Calling all members! The nominations committee will soon be convening to discuss 2014 Fellows, honorees, awardees, & board nominations. NCECA advanced the stature and quality of our field by recognizing select individuals for their service, teaching, creative achievement and/ or extraordinary accomplishments through awards of excellence in ceramic art and education. As a member-driven organization, we want your input!
2014 NCECA AWARD & HONORARY NOMINATIONS
DEADLINE: OCTOBER 2, 2013
Nominations are now open for NCECA Fellows, Honors, Excellence in Teaching and Outstanding Achievement Awards. Nomination requirements and descriptions of the qualifications for these awards follow. The nominator must be a current member of NCECA to put forth a nomination. Questions may be directed to Kate Vorhaus – kate@nceca.net
Award Descriptions and Eligibility Requirements
Fellows of the Council are individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. In order to be eligible, nominees for this award must be current members of NCECA and shall have served the Council in significant ways for at least five years. Up to two Fellows may be elected in any one year. Current Board Members shall be considered ineligible for election to Fellow until a time following the conclusion of their terms.
Honorary Members shall be persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the professional development of the ceramic arts in accordance with criteria established by the Board of Directors. Up to two Honorary Members may be elected in any one year.
Excellence in Teaching Award. Recipients should be near or at the end of a career dedicated to the practice of teaching (may be awarded posthumously); shall have demonstrated excellence in their own creative work; shall have had previous recognition for and a history of awards in teaching; and should have highly visible former students in the field. Up to two Excellence in Teaching Awards may be made in any one year.
Outstanding Achievement Award. Open to contemporary artists, educators, writers and others, this award recognizes individuals who have successfully completed a singular project that has contributed to the field of ceramic arts in an extraordinary way. The scope of the venture should be above and beyond what would typically be considered his/her professional responsibilities. Only one Outstanding Achievement Award may be elected in any one year.
Regional Awards for Excellence. NCECA’s Onsite Conference Liaisons may nominate up to two individuals in any given year for Regional Awards for Excellence. Nominations for this award are not accepted from the membership at large. These awards have been established to recognize individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the ceramic arts and or the cultural life within the region of the conference host city.
The nomination packet must include the following:
- Letter of Nomination (This may be in the body of an email or attached as a Word doc or pdf.)
- Short biography of the proposed award recipient (attach as a Word doc or pdf).
- A maximum of three letters of support (attach as Word doc or pdf).
The nomination packet should be sent as a single email by the nominator to awards@nceca.net
Only completed nominations packets will be considered for approval at NCECA’s autumn Board of Directors meeting.
Further, we are seeking several great people who want to join our board of directors.
2014 BOARD NOMINATIONS – POSITION OPENINGS AND DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
NCECA is pleased to announce that it anticipates conducting 2014 board elections by e-ballot for the first time in the organization’s history. Increasing member participation in board elections has been a goal for some time and we are excited to be approaching this important stage of evolution. It is critical that members note that the implementation of NCECA’s e-balloting system will precipitate a number of changes in nominations and elections procedures. The first of these to note is that self-nominations for board positions must now all be made electronically by October 2, 2013. Self-nominations and nominations from the floor will no longer be accepted at the first members business meeting at the annual conference.
NCECA is presently seeking highly qualified candidates for four distinct positions on its Board of Directors that will come open in Spring 2014. These positions are President-Elect, Director at Large, Student Director at Large and Secretary of the Council. NCECA invites its membership to review the roles and responsibilities below. If you consider yourself a highly qualified leader or know someone you think could make outstanding contributions as a member of NCECA’s leadership team, please consider submitting a nomination form by October 2, 2013.
NCECA’s Nominations Committee will review proposed candidates’ qualifications for these positions and make recommendations to the board of directors for approval of candidates during its autumn 2013 meeting. The board will approve two nominees each for Secretary and Director at Large. Additional candidates for Director at Large that are not selected as board nominees may still choose to stand for election. Candidates for student Director at Large will not be subjected to board approval.
