District Awards: Criteria For Sam Owori Awards RELEASED

Every year, the District awards the best Clubs during the District Conference. This year, in what is dubbed to be the Rotary “Oscars” District Governor Joe Otin will award Rotary, Rotaract and Interact members and clubs.

The beauty of it is that you have a head start to align your club activities to the criteria of the Awards. “We want clubs to have enough time to document their activities so that they can submit them for the Awards,” says DG Otin.

The District 9212 Awards have been named The Sam Owori Awards.

The objective is to recognize, honour efforts and activities that will be seen to make clubs stronger, communities better, and improve the public image of Rotary. Clubs are encouraged to assess themselves to enable them track their progress in the course of the year.

For the first time ever, the awards are open to Rotary clubs, Rotaract and Interact clubs.

Objectives:

To recognize outstanding Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs and individuals in 2019/20 Rotary year.
Create case studies of excellence that will be published on https://timeline.rotary9212.org for other clubs and individuals to learn.

Terms and Conditions:

To participate, clubs and members must meet the following:

Club and/or individual should be in good standing – a club/individual has paid dues.
The club’s/individual’s profile must be updated on My Rotary.
A club is allowed to submit ONLY one entry per award.
Each category will be judged and assessed by a panel of judges.

AWARD CATEGORIES

CATEGORY 1: MEMBERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARDS

1. Membership of the Year Award – Club

Who can submit entry: Club President or Membership Director
Citation: This award will recognize a Rotary or Rotaract club that will have contributed the most to the growth of members in Rotary by either:
- Achieved a net growth of 50% membership in the Rotary or Rotaract club.
- Sponsored or co-sponsored a new Rotary or EClub or Corporate club or Rotaract club or Interact club.
Achieved a net growth of 50%
Provide:
- Evidence of a 50% membership net growth in the club – official list of members registered with Rotary International/My Rotary, and a breakdown of the new members’ profession, age and gender (20 points)
- A detailed explanation by the Membership Director of how the club achieved the 50% net growth in membership (30 points)
- Sponsored or co-sponsored a new club Club charter confirmation – if your club sponsored or co-sponsored a new EClub or Corporate club or Rotary club or Rotaract club or Interact club (10 points)
- Number of members, profession, age and gender in the new club (10 points)
- A detailed 500 words explanation of the approach used to charter the new club, who was involved, challenges faced and how they were overcome (30 points)

2. Membership of the Year Award – Individual

Who can submit entry: Club President or Membership Director.
Citation: This award will recognize/ honour a Rotarian or Rotaractor who will have contributed significantly to the growth of members.
Provide:
- Evidence of the number of members the individual has introduced to a Rotary or Rotaract club (10 points) .
- Indicate classification, age and gender of the new members (10 points)
- A detailed 500 words explanation of how the individual managed to attract and recruit new members to Rotary or Rotaract and challenges the person encountered. (30 points.

3. Membership Director of the Year Award

Who can submit entry: Club President
Citation: This award will go to a Membership Director of a Rotary or Rotaract club who will have achieved at least three of the following goals:
- Met the club’s membership target;
- Improved the club’s membership retention rate;
- Conducted a membership survey;
- Organised at least 3 activities/events within the year that kept members engaged;
- Has transitioned at least 5 Rotaractors into a Rotary club.
Provide:
- Membership target – evidence of the target that was set at the beginning of the year and the number of members added (10 points)
- Retention rate – membership retention percentage and what the individual did to retain members (20 points)
- Membership survey – details of the survey, when it was done, number of participants, a summary of the findings and evidence of the action taken by the club (20 points)
- Evidence of at least 3 activities/events within the year that kept members engaged – provide photos and member testimonials (15 points)
- Transitioned at least 5 Rotaractors into a Rotary club – provide names, age, profession and gender. Include 2 testimonials (20 points)

CATEGORY 2: ROTARY FOUNDATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS

1. Rotary Foundation Excellence Award

Who can submit entry: Club President or Rotary Foundation Director
Citation: This award will recognize a Rotary club that will have contributed a minimum of $20,000 directly to The Rotary Foundation – either through fundraising, its members (PHF, EREY, and Major donor/s), corporates and non-Rotarians. The award will go to the Rotary Club that has given the highest amount.
This award will also factor clubs that:
- Made significant effort to encourage first time givers (members who are contributing to the Foundation for the first time).
- Successfully got corporates and non-Rotarians to give to the Rotary Foundation.
Provide:
- Evidence (bank transfers) of the amounts sent to TRF and an acknowledgment funds were received (20 points)
- A detailed explanation by the Foundation Director of how the club raised the amount (30 points)
- Provide list of first time givers in the club and the amounts (15 points)
- Names of corporates and non-Rotarians who gave to TRF and amounts (15 points)

