2022 Best Grassroots Effort Award

NOMINATION INFORMATION


Description:  The Best Grassroots Effort Award recognizes an ASHT member or 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 during that calendar year. The future of hand and upper extremity therapy depends on the efforts of therapists in national, state and local public awareness and governmental affairs activities.

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 specialty (individually and personally)

Process: The Awards Committee accepts self-nominees and 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. Nominees for the award will be considered in the two categories of ASHT member or Affiliated Group (with at least one member of the group being an active ASHT Member for at least two years) of each year. 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.


Eligibility: Nominees for the Best Grassroots Effort must be either an ASHT member or an Affiliated Group (that includes at least one active ASHT member for at least two years). Examples of Affiliated Groups could be state associations, hand therapy practices or a group of hand therapists with at least one active ASHT member for at least two years. It is the Awards Committee’s discretion if direct gains were achieved by the nominee from their efforts for this Award.

Application Process:
 
  • Completed online nomination form
  • Letter of nomination from an active ASHT Member for at least two years
  • Nominee’s current curriculum vitae/resume
  • At least one letter of support that highlights how this Grassroots Effort encourages community awareness and promotes advancement of the hand therapy profession.

Information from the nominee’s CV/resume may be cut and paste within relevant sections. The Awards Committee will not accept such statements as “refer to CV” or “see resume.

This completed application must be submitted no later than June 15, 2022.
 
Is the candidate an Active ASHT member or an Affiliated Group (that includes at least one active ASHT member for at least two years).
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The Letter of Nomination must be from an Active ASHT member in good standing for at least two years establishing why the nominee meets the criteria of the award.
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Public Policy/Legislative/Governmental Advocacy Involvement (Nominee must indicate whether this is a state or national activity)

Please specify if the candidate completed any of the following advocacy involvement:
 
Legislative Activity on a State Level
Legislative Activity on a National Level
Advocacy Efforts Not Accounted for Above
Encouraging Awareness of the Hand Therapy Profession (Social Media Presence/Community Education) (it is the Awards Committee’s discretion if direct gains were achieved by the nominee for this section) – Nominees need to include links as appropriate

Please specify if the candidate completed any of the following activities to promote awareness of the hand therapy profession:
PR/ Media Appearances Regarding Hand Therapy (Live presentation)
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PR/ Media Appearances Regarding Hand Therapy (Virtual presentation)
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Blogs, Instagram, or Social Media Pages Highlighting Hand Therapy
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Social Media Efforts Not Accounted for Above
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Presentations Regarding Hand Therapy to a Regional Community
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Presentations Regarding Hand Therapy to a Local Community
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Encouraging Hand Therapy Awareness Efforts Not Accounted for Above
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Unique Activities (it is the Awards Committee’s discretion if direct gains were achieved by the nominee for this section) – Nominees need to include links as appropriate

Please specify if the candidate completed any of the following unique activities:
Unique Grassroots Activity that has National Exposure
Unique Grassroots Activity that has Regional Exposure
Unique Grassroots Activity that has Local (Within State) Exposure
This completed application must be submitted no later than June 15, 2022.