Awards

RWTO/OERO Awards Policies

It is the policy of RWTO/OERO that the following honours may be bestowed on members.

Barbara Bain Membership Award

This provincial award was named in honour of our long-time member, Barbara Bain, who served on the Provincial Board of Directors for 11 years. Barbara served as an Area Director, Assistant Insurance Convenor, Insurance Convenor, 2nd and 1st Vice-President, President, Past President and Honorary President. Barbara was also the first Membership Convenor for RTWO/OERO. Barbara continues to be an active member in the London-Middlesex Branch.

Since its inception in 2006-2007, the provincial Barbara Bain Award has traditionally been given to the three branches, one in each tier, with the largest percentage increase in the number of regular paid-up members. In 2015, the formula was changed: the actual increase is now calculated on how many new members join, less the number of existing members who did not renew during the April 1 to March 31 period. Awards of $300, $200 and $100 will be given in each tier, based on actual increase in membership. So now instead of 3 awards of $200 being awarded, we have 9 provincial awards, 3 for each tier, totalling $1800.

Barbara Bain Recipients 2024

Barbara Bain Award Recipients 2023

Barbara Bain Award Recipients 2022

Barbara Bain Award Recipients 2021

Barbara Bain Award Recipients 2020

Barbara Bain Award Recipients 2019

Procedure
The membership increases are calculated by the Executive Secretary-Treasurer.

The Feather In Your Hat Award

The Feather in Your Hat was established by the Membership Committee.

Criteria for the Feather in Hat Award

1. This award recognizes creative, innovative and successful activities carried out by a Branch or group of Branches who have worked cooperatively on ONE current or on-going project that has clearly enriched the programs offered by RWTO/OERO.

Procedure

1. Area Directors can submit the names of deserving Branches.
2. Branches can nominate themselves by writing a descriptive article and submitting it to the Chair of the Membership Committee for consideration.
3. Chosen Branches have an article describing their activity or program published in the Provincial Newsletter and the “Hat” itself is presented at the Annual Meeting.
4. Up to 3 branches in each of the tiers are honoured each year. 

Guidelines

Submissions must include:

• The Area and Area Director, the Branch name and President 
• The total number of members in the branch
• The number of members involved in activity/project
• The title of the activity/project 
• The goal/s of the activity/project 
• Photos with captions or write-ups.
• Outcomes of the project

Submissions for Feather In Your Hat must be made to the Membership Convenor after January 1st and before March 1st. Mail a hard copy via Canada Post to:

Joan Gamble
239 Lower Oak Leaf Road
Lyndhurst, ON, K0E1N0

rwtomembership2425@gmail.com

Notify her that it is in the mail and she will confirm receipt upon arrival.

Feather in Your Hat Award

The “Feather in Your Hat” Awards are presented each year at the AGM/June Convention. It is given in recognition to branches for their creative, innovative, and successful projects that have clearly enriched the programs offered by RWTO/OERO at the branch level. Thank you to all the branches that made submissions this year.

Feather in Your Hat Awards – 2023   (Provincial Membership Committee)

The “Feather in Your Hat” Award for Branch ingenuity have been increased to include small, medium and large Branch categories this year!

Medium-Sized Branches

Lanark Tier

 The branch supported Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lanark County. BBBS operates two stores called Jewels (in Perth and Smith Falls} where they sell good used clothing, jewelry, footwear, purses, books etc. The Lanark Branch organized several events where their members were able to collect pledges while participating RWTO/OERO golfing, curling, and bowling tournaments. Several RWTO/OERO Lanark members volunteered in the stores where they sorted, steamed, hung clothing and assisted clients. 

Niagara South

 This Branch’s Warm Up the Winter project helped to keep adults and children warm during the winter. Donations could be handcrafted or purchased and included mittens, gloves, hats, warm socks slippers sweaters, blankets and quilts. As of February first, the Niagara South Branch had donated 12 scarves, two pair of slippers, 75 pair socks, 14 pair of gloves, seven pair of mittens, 25 hats, three sweaters, seven blankets, and 15 homemade quilts, in. The Niagara Self Agencies were extremely grateful for the wonderful donation of over 70 items! 

Large Branches

 Haldiman 

 These ladies collected Beautiful Junk and Loose Parts. Items included, but not limited to, wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, buttons, tiles, bubble wrap, yarn, string, pinecones, acorns, stones, etc. Their Beautiful Junk and Loose Parts were donated to the ASCY (Affiliated Services for Children and Youth). The ASCY created educational resource kits to be used in area classrooms. What a wonderful way to show, Caring and Sharing to colleagues still in the classroom and the children they teach and support! 

Ottawa-Carleton

 Ottawa-Carleton supported the School Breakfast Program of the Ottawa Network for Education. They focussed on raising funds while having fun. Some of their FUNraising activities included Pricilla Pig who consumed spare change at all the events, the Quarter Frenzy Luncheon featuring Bossy the Cow and Susie Scarecrow, the Christmas Silent Auction, and the February gift of a Blind Date (a book wrapped and decorated for exchanging books with each other). The Ottawa Network for Education acknowledged that Ottawa-Carleton’s donation of approximately 1400 dollars made a difference in the lives of Ottawa’s school children by fuelling kids and igniting learning every school day. 

