How to write a winning OTM

· Make sure your nomination is month specific! It is very important to highlight the outstanding things that the nominee did in the month of nomination. Use phrases like "in the month of ____ they did…. Keep this in mind through the whole OTM.

· Define acronyms, they aren't always universal! The only acronyms you should use are NRHH, NACURH, NCC, and region name (i.e. MACURH.) (This will specifically apply to acronyms such as CA, USHA, etc…)

· Make sure you are using the correct category for your nominee. This is a common error people make. To avoid mistakes look at the previous pages criteria especially executive board member, spotlight, and student OTM.

· Presentation is the key! Proofread the OTM to make sure you are clearly saying what you mean to say. Look out for bad grammar and spelling errors!

· Do NOT submit additional information. Your nomination must fit completely on the OTM form. Do not attach any additional information or include information on the back of the form.

· Don’t forget to have fun! OTMs aren’t a chore; they’re supposed to be a good time and something to make your nominee feel good. Be creative, fun, and energetic. That is what makes an OTM stand out!

· Talk to the nominee(s). Find out all you can about them and what they have done during the month of nomination. They know the best.




This is what judges will be looking for regionally and nationally...following these criterion will help your OTM win:


OTM Criteria
What are these for?
When OTMs are judged at the campus, regional, or national level, these guidelines are what the people judging use. Basically, if you want the OTM to go really far, follow these guidelines and it will increase your chances.

ADVISOR OF THE MONTH
"Is the nomination month specific? "
"Did the individual recognize the students they worked with in the month of nomination? "
"Did the individual impact the students they work with during the month of nomination?"
"Is the individual being nominated for his/her professional contributions or for work with students during the month of nomination?"
"What outstanding accomplishments merit recognition of this individual this month?"
Advisors need to create a supportive environment for the leaders they work with. The focus of the Advisor OTM should be based on the advisory role of the person rather then there professional role. Personal examples are often the best way to express the intangible contributions of an advisor. The nomination should display how the advisor was instrumental in helping the leaders they work with grow, learn, and develop.

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER (USHA and NRHH Executive Boards only)
"Is the nomination month specific?"
"Is the individual from the central residence hall governing body (i.e. Residence Hall Association) or NRHH Chapter, not a specific hall government? "
"Has the nominee used the services and resources of NACURH and campus resources?"
"What outstanding contributions did the individual make during the month of nomination? "
Be sure the person you are nominating for this award is eligible to receive it. The nominee needs to be from a campus wide residence hall governing body, not a hall government. Bring out the nominees special efforts, not just fulfilling the job requirements of the position.

NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
"How many of his/her responsibilities in terms of the NCC position were fulfilled during the month of nomination?"
"Did the nominee use the resources available to them through NACURH or any campus resources?"
What outstanding contributions did the individual make during the month of nomination?
The nominations in this category need to display how the individuals had gone above and beyond in their job description. Be sure to include how the NCC has enhanced your school's delegations to conferences, served on regional committees, contributed to special school projects, and used NACURH resources. Be sure to include any unique approaches to communication or creativity in the traditional NCC responsibilities.

NRHH Chapter

"Did the chapter recognize or contribute to student leadership on your campus during the month of nomination? "
"Did the chapter impact the students they worked with during the month of nomination?"
"What activities set this month apart for the chapter from other months? "
This category is to recognize an outstanding NRHH chapter, not an outstanding member. Nominations should be group specific and not concentrate on the efforts of a few individuals. Possibly reviewing the purpose and goals of NRHH and your chapter before writing the nomination may be helpful.

PROGRAM
"Does the nomination fall into one of the following categories; community service, educational, or social program? What makes the program unique from what is usually done?"
"How can the program be adapted to other campuses?"
"Did the program have lasting effects on residences?"
"Did the program meet all the goals that were set? "
"What was the quality or evaluation of the program?"
For both educational and social programs, the judging committees look for creativity, originality, financial feasibility, percent of attendance, and adaptability to other campuses. If the nomination is in conjunction with a nationally recognized week or holiday, the nomination needs to display how your campus has approached the program in a new or different way. When writing a nomination for an educational program, try to show the relevance or reason the issue being programmed on is needed on your campus. These nominations are not only giving recognition to a group of leaders who have done a super program, but it becomes a resource and a guide for leaders on other campuses.

