Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award Policy
As reviewed and approved by the Interim HMC Board of Directors, June 21, 2020
Selection Criteria
The granting of an Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award in Handbell Musicians of Canada is reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to the art of handbell ringing. This status is to be deemed the highest honour which the organization can bestow, and is to be reserved for individuals of the highest caliber.
The criteria to be used for the selection of Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include:
- A nominee should have contributed service to the Handbell Musicians of Canada and/or the former Handbell Guilds of Canada, and the art of handbell ringing in general. These contributions should reflect an extended time commitment to the organization and to handbell ringing. The nominee should be a current member of the organization; however, exceptions may be approved by the board of directors. Outstanding service is defined as activities that greatly exceed normal expectations or that are generally perceived as significant. The ideal recipient will have made contributions in each of the following two categories. However, an overwhelming contribution in only one category may be deemed acceptable.
Service to Handbell Musicians of Canada (formerly Handbell Guilds of Canada).
- Service to HMC/HGC at local, provincial or national levels.
- Achievement of national recognition for their contributions to the organization.
- If service was as an elected officer, the contribution should exceed the normal expectation of the office.
Service to handbell ringing in general
- Development of a body of teaching methods/materials specific to handbells.
- Extensive teaching and/or conducting that has raised the musical standard for handbell ringing.
- Composition of a substantial body of repertoire that has expanded the handbell idiom.
- Significant contributions to the invention, design, or development of instruments associated with handbell ringing.
- Authorship of a substantial body of published written work that expands the knowledge of handbells
- Significant efforts to extend the art of handbell ringing into new arenas, such as educational institutions, community programs, churches, and international population.
- No person shall be considered either while employed by Handbell Musicians of Canada or currently serving on its board of directors.
- National Board members shall not be eligible for an Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award consideration for a period of two years following the end of their term.
Benefits to the Recipients
- Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award members shall continue to be recognized by Handbell Musicians of Canada for the significance of their contributions to handbell ringing.
- Free Lifetime membership in HMC
- A commemorative certificate from HMC
- Recognition on the HMC website (Picture and Biography)
- Notice in HMC social media platforms
- Presentation of award at the Ringing Link or any other national or HMC sanctioned event, as determined by the Board of Directors
- Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award members shall be exempt from annual membership dues from the time of their award.
- Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award members shall have full membership privileges from the time of their award.
Selection Process
- The current Chair-Elect of the HMC Board is the Convenor of the Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award Committee, unless the HMC Board appoints some other Board Director to this role.
- The Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award Committee shall be a committee of three people, in addition to the Convenor, who are appointed by the HMC Board of Directors. Committee members should be chosen from Canada. If an Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award Committee member is nominated, the Convenor will keep this information confidential and have the Board of Directors appoint another person in their place.
- Any member of Handbell Musicians of Canada may nominate persons to be considered for this award. Supporting materials, resumes, and letters of recommendation must be included with the nomination.
- The Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award Committee will screen candidates based on the selection criteria. It will be the responsibility of the committee to select candidates who have either a balance of service between the two categories (but not necessarily equal) or who have overwhelming service in one.
- The committee members will have a chance to review the nominations and then meet via a conference call/virtual platform. At that time, candidates will be discussed and a final recommendation will be made to the Board of Directors.
- Following the approval of the Board of Directors, the Convenor of the Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award Committee will immediately contact the recipient(s) by telephone/email and report to the board.
- Those being granted Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award will be featured on the HMC website, and may be introduced at the next National event.
- All correspondence concerning nominees and candidates will be retained within the Archives of HMC
- There shall be no more that 20 (twenty) living Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award members.