The Honorary Service Awards Program (H S A)

Hello and welcome to the 12^th District PTA Website Honorary Service Award Page.

My name is Betty Roark and I am the 12^th District PTA Honorary Service Award Program Chairman. This year our HSA program will be held a bit earlier than in the past and will be celebrated in conjunction with our Founder's Day celebration. The event will take place on Thursday February 28th, 2008 at the Ventura County Office of Education 5100 Adolfo Road., in Camarillo. The celebration will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Click here for more information.

The Honorary Service Awards Program is a California State PTA program designed to afford Units, Councils and Districts and State a means of recognizing those within our schools and communities for their exemplary work and contributions to the goals of our schools, PTA Units and communities.

12^th District PTA urges all its units, and councils to utilize the H S A program to honor those who serve. Remember that these awards are to be presented during an official PTA sponsored meeting or event and by a PTA Representative.

The H S A Awards program includes the following award levels:

 The Very Special Person Award (VSP): Given to recognize individuals or groups. The award is available for a contribution of $15.00 or more. A VSP pin is also for an additional cost of $6.00. 

The Honorary Service Award (H S A): Given to individuals or organizations in recognition of outstanding service to children and youth. Award is available by a $30.00 contribution in the name of the recipient. The HAS pin is available for an additional cost of $4.00.

The Continuing Service Award (CSA): Given to individuals or organizations in recognition for continued service to children and youth and who may or may not have received a California State PTA Honorary Service Award. The award is available by a contribution of $30.00 in the name of the recipient. CSA pin is available at an additional cost of $10.00.

The Golden Oak Service Award (GOSA): Given to recognize an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the welfare of children and youth in the school or community. Award is available by a contribution of $60.00 in the name of the recipient A Golden Oak Service pin is available for an additional cost of $20.00 

With each of these awards, a donation is made to the California State PTA Scholarship and Grant Programs in the name of the recipient.

It’s time to start planning for unit and council Honorary Service Award presentations!

Remember to:

• Select your committee early
• Check your budget for $’s budgeted for this program
• Have nomination forms available at school sites/district office
• Consider including past recipients/presidents at your celebration
• Order your awards from California State PTA Early …. They may take up to six weeks to receive
• Take time to evaluate the nominations

Golden Oak Service Awards should be reserved for those individuals who have gone above and beyond in their service to youth and our schools over a significant period of time. The Honorary Service Award, Continuing Service Award and Very Special Person Award are special awards for those special persons who have gone beyond the call in service to our youth. Take time to seriously consider the nominations and the nominees involvement and determine the appropriate award.

To download a nomination form click here.

The H S A Chairman must:

• Have a committee appointed by the PTA President.
• Check your budget to determine how many awards and in what categories you will award.
• Be familiar with the criteria for selecting honorees for specific awards.
• Publicize to the membership that your selection committee will be meeting and ask for suggestions for honorees. (You may use a flyer, your newsletter to request names and information of suggested honorees.
• All proceedings of the H S A Program Committee must be kept confidential.
• Order the awards in a timely manner usually 4 to 6 weeks before your presentation date.
• Arrange for the presentation of these awards at an appropriate PTA function or meeting.
• Devise an innovative way to present the award, using a skit, poem or other way to praise the honorees accomplishments.
• Arrange for family and friends to attend presentation ceremonies.
• Write a summary of the event and place it in the chairman’s procedure book.
• Maintain records of all awards in a permanent file.

The Honorary Service Awards Program Committee:

• Should be appointed early in the term to allow for proper planning.
• Composed of different members each year.
• Representative of the school’s community.
• Composed of an uneven number (we suggest 5).

Applicants should be recognized for outstanding service to children and youth, not for routine assignments or retirement. Try to avoid the pattern of always presenting these awards to the outgoing president or retiring faculty member. Remember to consider those who work behind the scenes quietly and efficiently serving youth.

The Honorary Service Awards Program awards can be ordered from the California State PTA using order forms found in the California State PTA Toolkit.

(EXCERPTS TAKEN FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE PTA TOOLKIT)