AMGA Awards And Criteria
AMGA AWARDS AND CRITERIA
AMGA has developed several awards to recognize exceptional volunteer service in support of the Master Gardener goals. These include awards for non-master gardeners and master gardeners.
Award Categories are:
The Mary Lou McNabb Alabama Master Gardener of the Year Award
Each local association can nominate a candidate for this award. An Extension Agent may nominate a Master Gardener if a Master Gardener association is not located in a nominee’s area.
A detailed resume must be prepared addressing all the minimum requirements. This narrative should be typed in 12-point type and should not exceed two pages in length. No photographs or scrapbooks will be accepted. Accomplishments should be gardening related and should not include personal history or family. The year-by-year volunteer hours should be listed on a separate sheet of paper.
Minimum Requirements:
-An average of 100 volunteer service hours per year are required to be considered for this award. Documentation, preferably in the Alabama Master Gardener Volunteer Service Reporting System, is required (failure to report hours will result in an automatic disqualification).
-Current regular membership in the Alabama Master Gardener Association and a local Master Gardener group (if available).
-Leadership in a local project (multiple projects will enhance a nominee’s resume).
-Service as an officer or board member of the local association.
-Service as an officer, board member or committee chair of the state association or service on the AMGA Advisory Council.
-Presentation of programs to the public about Master Gardeners or on one of the areas covered in training.
-Promotion of the image of the Master Gardener.
-Involvement in volunteer service activities that are supportive of the mission and purpose of the Alabama Master Gardener Program.
The Mary Lou McNabb winner will be allowed to choose to attend the International Master Gardeners Conference, an out of state garden themed seminar and/or workshop or an out of state Master Gardener Conference within a three-year period following selection. The awardee will be reimbursed for expenses up to $1,500. All requests must be made in writing and accompanied by receipts. A Lifetime Membership in the Alabama Master Gardeners Association will be awarded to each Mary Lou McNabb recipient.
A Master Gardener may only receive this award once.
The Awards Committee can omit awarding this honor in any given year if the minimum requirements are not met by the candidates.
NOMINATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY AND USPS, NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31ST OF THE AWARD YEAR TO:
Julie Conrey, 1271 Skywood Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36693. [email protected].
May 2024
The Gary Murray Outstanding Service and Dedication Award to the Alabama Master Gardener Program
The Gary Murray Outstanding Service and Dedication Award is presented annually by the Alabama Master Gardener Association. This award honors non-master gardeners who have contributed to the master gardener program in an outstanding way. Each association may select one nominee annually for this award. Although typically given to an Extension Agent or specialist, it may be given to an Individual that meets the criteria.
The criteria for this nomination include:
• Outstanding service, leadership and dedication in providing superior educational programs to Master Gardeners;
• Teaching Master Gardeners classes;
• Speaking at Master Gardener Meetings and/or Conferences;
• Other support and special services to Master Gardeners to support our mission.
A detailed resumé must be prepared addressing all specified criteria. The narrative should be typed in 12-point type and should NOT exceed two pages in length. No photographs, newspaper articles, etc., will be accepted.
NOTE: If none of the nominees meet the stated standards, the award will not be presented.
NOMINATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY AND USPS, NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31ST OF THE AWARD YEAR TO:
Julie Conrey, 1271 Skywood Dr, Mobile, AL 36693, [email protected].
April 2023
Jean Lee Lifetime Hours Award
The Lifetime Hours Award was introduced in 2002 and was renamed The Jean Lee Lifetime Hours Award by the Board of Directors in March 2005.
Each local MG Extension Agent is requested to submit the name of the MG volunteer, who, based on the Agent’s records, has reported the most volunteer hours since they completed the Master Gardener Class and became a certified Master Gardener.
Beginning in 2005, each recipient of the award will be given a Lifetime Membership in AMGA. Award recipients are ineligible to receive this award in the future.
NOMINATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY AND USPS, NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31ST OF THE AWARD YEAR TO:
Julie Conrey, 1271 Skywood Dr., Mobile, AL 36693, [email protected].
April 2023
The Top Hours for the Year Award
The Top Hours for the Year Award was introduced in 2002. The Volunteer Hours Coordinator should give the local extension agent the name of the individual that has reported the most volunteer hours for the year preceding the AMGA Conference. Each local MG Extension Agent is then requested to submit the name of the MG volunteer.
Award recipients are ineligible to receive this award in the future.
NOMINATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY AND USPS, NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31ST OF THE AWARD YEAR TO:
Julie Conrey, 1271 Skywood Dr., Mobile, AL 36693, [email protected].
April 2023
OUTSTANDING NEWSLETTER AWARD CRITERIA
The Outstanding Newsletter Award was begun in 2011, to honor the local association judged to have the best newsletter in the state. In 2019, the AMGA Board voted to revise this award into three (3) categories, associations with:
- Up to thirty-two (32) AMGA members.