2. Rotary Foundation Excellence Award – Individual (Rotarian)

Who can submit entry: Club president or Rotary Foundation Director
Citation: This award will recognize and honour a Rotarian who will have contributed a minimum of $10,000 the Rotary Foundation.
The Rotarian who will have given the highest amount will be given this award.
Provide:
- Evidence (bank transfers) of the amounts sent to TRF and an acknowledgment (20 points)
- A testimonial giving not less than three reasons in detail of why he/she contributed to TRF (30 points)

3. Fundraising Director of the Year Award

Who can submit entry: Club President
Citation: This award will go to a Foundation Director of a Rotary or Rotaract club who will have achieved at least three of the following goals:
- Met the club’s TRF financial target.
- Ensured at least 50% of the club’s members contributed to TRF
- Ensured more than 5 members were first time givers;
- Organised at least 2 activities/events within the year aimed at raising funds for TRF
- TRF Director has made a personal financial contribution to TRF of at least $500.
- Met the club’s TRF financial target for the year.
Provide:
- Evidence of what was set at the start of the year, evidence of money sent to TRF and acknowledgement (15 points)
- At least 50% of the club’s members contributed to TRF – provide evidence: number of people in the club, names of donors, bank transfers and amounts (25 points)
- First time givers – list of more than 5 members and include amounts (25 points)
- Fundraising events – proof of at least 2 fundraising activities/events, amounts raised and money sent to TRF (30 points)
- Individual contribution – Evidence that TRF Director has made a financial contribution of at least $500 to TRF (25 points)

4. Rotary Foundation Excellence Award – Rotaractor

Who can submit entry: Club president or Rotary Foundation Director
Citation: This award will recognize and honour a Rotaractor who will have contributed a minimum of $1,000 the Rotary Foundation.
The Rotaractor who will have given the highest amount will be given this award.
Provide:
- Evidence (bank transfers) of the amounts sent to TRF and and acknowledgment (20 points)
- A testimonial giving not less than three reasons in detail of why he/she contributed to TRF (30 points)

5. Fundraiser Event of The Year Award – Club

Who can submit entry: Club President or Rotary Foundation Director
Citation: This award will recognize and honour a Rotary/Rotaract club that came up with the most innovative/creative fundraiser event/activity.
The Award will go to the club entry that will have raised the highest amount
Provide a testimonial about the fundraising idea highlighting the following:
- The concept – When and where the event/activity was held
- How the planning was done
- How much money was raised
- How club members were involved
- Challenges encountered and resolved
- Lessons to share with other clubs
- At least 5 photos of the event (50 points)

CATEGORY 3: ROTARY PUBLIC IMAGE EXCELLENCE AWARDS

1. Public Image Excellence of The Year Award – Rotary Club

Who can submit entry: Club President or Public Image/Relations Director
Citation: This award will recognize a Rotary club with excellent branding, website, use of social media platforms, use of enewsletters, WhatsApp, video, photography, engaging speakers, mentions in mainstream media.
Provide the following evidence (where applicable/available): (100 points)
- 5 photos of club events’/activities showing club branding.
- Link to club website.
- Google analytics showing traffic to the website.
- Links to the clubs social media accounts (those that are available) – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.
- Samples of newsletters (if any).
- Sample of eFlyers about club activities.
- Links to TV interviews Links or cuttings of articles published or aired in the main stream media.
- Links to articles published on the District website – https://timeline.rotary9212.org
- Hosting engaging speakers

2. Public Image Excellence of the year Award – Rotaract Club

Who can submit entry: Club President or Public Image/Relations Director
Citation: This award will recognize a Rotaract club with excellent branding, website, use of social media platforms, use of enewsletters, WhatsApp, video, photography, engaging speakers, mentions in mainstream media.
Provide the following evidence (where applicable/available): (100 points):
- 5 photos of club events’/activities showing club branding.
- Link to club website.
- Google analytics showing traffic to the website.
- Links to the clubs social media accounts (those that are available) – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.
- Samples of enewsletters (if any).
- Sample of eFlyers about club activities.
- Links to TV interviewsLinks or cuttings of articles published or aired on the main stream media.
- Links to articles published on the District website – https://timeline.rotary9212.org
- Hosting engaging speakers