RESIDENT ASSISTANT (Community Advisor)

"How well does the nominee work with residents and what impact has he/she had during the month of nomination? "
"Has the nominee fulfilled and gone above their job responsibility during the month of nomination?"
" Are there any specific projects in support of hall government or committees that they have participated in?"
"What outstanding contributions has the individual made for the hall they work in during the month of nomination?"
An important thing to keep in mind is that there are different job/programming requirements on various campuses. Include the requirements that have fulfilled and show what they have done beyond that during the month of nomination. When writing the nomination, be sure to include any unique contributions to the position the individual makes.

SPOTLIGHT

"Does the nominee fit into only this category? "
"What contributions did the individual/group make to the residence halls during the month of nomination?"
This category is to recognize the efforts of people who do not fall into any other categories. The nominee cannot be an advisor, exec board member, NCC, resident assistant, or student. Possible nominees could be food service personnel, night security staff, or janitorial staff. Please include how this person has helped out an individual or contributed to the well being of the building.

STUDENTS
"What organizations and activities was the individual involved in during the month of nomination?"
"What interaction did the nominee have with their residence hall government or individual hall during the month of nomination? "
"Does the student work well and motivate others? "
"What outstanding contributions did the individual make during the month of nomination?"
This category is intended for the new or average student leader who puts forth some special effort during the month of nomination. Possible things to include in the nomination could be leadership development, contribution to the people in their community, and activities they were involved in. Please note that campus-wide executive board members, NCCs, and resident assistants are not legible for this award.

Constitution

CONSTITUTION
NATIONAL RESIDENCE HALL HONORARY
CENTRAL MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
(STAR CHAPTER)

Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the STAR Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary of NACURH Inc., hereafter referred to as NRHH.

Article II - Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated positive leadership and outstanding service to residence hall life at Central Missouri State University and to serve as a stimulus for developing residence hall involvement. Through these stated purposes, the NRHH strives to improve the quality of residence hall life on the Central Missouri State University campus.

Article III - Membership

Section A - Types of Membership
This organization shall consist of Active Members, Inactive Members, Alumni Members, and Honorary Members.

Section B - Qualifications and Responsibilities for Membership

1. Active Membership
a. Active members shall be selected through a selection process, described in Article IV of this constitution.
b. Must currently live on the Central Missouri State University campus in a residence hall.
c. Must be a full time student, as defined by the Registrar’s office.
d. Must not miss three consecutive general meetings of the NRHH unless approved by 2/3 of the Executive Board.
2. Inactive Membership
a. Inactive members are former active members that are no longer active in NRHH.
b. Inactive members may become active by meeting the qualifications for active membership set forth by the Executive Board.
3. Active-Alumni Membership
a. Active-Alumni members are former active members.
b. Active-Alumni members will not count towards the 1% cap, but are able to participate in any activities of the NRHH.
c. Active-Alumni members do not have voting privileges in meetings of the NRHH, but are encouraged to participate in the activities of NRHH.
4. Alumni Membership
a. Alumni members are former active or inactive members no longer attending Central Missouri Sate University.
5. Honorary Membership
a. Honorary members are members who do not meet the initial qualification requirements.
b. Honorary members are chosen by the Active membership during the selection process.
c. Honorary membership is intended to recognize those members of the Central Missouri State University community who have actively contributed to Residence Life.

Section C - Membership Cap
1. Membership in NRHH is limited to 1% of the total resident population at Central Missouri State University as determined by the University Housing or fifteen (15) members; whichever is larger, not exceeding total membership of 1%. This limit shall apply to the sum of Active and Inactive membership. This limit shall determine the number of spaces open to the selection process.
2. There is no limit on the number of Active-Alumni, Alumni, and Honorary members.
3. The number of honorary members a chapter shall be able to induct per academic year will not exceed 10% of the chapter's membership cap.
4. Students currently living in the residence halls and students not meeting the GPA requirements may not be considered as honorary members.

Article IV - Selection of New Members

Section A - Selection Committee
1. Application and letters of support
a. The selection committee shall be composed of any interested active and active-alumni members of NRHH.
b. The President shall chair the committee.
2. Powers and DutiesThe Selection Committee shall be responsible for:
a. Creating the advertising process.
b. Distribution, collection, compilation, and destruction of all selection materials.
c. Enforcing the rules and procedures for selection as laid out by Article IV, Section B.

