News

This message is intended to serve as a reminder/encouragement for all our chapters to start assembling individual and chapter awards packages showcasing your achievers and achievements.  A lot of changes are before us, and I will address them briefly as the details for submitting awards can be referenced in AFSA Manual 100-4(2), Field Operating Procedures, Awards, Scholarship and Grants and the AFSA & AUX Preparation & Submission Guide (attached)

You'll notice the division has to forward all winner packages in printed copy, consolidated on a CD in MS Word, along with any pictures (JPEG or TIFF) and other supporting documentation and an Awards Matrix.  The awards guide clearly illustrates the format for each award submission (i.e. # of pages, pitch, font style, margins, justification, etc.).  Please ensure your chapter follows this format, any submissions not following this format will be returned for correction(s).  Individual pictures are NOT required to be an official AF photograph, but need to be a professional and tasteful pose.  The awards guide suggests how the individual photograph should be taken, format, and how many copies are required to sent in.     

Additionally, AFSA will be using quarterly reports to judge the Chapter of the Year (COY).  I'll need these reports attached to the COY packages so the judges will have all the information before them to make an informed decision.  All other chapter level award submissions must follow the format as listed in the awards guide.

Most chapters will elect, appoint and install new officers between January 1 and April 1, 2010, so you may not be the chapter president when the packages are due.  As in the past, the chapter president holding the office for most of year 2009 will bear the responsibility for submitting his/her chapter's nomination packages.  Wouldn't it be great if every chapter submitted at least one award nomination in some category this year?  Packages are becoming fewer each year.  All it takes to win a category sometimes is to just to submit an entry.  A profound certainty is, "you cannot win if you don't submit."  Division President Lutzen is still striving for the goal of at least an Airman and an NCO submission from each chapter. 

The Airman/NCO of the Year format changed slightly from previous years, instead of the standard three heading of "Leadership and Job Performance in Primary Duties; Significant Self Improvement Efforts; Base and Community Involvement; AFSA included a fourth heading for "AFSA Related Contributions". 

The AFSA International Awards Guide requires the" Nominees be members of AFSA prior to the convening of the International Selection Board at the annual International Conference/PAC.  It's a reasonable expectation that nominees competing for Division 89 awards also be AFSA members.  Therefore, make sure they are current members when the packages are submitted.  This will also ensure compliance for winners being forwarded on to AFSA for further competition.    

The deadline for submitting packages this year will be Monday, March 15, 2010.  They must be postmarked by that date to afford us adequate time to have them judged, mementoes ordered and scripts prepared for division convention.  The award period to be covered is calendar year 2009.  Again, as in years past, there will be no leeway for late submissions.  All submissions must be in my hands or postmarked no later than March 15, 2010 to be considered.  I intend to convene the board(s) immediately following the deadline to permit timely performance of all the related tasks.  Packages received that are postmarked later than March 15, 2010 will be returned without being opened.  Again, you have to submit a package to win!!!  Award winners will be announced during the annual Division 89 Convention at Rapid City, SD (April 29 - May 1). 

If there are any questions I can be contacted at this email address or by telephone.

Yours in AFSA Friendship and Commitment,