Presidential Award for Chapter Excellence (PACE)

Purpose

To recognize APWA chapters for contributions made to positively impact their membership, profession, and community. This award recognizes chapters that demonstrate this accomplishment in a given year.

Eligibility

APWA chapters are eligible to submit a nomination for consideration when:

• All required fiscal year-end financial reporting was submitted by July 31 of the nomination time period of January 1 through December 31, (2023); AND 1099 information was submitted by January 15, of (2024);
• If chapter membership is 500 members or less, the chapter has submitted one national award nomination in any category; or
• If chapter membership is more than 500 members, the chapter has nominated at least one individual for the Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year and at least three other national awards.

Chapters will be notified by APWA staff as to their eligibility to submit a nomination for the award.

Selection

PACE award recipients are selected by a panel comprised of APWA’s current President, President Elect, and three most recent Past Presidents.

Criteria

There are four categories in which the chapter is evaluated. Each category has specific goals that will be used to evaluate the chapter’s programs and services to the membership and community. All chapters, regardless of size, are strongly encouraged to submit for this award.

Chapter Summary

Provide an executive summary documenting the following (1) Innovative programs and efforts, which were implemented, and resources allocated to support chapter capacity impacting members, potential members, and the community in the past year; (2) areas addressed in the past year to improve chapter capacity and/or addressed to take the chapter to the next level in achieving excellence.

• Membership
  • Document net membership gain/loss and retention
  • Outline membership recruitment and retention efforts and programs
  • Provide evidence of innovative membership development and retention efforts regardless of whether net growth has occurred.
• Service to Chapter Members
  • Number of members attending meeting/events
  • Member-to-Member Outreach—defined as member surveys, newsletters, meeting notices, membership engagement/volunteer plan and efforts, member welcome packages, leadership training, etc.
  • Evidence that the chapter is successfully meeting Chapter Best Practice, submit completed copy with nomination (You may need to click Enable Editing after opening the nomination form to make changes)
  • Chapter to Chapter Outreach—defined as ranging from combined educational and leadership meetings with other chapters to mentoring and sharing successful programs and lessons learned with other chapters.
  • Chapter diversity/inclusiveness programs or activities
  • Young/Emerging Professionals—Efforts to attract and engage young/emerging professionals in the chapter and APWA National
• Advancement of Public Works and Sustainability
  • Awards/recognition programs—Defined as chapter/national awards recognizing members/nonmembers
  • Public Works Promotion—Defined as National Public Works Week, educational outreach, and other programs geared to promote the profession to the public
  • Professional Development—Defined as promoting the development of members through education and providing scholarship opportunities for educational training and credentialing programs
  • Promotes Sustainability in Public Works Management—Definition has been left open to allow consideration for any innovative programs and opportunities that call attention to public works in a positive way
  • Advocacy Outreach—Efforts to advocate for public works and increase awareness and understanding of public works with elected/appointed officials
• Service to the Community
  • Education Outreach Programs—Scholarship/partnerships with schools/universities, student chapters, and presentation to student groups, mentoring programs, shadow and career days, etc.
  • Community Service Programs—Participation in the community as a chapter of APWA, including partnering with other service organizations such as Harvesters, American Red Cross, United Way, Adopt-a-Highway programs, environmental cleanup, participation in Earth Day, recycling education, etc.

Nomination Process

Any APWA chapter may submit a nomination for the PACE if the eligibility requirements for financial reporting and award nominations have been met. The submittal should include a summary and address each of the categories and the goals in the order shown above. It will be incumbent upon the chapter to provide adequate supporting information that illustrates it has met the criteria or declares the goals were not met if that be the case. The nomination will cover a calendar year (e.g., January 1 through December 31, 2023). A chapter should only submit the nomination, cover letter, and chapter best practices.

Deadline

June 3, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

Presentation

A chapter receives a certificate and chapter banner patch and are recognized at the Awards Recognition Ceremony during PWX. Winning chapters are featured in APWA publications.