Leading the Way - A How To Guide for Chapter Leaders
Chapter Leader Positions - Best of NAMA Awards

Leading the Way Guide Contents

Other Chapter Positions

Chapter or Regional?
The Best of NAMA chair is responsible for the management of the chapter’s Best of NAMA Awards Program. The Best of NAMA awards honor the best work in agricultural communications. The first step is to determine if your chapter will conduct a chapter awards ceremony, or participate in a regional ceremony. Check with your chapter president, it could be that your chapter may have already been participating in a regional banquet in past years. If a regional banquet will be held, the Best of NAMA chair may serve on the regional committee, helping plan and execute the event. If the chapter decides on a chapter ceremony, the Best of NAMA chair will plan and coordinate the event. The event must be completed before January 31, 2009, as the regional first place and merit winners will be notified by the NAMA office by February 2, 2009.

If you are participating in a Regional Banquet

• Work with the communications chair to promote the Best of NAMA competition in all chapter communications and at chapter programs in September and October.
• Participate in a conference call with the other chapter Best of NAMA chairs in your region and your regional directors. Duties include arrangements, awards, invitations, audio/visual needs, emcee’s, sponsorships and promotion.

The Regional Committee will:

• Develop a theme in October (or tie in with the national theme) for promotions and plaques.
• Finalize the date, time and location of the event by October and decide on emcee and audio/ visual needs.
• Coordinate with the NAMA office to get a list of regional winners and digital pictures of the winning entries (if desired) for the awards presentation.
• Send invitations for Best of NAMA at least 30-45 days prior to the event. Require an RSVP to estimate attendance.
• Coordinate with the communications chair to promote the banquet in November, December and January in all chapter communications and at chapter programs, as well as in the local media.
• Coordinate the banquet with the help of the NAMA office. The NAMA staff can assist by setting up conference calls, mailing invitations, taking registrations for the banquet, or sending broadcast fax/e-mail reminders to attend the banquet, etc. Please allow 24 hours for delivery of requests.

If you are planning your own Chapter Banquet

• Work with the communications chair to promote the Best of NAMA competition in all chapter communications and at chapter programs in September and October.
• Set up a committee in October to handle the awards presentation. Assign the plaques, promotions, emcee’s, audio/visual needs and arrangements among committee members.
• Develop a theme in October (or tie in with the national theme) for promotions and plaques.
• Finalize the date, time and location of the event by October and decide on emcee and audio/ visual needs.
• In November coordinate with the NAMA office to get a list of chapter winners and digital pictures of the winning entries (if desired) for the awards presentation.
• Send invitations for Best of NAMA at least 30-45 days prior to the event. Require an RSVP to estimate attendance.
• Coordinate with publicity and communications chairs to promote the event in November, December and January in all chapter communications and at chapter programs, as well as in the local media.
• Coordinate with the communications and publicity chairs to publicize the winners in all chapter communications and with the local media immediately after the event.
• Provide a final expense/income report and submit to the treasurer with a copy to the president. Send all invoices for prompt payment to the treasurer.