Honours Policy

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Preamble – Policy Statement

The Newfoundland & Labrador Public Sector Pensioners’ Association is the only umbrella organization for all recipients of Public Sector Pensions in the Province. Because of this unique status, the Association has the potential and opportunity to recognize and honour the contribution of its members and of others outside the membership who have made a significant impact on the well being of public service pensioners. The Association wishes to put into place three awards to take advantage of this opportunity: Honourary Director, Honourary Member and President’s Appreciation Award.

Honourary Director

The award of Honourary Director is designed to recognize the significant contribution of an Active Member of the Association, and is to be considered a life-time award. The following applies:

• any Active Member of the Association is eligible to be recognized as an Honourary Director;
• an Active Member may be nominated as an Honourary Director because of special leadership provided within the context of the Association or because of a significant contribution to the well being of public service pensioners;
• an Honourary Director shall have the right to attend any General or Special Meeting of the Association and Meetings of the Board of Directors, but shall not have the right to vote beyond those provided for in Article III of the Constitution of the Association.

In order to maintain the quality of the award, no more than one Honourary Director should normally be named at any Annual General Meeting. In exceptional situations, the Board of Directors may authorize that more than one Honourary Director be named. Conversely, it may be determined by the Board of Directors that no Honourary Director be named at a particular Annual General Meeting.

Honourary Member of the Association

The award of Honourary Member of the Association is designed to recognize the significant contribution of a person who is not a member but can be an Associate or Affiliate member of the Association, and is to be considered a life-time award. The following applies:

• any person who is not an Active Member but could be an Associate or Affiliate member of the Association, may be nominated as an Honourary Member of the Association, who has made a significant contribution to the well being of public service pensioners;
• an Honourary Member of the Association shall have the right to attend any General or Special Meeting of the Association, but shall not have the right to vote;

In order to maintain the quality of the award, no more than one Honourary Member of the Association should normally be named at any Annual General Meeting. In exceptional situations, the Board of Directors may authorize that more than one Honourary Member be named. Conversely, it may be determined by the Board of Directors that no Honourary Member of the Association be named at a particular Annual General Meeting.

President’s Appreciation Award

The President’s Appreciation Award is designed to recognize a person who has made a an outstanding one-time contribution to furthering the aims and objectives of the Association

Any members of the Association either Active, Associate or Affiliate may be nominated to receive this award. In order to maintain the quality of the Award, no more than on President’s Appreciation Award will normally be bestowed at any Annual General Meeting. It may be determined by the Board that no President’s Appreciation Award be granted at a particular Annual General Meeting. In exceptional situations, the Board of Directors may authorize that more than one President’s Appreciation Award be granted.

Nominations for Awards

Any two Members of the Association, either Active or Associate, may nominate a candidate for the awards of Honourary Director, Honourary Member or President’s Appreciation of the Association. Nominations must:

• be on the official forms, available at the Association office;
• identify the name, address and telephone number of the candidate;
• outline the reason for the nomination;
• be signed by two Active or Associate Members of the Association.
• be submitted to the Honours Committee not later than 60 days prior the Annual General Meeting.

Alternately, candidates may be named by the Honours Committee or the Board of Directors. Nominations will be processed by the Honours Committee and presented to the Board of Directors for approval.

Honours Committee

The Board of Directors shall either appoint an Honours Committee, chaired or co-chaired by a Member of the Board of Directors, or assign this responsibility to another Board Committee. The responsibilities of the Honours Committee will include:

• informing the Membership of the awards and soliciting nominations;
• receiving and reviewing nominations from Members; ensuring that all necessary information is available;
• initiating additional nominations, if it considers appropriate;
• presenting recommendations to the Board of Directors, not later than 30 days prior to the Annual General Meeting;:
• ensuring that a record of Honours is maintained in the appropriate manner.

Approval and Presentation of Awards

The approval of candidates for the awards of Honourary Director , Honourary Member and President’s Appreciation of the Association will be made by the Board of Directors, not later than 30 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Approved candidates will then be notified and their willingness to accept the award determined.

The awards will consist of an appropriately designed certificate suitable for framing with a brief citation outlining the contribution that is being recognized.

Announcement of the awards will be made at the Annual General Meeting, and the presentation of the awards will normally take place at that time. However, at the convenience of the individual candidate, the Board of Directors may determine that the award will be presented at a more suitable time and place.

Certificate of Appreciation

A Certificate of Appreciation is designed to acknowledge a person who has made a special effort in assisting with a one-time, specific undertaking by the Association.

Any member of the Association, either Active, Associative or Affiliate or non-member may be given this Certificate.

At the discretion of the Board of Directors, more than one Certificate of Appreciation can be given during the year, not necessarily at the Annual General Meeting. The normal protocol for nominations is not required for this award and a name can be submitted at any Board of Directors meeting. This will be an unframed certificate.

Recording of Honours

An updated list of Honourary Directors and Honourary Members of the Association will be maintained in the records of the Association and a visible record will be maintained in the Association’s Office.

*Approved by the Board of Directors: 18 October 2004