chapters and staff in the ACR Office of Chapter and Volunteer Development worked together to develop this program and to anticipate questions you might have. There are sure to be additional questions and issues we may not have considered. Please help us by sharing your questions and ideas. You may contact us either at chapters@acr.org or at (800) 227-5463, ext. 4917.