All candidates who wish to be included in the e-ballot and considered for election must be in attendance at the 48th Annual conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Election winners will be announced at the close of the second members’ business meeting on the final day of the conference. Newly elected board members will be required to attend the open board meeting immediately following the close of the 2014 conference.
It is anticipated that the e-ballot system will open approximately one month prior to conference around mid-February 2014 and close on Friday evening March 21, 2014. Only those individual members with active, paid memberships prior to February 28, 2014 will be able to cast an e-ballot. The primary contact of Business, Institutional and Gallery memberships will be the individual who is eligible to cast a vote on behalf of their entities.
Those who purchase membership renewals following February 28 or and those who purchase a new a membership on-site in Milwaukee will have the option to vote using a paper ballot during the conference in Milwaukee. Paper ballots will not be made available to members that were eligible to cast electronic ballots but did not exercise the option to use it. E-ballot eligible members may use computers set up in the registration area of the Wisconsin Center to cast e-ballots during the conference until Friday, March 21, 2014.
NCECA Board Members must be at least 21 years of age and be prepared to perform in the following roles:
Promote the Council’s purpose, mission and vision.
Manage Council assets, including funds, property, and historical records
Determine Council policies within limits of Bylaws
Develop and support Council programs, services and events
Hire, review, and support the Executive Director
All Board members are expected to make an annual personal monetary gift to NCECA.
All NCECA Board Members are required to fulfill the following responsibilities:
- Understand, promote and work to strengthen NCECA’s Mission, programs, services and policies.
- Address and work to realize NCECA’s Strategic Plan, goals and organizational needs.
- Fulfill all specific roles on the Board as described in this document and NCECA’s Bylaws.
- Prepare for and participate in all board and committee meetings and other council activities.
- Maintain confidentiality of the Board’s Executive Sessions.
- Serve the Council as a whole, avoiding special areas of interest and conflicts of interest.
- Maintain objectivity, ethics and integrity disclosing possible conflicts of interest and refusing gifts.
- Suggest agenda items periodically for Board and committee meetings to address critical matters.
- Read and understand NCECA’s financial statements and exercise prudence with funds in order to help fulfill the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities.
- Develop the theme for the Annual Conference; select the demonstrators, the Keynote, the Randall Session, and Closing presenters and other aspects of the program with On-Site Conference Liaisons.
- Provide council and support of the Executive Director while following protocol for communications and work with staff.
- Read proposals and participate in selection of presenters for annual conference programming.
- Establish a strong series of publications and exhibitions.
- Speak on behalf of the Board when asked by officers or authorized person(s).
- Contribute to and secure the support of others on behalf of the organization.
- Work to identify highly qualified nominees for service on the Board.
- Participate directly in the development and fundraising work of the council.
- Make a personal annual gift according to personal means.
- Serve the Board and Council through personal expertise (e.g. grant writing, planning, etc.).
- Bring a sense of humor and camaraderie to board meetings and council functions.
NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE- DUE OCTOBER 2, 2013
NCECA is presently accepting nominations for highly qualified candidates for President Elect. This position represents the first two year phase of a six-year term of service, to be followed by two years each as President, Past-President. NCECA’s board appoints the President-Elect from nominations made by the membership through the Nominations Committee. The selected nominee must be approved by two-thirds board vote to be appointed as President-Elect of NCECA.. The President-Elect’s subsequent service in the office of President shall be contingent upon a two-thirds vote of confidence by the Board of Directors during the second to last meeting of the term of office of the incumbent President.
The President-Elect serves on the Executive Committee and the Committee for Nominations. Additionally the President-Elect serves as Chair of the Council in the absence of the President and shall be prepared to assume the office of the Presidency at the end of the term of the incumbent President. The President-Elect serves as liaison officer of the Council, representing the Council to other groups and provides assistance as needed to the President and Past-President.
President-Elect
Serves a 6-year term in the Presidential cycle: 2 years as President Elect, 2 years as President and 2 as Past President.
Eligilibity
Candidates must be at least twenty one years of age and active members of NCECA. Prior experience on NCECA’s board of directors and/or in an alternate non-profit leadership role are highly desirable. The successful candidate will have knowledge of NCECA and a passionate commitment for its mission.
