Updated 02/04/2012

8WR Awards Homepage

1.

Eighth Western Rivers Awards Program (from the District Procedures Guide)

1.  The purpose of this Policy is to explain the Awards Program. The Board sponsors these awards in order to recognize exemplary performance by divisions, flotillas and members in their support of the missions of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

2.    The policy of the Eighth Western Rivers Region of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary defines the criteria for Board-sponsored awards for the divisions, flotillas and members of the District. The widest possible distribution of this policy is encouraged in order for all members to fully understand the criteria for presentation of the various awards available. The criteria for District Awards are fully defined in this policy and shall not be changed without ratification by the Board. Approved changes to any award criteria shall become effective at the beginning of the Award Year immediately following the Award Year during which the change is approved.

a.    Criteria or formula for determining the recipient for any award, or any other condition relative to an award, shall be adopted by a majority vote of the Board and shall be reduced to writing as soon thereafter as possible. Formal notification of any new criteria or formula shall be via distribution of a Revised Version of this policy. No awards will be presented on behalf of the District or the Board, other than those specified following, unless specifically authorized by the Board. Excluded from this clause are:

• Certificate of Appreciation and other certificates of recognition uniquely unidentifiable prior to their presentation

• Coast Guard Meritorious Awards, as identified in the Auxiliary Manual, and any resulting recognition from the associated recommendation for award.

b.    Data for administering the awards program will be obtained from AUXMIS/AUXDATA records. In the event special circumstances occur that make the use of AUXMIS/AUXDATA data inappropriate, the Awards Committee may request the compilation of necessary and pertinent data by the Divisions. The Awards Committee will be responsible for the calculation and determination of all awards recipients unless otherwise specified within this policy. The Awards Committee Chairperson will hold all current year and previous years records in safekeeping and turn them over to their successor at the end of their appointment or upon their relief.

3.     Definitions used within this policy shall be:

• Board: The District Board of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Eighth District, Western Rivers Region

• Director: The Director of Auxiliary, Eighth District, Western Rivers Region

• District: The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Eighth District, Western Rivers Region

• Award Year:  The Eighth District, Western Rivers Region award year will be from 1 January through 31 December.

  • Exception:  The Award Year for 2002 shall be from 4 September 2001 through 31 December 2002.

• Weighted Points: For the calculation of certain noncompetitive individual awards and competitive awards, points shall be given for activities as shown in the following table.

        POINTS    ACTIVITY

        1          * Each VSC or Facility Inspection

                    * Each PV

                    * One (1) hour CG Operational Support

        2          * One (1) hour operations (crew and/or coxswain)

                    * One (1) hour operations (air)

                    * One (1) hour PE or MT aide

                    * One (1) SAR assist

        3          * One (1) hour PA

                    * One (1) hour CG Administrative Support

        4          * One (1) hour as Head Instructor for PE or MT
 

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4.    Noncompetitive Individual Awards: Individual members may earn awards based on the level of activity performed within various program areas as shown in the following table. Awards will be made on a member's year-end total. Awards earned with partial year production figures will be forfeited in lieu of the higher award calculated from the year-end totals. For purposes of the Operational awards, "patrol" shall include hours logged as Coxswain, Crew, Pilot or Air Observer for all reported Safety Patrols, Regatta Patrols and Chart Updating/Aids to Navigation Patrols.

• Compass Rose  Certificate to be presented to members performing one hundred  (100) or more patrol and Coast Guard Operational Support hours but less than two hundred (200) hours.

• Sextant  Certificate to be presented to members performing two hundred  (200) or more patrol and Coast Guard Operational Support hours but less than three hundred (300) hours.

• Strike Force, Operations  Plaque or other appropriate device to be presented to members performing three hundred (300) or more patrol and Coast Guard Operational Support hours.

• 500 Club Certificate to be presented to members performing fifty (50) or more VSCs but less than one hundred (100).

• 1000 Club  Certificate to be presented to members performing one hundred  (100) or more VSCs but less than two hundred (200).

• Strike Force, Vessel Examinations  Plaque or other appropriate device to be presented to members performing two hundred (200) or more VSCs.

• Apple Award  Certificate to be presented to members performing fifteen (15) or more hours as Head Instructor in Public Education and Member Training missions but less than one hundred (100) hours.

• Ruler Award Certificate to be presented to members performing thirty (30) or more hours as Instructor Aide in Public Education and Member Training missions but less than one hundred (100) hours.

• Strike Force, Instruction  Plaque or other appropriate device to be presented to members performing one hundred (100) or more hours as Head Instructor or Instructor Aide in Public Education and Member Training missions

• Travelers Award  Certificate to be presented to members performing twenty (20) or more PVs.

• Towline Award  Certificate to be presented to members participating in ten (10) or more SAR cases as Coxswain and/or Crewmember.

• Publicist Award  Certificate to be presented to members performing twenty-five (25) or more PA hours.