Feather In Your Hat Award Recipients 2023

Feather In Your Hat Award Recipients 2022

Feather In Your Hat Award Recipients 2021

Feather In Your Hat Award Recipients 2020

Honorary Membership Award

A Provincial Honorary Membership in RWTO/OERO is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a member for outstanding service at the provincial level. This award is presented at the Annual Meeting. Nominations are sent to the Honorary Membership Committee Chair.

Criteria for Honorary Members:

1. The most important consideration must be the member’s contribution to RWTO/OERO at the provincial level.
2. The contribution may include: length of service, provincial offices held with distinction, extraordinary care and devotion to a task, outstanding ideas or innovations introduced.
3. The retiring Provincial President is automatically recommended for this honour at the completion of her term of office
4. No more than 4 members may be selected in any one year.

Procedures:

1. A notice and the criteria for selection of a recipient are placed in the November newsletter by the Honorary Membership Convenor inviting branch executives and/or members-at large to submit nominations for this award.
2. The name and the accompanying background information about the proposed recipient must be forwarded to the Honorary Life Membership Convenor by January 31.
3. The Committee selects the recipients as soon as possible after January 31. The chairperson forwards the choices, along with the rationale for the selections, to the Provincial President for presentation, discussion and ratification at the April executive meeting. The decision is relayed to the chairperson of the Honorary Membership Committee who then notifies the recipients.

Honorary Membership Award Recipient 2023

 Judy Drummond 

Judy is certainly deserving of this special recognition given her exceptional contributions at the Provincial Level, sharing her time and skills generously. 

Judy began her journey serving on the Provincial Board of Directors in 2011 as Area 9 Director for four years, supporting the Branches with enthusiasm. In 2015, Judy became Recording Secretary, taking Minutes that were succinct and recorded with exactness. She also collected and organized submissions for the Annual Report, which is a task that requires many diverse skills. Judy worked diligently as the Provincial Convention Convenor on the Board of Directors for the 2020 Convention that was scheduled to be in Kingston but cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic. She met this turn of events with a positive attitude, supporting her committee members and dealing with the cancellation details efficiently. 

In 2020, Judy began her journey through the Provincial Chairs when she became Second Vice-President and was the Provincial Goodwill Convenor and Chair of the Convention Handbook Revision Standing Committee. As First Vice-President in 2021, she was Chair of the Constitution and Resolutions Standing Committee and in 2022 became Provincial President. 

Throughout her time on the Provincial Board of Directors, Judy has served on many other Standing Committees which included the Membership Committee, the Honorary Membership Committee, the Policies and Procedures Committee, the Nominations Committee, and the Review Committee. As President, she was Chair of the Finance Committee monthly meetings. Judy was also the Issues and Concerns Convenor for two years writing articles of interest for the Connections Newsletter. 

Judy has served on Ad Hoc Committees including ‘Cost Savings’, and ‘Marketing’. She was Chair of the ‘Uses and Purposes of Privacy Form vs Membership Form’ and Chair of the ‘Amalgamation and Names of New Branches’. 

As Provincial President, Judy has given selflessly to RWTO/OERO. In addition to her committee work, she has travelled the province visiting Branches to support them. She has also prepared agendas, chaired the Board Meetings dealing with extensive business items, and answered numerous emails and phone calls. Judy has worked with the Convention Committee Team on this year’s 2023 Convention including the Island Queen Cruise for our Tuesday night dinner. 

Judy has demonstrated a high level of professionalism, skill, and aplomb in every position she has undertaken on the Provincial Board of Directors. Her service in the various roles exemplifies her competent leadership. Judy embraces change with thoughtfulness. She is supportive of her colleagues on the Provincial Board and in the Branches, responding to their needs in a timely fashion with grace and kindness, genuine compassion, and sensitivity. 

We have certainly benefited from Judy’s dedication and all she has given. Thank you and congratulations, Judy! 

Honorary Membership Awards 2020

Honorary Membership Awards 2021

Honorary Membership Awards 2022

The Cora Bailey Award

Cora Bailey from the Peterborough Branch was RWTO/OERO’s first Executive Secretary-Treasurer. She held this position for eleven years until 1982 and wrote the History Book – OASWT 1956-1976. Beginning in 2003, this award was presented in her honour.

Criteria for Cora Bailey Award Recipients

1. The Cora Bailey Award may be presented to a Branch member who has contributed outstanding service to her Branch.

Procedures:

1. The certificate for this award is available on request from the Provincial Office and will be signed by the provincial President.
2. All branch members are eligible for this award whether or not they have received an Honorary Life membership Award.
3. One to three recipients per Branch may receive the award per Membership year (September 1st to August 31st).
4. A picture of Cora Bailey, donated by Jean Axcell from Peterborough, is to be kept by the Archivist for display at the Annual Meeting.
5. After being displayed at the Annual Meeting, pictures of the recipients for that year will be kept in an album by the Archivist.