1. Recognizing, Motivating, and Rewarding Volunteers
IEEE SFBAC Officers Training Event 23 January 2016
Tom Coughlin, Region 6 Director Bill DeHope, SFBAC Secretary
Jeffrey Pawlan, SCV Awards Chair & R6 CA Awards Rep

2. Recognize Your Help
The strength of your chapter depends upon the motivation of your members
Find ways to massage people into volunteer positions. Learn how to “chunk things up”. Makes projects easier & more fun. It’s easier finding a volunteer for a simple, well-defined job than a complex, nebulous one.
“Fresh & new” is its own motivator. Avoid ruts.
Gratitude is its own reward—and brings many more.
Recognition and awards can be a way to motivate members and develop leadership skills.
Problem: ignoring the work of your volunteers Problem: overlooking some volunteers but not others Not-a-problem: lots of awards!

3. Aside: Important Soft Leadership Skills
A leader needs some contemplative time, i.e. “cultivate a quiet place” within your life
Fire-fighting fosters bandaid fixes; great ideas need careful incubation
This is true of technical problems and organizational problems
There’s a time to think and a time to act
NEVER make a spur-of-the-moment negative statement or
Create an atmosphere of creative encouragement and interest
Embrace your life’s characters; enjoy the drama
Honor your heroes
Show sincerity, excitement, honor, & joy
Learn to project your voice so people know you are talking to them. Yes, talk to people.

4. IEEE Awards
Award: something given for achievement, e.g. a prize given in recognition of someone’s merit.
For nearly a century the IEEE Awards program has paid tribute to technical professionals whose exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions have made a lasting impact on technology, society and the engineering profession.
There are technical/societal, regional, national, and international awards.
You can also make up your own awards!

5. Awards can be given for many things and by different groups
Everyone loves recognition
A simple verbal compliment can go a long way and helps to create a positive environment
Any Chapter Chair can create and give an award—for instance to thank a speaker
Of course, regionally- or nationally-recognized awards are more prestigious than one a Chapter Chair makes up, but as long as a Chairman is reasonably responsible in his use of the IEEE name, local awards can be great things. 

6. Section and Chapter Awards
A Chapter or Section Chair should be familiar with the established, recognized awards of their Society or Region.
A Chapter or Section Chair should support their organization's members by nominating, encouraging, and promoting members in receiving these awards.
Awards and recognition are for both individuals and organizations.  They can recognize achievement or service, as well as to motivate and thank individuals and organizations. 
As Chairs, you have the right to create special awards, if an existing award just doesn't "fit" the deserving party.  For example, a local company that consistently offers meeting space for your group.
Sometimes the best award for a member is to reward their employer or supervisor!

7. Ordering IEEE Blank Certificates
Go to this ieee webpage:
geo_activities/products/product_photos.html
Have a stash of ‘em with a .docx formatted for them.
Plaques are good too but you need time to engrave them.
Other merchandise:
Add the IEEE logo to items from
Never underestimate the value of a thank-you note, via or letter, or even verbally.

8. Advanced Membership is an Award
Promote "membership advancement" awards such as Senior Member status.  All chapters and sections should do all in their power to promote members eligible for an enhanced grade.  
In addition there may be people in your chapter that may be Associate Members—and may not even know it. You should elevate them. SAMIEEE is your friend!
During your chapter meetings, ask if there are any folks that qualify for senior membership and refer them to a group of Senior Members or Fellows created to help them get their senior membership. This could be a “draw” to a regular meeting or a special (non-technical) meeting of its own. Potential leaders!
You don’t have to know someone well to nominate/sponsor them for Senior membership, just be reasonably confident in their qualifications. (And check their pubs!)
Work with your Section leaders to make a section-wide effort.

9. IEEE National and Regional Awards Selection Process
Nomination for established IEEE awards & recognitions are initiated by members, then reviewed by a panel of peers—professionals particularly knowledgeable in their fields.
Their recommendations are submitted to the IEEE Awards Board for further review prior to final approval by the IEEE Board of Directors.
Very few people submit for awards—your effort could pay off big! Know your Society’s awards!
In 2013, our Tom Coughlin was a nominator of an Edison Award Winner—Ralph Baer
IEEE awards fall in seven categories:
Medals
Honorary Memberships
Service Awards
Corporate Recognitions
Technical Field Awards
Prize Paper Awards
Scholarship Awards
Other Awards:
IEEE Honorary Memberships
IEEE Service Awards
Richard M. Emberson Award
Haraden Pratt Award
IEEE Corporate Recognition
Engineering Leadership Recognition
Corporate Innovation Recognition

10. IEEE Awards (mostly MGA)
IEEE awards fall in seven categories:
Medals
Honorary Memberships
Service Awards
Corporate Recognitions
Technical Field Awards
Prize Paper Awards
Scholarship Awards

11. Longstanding Region 6 Awards
Outstanding Engineer
Outstanding Leadership and Professional Service
Outstanding Large and Small Section
Outstanding Large and Small Student Branch
Outstanding Educator
Outstanding Chapter
Outstanding Engineering Manager
More information:

12. Central Area Awards Outstanding Engineer
Outstanding Leadership and Professional Service
Outstanding Section
Outstanding Student Branch
Outstanding Educator
Outstanding Chapter
Outstanding Corporate Service to Engineering Community
More information:
Note the flowdown

13. Typical Section Awards
Outstanding Engineer
Outstanding Leadership and Professional Service
Outstanding Student Branch
Outstanding Teacher
Outstanding Chapter
Outstanding Corporate Service to Engineering Community
More information: Contact your section chair
Know the deadlines!
More flowdown!

14. Typical Schedule & Deadlines
Call for Nominations February
Nomination Deadline 1 May
Area Recipient Selected 1 June
Region Recipient Selected July
Recipient Notified August
Awards Presentation Sept R6 Meeting

15. IEEE Field and MGA Awards
IEEE Field Award information is here:
IEEE MGA Award information is here:

16. Closing Remarks
Value the people who help you; Value the people who help IEEE
Never miss an opportunity to recognize a person or organization’s valued effort
Success has many fathers/mothers, but failure is an orphan.
Success is contagious!
May you have many successes and gladly share the credit for them!