PURPOSE:

The IMAA Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize those individuals who have been in the Giant Scale movement for a long period of time and have contributed in an outstanding manner to the founding, development, and promotion of Giant Scale Radio Controlled Model Aviation and to the IMAA and the principals for which it was founded.

CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION FOR THE DSA:

1. Any person, living or deceased, nominated for the DSA Award must be, or have been a member in good standing of the IMAA for a minimum of five years. If the nominee is deceased , or not known to the current Board of Directors, the Board will contact the nominator and the two sponsors requesting additional information about the nominee. No nomination will be accepted for the DSA for a current officer, employee or anyone contracted to the IMAA.

2. Nominees considered for this Award will be given to those individuals who have demonstrated exceptional expertise in one or more of the following areas, with emphasis on accumulated contribution over a period of years.

A. Designing and/or Manufacturing Giant Scale Aircraft and Accessories
B. Publication of articles helpful to giant scale modelers.
C. Pilots of giant scale aircraft who have demonstrated a willingness to teach others so they might attain a higher level of proficiency. Being an exceptional pilot by itself does not qualify a person for this Award.
D. Builders of exceptional giant scale aircraft who have demonstrated a willingness to share their knowledge so others could improve their Building skills. Being a builder of exceptional models by itself does not qualify a person for this Award.
E. Promotion of the IMAA and giant scale model aviation by conducting events that draw national, regional, or district attention to the IMAA and giant scale model aviation.
F. Active participation in the management of the IMAA in either elected or appointed positions. To be considered under this section, unless combined with other items mentioned in sections A through E, a person must have served at least two (2) elected terms in office or a minimum of four (4) years as an appointed officer. Employment by the IMAA by itself does not qualify a person for this Award unless such employment was continuous for a period of eight (8) years.

NOMINATION PROCESS:

Any person who meets the criteria established by the IMAA Board of Directors for this Award, can be nominated by any IMAA member in good standing. No member can nominate themselves for this Award. The nominating member will obtain the approved DSA Nomination Form from the IMAA Secretary. This form will include the name, address, and IMAA number of the person being nominated. When available, the date the nominee first became a member of the IMAA should also be included. A detailed resume of the nominee's contributions and accomplishments pertaining to the IMAA and Giant Scale Model Aviation must be attached to the DSA form. The completed form must be signed by the person submitting the form and by two (2) co-sponsors who are members in good standing of the IMAA. IMAA numbers are required for all persons signing the form.

The completed form and all supporting documents should be sent to the IMAA Secretary via certified mail, postmarked no later than November 1st. All nominations received by the Secretary will be acted upon by the Board of Directors at their next scheduled Board meeting after that date, provided that the nomination was received by the Secretary a minimum of forty-five (45) days in advance of the meeting. The IMAA Secretary will make copies of the DSA form and all supporting documents, and send a copy to the President, Vice President, and all the Directors, at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled meeting, for their action.

The Board will review and discuss the nominations prior to a vote in executive session called in accordance with Board rules. The nominee may be called into the Executive Session to answer any questions Board Members may have. In the event three or more Directors feel additional information on the nominee is required, the Board may table the matter for forty-five (45) days. At the end of the forty-five day period, the Secretary will call for a mail/telephone vote by the Board. A nominee must receive at least eight (8), (2/3), votes of the Board members in order to receive the DSA Award.

In the event the Award is approved, the President will notify the recipient and the person that made the nomination of the granting of the Award. The Award will be dated for the year the nomination is dated, and the Award will be given at the next Rally of Giants.

In the event the nominee does not receive the necessary eight (8) votes, the person that submitted the nomination will be notified by the President. All nominations not accepted by the Board will be reconsidered at the next two (2) Board meetings, thus giving additional time for additional information to be presented.

NOMINATION FORM:

Download Nomination Form (Adobe Acrobat .pdf document)