Provincial and Regional Volunteer Awards

The Volunteer Recognition Program is designed to recognize outstanding performance and contribution by both volunteers and players in various disciplines within Ringette. The process of this program will be administered by the Membership Services Committee. The Membership Services Representative may solicit recommendations for changes from members of the Regional Executive at any time.

The program is divided into several categories each having a particular impact on the specific area of interest.

All categories with the exception of Service and Appreciation Awards are inducted into the Ontario Ringette Association 'Ringette Hall of Fame'. A "Hall of Fame" is considered a concept/resource or place in which inductee's names are kep on record permanently (Life Members) with the organization (presently housed at the Ontario Sports and Recreation Centre, Business Office), It is the intent of this program to encourage both the Regional and Community levels to initiate reciprocal recognition awards.

A thank you goes a long way, and will assist each association in the recruitment and retaining of valued volunteers.

2.       Volunteer Recognition Program Nomination Procedures

1.       The following Committees and Members are eligible to nominate potential nominees for Volunteer Recognition Awards described in Membership Services - Provincial Builder Section 12.3 through Appreciation Awards 12.14 as stated below:

1. Ontario Ringette Board of Directors
   1. all award categories
2. Charter Member (Regional Committee)
   1. all award categories
3. Registered Member (Local Association)
   1. all award categories
4. Provincial Coaching Committee
   1. Provincial Coach of the Year Award
   2. Regional Coach of the Year Award
5. Provincial Officiating Committee
   1. Provincial Official of the Year Award
   2. Regional Official of the Year Award
6. Provincial Sport Development and Adult Development Committees
   1. Provincial Player Recognition Award
   2. Regional Player Recognition Award
   3. Provincial Contribution Award - Adult Division
   4. Regional Contribution Award - Adult Division
   5. Provincial Corporate Sponsor of the Year Award
   6. Regional Corporate Sponsor of the Year Award
7. Membership Services and Games and Tournaments Committees
   1. Provincial Association of the Year Award
   2. Regional Association of the Year Award

2.       All Volunteer Recognition Program Award Nomination Forms are to be submitted to the appropriate Provincial or Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Selection Committee on or before April 1^st of each year. It is the Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Selection Committee's responsibility to provide Regional Selections to the ORA office four (4) weeks prior to each Region's AGM.

3.       Due to the nature of the award categories, it shall be the responsibility of the Provincial and Regional Award Selection Committee to ensure that sufficient information is obtained and/or researched in order to give each applicant due consideration. You may liaise with the Provincial Program Chair, O.R.A. office or the Local Association in which the nominee belongs or formerly belonged to.

4.       The Volunteer Recognition Award Selection Committee Chair is appointed at the first Board of Directors meeting following the Annual General Meeting. The Provincial Volunteer Recognition Award Selection Committee (minimum of 3 members) shall be appointed by the Chair and ratified by the President.

5.       The Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Selection Committee shall be appointed at the discretion of the Regional Charter Member.

6.       The following Provincial Awards are to be submitted in writing, accompanied by a detailed resume, to the Provincial Volunteer Recognition Award Selection Committee via the O.R.A. business office:

1. Provincial Builder
2. Community Builder
3. Provincial Coach of the Year
4. Provincial Official of the Year
5. Provincial Player Recognition Award
6. Provincial Contribution Award - Adult Divisions
7. Provincial Association of the Year
8. Provincial Corporate Sponsor of the Year

7.       The following Regional Awards are to be submitted in writing, accompanied by a detailed resume, to the Regional Volunteer Recognition Award Selection Committee:

1. Regional Coach of the Year
2. Regional Official of the Year
3. Regional Player Recognition Award
4. Regional Contribution Award - Adult Divisions
5. Regional Association of the year
6. Regional Volunteer
7. Regional Corporate Sponsor of the Year

8.       Provincial Volunteer Awards are to be presented at the O.R.A. AGM and the Regional Volunteer Recognition Awards are to be presented at each Region's AGM. The Regional Volunteer Recognition Awards winners will be announced at the O.R.A. AGM.

