communication department

Volume XIX Number 8

Honors and Awards

Recommendations for Distinguished Service Awards

The Society recognizes members who demonstrate exemplary dedication and service to their STC communities through three special award programs: the distinguished chapter service award (DCSA), the distinguished SIG service award (DSSA), and the distinguished service award for students (DSAS). Community leaders who would like to recognize members for their hard work and commitment should consider recommending them for distinguished service awards.

In deciding whom to recommend, chapter administrative councils, SIG managers (and their administrative councils, where available), and student chapter advisors are encouraged to consider consistency of service throughout the time of membership along with depth of effort and variety of service. Variety of service can be interpreted in different ways depending on the size and type of the community; its measurement is at the discretion of the recommending individuals. Please note that members who have already received this honor from one community cannot receive it a second time from the same community.

Each recommendation should specify clearly, in a short paragraph, why the individual is being recommended. A brief citation should be attached to the recommendation. Each citation should be meaningful to the potential recipient. For examples of citations, please refer to the appropriate award guidelines.

The deadline for submitting recommendations is November 30, 2006. Please put the required information into a Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF document and e-mail it to the appropriate party. Recommendations will be collected and presented to the STC Board of Directors for approval at their January meeting.

Please note that the guidelines for these awards, as posted on the STC Web site, are out of date. Where they differ, the processes noted in this article supersede the processes in the guidelines. We hope to have the guidelines updated by October30. If you have questions, contact your director or, if you are in Regions 2 and 3, contact De Murr, manager of the Leadership Community Resource. All SIGs may contact Judith Herr.

DCSA
All chapter members, with the exception of current voting members of the chapter administrative council, are eligible for the DCSA. Each chapter may make at least one recommendation. Please refer to “Guidelines for the Distinguished Chapter Service Award” to determine if your chapter is eligible to make additional recommendations.

For all communities except those in Regions 2 and 3, the chapter administrative council recommends candidates for the DCSA to the director of its region. Communities in Regions 2 and 3 submit their recommendations to De Murr, manager of the Leadership Community Resource. The announcement and presentation of the DCSA are left to the discretion of the chapter. Award certificates and plaques will be forwarded to chapter presidents in late February. Announcements of the award recipients will be posted on the STC Web site on April 6, so if you’re planning to surprise any of your recipients, please inform them prior to that date.

DSSA
All SIG members, with the exception of current SIG managers (and administrative council members), are eligible for the DSSA. Each SIG may make at least one recommendation. Please refer to “Guidelines for Distinguished SIG Service Award” to determine if your SIG is eligible to make additional recommendations.

SIG managers should send their recommendations to STC’s virtual communities manager, Judith Herr. DSSA recipients will be announced during one of the main gatherings of SIG members at STC’s 54th Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Award plaques will be mailed directly to award recipients after the conference.

DSAS
Only student members who are currently attending school on a full-time basis are eligible for the DSAS. A student may receive this award only once. The student chapter advisor and administrative council work together to select a nominee for the award. Each student chapter may make one recommendation. Please refer to “Guidelines for the Distinguished Service Award for Students” for additional information.

For all communities except those in Regions 2 and 3, the student chapter advisor (or administrative council) recommends candidates and submits the forms for the DSAS to the director of the region. Communities in Regions 2 and 3 submit their forms to De Murr, manager of the Leadership Community Resource. The announcement and presentation of the DSAS are left to the discretion of the chapter. Award certificates will be sent to student chapter advisors in late February. Announcements of the award recipients will be posted on the STC Web site on April 6, so if you’re planning to surprise any of your recipients, please inform them prior to that date.

Honoring Service
The distinguished service awards offer an exciting opportunity to recognize dedicated community members for service to the Society. While there is no obligation to recommend candidates annually, all STC communities are encouraged to consider these awards as part of their annual activities.

Sigma Tau Chi, Alpha Sigma Applications Due November 1

The Society encourages qualified students to apply for membership in its honorary fraternities, Sigma Tau Chi and Alpha Sigma.

Sigma Tau Chi recognizes students enrolled in a baccalaureate or graduate technical communication program who have a cumulative grade point average of3.5 or higher, are exemplary in their participation in STC, and demonstrate the potential to contribute significantly to the profession.

Alpha Sigma recognizes students enrolled in two-year and certificate technical communication programs who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, demonstrate active participation in STC, and have the potential to contribute significantly to the profession.

Details and applications will be mailed to all directors of academic technical communication programs, STC directors, and advisors of student STC chapters in early October. If you meet these qualifications or know of a student who does, please request an application from one of these contacts. The application is also available on the STC Web site. Students who are accepted into Sigma Tau Chi or Alpha Sigma receive a one-year membership in STC, a pin, and a t-shirt. The STC Board of Directors will notify the selected students after the Board’s February meeting.

Completed application packets should be mailed to the following address by November 1, 2006:

Elizabeth Overman Smith
Department of Languages, Literature, and Philosophy
Tennessee State University
3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37209-1561