Foreword

The American Ethical Union (AEU) and its Member Organizations function in large part on the volunteer time and monetary commitment of their members.  Many times, members work “behind the scenes” on programs and events, often providing supplies and materials at their own expense.  These members have ideas and proposals that not only make their congregation a success, but which could also benefit other Societies or AEU programs.  

Born in 1851, Anna Garlin Spencer was a social activist and feminist icon.  She was the first woman ordained in Rhode Island, became a founder of the NAACP, promoted child labor laws, and worked for equal rights for women.  She was also the first woman Ethical Culture leader and her life-long work embodies the spirit intended by this award.

Description

The American Ethical Union (AEU) Anna Garlin Spencer Volunteer Award recognizes a lay member of any AEU Member Organization in good standing for their significant volunteer contributions to the success of their organization and/or to the AEU. The AEU Board presents the award on behalf of the AEU and the nominating congregation.  

Definitions

AEU Member Organization:  an Ethical Society or Affiliated Organization such as FES or NES. 

Lay member:  A pledging member of an AEU Member Organization who—

  • is not the Leader, assistant Leader, or Leader-Intern, and
  • is not in arrears in his or her monetary pledge to the Member Organization.

Significant volunteer contributions:  time, knowledge, or skills provided by the lay member on a consistent basis over a significant period of time, the contribution of which allows the congregation to promote or present programs, events, or publicity it would not otherwise be able to. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • organizing ethical action initiatives,
  • providing adult education opportunities to members or the outside community on behalf of the Member Organization,
  • developing or assisting in the development of curricula for adult education or ethics for children programs,
  • working as ambassadors for the Member Organization to expand the Society’s ability to meet the needs and interests of a broad demographic,
  • producing and maintaining  a Member Organization website, newsletter, or other publications,
  • providing themed decorations, artwork, or other materials for Member Organization events, such as  Winter Festival, Founder’s Day, Darwin Day, Coming of Age Ceremonies, etc.,
  • contributing technical expertise that enhances the Member Organization’s programming, and/or
  • keeping things running behind the scenes, such as by setting up the room for Platform, or responding to member requests.

 

 

Nomination Process Overview

Any AEU Member Organization may nominate a lay member of its organization to recognize that member’s significant volunteer contributions.  Any Member Organization member or the organization’s board of trustees may generate the nomination.  The Member Organization’s board of trustees endorses the nomination, then presents it to the AEU Board for review at one of its monthly meetings.  The AEU Board endorses or rejects the nomination.  The AEU Board presents the recipient a specially designed award at the next AEU Annual Assembly.

Criteria

  1. A Member Organization’s board of directors may forward one nomination to the AEU Board for consideration within the AEU’s fiscal year, prior to the annual Assembly.
  2. The Member Organization should submit a two-paragraph statement outlining the justification for nominating this individual. This statement will be read aloud by the AEU Board President at the award ceremony.  A congregation submits a nomination using the AEU Anna Garlin Spencer Volunteer Award Nomination Form, found on the AEU website.  
  3. The member nominated should be a consistently active member of the nominating Member Organization for at least three full fiscal years. Organizations are encouraged to consider for nomination both individuals who have made their contributions over a long period of time and those whose work is of shorter duration, particularly if those members are relatively new to the organization and/or to Ethical Culture. 
  4. The member’s contributions must be substantive and noteworthy, i.e., such that without the member’s contributions the Member Organization would have had to hire outside expertise to accomplish the same function/s. 
  5. A person may only receive the AEU Anna Garlin Spencer Volunteer Award once every five years.

 

Nomination Procedures

  1. Access the AEU Anna Garlin Spencer Volunteer Award Nomination form here. (If you are not comfortable submitting the nomination online, please download and complete the pdf form here and email to Lmiller@aeu.org 
  2. Complete all portions of the nomination form and present it to the Member Organization’s board of trustees.
  3. The Member Organization’s board of trustees reviews the nomination against the AEU Anna Garlin Spencer Volunteer Award criteria.  The board of trustees can:
    1. Vote to endorse the nomination, or
    2. Reject the nomination.
  4. If the Member Organization’s board of trustees votes to reject the nomination, it should return the nomination to the nominator with an explanation.
  5. If the Member Organization’s board of trustees votes to endorse the nomination, that shall be noted on the Nomination form. 
  6. The endorsed nomination should be submitted online to the AEU office at least 30 days before the next AEU Board meeting for inclusion on the agenda for that meeting.  
  1. Any nomination received fewer than 30 days before the next AEU Board meeting will not be considered until the following meeting.
  2. The AEU office will advise the Member Organization that the nomination will not be considered until the following meeting.
  1. The AEU Board reviews all nominations received within the appropriate time frame and selects one AEU Anna Garlin Spencer Volunteer Awardee per meeting.
  2. The AEU Board notes the selection in the meeting minutes, and the AEU administrative office prepares the AEU Anna Garlin Spencer Volunteer Award certificate.  (See figure 2.)  
  3. The AEU office will notify the Member Organization who nominated the award recipient and make arrangements for the presentation of the award at the next AEU Assembly during a ceremony held in honor of the nominees.  The AEU Board President will read the justifications submitted by the organizations whose nominees have been selected and present them with this award.
  4. All nomination forms and requested material should be submitted online here. If alternative submission arrangements are needed, please contact the AEU office at Lmiller@aeu.org.