Section B – Selection Process
1. Selection Process
a. Nomination and application forms must be given out at least three weeks prior to the selection process meeting.
b. The selection process meeting will take place no later than six weeks before the Spring Induction Meeting.
2. Nomination Forms
a. Nomination forms shall be distributed to:
i. Active NRHH Members
ii. Honorary NRHH Members
iii. Housing Professional Staff
iv. Housing Graduate Staff
v. USHA Executive Board
vi. Hall Council Presidents
vii. Any other person as deemed appropriate by the selection committee
b. Nominations shall be made in concurrence with the form(s) approved by the selection committee.
c. The due date of the nomination forms must be no later than one week before the Selection Process Meeting.
d. Individuals cannot nominate themselves for NRHH.
3. Eligibility for SelectionIn order to be selected into NRHH, a nominee must:
a. Possess a minimum 2.35 GPA.
b. Live in the Residence Halls.
c. Must not currently be on conduct/academic probation at Central Missouri State University.
d. Have completed at least two semesters (including the current semester) of service to Residence Halls and has completed at least one semester of service at Central Missouri State University.
4. Application Forms
a. Application forms shall be sent to all eligible nominees.
b. Applications must be submitted on a form approved by the selection committee.
c. Two recommendation forms shall be required. One shall be from someone who has supervised and/or worked with the nominee and one from someone in a Residence Hall setting:
i. Any housing professional or graduate staff member.
ii. Any member of the USHA Executive Board, active NRHH member, or Community Advisor.
d. All forms must be turned in by the deadline established by the Selection Committee with consideration to Article IV, Section B.
5. Selection Meeting
a. Selection shall be held at a special meeting.
b. Quorum for this meeting shall be 50% of the Active members of NRHH involved with the selection committee. Active-alumni shall not be used in calculating quorum.
c. A nominee must receive at least a 2/3-majority vote of all voting members at the selection meeting to be inducted.
d. Voting procedures shall be left to the discretion of the selection committee.
e. In the event that more nominees apply than seats are available, those nominees with the highest vote ratio (Affirmative/Negative) shall be inducted. In the event that there are still too many nominees, there shall be a revote on those who created the tie.
6. Selection Process
a. Nominees for selection will be notified of their status within one week of the completion of the Selection Meeting.

Article V -Executive Board

Section A - Overview
The officers of NRHH shall be the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Section B - Qualifications
1. Must be an Active member in NRHH.
a. President must have been an active member in NRHH for at least one semester at Central Missouri State University, unless no one to fill vacancy.
2. Must meet all requirements of Central Missouri State University and University Housing for leadership positions.
3. May not hold any office in USHA or other campus Executive Board, without prior permission from their current NRHH Advisor.

Section C - Officers

President
The powers and duties shall be:
a. To preside at all regular, special, and executive meetings.
b. To represent NRHH, Central Missouri State University, University Housing, and the community.
c. To serve as the primary liaison to the regional and national NRHH officers.
d. To serve as, or appoint, the NRHH representative to all state, regional, and national conferences.
e. To ensure NRHH maintains good standing with NRHH, MACURH, NACURH, and Central Missouri State University.
f. To uphold this constitution.
g. To have voting privileges, only in the event of a tie.
h. To preside over discussion in an unbiased manner.
i. To attend all Executive and General Assembly meetings.

Vice President
The powers and duties shall be:
a. To act in the capacity of the President in their absence.
b. To coordinate the constitutional revision process.
c. To have one (1) vote in Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.
d. To chair the Service/Social Programming Committee.
e. To serve on the Selection Committee.
f. To attend all Executive and General Assembly meetings.

Treasurer
The powers and duties shall be:
a. To pay chapter dues on time.
b. Update membership on weekly budget.
c. Work with the NRHH Advisor on reconciling the budget bi-weekly.
d. To organize the annual t-shirt order/collection of money.
e. To chair the Fundraising Committee.
f. To have one (1) vote in Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.
g. To attend all Executive and General Assembly meetings.

Secretary
The powers and duties shall be:
a. To keep and distribute accurate minutes of all Executive Board and General Assembly meetings.
b. To attend all Executive and General Assembly meetings.
c. To chair the OTM/Recognition Committee
d. To maintain an accurate listing of all members.
e. To give weekly reminders to all NRHH members indicating meeting dates, times, and location.

5. Advisor of NRHH
The duties of the Advisor shall be:
a. To advise all officers of NRHH.
b. To evaluate the actions of NRHH to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
c. To hold bi-weekly meetings with the president.
d. To provide a historical perspective.
e. To attend all general meetings.
f. To attend, when practical and possible, state, regional, and national conferences to assist the NRHH representative.
g. University Housing shall appoint the Advisor on a yearly basis.