• Membership Growth Award  Certificate to be presented to members who have successfully recruited 3 or more new members submitted on form 97-02A (Adobe Acrobat).

• 2500 Club  Certificate to be presented to members achieving a total of 250 or more (but less than 500) weighted points.

• 5000 Club  Certificate to be presented to members achieving a total of 500 or more weighted points.

• Health Services Award  Certificate to be presented to members performing 25 or more hours of Health Services.

• Marine Safety Award  Certificate to be presented to members performing 25 or more hours of Marine Safety.

• Marine Environmental Protection  Certificate to be presented to member performing 25 or more hours of Marine Environmental Protection.

• Outreach Award  Certificate to be presented to members performing 25 or more hours of Government Support, International Affairs, Legislative. Front End Analysis and Operational Research.

• Sparky Award  Certificate to be presented to members performing 25 or more hours of radio watchstanding.

• Lifetime Achievement Award  Any Auxiliarist may nominate any member to receive this highest individual award.  This Award is intended to recognize an outstanding individual for a significant body of work that has greatly benefited this District over a period of time.  It shall represent the best qualities of our volunteers, in the highest tradition of the Coast Guard, using their initiative in achieving objectives not normally attained.   It may be for a sustained effort, over time, to achieve a new level of excellence/performance from all members in a program.   It may be for excellence, over time, in many different areas.  These are mentioned only to stimulate your thinking and not meant as a limiting list of possibilities.  Frequently work accomplished over time may not have been previously recognized, however, previously received awards would not be reason for exclusion. There shall be a Committee (DCO, DIRAUX, Awards Committee Chair) who will determine if it is appropriate to present this Award.  If there is no worthy candidate in the opinion of the Committee, the Award will not be given for that year.

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5.        Competitive individual awards: In order to recognize truly outstanding individual achievement within various program areas, awards   will be presented to individuals as shown in the following table.

• Operational Auxiliarist of the Year  Trophy or other appropriate device will be presented to the member achieving the highest total patrol and Coast Guard Operational Support hours. For purposes of this award, "patrol" shall include hours logged as Coxswain, Crew, Pilot or Air Observer for all reported Safety Patrols, Regatta Patrols and Chart Updating/Aids to Navigation Patrols.

• Operational Auxiliarist of the Year Runner-up  Plaque or other appropriate device will be presented to the member achieving the second highest total patrol and Coast Guard Operational Support hours. For purposes of this award, "patrol" shall include hours logged as Coxswain, Crew, Pilot or Air Observer for all reported Safety Patrols, Regatta Patrols and Chart Updating/Aids to Navigation Patrols.

• Vessel Examiner of the Year  Trophy or other appropriate device will be presented to the member performing the greatest number of VSCs.

• Vessel Examiner of the Year Runner-up  Plaque or other appropriate device will be presented to the member performing the second greatest number of VSCs.

• Instructor of the Year  Trophy or other appropriate device will be presented to the member achieving the highest number of instructor hours. For purposes of this award, instructor hours shall include hours as head instructor and/or aide in both PE and MT missions.

• Instructor of the Year Runner-up  Plaque or other appropriate device will be presented to the member achieving the second highest number of instructor hours. For purposes of this award, instructor hours shall include hours as head instructor and/or aide in both PE and MT missions.

• Traveler of the Year  Plaque or other appropriate device will be presented to the member performing the greatest number of PVs.

• Publicist of the Year  Plaque or other appropriate device will be presented to the member achieving the highest number of PA hours.

• Auxiliarist of the Year  Trophy presented to the member achieving the highest total weighted points.  However, total weighted points will be adjusted by the following parameters:

1.      The Auxiliarist must have weighted points from at least three (3) of the six (6) categories for which individual competitive awards are given.  (Points from all categories will be counted.)

2.      No single defined activity used to determine weighted points may account for more than 60% of the total points.  If any single defined activity accounts for more than 60% of an individual’s total, the total will be reduced by the number of points that correspond to the excess percentage in the single activity.

• Auxiliarist of the Year Runner-up
  Plaque to be presented to the member achieving the second highest total of adjusted weighted points.

• Auxiliarist of the Year Second Runner-up
  Plaque to be presented to the member achieving the third highest total of adjusted weighted points.

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6.       Noncompetitive Unit Awards:

• Commodore Shank Award
  Plaque to be presented to flotillas completing a total of three (3) multi-lesson courses of at least two (2) different types and four (4) single lesson courses in the award year. For purposes of this award: multi-lesson courses will include BS&S, S&S, BCN, ACN and America's Boat Course (ABC); single lesson courses will include Water 'N Kids, Boats 'N Kids, Personal Watercraft and national or state sanctioned single lesson courses.

• Commodore's Honor Flotilla Streamer

  • Streamer to affix to unit flags to be presented to flotillas successfully completing the defined criteria. Specifics of the criteria are shown in Section 9 of this policy. Due to the unique relationship of this award to the Flotilla's calendar year performance, this award will be determined on a calendar year.

