Thomas Jefferson District

Thomas Jefferson District Awards

The Thomas Jefferson District takes pride in its congregations and individual volunteers by honoring excellence of service and commitment with several annual awards. Nominations are received by the District Awards Committee, chaired by the TJD Board Vice-President, and are awarded at the TJD Annual Meeting. For more information about District Awards, contact Denise Rimes, Chair of the District Awards Committee at Denise.Rimes@bankofamerica.com.
Previous TJ District Award winners

Awards include:

The Laurel B. Amabile Award for Excellence in Religious Education is presented to an individual whose achievements include several of the following: contributions to the quality of religious education at the congregational level that benefited more than one congregation, contributions to the quality of religious education at the District level through leadership or publications, participation in continuing professional education, and demonstration of innovation in the development or use of religious education resources. 
 
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to that individual who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to Unitarian Universalism over a long period of time (20+ years).  When appropriate, the District winner is submitted to the UUA for consideration for the continental Distinguished Service Award.  For the first time in 2009, the congregation from which the winner comes will be awarded $250. 
 
The Congregational Excellence Award (formerly the Excellence in Congregational Leadership Award) is presented to those individuals nominated by their congregations for outstanding service over a lifetime, or for contributions under special circumstances.  These awards are not competitive within the district, but limited to one per congregation per year. All honorees receive certificates and recognition at the District Annual Meeting and in the TJ Update. 

The District President's Award is selected and presented by the District President to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the work of the District in recent years. For the first time in 2009, the congregation from which the winner comes will be awarded $250. 
 
The TJD Unsung Award is presented to that individual who makes a solid and continuing contribution to the work of his/her congregation or district without consideration or recognition. It is usually offered to a person generally not well known throughout the District. Nominations by member congregations are encouraged. The nominee/winner can be a member of the youth community.  2009 will be the last year for the Unsung Award. 
 
The O. Eugene Pickett Award is presented to the congregation that has contributed the most to the growth of the District in recent years and/or has shown significant growth and/or has demonstrated breakthrough efforts in the past year. Factors considered in determining the recipient are growth of the congregation, support for the organization of new congregations in their area of influence, consistency as an Honor Society designate in support of the UUA's Annual Program Fund and District dues, and participation in the activities of the District. The District's nominee is automatically presented as a nominee for the continental Pickett Award.  2009 will be the last year for congregational nominations for the Pickett Award. In 2010, nominees will come from the Congregational Excellence nominee pool.