9.       Volunteer Recognition Program Nomination Forms are provided for your convenience, a copy of which can be found in the Appendices Section of the Operating Manual. (Appendix M-F-16). However, should one not be available, please ensure that all required information is contained in your nomination submission.

3.       Provincial Builder

Criteria: There shall be no more that two (2) Provincial Builders elected annually.

1. Nominees shall have been involved at the Provincial Level for at least five (5) years. An exception may be granted by virtue of a Nominee's extraordinary and outstanding contribution. The Ontario Ringette Association Board of Directors may reduce the length of service required. This includes involvement on the O.R.A. Board of Directors, Provincial Ad-Hoc Committees and Provincial Standing Committees.

2. Nominees shall have made an outstanding contribution to the Ontario Ringette Association in one or more of the following: Growth and Development, Publicity, Administration, Technical Programs.

3. Nominees shall also have made a significant contribution to Ringette at the Community level.

4. The Board of Directors has a specific mandate to identify potential Nominees to the Hall of Fame Committee. According to Hall of Fame guidelines the Nominee's Region must also support the Nomination.

5. No nomination may be submitted for individuals actively serving on the Ontario Ringette Association's Board of Directors or Selection Committee.

AWARD: Provincial Individual Award

4.       Community Builder

Criteria: There shall be no more than (10) Community Builders elected annually.

1. Nominees shall have been involved at the Community Program for at least five (5) years.

2. The Nominee shall have contributed to the development and/or expansion of Ringette within the Community, and fulfilled a key leadership role. Example to include, but not limited to, the following:
   1. substantial increase in player registration
   2. initiation of a new program or development of existing programs within the organization
   3. assisted other organizations in starting a Ringette program
   4. involvement with hosting Ringette events
   5. active in coaching, refereeing, fundraising and/or sponsorship

3. Nominees may or may not be actively involved at the time of nomination.

4. No nominations may be submitted for individuals actively serving on the Ontario Ringette Association Board of Directors or Selection Committee.

AWARD: Community Builders Plaque

5.       Coach of the Year

Provincial Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Provincial Coach of the Year elected annually.

1. Nominees shall have been involved with a Provincial level team for a minimum of five (5) years in any "Bench Staff" capacity.

2. Nominees must display an excellent rapport with players, parents and referees, and embody Ringette's philosophy of teamwork, fair play and sportsmanship.

3. Nominees shall be a current member of a registered Provincial level team and have the minimum certification requirements for their bench position.

4. Nominees must not have won the Provincial Coach of the Year Award in the past three (3) years.

AWARD: Provincial Individual Award

6.       Official of the Year

Provincial Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Provincial Official of the Year elected annually.

1. Nominees must have been involved in officiating for a minimum of five (5) years.

2. Nominees must be registered members in good standing with the Officiating Development Program, having taken all the required clinics and being ranked at a minimum of 3B level.

3. Nominees must be actively involved in officiating at the Community, Regional or Provincial levels and must possess an excellent rapport with players, coaches and fellow officials.

4. Nominees must not have won this award in the past five (5) years.

AWARD: Provincial Individual Award

Regional Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Regional Referee Recognition Award Recipient elected annually per region.

1. Nominees shall be determined based on the Provincial Criteria above, yet with a specific focus on Regional and/or Community efforts.

2. Nominees must have a minimum rank of 2C and officiate in the Regional Championship.

3. Nominees shall not have won this award in the past three (3) years.

AWARD: Plaque

7.       Player Recognition Award

Provincial Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Provincial Player Recognition Award Recipient elected annually.

1. Nominees shall have been involved as a player for a minimum of five (5) years.

2. Nominees shall have exhibited high standards of sportsmanship, striven for personal excellence, contributed to teamwork and team spirit.

