2025 Best Grassroots Effort Award

NOMINATION INFORMATION

Description

The future of hand and upper extremity therapy depends on the efforts of key communities of interest in national, state and local public awareness and governmental affairs activities. The Best Grassroots Effort Award recognizes an ASHT member or affiliated group’s (e,g, state association, hospital system, academic institution, etc.) passionate and consistent involvement in governmental affairs at the national, state and/or local level to include the following activities:

  • Advocacy for hand and upper extremity therapy through public participation in the legislative process for the purpose of influencing public policy and/or legislation;
  • Organize, or assist in organizing, unique grassroots movements or campaigns for the purpose of influencing public policy and/or legislation to advocate for hand and upper extremity therapy;
  • Consistent participation in activities to increase public awareness of hand and upper extremity therapy through community presentations, media appearances, creation and maintenance of social media pages/blogs/podcasts, etc.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to:

  • Motivate others to increase political involvement
  • Lead by example, showing that one person can make a difference through consistent involvement in governmental affairs activities
  • Demonstrate strategic thinking in organizing or helping to organize a legislative or grassroots campaign
  • Initiate coalitions to maximize advocacy efforts
  • Raise the visibility and influence of the hand therapy specialty in public health

Eligibility

Nominees for the Best Grassroots Effort Award must be an ASHT member in good standing for at least two years or an affiliated group that includes at least one ASHT member in good standing for at least two years. Examples of affiliated groups could be state associations, hand therapy practices, a group of hand therapists who have come together for a common goal, etc. It is the Awards Committee’s discretion to determine if direct gains were achieved by the nominee from their efforts for this Award.

Members of the ASHT Board of Directors and the Awards Committee are ineligible for nomination.

Process

The Awards Committee accepts nominees from the ASHT membership and selects the award winner through a structured process, presenting a non-monetary honor (plaque or equivalent award) at the ASHT Annual Meeting. Grading is assessed based on public policy, legislative and governmental advocacy involvement; encouraging awareness of the hand and upper extremity therapy specialty (including social media, community presentations) and unique activities.

Frequency

Nominees for the award will be considered each year. Up to one nominee per category (ASHT member or affiliated group) may be selected to receive this award each year.

Requirements

  • Completed online nomination form. Nominator must write to each applicable category on the nomination form with inclusion of supportive data from the nominee’s CV or other relevant evidence. Data may not be repeated in different categories.
  • Letter of nomination from an ASHT member in good standing for at least one year establishing why the nominee meets the criteria of the award. The letter is limited to a maximum of 250 words.
  • Nominee’s current curriculum vitae. If nominating an affiliated group, the curriculum vitae from at least one ASHT member that is part of the nominated group must be submitted.

This completed application must be submitted no later than August 20, 2025

Upload requirements
Upload requirements
Please indicate the nominee’s participation in the following:
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories

Category II – Unique Grassroots Movements or Campaigns. Advocacy for hand and upper extremity therapy through unique grassroots movements or campaigns for the purpose of influencing public policy and/or legislation

It is the Awards Committee’s discretion if direct gains were achieved by the nominee for this section. Nominator’s must include evidence, such as web links, as appropriate.

Please indicate the nominee’s participation in the following:

Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.”
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.”
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.”

Category III – Public Awareness. Consistent participation in activities to increase public awareness of hand and upper extremity therapy through community presentations, media appearances, creation and maintenance of social media pages/blogs/podcasts, etc. 

It is the Awards Committee’s discretion if direct gains were achieved by the nominee for this section. Nominator’s must include evidence, such as web links, as appropriate

Please indicate the nominee’s participation in the following:

Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.”)
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.”)
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.”)
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.”)
Please specify further by providing a reference, description, year, web links, and any other relevant information for each occurrence. This information may be copied and pasted from the nominee’s CV. (Do NOT indicate “see attached CV” as the information provided in the nomination form is what will be the basis for evaluating the candidate’s qualification for selection.) Data may not be repeated in different categories.”)