Specific Duties
Serves on the Finance Committee and the Committee on Nominations.
Substitutes for and assists the President as necessary.
Coordinates NCECA Symposia, and other special initiatives when scheduled.
In concert with the staff Conference Planner, identifies and develops future conference sites.
Observes, anticipates and assists Program director in the conference planning and activities.
Oversees selection and initiates contact with the Conference On-Site Liaison Elect for conferences scheduled during their tenure as President.
Provides continuity on the Board.
Serves as liaison officer of the Council, representing the Council to other groups.
Actively participates in the development and fundraising efforts of the council.
Makes a personally sacrificial financial contribution to the organization.
The President-Elect assists the President and Past-President in any way possible. The President-Elect should understand the programs, organization and governing policies of the organization and keep in regular contact with the President. The President-Elect is a facilitator for the President and should be willing to take on certain tasks in this capacity.
Director-at-Large 2014-2017
Serves 3-year term
Serves on and chairs committees and oversees special projects as designated by the President or the Board
Eligibility
Must be at least 21 years of age, a member of NCECA and commit to attending all scheduled board meetings during the term of service. (NCECA’s policy is to limit reimbursement for travel to within the US via coach airfare or equivalent.)
Specific Duties for 2014-2017 DAL position:
Provides guidance and leadership to NCECA’s International Residency and Emerging Artist programs in cooperation with board and executive leadership.
Reviews and encourages conference program proposals
Solicits information for NCECA publications
May serve to support and/or initiate special projects subject to the talents of the individual with Board approval
Desired qualifications: Passion for field of ceramics and NCECA. Past participation in some aspect of NCECA programming. Ability to share and build upon creative ideas for NCECA programming. Ability to understand budgetary requirements of ongoing programs and initiatives, manage and think critically about programming priorities, and make personal contribution necessary to direct a non-profit organization.
Student Director-at-Large
Serves a two-year term
Eligibility
Must be at least 21 years of age and enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited US-based institution for at least one complete year of the elected term.
Specific Duties
Serves NCECA’s membership by advocating for student concerns
Promotes calls for student programming and critique room.
Coordinates student initiatives and programming by reviewing proposals, presenter and critique mentor qualifications.
Provides scheduling data pertaining to student programming to the Conference Manager for inclusion on NCECA website, app and program guide.
Provides support and guidance for the NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition (NSJE) in concert with the Exhibitions Director including the following: Identifies qualified jurors, solicits donations of awards, represents NCECA and presents awards at the NSJE reception, provides support to the venue as needed.
Serves as one of the Undergraduate Student Fellowship jurors in the selection of awardees Assumes committee responsibilities at the request of the President.
Desired Qualifications: Energetic commitment to NCECA and the field of ceramics. Possess time-management skills necessary to successfully address duties to NCECA as well as personal accountability in his/her domain of academic pursuit. Demonstrated ability and desire to communicate via electronic and social media to engage student audience. Ability to contribute and build on creative and critical ideas about how to meaningfully serve and involve NCECA’s student membership.
Secretary
Serves a 3-year term. May be reappointed by 2/3 majority Board vote to a second 3-year term.
Eligibility
Must be at least 21 years of age, a member of NCECA and commit to attending all scheduled board meetings during the term of service. (NCECA’s policy is to limit reimbursement for travel to within the US via coach airfare or equivalent.)
Specific Duties
Serves on Executive Committee
Serves as parliamentarian and records minutes for Board, Member and Executive Committee meetings.
Posts minutes of Board and Member meetings to Board for approval. Forwards approved minutes to staff for posting to NCECA website.
Shares approved Executive Committee meeting minutes/decisions with Board.
Posts motions to Board for electronic vote as necessary for action between regular official Board meetings, collects data, and reports outcomes to Board.
Assures organizational compliance with bylaws.
Organizes election process and is responsible for arranging for accurate vote counting.
Desired qualifications: Experience in parliamentary process, attention to detail, experience with NCECA programming, desire to contribute to efficient functioning of non-profit organization, ability to contribute to collective decision-making process.