3.Public Image Director of the Year Award – Rotary Club

Who can submit entry: Club President
This award will recognize a Public Image/Public Relations Director of a Rotary club who will have improved the public image if his/her club.
Provide the following evidence (where applicable/available):
- Evidence of Public Image/Relations targets set at the start of the year (10 points)
- Evidence of activities achieved as per the targets set (20 points)
- A 500 words testimonial of lessons learned as Public Image/Relations Director of a club (20 points)

4. Public Image Director of the Year Award – Rotaract Club

Who can submit entry: Club President
Citation: This award will recognize a Public Image/Public Relations Director of a Rotaract club who will have significantly improved the public image if his/her club.
Provide the following evidence (where applicable/available):
- Evidence of Public Image/Relations targets set at the start of the year (10 points)
- Evidence of activities achieved as per the targets set (20 points)
- A 500 words testimonial of lessons learned as Public Image/Relations Director of a club (20 points)

CATEGORY 4: DISTRICT GOVERNOR#ELEVATEYOURGAME AWARDS

1. Best Assistant Governor of the Year Award

Who can nominate: Club Presidents
Citation: The District Governor will recognize an Assistant Governor for exemplary achievement.
Describe how the individual worked with your club throughout the year.
Provide:
- What did you like about him/her?
- How did the AG contribute to the success of your club?
- What is the most memorable thing the AG did that you will never forget?
- List the goals the AGs club achieved in the year as per the District goals.

2. Best Global Grants Management and Reporting Award

Who can submit entry: Club President
Citation: The District Governor will recognize Rotary clubs that will have had the best management and timely reporting of Global Grant projects.
Provide:
- What is the project about?
- Who was the primary contact?
- How much is/was the project?
- Provide testimonials from beneficiaries.

3. Best Rotary Club President of the year Award

Who can nominate: Club members
Citation: The District Governor will recognize a Rotary Club President for exemplary achievement.
Provide:
- 5 reasons why the Club President should be considered for the Award.
- What is the most memorable thing the Club President did that members will never forget?
- Attach names and signatures of 30% of your members who have endorsed the nomination of the Club President for the Award.
- List the goals the club achieved in the year as per the District goals.

4. Best Rotaract Club President of the year Award

Who can nominate: Rotary President or Rotaract club members.
Citation: The District Governor will recognize for a Rotaract Club President for exemplary achievement.
Provide:
- 5 reasons why the Club President should be considered for the Award.
- What is the most memorable thing the Club President did that members will never forget?
- Attach names and signatures of 30% of your members who have endorsed the nomination of the Club President for the Award.
- List the goals the club achieved in the year as per the District goals.

5. Best Interact Club President of the year Award

Who can nominate: Club members
Citation: The District Governor will recognize an Interact Club President for exemplary achievement.
Provide:
- 5 reasons why the Club President should be considered for the Award.
- What is the most memorable thing the Club President did that members will never forget?
- Attach names and signatures of 30% of your members who have endorsed the nomination of the Club President for the Award.

6. Significant Service Award

Who can submit entry: Club President (International projects are not eligible for recognition)
Citation: The District Governor will recognize a Rotary or Rotaract club whose project has addressed a significant need in your community.
Provide:
- What is the project about?
- Which local community that benefited from project?
- Where are they located?
- How many people benefited?
- Provide a list name of Club members involved in the project and what their roles were.
- Explain how the project enhanced the image of Rotary in that particular community.
- Describe the problem or need in the community that the project addressed (500 words)

7. Service Award for a Polio-Free World

Who can submit entry: Club president, Club members or a Rotarian
Citation: The District Governor will Honour a Rotarian who has made outstanding contributions towards polio eradication efforts in District 9212.
Provide:
- In at least 400 words, explain what the nominee has done that deserves recognition.
- How has the nominee personally and actively contributed to the eradication of polio? When?
- Why do you feel that the nominee’s service has been outstanding? Give 3 reasons.
- Any financial contributions should not be listed.

The deadline for submission will be 8th March 2020