  • Criteria for the award

  • Learn about the U. S. Coast Guard history of the Battle Streamers.

7.       Competitive Unit Awards:

• Commodore's Award  Plaque to be presented to the outstanding Flotilla in each Division receiving the highest per member weighted points total. This award will be calculated for each flotilla based on the sum of the weighted points of all Flotilla members divided by the number of members.

• Admiral's Award  Plaque to be presented to the District's outstanding Flotilla receiving the highest per member weighted points total. This award will be calculated for each flotilla based on the sum of the weighted points of all Flotilla members divided by the number of members.

• EXCOM Award of Excellence  Plaque to be presented to the District's outstanding Division receiving the highest per flotilla weighted points total. This award will be calculated based on the sum of the weighted points scores of all Flotillas in the Division divided by the number of Flotillas in the Division.

• Director’s Cup  Traveling trophy recognizing the flotilla with the most VSCs per member performed during the award year.  The flotilla number and year will be inscribed upon the cup.  The winning flotilla may display the Director’s Cup during the year in which it was awarded, but must return the cup to the District EXCOM, via their division captain, three weeks prior to the scheduled District spring conference.

• Commodore’s Cup  Traveling trophy recognizing the division with the most VSC’s per member performed during the award year.  The division number and year will be inscribed upon the cup.  The winning division may display the Director’s Cup during the year in which it was awarded, but must return the cup to the District EXCOM, via their division captain, three weeks prior to the scheduled District spring conference.

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8.   Criteria for Judging:

a.   Commodore's Honor Flotilla Streamer: Flotillas completing the following requirements shall be awarded a streamer for their flag which shall read “ (year) Eighth Western Rivers Honor Flotilla.” Not later than 1 February following the Award Year, the Division Captain will certify to the Awards Committee Chairperson, which Flotillas in their Division meet the following criteria: (the Certification form may be downloaded in either MS Word 57 KB or fill-in Adobe Acrobat 97 KB

•  Hold a meeting and report the minutes of their business meeting each month throughout the year,

•  Be represented by the FC or VFC or IPFC at each Division meeting set by the Division Captain,

• Submit the Flotilla's Annual Unit Officer's Report by 15 December,

• Report (by 31 December), via AUXDATA, 10 VSCs per member enrolled as of 1 January of the award year,

• Report (by 31 December), via AUXDATA, 10 hours of operations per member enrolled as of 1 January of that  year.  Operation hours is the sum of Coxswain + Crew + Air Operations + Radio,

• Report (by 31 December), via AUXDATA, the completion of at least one multi-lesson PE course during the award year.  State
  or other courses do not qualify.,

• Report (by 31 December), via AUXDATA, at least 20 hours of Member Training during the award year

b.   Division and Flotilla Scrapbook: Judging will be on the recording of the previous years Auxiliary activities. The Flotilla or Division must have participated in all activities recorded in the scrapbook. Items on which the scrapbook will be judged are:

·       New, original cover each year

·       Pictures, news articles and other memento pertaining to the unit's activities

·       Record of PE classes and size

·       Pictures of VSC stations, news articles, etc

·       Record of fellowship/social activities during the year including pictures and programs

Scrapbooks may be submitted in book form or CD format.

Judging for the Scrapbook award shall be done by a Judging Committee consisting of the District Staff Officer - Publications, who will serve as Chairperson with at least two additional Auxiliarists.  At the completion of their duties, the Judging Committee will be dissolved.

c.   Publications Contest

This contest recognizes Coast Guard Auxiliary 8WR units who have successfully published three or more issues of a unit publication during the calendar year.  Three separate issues of the unit publication should be submitted electronically to marilynaten@sbcglobal.net.  Each entry shall be identified with the name of the publication's editor, and the unit number.  Submissions shall be received on or before 2 March _____.  The 8WR DSO-PB and a judging panel will be convened to evaluate the entries and select the winners.  Entries will be evaluated on several categories including design, layout, writing quality, photojournalism, and use of Associated Press Style, Coast Guard PA Style, and Coast Guard Auxiliary publications and manuals.

d.  Photography Contest

This contest recognizes Coast guard Auxiliary photographers who have successfully captured interesting and compelling images of Auxiliary members and assets in action across specified program categories.  Each Coast Guard Auxiliary member may submit up to two photographs per category.  Contest entries should be submitted electronically to marilynaten@sbcglobal.net.  Each photograph must be labeled using current Coast guard file naming protocol and contain proper photo caption and credit information as per page 15 of the Coast Guard PA Stylebook.  In addition, each photo entry should clearly identify the category it is being entered into.  Guide for creating a VIRIN for photos.

The Photography Contest categories are:

1. Fellowship

2. Marine Safety

3. Member Services

4. Operations

5. Public Affairs

6. Public Education

Submissions shall be received on or before 2 March _______.  The 8WR DSO-PB and a judging panel will be convened to evaluate the entries and select the winners.

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