October is Vocational Month.
Over the years this award has brought great satisfaction and community awareness to the clubs that have implemented it and to those that have received the award.
Many Clubs that are already giving this award sometimes use another banner such as vocational, work orientation appreciation award, achievement award, volunteer's award, courtesy award, also employee of the month award. Each club uses their own method, providing it comes under the vocational umbrella.
This award not only encourages the young, rewards the dedicated and senior workers but also shows appreciation and recognition in the work place and includes supervisors and other staff.
Over the years clubs involved in the Pride of Workmanship Awards have recognised people from:
- Royal Botanic Gardens
- RMIT
- Community Workers
- Church Workers
- Local Volunteers from schools, welfare and charitable organisations
- Local Businesses that provide excellent and honest service
- Workers from local City Councils
There are many side effects to this Award, not only does it promote Rotary and its work, it also can provide numerous and different speakers and may encourage people to join.
Who is awarded?
Everyone from the gardener, the assembly worker, the checkout girl to junior administrative managers, to directors, company owners, community workers and corporate management.
Why?
Everyone needs to feel that the extra effort they put in for the long or short term is recognised and appreciated. This encourages people to keep moving forward and completing their goals. It creates community awareness in local businesses and groups, and assists with their striving towards their own targets.
It also promotes your Rotary Club as being an interested and active participant in the local community.
Who submits these Applications?
Submissions can be from fellow workers, bosses and the community. All you need to do is ask factories, workers and groups whether they have an individual they would like to nominate for recognition.
The Award is best presented at a partner's night encouraging the family of the recipient to be present. The recipient(s) is/are honoured to be chosen and are encouraged by knowing that their hard work has been recognised.
For more details about this Award, and its background, please click here.
Please try this Award, it is very enjoyable and it is seen to be that your Club is participating in the Community. Click here for a letter inviting a company to participate in the Pride of Workmanship Award programme, or click here for a pro-forma acceptance letter from the nominating company.
For companies wishing to nominate an employee for this Award a Form has been placed on the Website. Click here for access to this form.
Rotary awareness is a priority and this is one of the many ways of creating this awareness.
Some Frequently Asked Questions:
How are they Awarded?
Upon receipt of the applicant's form, a panel verifies the information submitted and may put their choice to the club if there is a number at any one time. Otherwise the panel notifies the successful applicant to attend a special meeting for presentation not less than a month in advance.
How Often?
That is up to the Club. This could be a monthly, quarterly, six-monthly or yearly. Remember though to be effective it needs to be relatively regular.
The Presentation Night
This night should benefit all concerned, invite your local paper, (or take a clear photo and a small caption and send it to them with a covering letter of explanation). Invite the person/team who nominated them, their families, your Rotary partners and local Rotary clubs
Who Presents the Award?
It should be presented by no less than the president but preferably the local MP, DG, AG or a recognised local identity. As mentioned before, don't forget to send the pictures to your local paper, or invite them too. This should be treated as a very special occasion.
What Happens Next?
The Awardee should receive a gift (a pen, mug, watch the choice is yours), a certificate and a plaque. A group photo with the club president and the presenter of the Award is also a special reminder.
Do you have other events for the night?
Yes, this is their night and a light hearted short speaker or artist would be appropriate.
This could be a luncheon or dinner but remember this is a time to show off your Rotary club so give yourself plenty of fellowship time before the start of the dinner and during coffee afterwards.
Conclusion:
Please try this, it is a most rewarding and enjoyable activity for everyone and your club will be seen as participating in the community.
One of Rotary's biggest secrets is Rotary, many of us are quiet, hard workers, with little time, and/or other priorities, and this tends to makes us forgetful when it come to telling others about Rotary and asking them to join.
One way to fix this is to be involved in the POW awards.
Lois Sparke
Co-ordinator
PP Lois Sparke.
(P) 03 9499 1735.
RC Rosanna.
