Wanted: Nominations for National Awards

AMC Chair LaRae Bakerink in a photograph with the 2018 Chairman's Service Award winners — From left to right, Deb Stone, Jon Gruebele, Teresa Gregory, Jan Pfeil Doyle, LaRae Bakerink, Jill Beckham, Brian Reeves, and David Peery join to recognize the 2018 Chairman’s Service Award winners. Sandy Marak

Mensa needs volunteers, and volunteers deserve recognition and appreciation for their contributions. Now is your chance to make sure they get it. The American Mensa Awards Committee is calling for nominations for the National Awards program.

The National Certificate of Appreciation is given in gratitude of a noteworthy contribution to the organization by a member.

National Service awards are given in recognition of faithful service to American Mensa.

The American Mensa Distinguished Service Award is given in cases of outstanding, generally long-term, and varied service to American Mensa.

The Lifetime Membership Award is usually given for either a great but very brief service, for exceptionally long and steady service, or for exceptional service by someone who has already received another award.

The Margot, so named for Margot Seitelman, American Mensa’s first Executive Director, is bestowed for the rendering of exceptional service to Mensa for a number of years. For Mensan volunteers, the Margot is the highest honor obtainable, and it is bestowed by the American Mensa Committee, rather than the Awards Committee. Send suggestions for this award to the AMC Chair for consideration.

And though it’s not a national award, the Gifted Youth Program Award is given for superior service as a Gifted Youth Coordinator and contribution to the growth of programs or services for gifted youth and/or Young Mensans. Nominations for this award, sometimes referred to as “GYC of the Year,” should be sent to Carol Raymond, the National Gifted Youth Committee Chair, by Feb. 20.

Please send nominations of members you feel are deserving of a national award to the National Awards Committee. Your nomination submission should describe in detail the reasons the member is especially deserving of a national award — what did he or she do on a national level that makes him or her deserving of an award? For national awards, service should benefit Mensa beyond the individual’s Local Group. The more information provided, the better the committee can consider the nomination.

Questions or nominations should be directed to Robin Crawford, National Awards Committee Chair, no later than the end of April.