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With the deadline drawing near (15 June), I have received only three nominations for our 2014 Special Achievement Awards (we award at least five of these each year), and Greg has received only one nomination for the 2014 Hernando De Soto Award. My article for these nominations is copied below. So if you want to make a nomination, please contact either me or Greg as appropriate. Thanks.
Bill Noble
Each year, during our National Convention, the club presents the Hernando De Soto Award and the Special Achievement Awards. Now is the time for you to start thinking about who should win these awards this year. Do you know a club member, or a group of club members, who have done something special for our club or for De Sotos? Perhaps she, he or they have been extra helpful in finding parts or information about De Sotos for other members. Or maybe they have helped out other members with their cars, or answered lots of questions on our club’s message board, or let non-members know more about De Sotos and our club while at car shows and swap meets. If you do, and would like that person or group to be acknowledged for their efforts, then nominate that person or group for either one of our Special Achievement Awards or for the Hernando De Soto Award.
The Special Achievement Awards are presented to our club members who have gone that extra mile during the previous year to help our club, our members, or our De Sotos. Anyone who is a member of our club may nominate another member, or group of members, for this award. If the member(s) being nominated has already won a Special Achievement Award during a previous convention, then this nomination would have to be for a different reason than that for which they have already won. Last year, five Special Achievement Awards were given to members for helping with promoting our club along with helping other De Soto owners, volunteering to be the club’s editor, buying a 1950 De Soto in Colorado and driving it home to Maine, and hosting the 2012 convention. Other examples of past winners are: parts reproduction projects, extra-ordinary membership recruitment, club projects, starting a chapter, chapter newsletter editor, dash plaque artwork, calendar editor, coordinating a gathering of De Sotos during the Carlisle All Chrysler National, driving a De Soto cross-country, participating in a Great Race, and proofreading our club’s magazine.
The Hernando De Soto Award is presented to our members who have done the most for our club. This annual award is the highest honor our club bestows upon any of our members. The effort that the member has demonstrated and is being nominated for may have occurred at any time during our club’s existence. Last year, the winner was Dennis Pitchford for being our club’s Treasurer for 10 years. Also, Dennis had worked with our club store in finding suppliers, including someone to make club jackets. And, on a weekly basis, he answers phone calls and e-mails from people asking for info about De Sotos and our club.
So, if you know of an individual or a group of members who deserve a large pat-on-the-back for their special effort, please nominate them for either one or our Special Achievement Awards, or for the Hernando De Soto Award, or both. Each nomination for these awards should include a detailed description of what was done for our club or our members or our De Sotos. For the Special Achievement Awards, please submit your nomination(s) to me by either mailing it to 2214 Grange Hall Rd, Beavercreek, OH 45431-2338, USA; or by e-mailing it to nobledesoto@ameritech.net. For the Hernando De Soto Award, please submit your nomination(s) to Greg Walters by either mailing it to 1308 Clark Ave, Piqua, OH 45356-3016, USA; or by e-mailing it to desoto1956@hotmail.com. Please have your nominations in no later than 15 June, 2014. Thank you for your participation in the acknowledgement of the special efforts put forth by our members.
