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VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS

Awards Program

Part I (1 of 4)

VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICERS AWARD PROGRAM as of 7-6-10

The awards program is designed to recognize County Service Officers, Assistant CSOs

and Associate Members for their accomplishments and their continued dedication in

service to the veterans of Texas. The awards program is also designed to communicate

those accomplishments to the general public. (HONOREES MAY NOT NOMINATE

THEMSELVES)

1. LEVELS OF AWARDS

There are six levels of awards that a member of the VCSOAT can be nominated. Listed

in seniority sequence, they are:

1. Dan Garcia Memorial Achievement Award – one with statewide or countywide

merits, for superior performance above and beyond the call of duty;

2. President’s Service Award of Excellence - 10 years of service as a CSO member or

at the (President’s discretion);

3. Regional Outstanding Service Officer of The Year Award – one per Region;

4. Regional Outstanding Associate Members of The Year Award – one per Region;

5. Certificate of Honor Award - Maximum of three CSOs per Region;

6. Certificate of Appreciation Award (Both members and non-members).

2. ELIGIBILITY

Individuals must meet the following criteria for nomination.

1. Must be an appointed County Service Officer or Assistant;

2. Must be a member in good standing of the VCSOAT and current in training

requirement;

3. Must have a minimum of three years experience as a CSO or Assistant CSO

longevity in itself is not a qualification;

4. In compliance with Texas Veterans Law (Sec. 434.033), the following additional

requirements must be met:

a. Served on active duty in a branch of the armed forces of the United States;

b. Served for at least four months on active duty or have a service connected

disability;

c. Have an honorable discharge or;

d. Be a widowed Gold Star Mother or unremarried widow/widower of a

servicemember or Veteran whose death resulted from service or;

e. The spouse of a disabled veteran who has a total disability rating based either

on having a service-connected disability with a disability rating of 100 percent

or on individual unemployability.

Part I (2 of 4)

VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICERS AWARD PROGRAM as of 7-6-10

6. Associate Members:

Associate membership may be granted to any person (s), who are not eligible for

active membership, but are interest in working for the benefit of veterans and/or

their survivors and dependents. The Associate member must share a common

interest in veteran affairs, but who are not County Veterans Service Officers, (in

compliance with Texas Veterans Law (Sec. 434.033), but whose job it is to assist

veterans and their dependents in applying for benefits, administration of

programs, or receipt of federal, state, or county veterans’ benefits;

Must be a member in good standing of the VCSOAT and current in training

requirement;

3. BASIC CRITERIA FOR AWARDS

1. Demonstrated sustained job performance which meets or exceeds standards for

the position held;

2. Contributions made to local or area veterans programs and or activities;

3. Involvement in patriotic activities or programs in the community;

4. It is a well-established fact that not all regions and/ or counties offer the same

challenges to each incumbent Service Officer or Assistant. Latitude, without

restraint, is a must in formulating the recommendation however, it is essential

that the basic criteria be adhered to in all cases;

5. Honorees may not nominate themselves.

4. AWARDS – are as follows;

1. Dan Garcia Memorial Achievement Award - (Eagle), One VCSOAT member

per year.

2. President’s Service Award of Excellence – (Plaque), 10 years or more of CSO

service. (President’s discretion)

3. Regional Outstanding Service Officer of the Year Award - (Plaque), one per

Region.

4. Regional Outstanding Associate Member of the Year Award – (Plaque), one per

Region.

5. Certificate of Honor - (Certificate), 3 CSOs per Region.

6. Certificate of Appreciation Award - (Certificate), Members and non-members

Part I (3 of 4)

VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICERS AWARD PROGRAM as of 7-6-10

5. NOMINATIONS

1. Any member in good standing with the VCSOAT may nominate someone for any

of the awards. To recommend a member for an award, a nomination on VCSOAT

form 100 with supporting attachments must be completed and forwarded to the

appropriate Regional Director for endorsement and forwarding to the Awards

Committee Member in that region, not later than sixty days prior to the annual

Fall Conference.

2. Nominations must include a recommendation from their County Judge or

Commissioner for the Dan Garcia Award, plus endorsements from local Veteran

Organizations, i. e. VFW, American Legion, etc.

3. CSOs or local Veterans Organization endorsements will suffice for all other

nominations i.e., Certificate of Appreciation Award.

6. AWARDS SELECTION COMMITTEE

The Committee shall consist of a Chairman, appointed by the incoming President

of the association, and each Regional Director shall nominate one member from

their respective region to serve on the committee for the year.

The Committee Chairperson will publish in the TVC Journal for the second

quarter of the current calendar year, the following:

a. Notice of nomination deadlines;

b. List of Awards Selection Committee members for each region and their

mailing address;

c. The name and address of each Regional Director.

The members of the committee must receive nominations not later than sixty days prior

to the annual Fall Conference. Nominations received after the stated deadline will not be

considered. Nominations will then be reviewed by the Chairperson and the fivecommittee

members, prior to submitting their recommendations to the Association

Officers for final approval, not later than thirty days prior to the Fall Conference.

The chairperson of the committee will serve as the presiding officer and shall not have

voting power, except in the event of a tie vote.

It will be the responsibility of the chairperson to call a meeting of the committee after all

nominations are received, or immediately after the cut-off date stated above.

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VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICERS AWARD PROGRAM as of 7-6-10

All members of the committee must attend / participate or send a representative with his/

her recommendations.

The chairperson of the committee will serve as the presiding officer and shall not have

voting power, except in the event of a tie vote.

It will be the responsibility of the chairperson to call a meeting of the committee after all

nominations are received, or immediately after the cut-off date stated above. All members

of the committee must attend / participate or send a representative with his/ her

recommendations.

The chairman may also call special meetings when deemed necessary. Travel mileage

and accommodation compensation is at the discretion of the association membership

through majority vote.

A majority vote of the committee members is required to forward a recommendation to

the Association’s elected Officers for each award to be awarded for that year. Committee

members are encouraged to recommend awards with a unanimous vote.

Travel accommodations compensation to present the award is at the discretion of the

Association’s Board members through majority vote.

The actual vote of the members shall remain confidential with the board, and or

committee.

It is the policy of VCSOA to prohibit discriminate on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, political affiliation, marital status, personal life styles, creed

or disability in all aspects of the association practices and services.

VETERANS COUNTY SERVICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS