Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

March/April, 1998

Award Nominations

Award Nominations
by Mimi Wirtanen, Awards Chair

THE NOMINATING PROCEDURES AND DESCRIPTIONS of Awards for 1998 are outlined below. This year a standardized nominating form for each award will be provided. The Awards Committee is looking forward to your nominations: 1. NADE Chapter Presidents and their Board of Directors (or Regional Directors for states that do not have organized chapters) are responsible for selecting nominees for each award category. Nominations should be submitted to the chair of NADE National Awards Committee. 2. Nominations must be submitted by July 1, 1998. 3. The nomination form must cover each aspect of the criteria of the award, explaining how it is met. 4. The nomination form should be typed. A one page, typed, double-spaced attachment is permissible, if needed. 5. The chair will distribute copies of all nominations along with ballots to committee members. Ballots will be attached. After voting, the results will be delivered to President Gardiner for presentation at the National Conference in Rapid City, SD.

President's Award THIS AWARD IS TO BE given annually and presented by the NADE President in recognition of an outstanding Chapter. Criteria for Eligibility: (a) Any organized NADE Chapter which has demonstrated outstanding achievement by innovation of programs for improving medical and other professional community relationships. Such activities as panel presentations, speeches, publication of bulletins, newsletters, circulars or other efforts to improve the quality of medical reporting or reporting of vocational assessments or the use of other professional information which can be utilized for the factual and effective documentation of disability determinations. (b) Any chapter activities which have enhanced working relationships among its professional communities.

The Charles O. Blalock Award THE CHARLES O. BLALOCK AWARD is a service award to be presented annually and on a continuing basis in the name of the founder of NADE. It is made in recognition of an individual who has made extended efforts and major contributions toward the organizational advancement of NADE. Criteria for Eligibility: (a) The recipient may be any professional member of the National Association of Disability Examiners who is employed either full or part-time. (b) The recipient shall have provided outstanding leadership in the development and substantial expansion of his/her State Chapter, Regional, and/or the National organization. (c) The recipient shall have shown consistent efforts over a period of at least three years toward the organizational advancement of NADE. (d) The recipient may be a Committee Chairperson, a National Board Member, a Chapter President or any Member who has promoted the advancement of NADE to an outstanding degree.

The NADE Award THIS AWARD IS TO HONOR and recognize the disability professional of the year who has made outstanding contributions not only to the service of the claimant in accordance with his/her expertise but has contributed substantially of his/ her time and talent to promote harmonious and more effective working relationships among his/her immediate professional community. The award shall be presented annually at the National Conference. Criteria for Eligibility: (a) Anyone who is professionally identified as a disability professional, employed full or part-time. (b) Any NADE member engaged as a professional in any capacity, i.e., Medical Consultant, Adjudicator, Vocational Evaluation Consultant, Supervisor, etc. (c) Anyone who has consistently shown outstanding achievement by the use of initiative and humanitarian efforts and ability to effectively assist in the Social Security disability process.

The John Gordon Award THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED IN the name of John R. Gordon and is made to honor and recognize superior performance of a supervisor. Criteria for Eligibility: (a) Any supervisor who is professionally identified as a NADE member. (b) Any supervisor who by his/her initiative and resourcefulness promotes cohesiveness in his/her work group. (c) Any supervisor who provides further incentive for personal growth and professionalism among the individuals he/she supervises. (d) Any supervisor who acts in his/her executive capacity in the promotion and maintenance of morale. (e) Any supervisor who exceeds the requirements of his/her role in facilitating the work loads of his/her Agency.

Lewis Buckingham Award THIS PROFESSIONAL AWARD IS TO honor and recognize a leader of the National Association of Disability Examiners at either the Regional or National level. Criteria for Eligibility: (a) This person must consistently have shown outstanding achievement by the use of initiative and humanitarian efforts to further advance the professionalism and goals of the National Association of Disability Examiners. (b) The recipient must have contributed at least ten (10) years of continuous service to the organization. (c) The recipient should have held national office.

Director’s Award THIS AWARD IS TO HONOR and recognize an outstanding member of the support staff who demonstrates work performance efficiency and characteristics which contribute to the efficient operation of the unit and the morale of coworkers. Criteria for Eligibility: (a) Any clerical or paraprofessional employee who is employed either full or part-time and is a member of NADE. (b) The recipient must have shown outstanding leadership and work performance among his/her peer group.

The Earl B. Thomas Award THIS AWARD IS TO BE presented annually on a continuing basis in the name of a charter member of NADE totally committed to and actively supportive of all for which it stands. It is made in recognition of an administrator of a disability agency for constant contributions to the Social Security disability program that far exceed the responsibility of the position and who is actively supportive of the advancement of the National Association of Disability Examiners. Criteria for Eligibility: (a) The recipient must be a member of NADE. (b) The recipient must be the administrator of a State or Federal agency or be the top administrator of a Regional or Satellite DDS and have been so for five years. (c) The recipient must have contributed significantly to the program in ways consistent with the policies of NADE, beyond the normal administrative duties of his/her position. (d) The recipient must be an active supporter of NADE.

The Frank Barclay Award THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY in recognition of an individual who has shown exceptional ability to motivate and challenge or to develop or promote programs which motivate and challenge others toward personal and professional growth/human resource development. Criteria for Eligibility: (a) The recipient must be a member of NADE. (b) The recipient must be assigned to job duties specifically directed toward human resource development and perform these duties on a substantial but not necessarily full-time basis. Examples of potential nominees include, but are not limited to, a training officer, a Quality Circle facilitator or an administrator of personnel programs. (c) The recipient must have notable accomplishments in the area of human resource development, consistent with policies and objectives of our professional organization.

Nominations MUST be received by July 1, 1998. Send them to: Mimi Wirtanen 1512 Lamont Ave Lansing, MI 48915 (517) 373-4205, Fax (517) 373-4347