AFFILIATE NEWSLETTER AWARD 

Who Can Participate:  Any affiliate of NCTE, with the exception of the previous year's winner, which has published a minimum of three newsletters from May of the previous year through the program deadline on May 1 in the year of the award, is eligible to submit its newsletter for consideration for the award.

Frequency/Number of Awards: One newsletter will be selected and recognized at the Affiliate Breakfast at each year's NCTE Annual Convention. In addition to the top award, up to two honorable mentions may be awarded. 

Award Specifics: The top award will be a plaque presented to the winning affiliate. Honorable mentions will be certificates presented to each winning affiliate.

Award Criteria: Previous year's award winner is ineligible to participate. Affiliates nominate themselves for this award by submitting four copies each of three different issues of their newsletter published in previous year or year of the award, as well as the completed Affiliate Newsletter Award Submission form to the participating SCOA Representative (Allen Perry, 944 Highway 114, Summerville, GA  30747-1549), postmarked no later than May 1 of the year of the award. Submissions will be judged on the criteria listed below.

Approximately 2/3 of the rating will be based on the following criteria: **

• Consistency and timeliness (10 points): the newsletter is disseminated at least three times a year at scheduled times.
• Pertinent content (40 points): affiliate news, NCTE news, professional development opportunities, best practices, recommended reading, learning opportunities for students, awards for members.
• Effective writing (20 points): well-organized, clear purpose, engaging voice, fluent, balance of in-depth and brief articles.

Approximately 1/3 of the rating will be based on the following criteria: **

• Purposeful publication (10 points):  the affiliate's goals are clear and help organize the publication. Readers can easily identify the short- and long-term goals.
• Easy to read (10 points): formatting aids the reader in locating information
• Professional graphics (10 points):  graphics artfully organize the space, guide the reader's eye, enhancing the presentation of ideas and information, e.g. photos of affiliate events, speakers at conferences, columnists, student and teacher award winners. 

DEADLINES: Four copies of three different issues of the affiliate's newsletter and the completed Affiliate Newsletter Award Submission form must be mailed to the participating SCOA Representative (Allen Perry, 944 Highway 114, Summerville, GA  30747-1549) and must be postmarked no later than May 1 of year of award. The award winning affiliate(s) will be notified in late summer so that they may have a representative present to receive the award at the NCTE Annual Convention Affiliate Breakfast. This representative is expected to purchase a breakfast ticket with convention preregistration.

Administration: The Standing Committee on Affiliates will administer the award.  The Standing Committee on Affiliates will appoint a member to handle the judging and the awards specifics. The committee will also provide annual feedback on ways to improve the program so that it runs smoothly. The Division Director of Communications and Affiliate Services at NCTE will handle the initial publicity and notification to affiliates of the program.

Judging: Each submission form, plus three different issues of an affiliate’s newsletter will be independently evaluated by three judges. An average of the three judges' score will constitute the score for the submission. 

**  The criteria was updated in 2005. 

Copies of the winning entries may be borrowed from the NCTE Affiliate Office (see lending library announcement).