- Thirty-three (33) to fifty-nine (59) AMGA members.
- Sixty (60) and more AMGA members.
The newsletters are evaluated on several criteria including but not limited to:
-News/Public Relations stories
-Lists/Calendar of Events of local association, AMGA events and ACES events -Photographs of activities
-Monthly columns
-Promote input of service hours into the Volunteer Service Report with supporting link to the system
-Promote the connection between the local association, AMGA and ACES -Announcements
-Contact information
-Attractiveness
-Imagination
-Color/Art
Two specific issues (months to be named by the Awards Committee in the Winter Issue of Pathways) are to be sent to the Awards Committee Chair. Additional information to be sent includes numbers of members in the association, the association/newsletter name, and the month of the issue.
A check in the amount of $100 will be awarded to the winning association in each category.
The Awards Committee can omit awarding a newsletter, in any category, in any given year, if a significant number of criteria are unmet.
Newsletters that have won previously may be resubmitted after a three-year period has elapsed.
Nominations must be completed and submitted electronically and USPS, no later than January 31st of the award year to: Julie Conrey, 1271 Skywood Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36693. Questions should be directed to [email protected].
Revised May 2024
Reach for the Stars Program
Reach for the Stars is a volunteer service recognition program approved by the State Master Gardener Board of Directors in February 1999. Participation in the Reach for the Stars Program is an option for each local association, and all are encouraged to participate.
The purpose of the Program is two-fold:
1. To recognize Master Gardeners who have assisted Extension in educating and improving their communities.
2. To encourage Master Gardeners to keep records and report volunteer hours as requested by ACES. Recorded hours are utilized in justifying the resources expended by ACES to educate and train Master Gardeners.
The only hours that will count toward the Reach for the Stars program are those earned while the MG is a member in good standing of AMGA.
Master Gardeners will follow the Volunteer Hours Policies/Guidelines established by the Steering Committee in recording volunteer hours. This program is effective retroactive to the inception of the Master Gardener Program in 1981. Hours earned should comply with the Volunteer Hours Policies. The annual reporting period will be January 1-December 31. Star and badge requirements will be submitted to the AMGA Awards Chair by January 31.
Requirements for earning stars and badges are as follows:
- Bronze Star 100 – 299 hours
- Silver Star 300 – 499 hours
- Gold Star 500 – 999 hours
- Gold Name Badges 1,000 – 1,999 hours
- Platinum Badges 2,000 – 3,999 hours
- Silver Star Pin with ruby colored gemstone 4,000 – 5,999 hours
- Silver Star Pin with emerald colored gemstone 6,000 – 7,999 hours
- Silver Star Pin with diamond colored gemstone 8,000 – 9,999 hours
- Silver Star Pin with amethyst colored gemstone 10,000-11,999 hours
- Silver Star Pin with navy blue colored gemstone 12,000-14,999 hours
- Silver Star Pin with garnet colored gemstone 15,000-16,999 hours
- Silver Star Pin with rainbow colored gemstone 17,000-19,999 hours
- Silver Star Pin with champagne colored gemstone 20,000 plus
Click on the category “AMGA Forms” to find Reach for the Stars and Advanced Badge and Star order forms.
REACH FOR THE STARS FORMS AND A CHECK are submitted to Billy McDaniel, 311 County Rd 219, Piedmont, AL 36272, for questions: [email protected].
ADVANCED BADGES AND STARS FORMS must be sent to: AMGA AWARDS CHAIR Julie Conrey, 1271 Skywood Drive, Mobile, AL 36693, [email protected] NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31ST OF THE AWARD YEAR.
These Awards are presented at the Annual Business Meeting and Conference, except the Reach for the Stars Program.
Mail nominations for Marylou McNabb Award, Gary Murray Award, Jean Lee Lifetime Hours Award, Outstanding Newsletter Awards and Top Hours of the Year Award to: Julie Conrey, 1271 Skywood Dr., Mobile, AL 36693, email: [email protected].
Reach for the Stars will follow the instructions on the submission documents. The bronze, silver, and gold stars, earned under the Reach for the Stars Program, are sent to the local associations for presentation to the recipients. The Gold, Platinum, and Lifetime badges, as well as the Advanced Star Awards earned under the Program, are presented at the Annual Business Meeting and Conference.
Mail forms for the Reach for the Stars Program to: Billy McDaniel, 311 County Rd 219, Piedmont, AL 36272, email: [email protected].
Mail/email forms for the Advanced Badges and Stars to Julie Conrey, 1271 Skywood Dr., Mobile, AL 36693.
For responsibilities of the Awards Committee, see the Alabama Master Gardeners Handbook.
For more detailed information, click on the name of the specific Award Category above.