1.0 General Policies | 2.0 Membership | 3.0 Recognition Awards Policy | 4.0 Events

5.0 Volkssporting Events

Appendix A Fees | Appendix B Due Dates | Appendix C State Organizations Policy

Appendix D Executive Council Fundraising Events | Marathons

Policy Changes approved 1/31/98 | Waiver Language

AVA Forms

AVA Home Page

I.GENERAL

The International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV) may recognize individuals within the American Volkssport Association (AVA) for services, deeds and accomplishments. These must have advanced the ideals and aspirations of volkssporting in the United States or internationally.

II. POLICY

C. Nomination Requirements. To be eligible for nomination for an IW Honor, an individual must have given long years of service in the IVV or the AVA. Additionally, they must have made exceptional contributions to volkssporting at the international or national level.

D. Nomination Procedures.

1. Any person wishing to nominate an individual in the AVA for IW Honors must. submit the individual's name and a detailed list of his or her accomplishments to the AVA President by January I of the year of the AVA Biennial Convention.

2. The AVA President will submit a list of nominees to the National Executive Council at the first meeting of the Council after January I of the year of the AVA Biennial Convention. The National Executive Council will vote at this meeting on all nominees. Approval of each nominee requires a majority vote (one more than half of those present and voting).

3. The AVA President will submit all approved nominations on the proper IVV application form to the IVV President for final approval by the appropriate IVV governing body.

E. Presentation of Awards. The IVV President or his/her designated representative normally shall present IVV Honors at the AVA Biennial Convention.

I. GENERAL.

A. The AVA Honors program recognizes individuals and organizations, both within and outside the AVA, for service, deeds and accomplishments that have advanced the ideals and aspirations of volkssporting in the United States. The AVA bestows most AVA Honors biennially.

B. There are five levels of AVA Honors:

II. POLICY.

A. AVA Hall of Fame. The AVA may induct individuals into the AVA Hall of Fame who have given at least ten (10) years of service to the AVA at the national, state, and local level and have made exceptional contributions to volkssporting that have affected several AVA Regions.

a. Nominations for the AVA Hall of Fame may be made only by AVA Member Clubs, State Organizations, and members of the National Executive Council.

b. Nominations must be made on AVA Form 302HF, American Volkssport Association Hall of Fame Nomination Form (Figure 3. 1). The nominator must submit the completed form by November I of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention. The nominator must submit the form to the Regional Director for the region in which the nominee resides.

procedure.

a. Regional Director. A Regional Director receiving an AVA Hall of Fame nomination will review that nomination and recommend approval or disapproval of the nomination. He/she will forward it by December 1 of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention to the Chairperson of the Recognition Awards Committee.

b. Recognition Awards Committee. The Recognition Awards Conunittee will review all AVA Hall of Fame nominations. The Committee will make a recommendation on each nomination to the National Executive Council at its first meeting after January I of the year of the AVA Biennial Convention.

c. National Executive Council. The National Executive Council will review all nominations received from the Recognition Awards Committee. They will vote by written, secret ballot on each nomination received. Approval of each inductee requires a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote by those present and voting.

3. Induction into the AVA Hall of Fame. The AVA President or his/her designated representative will induct individuals selected for this honor into the AVA Hall of Fame. He/she will hold the induction at the AVA Biennial Convention. Besides receiving a place of honor in the AVA Hall of Fame, each individual will receive an AVA Hall of Fame plaque and gold-level AVA Recognition Awards Patch.

B. AVA Distinguished Achievement Award. The AVA may bestow the AVA Distinguished Achievement Award upon individuals who have given at least eight (8) years of service to the AVA, and who have served as a National Officer or as a Regional Director or any individual who has performed extraordinary, unequaled exemplary service to the AVA. Personal contributions must have been made at an exemplary level at several stages of service. The number of Distinguished Achievement Awards to be issued biennially is limited to 20.

a. Nominations for the AVA Distinguished Achievement Award may be made only by members of the National Executive Council or by a committee appointed by the National Executive Council.

b. Nominations must be made on AVA Form 302DA, American Volkssport Association Distinguished Achievement Award Nomination Form (Figure 3.2). The nominator must submit the completed form by November I of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention. The nominator must submit it to the Recognition Awards Committee.

2. Selection Procedures. The selection of individuals to receive the AVA Distinguished Achievement Award is a two-step procedure.

a. Recognition Awards Committee. The Recognition Awards Committee will review all nominations for the AVA Distinguished Achievement Award. The comn-littee will make a recommendation on each nomination to the National Executive Council at its first meeting after January 1 of the year of the AVA Biennial Convention.

b. National Executive Council. The National Executive Council will review all nominations for the Distinguished Achievement Award. If there are no objections by the National Executive Council, all nominees approved by the Recognition Awards Committee will receive the AVA Distinguished Achievement. If there is an objection, the National Executive Council will vote on each nomination to which any council member has objected. Approval of these nominations requires a majority vote (one more than half of those present and voting).

