NovDec_2012

y Teresa Gretton
Director of Membership
gretton@verizon.net
COAI offers many
wonderful programs for
which you can nominate
members for awards or
recognition: Ring of Honor,
Life Time Achievement,
Clown of the Year,
Excellence In Clowning, and
C.H.A.R.L.I.E. We know
there are many talented
and dedicated clowns who
deserve an honor.
Unfortunately, over the
past few years, the board has
seen fewer nominations being
submitted. This is the third
consecutive year in which
no one has submitted for
the Excellence in Clowning
award. This award is a unique
recognition of clowning
accomplishment in Clowns
of America International.
YOU may submit this
on your own merit. The
requirements are based on
hours worked in clowning,
in the community at large,
clowning education, clown
appearance and performance,
and an irrefutable evidence
of a “Clown Heart”. Each
category is explained in the
criteria and it can be found on
the COAI website www.coai.
org/awards.
What Do You Think?
As you know, COAI
did not award a Clown of
the Year for 2012. It was
not due to the fact that no
one was talented enough; it
was due to certain criteria
not being followed by the
nominators or certain details
that were not presented
to conclusively decide a
recipient. Requirements are
specific: Nominator letter,
letters of recommendation
or support and a number
of color photos in or out of
clown.
We especially need to
hear from YOU on why
more nominations are not
being submitted. Please
email me or call me with
your suggestions. What
bothers you the most
about the way the criteria
is written? If you believe
the criteria is too detailed
or difficult to follow, let
me know. Are the criteria
understandable? I do ask for
your suggestions on how
to make these requirements
more attainable. Break it
down. I am open for change
and can take any suggestions
to the board. I am here for
YOU, the membership. I
want to see clowns honored
for their exceptional service
to clowning.
Of course, we also have
a more recent recognition
program, Lifetime
Achievement. We should
have a huge amount of
nominations pouring in; but
again, we have not. There
are so many clowns who
have enjoyed membership in
COAI for many years, giving
of themselves to the art of
clowning. It does not take
much to fill the requirements
for this prestigious
recognition. Your submission
can be done electronically,
all by email. A letter from
the nominator stating all
of the accomplishments
of the candidate, three
recommendation letters,
and photos are all that is
requested.
As for the Ring of
Honor recognition, that is
perhaps the easiest of all.
Many members have proven
themselves in service to
clowning and COAI but are
now deceased. To request a
name for this recognition,
all you need do is submit an
email to me about the person
and detailed information
about their dedication to
clowning and to COAI.
Also, provide photos of the
person. This can be done any
time during the year. The
board makes decisions at
their meetings in the fall and
at the convention.
Lastly, one fun
program each year is the
C.H.A.R.L.I.E. Award
given to an alley and an
individual for submitting
the best Clown Week
scrapbooks. This is not
based on how great of a
scrapbook, although there
is some scoring based on
the presentation, but on
the contents. The criteria
outline details the content
we’re looking for. It is most
important to follow the
specific items as outlined.
I am writing this article
now because we are looking
into how to improve our
awards and YOUR input
is vital in this process, so
please send in all your ideas
and suggestions for any
changes. Start thinking and
planning to nominate a very
deserving person for any of
the programs listed above.
If you will work with me,
I’ll work with you. I look
forward to receiving your
input.
l l l
Keep Your Eyes Peeled For
The New Black Button Down COAI Shirts.
They look GREAT!
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