3. Nominees shall have made an overall contribution to the sport of Ringette in Ontario (i.e. Coaching, Officiating, Player Development or Administration).

4. Nominees shall be a player of Junior age or higher, yet they may or may not still be active.

5. Nominees must not have won this award in the past five (5) years.

AWARD: Provincial Individual Award

Regional Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Regional Player Recognition Award Recipient elected annually per region.

1. Nominees shall be determined based on the Provincial Criteria above, yet with a specific focus on Regional and/or Community efforts.

2. Nominees shall not have won this award in the past three (3) years.

AWARD: Plaque

8.       Association of the Year

Provincial Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Provincial Association of the Year elected annually.

1. Nominees shall be Members in Good Standing with O.R.A. and their Regional Committee.

2. Nominees will have displayed above average performance in areas including, but not limited to: Publicity and Promotions, Volunteer/Participant recruitment and development, Outreach assistance, Player Development opportunities, competitions for varied levels of play and generally offering a well-rounded program for their membership.

3. Nominations may be put forth by another member association or a member of the Regional Committee.

4. The Region and Ontario Ringette must support any nomination based on a Nominee's adherence to the fees, deadlines, rules and regulation of the corporation.

AWARD: Plaque

9.       Adult Program Development

Provincial Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Provincial Adult Program Development Recipient elected annually.

1. Nominees shall have been involved in the Adult Program for a minimum of five (5) years.

2. Nominees shall have displayed above average performance at the Adult level in areas including but not limited to:

   1. Active in coaching, officiating, fundraising and/or sponsorship
   2. Involvement with hosting Adult Ringette events
   3. Publicity and promotion of the Adult Program
   4. Volunteer/participant recruitment and development
   5. Player Development opportunities
   6. Initiation of a new program or development of existing programs

3. Nominees may or may not be actively involved at the time of nomination.

4. No nominations may be submitted for individuals actively serving on the Ontario Ringette Association Board of Directors or Selection Committee.

5. Nominees must not have won this award in the past five (5) years.

AWARD: Provincial Individual Award

Regional Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Regional Adult Program Development Recipient elected annually per region.

1. Nominees shall be determined based on the Provincial Criteria above, yet with a specific focus on Regional and/or Community efforts.

2. Nominees shall not have won this award in the past three (3) years.

AWARD: Plaque

10.     Provincial Volunteer

11.     Regional Volunteer

Criteria: People who give of their free time to Ringette for at least five (5) years, on a general basis, and not in any official capacity.

12.     Corporate Sponsor of the Year

Provincial Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Provincial Corporate Sponsor of the Year elected annually.

1. Nominees must have made significant contributions in finances, goods and/or services to the sport of Ringette on a Provincial level

2. Nominees must have been involved for a period of not less than five (5) years.

3. Nominees may be nominated by a Regional Committee or the Ontario Ringette Association.

AWARD: Plaque

Regional Criteria: There shall be no more than (1) Regional Corporate Sponsor of the Year elected annually per region.

1. Nominees shall be determined based on the Provincial Criteria above, yet with a specific focus on Regional and/or Community efforts.

AWARD: Certificate

13.     Service Awards

1. Retiring Provincial Board of Directors
2. Retiring Provincial Program Chair
3. Retiring Regional Executive Members (Vice-President(s), Secretary, Treasurer)
4. Retiring Regional Program Co-ordinators
5. Association 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years service

14.     Appreciation Awards

1. Member Association Hosting National Championships
2. Provincial AA Championship Host Association
3. Provincial A Championship Host Association
4. Adult Provincial Championship Host Association/Team
5. Officials selected to officiate Provincial Championships
6. Officials selected to officiate Regional Championships
7. Technical Instructors
8. Technical Evaluators

15.     Individual Awards

All Provincial Individual Award Winners will receive the same award, as approved by the Provincial Volunteer Recognition Award Selection Committee.