3. Presentation of the Award. The AVA President or his/her designated representative will present the AVA Distinguished Award at an appropriate ceremony at the AVA Biennial Convention. The award recipients will receive a framed AVA Distinguished Achievement Award certificate and a silver-level AVA Recognition Award Patch.

C. AVA Meritorious Service Award. The AVA may bestow the AVA Meritorious Service Award upon individuals who have given at least five (5) years of service to the AVA and have served as a State Organization President or elected officer or as Club President or elected officer. Personal contributions must have been made in an outstanding manner. No more than six (6) AVA Meritorious Service Awards may be awarded biennially by each Region of the AVA.

a. Nominations for the AVA Meritorious Service Award may be made only by AVA Member Clubs, State Organizations and members of the National Executive Council.

b. Nominations must be made on AVA Form 302MS, American Volkssport Association Meritorious Service Award Nomination Form(Figure3.3). The nominator must submit the completed form by November 1 of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention. The nominator must submit it to the Regional Director for the region in which the nominee resides.

2. Selection Procedures. The selection of individuals to receive the AVA Meritorious Service Award is a three-step procedure.

a. Regional Director. A Regional Director receiving a nomination for the AVA Meritorious Service Award will review that nomination and approve or disapprove the nomination. He/she will forward the nomination form by December I of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention to the Chairperson of the Recognition Awards Committee.

b. Recognition Awards Committee. The Recognition Awards Committee will review all AVA Meritorious Achievement Award nominations. The committee will forward them to the National Executive Council at its first meeting after January I of the year of the AVA Biennial Convention.

c. National Executive Council. The National Executive Council will review all nominations for the AVA Meritorious Service Award. If there are no objections by the National Executive Council, all nominees approved by the Regional Director will receive the AVA Meritorious Service Award. If there is an objection, the National Executive Council will vote on each nomination to which any council member has objected. Approval of these nominations requires a majority vote (one more than half of those present and voting).

3. Presentation of the Award. The AVA President or his/her designated representative will present the AVA Meritorious Service Award at an appropriate awards ceremony at the national, state, or local level. Individual recipients of the AVA Meritorious Service Award will receive a framed AVA Meritorious Service Award certificate and a bronze-level AVA Recognition Award Patch.

D. AVA Certificate of Service. The AVA may award the AVA Certificate of Service to individuals who have given at least three (3) years of significant service as a local AVA club officer or committee member, to appointed officials of the AVA, to members of all AVA committees, to AVA member clubs, and to individuals and organizations outside the AVA, all of whom have made significant contributions to volkssporting in the United States. Only one Certificate of Service may be awarded, even if the individual/organization is involved in more than one of the aforementioned

activities.

a. Nominations for the AVA Certificate of Service may be made only by AVA Member Clubs, State Organizations, and members of the National Executive Council.

b. The AVA President will provide the Chairperson of the Recognition Awards Committee a list of appointed officials of the AVA and members of all AVA committees who are to receive the AVA Certificate of Service. The AVA President must provide this list by December 1 of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention.

c. Nominations for the AVA Certificate of Service other than those from b., must be made on AVA Form 302CS, American Volkssport Association Certificate of Service Nomination Form (Figure 3.4). The nominator must submit the completed form by November 1 of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention. The nominator must submit it to the Regional Director for the region in which the nominee resides.

2. Selection Procedures. The selection of individuals, clubs, and organizations to receive the AVA Certificate of Service is a three-step procedure.

a. Regional Director. A Regional Director will approve or disapprove all nominations for the AVA Certificate of Service for individuals, clubs, and organizations within his/her region. The Regional Director will forward all nominations by December 1 of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention to the Chairperson of the Recognition Awards Committee.

b. The Recognition Awards Committee will review the list of appointed AVA officials and AVA committee members and AVA Certificate of Service nominations. The Recognition Awards Committee will forward them to the National Executive Council at its first meeting after January 1 of the year of the AVA Biennial Convention.

c. National Executive Council. The National Executive Council will review the list of appointed AVA officials and AVA committee members and all nominations for the AVA Certificate of Service. If there are no objections, all individuals on the list and all nominees approved by the Regional Directors will receive the AVA Certificate of Service. If there is an objection, the National Executive Council will vote on each nomination to which a council member has objected. Approval of these nominations requires a majority vote (one more than half of those present and voting).

3. Presentation of the Award. The AVA President or his/her designated representative will present the AVA Certificate of Service at an appropriate ceremony at the national, state, or local level. The recipients of the award will receive an AVA Certificate of Service and a Certificate of Service-level AVA Recognition Award Patch.

E. AVA Certificate of Appreciation. The AVA may award the AVA Certificate of Appreciation to individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to volkssporting in their local area. This Certificate will be administered in the months of June and December of each calendar year.

a. Nominations for the AVA Certificate of Appreciation may only be made by AVA Member Clubs, State Organizations, and members of the National Executive Council.

b. Nominations must be made in a narrative form, listing the contributions the nominee has made to volkssporting. Include dates with the specific contributions made by the nominee.

