Awards Policy

Last updated: September 6, 2026

Introduction

The purpose of the Awards Policy is to establish a fair, transparent, and consistent framework for the nomination, selection, and recognition of individuals receiving GCNA awards. Awards are intended to honor excellence, service, leadership, and meaningful contributions to the GCNA and/or the carillon art in North America and beyond.

This policy seeks to ensure that all eligible individuals are considered equitably and that the selection process reflects the values and standards of the GCNA.

Scope

This policy applies to Honorary Membership, the Certificate of Extraordinary Service, and the William Gorham Rice Award for Lifetime Achievement conferred by the GCNA.

Guiding principles

• Equity and Inclusion: All eligible individuals should have equal opportunity to be nominated and considered.
• Transparency: Criteria, timelines, and processes will be clearly communicated.
• Integrity: Selection processes will be conducted impartially and without conflict of interest.
• Recognition: Awards should reflect meaningful contributions aligned with GCNA values.

Awards Committee composition

The committee is appointed by the Board and composed of a chair, a board liaison, the Corresponding Secretary (optional), and up to three additional GCNA members in good standing.

Responsibilities

Awards Committee responsibilities

• To develop and maintain award criteria and guidelines;
• To review and evaluate nominations for recommendation to the Board;
• To ensure fairness, consistency, and confidentiality in deliberations;
• To publicize GCNA awards to ensure qualified and outstanding nominees;
• To seek out and solicit nominations for GCNA awards;
• To review requests for new awards, and upon approval of the Board of Directors, develop criteria and guidelines;
• To suggest the creation of new awards to the Board of Directors, and
• To facilitate recording keeping.

Confidentiality

All nomination materials, committee and Board deliberations shall remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process and the privacy of nominees.

Award categories

Nomination process

See the step-by step guide on nominations and the nomination form.

Selection process

• Committee and Board members must disclose any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when necessary.
• Selections will be based on established criteria and supporting materials.
• The Nomination Packet must be received by the chair of the Awards Committee by January 15 in the Congress year under consideration.
• The Awards Committee will review the candidacy of the individual and render a recommendation, accompanied by the nomination packet, to the Board of Directors by March 1.
• The Board of Directors will:
• • Inform the Membership Committee by [insert date] of the candidate name(s) and corresponding award classification so that the citation/certificate(s) may be prepared in advance of the Congress.
  • Upon positive recommendation by a majority of Board members, the nominator is contacted in advance of the Congress.
  • • The nomination will be introduced at the Congress. See voting below.
  • Upon negative recommendation by a majority of the Board members, the nominator is contacted in advance of the Congress. For the sake of transparency, the nominator will be provided with the reasons for the decision.
  • • The candidate will not be brought forward to the membership assembled at the Congress.
    • The nominator will have the option to resubmit the nomination for consideration in the future.
• In rare cases when a majority Board vote cannot be reached, the GCNA President may elect to consider the nomination "pending" for additional reflection and consideration for the following year's Congress.
• The decision of the Board is final.

Voting

An individual who has been recommended for an award and approved by a majority of the Board of Directors may be formally selected for the award upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of the Guild.

The decision of the membership is final.

Post-Approval process

• The Corresponding Secretary (or designee) will
• • send approved candidates or designee a signed certificate/citation.
  • inform the Bulletin editor to include the honorary member(s) on the list of honorees, if applicable.
• The Recording Secretary will include the nominator's letter in the minutes of the Congress.

Policy review

This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains current, equitable, and aligned with institutional goals.