2. Selection Procedures. The selection of individuals to receive the AVA Certificate of Appreciation is a one- or two- step procedure.

a. State Organization President (if appropriate). A State Organization President receiving an AVA Certificate of Appreciation nomination will review that nomination and recommend approval or disapproval of the nomination. He/she will forward it by June 1 or December I in the year the nomination is submitted to the Regional Director for the state in which the nominee resides.

b. Regional Director. A Regional Director receiving an AVA Certificate of Appreciation nomination will review that nomination and approve or disapprove the nomination. He/she will act on the nomination no later than June 20 or December 31 in the year the nomination is submitted.

c. If either the State Organization President or the Regional Director disapprove the nomination, the nominator will be notified and will be provided with the reasons for the disapproval.

3. Presentation of the Certificate. The AVA Certificate of Appreciation will be presented at an appropriate time and place by the Regional Director, or on the Regional Director's behalf by the person making the nomination. Individual recipients of the AVA Certificate of Appreciation will receive an AVA Certificate of Appreciation certificate signed by the AVA President and the Regional Director for the state in which the recipient resides.

I. GENERAL

The AVA established Special Recognition Awards to recognize individuals, groups, or organizations who have made significant, specific contributions to the AVA or their community.

II. POLICY

A. AVA President's Award. The AVA may bestow the AVA President's Award upon individuals, clubs, or groups who through their exemplary display of volkssporting spirit are worthy of national recognition.

a. Nominations for the AVA President's Award may be made only by AVA National Officers and Regional Directors.

b. A nomination for the AVA President's Award must be made on AVA Form 303PA, American Volkssport Association President's Award Nomination Form (Figure 3.5). The nominator will send the nomination to the Chairperson of the Recognition Awards Committee. He/she must receive nominations by ninety (90) days before the desired presentation date.

a. Recognition Awards Committee. The Recognition Awards Committee will review all nominations and make a recommendation to the AVA President at least forty-five (45) days before the desired presentation date.

b. AVA President. The AVA President will review the nominations and approve or disapprove the awards. He/she will forward the nominations to the AVA National Headquarters at least 25 days before the desired presentation date. If the AVA President disapproves the nomination, the AVA National Headquarters will notify the nominator in writing and provide the reasons for disapproval.

3. Presentation of the Award. The AVA President's Award will be presented at an appropriate time and place by the AVA President or on the AVA President's behalf by the person making the nomination.

B. AVA Trailblazer Award. The AVA may bestow the AVA Trailblazer Award on AVA Member Clubs that have made significant contributions to the development, maintenance or improvement of walking trails or to the support of trail-related issues.

a. Nominations for the AVA Trailblazer Award may be made only by AVA Member Clubs, State Organizations, and members of the National Executive Council.

b. Nominations for the AVA Trailblazer Award must be made on AVA Form 303TB, American Volkssport Association Trailblazer Award Nomination Form (Figure 3.6). The nominator must submit the nomination by November 1 of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention. The nominator will submit it to the Regional Director for the Member Club's region.

2. Selection Procedure. The selection procedure for the AVA Trailblazer Award is a three step procedure.

a. Regional Director. A Regional Director receiving an AVA Trailblazer Award nomination will review that nomination and approve or disapprove it. He/she will forward the nomination by December 1 of the year before the AVA Biennial Convention to the Chairperson of the Recognition Awards Committee.

b. Recognition Awards Committee. The Recognition Awards Committee shall review all nominations for the AVA Trailblazer Award. The committee will forward the nominations with its recommendations to the National Executive Council at its first meeting after January 1 of the year of the AVA Biennial Convention.

c. National Executive Council. The National Executive Council will review all nominations for the AVA Trailblazer Award. If there are no objections by the National Executive Council, all nominees approved by the Regional Directors will receive the AVA Trailblazer Award. If there is an objection, the National Executive Council will vote on each nomination to which a council member has objected. Approval of these nominations requires a majority vote (one more than half of those present and voting).

3. Presentation of the Award. The AVA President or his/her designated representative will present the AVA Trailblazer Award at an appropriate award ceremony at the AVA Biennial Convention. The recipients of the award will receive an AVA Trailblazer Award Streamer for their club banner. The club's name will be added to the National AVA Trailblazer Award Plaque at the

AVA National Headquarters.

1. GENERAL.

The National Executive Council is the final approval authority for all awards and honors presented by the AVA except the AVA President's Award.

II. POLICY

A. The National Executive Council may make special presentations that deviate from established policy.

B. All Honors requiring National Executive Council approval will be considered in order of importance so that any individual nominated for an award but not selected for that award may be considered at another level of recognition.

C. Any AVA Honor or Special Award may be withdrawn by the National Executive Council for cause.

1.0 General Policies | 2.0 Membership | 3.0 Recognition Awards Policy | 4.0 Events

5.0 Volkssporting Events

Appendix A Fees | Appendix B Due Dates | Appendix C State Organizations Policy

Appendix D Executive Council Fundraising Events | Marathons

Policy Changes approved 1/31/98 | Waiver Language

AVA Forms

AVA Home Page