Section D - Election of Officers
1. The Executive Officers shall be elected during the first general meeting after spring induction.
2. Officers shall take office at the last meeting of the semester.
3. The term of office shall be from Spring Induction to the following Spring Induction of the next year.
4. Election Process
Elections shall take place in the following order:
(Based on the order in Article V.)
a. Nominations shall be taken from active members at the election meeting. Should no qualified candidate accept nomination for an office, its election shall move to the end of the process.
b. Officers must be elected by simple majority of all voting members present at the elections.
c. All votes will be taken by secret ballot.
d. In the event of a tie, an immediate run-off election shall be held between the top two vote receivers.
e. The executive board shall decide the exact procedure for elections.
5. Should no qualified candidate accept nomination by the end of the election process, the new executive board shall hold interviews and appoint an officer.
6. University Housing shall appoint the advisor.

Section E- Vacancy of Office
1. Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice President shall be appointed.
2. Executive Board Appointment
In the event that an Officer leaves office, the Executive Board shall appoint an Active member to finish that office’s term. This appointment shall be made within two weeks following the office’s vacancy. Approval of this appointment shall be made by the membership, with a vote of 50% plus one of the voting members present. In the event that the approval is not granted, the floor shall be opened for nominations, and an election shall be held. This election shall be governed by the election code in Article V, Section D.

Section F- Removal of Officers
1. Grounds for impeachment of the officers of NRHH shall be:
Misfeasance- the performance of a lawful action in an illegal or improper manner
Malfeasance- wrongful conduct especially by a public official
Nonfeasance- failure to perform the assigned
2. Any active member may move for the impeachment of an Executive Board member.
3. The member recommending the impeachment of an Executive Board member must submit a written statement to the President, or the highest-ranking officer not accused, consisting of reasons for removal and the signatures of 20% of the current active voting membership. A copy of this statement shall be delivered to the Executive Board member in question and the Advisor 4. In order for the impeachment proceedings to proceed, the matter of impeachment must be presented at the next general meeting. The President, or the highest-ranking officer not accused, must call a special meeting. This meeting must be approved by a simple majority of the voting membership. The meeting must occur within one week of the general meeting and may be held concurrently with the general meeting.
5. The Executive Board member in question may speak to the general membership on his/her behalf and may present any witnesses he/she desires.
6. A 2/3 majority of active voting members present is required to remove a person.
7. Any impeached officer can be reinstated by a 4/5 vote of the active membership.

Article VI - Committees

Section A - Standing Committees
1. The Vice President shall chair the Service/ Social Programming Committee.
2. The Treasurer shall chair the Fundraising Committee.
3. The Secretary shall chair the OTM/Recognition Committee.
4. The standing committees of NRHH shall be Service/Programming, Fundraising, and OTM/Recognition.
5. Ad-Hoc committees may be appointed at any time by the President, or by a majority vote of NRHH, with appointment of chairs made by the Executive Board.

Article VII - Funding
1. One-third of the total budget will be available to the Executive Board before the beginning of the school year to begin programming, etc.
2. Fifty dollars must be set aside in the budget from the beginning of the school year as a carry-over balance for the following year.
3. Any money spent throughout the school year will be voted upon by the general body of NRHH.

Article VIII-Parliamentary Procedures

1. All rules of parliamentary procedure shall be decided by the chair’s interpretation of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
2. Quorum for all meetings, except where otherwise noted, shall be 50% of the active membership.

Article IX– Ethical Considerations

1. Members of the NRHH are free to leave or dissociate without fear of retribution or harassment.
2. NRHH shall not discriminate based on race, gender, age, ethnicity, able-bodiedness, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or religious affiliation.

Article X – Affiliations

NRHH shall be a dues-paying member of the National Office of NRHH.
NRHH shall remain in good standing with the National NRHH and the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH).

Article XI - Amendments

1. Any amendments to this Constitution must be announced and presented to the NRHH membership at least one week prior to the meeting at which it will be voted on.
2. Amendments must be presented in writing at the meeting.
3. Any amendments must pass by a ¾ vote of active members present.

Article XII - Constitution

1. This constitution shall replace all previous constitutions of the STAR chapter of NRHH at Central Missouri State University.
2. This constitution shall be ratified upon a ¾ vote of the active NRHH body, as defined in this constitution at 2 consecutive meetings of NRHH.


Revised: Fall 2005

General OTM form

General OTM Nomination Form
Central Missouri State University
MACURH

Month: Year:


Category (mark one): ___Advisor ___Community ___Executive Board Member

___NRHH ___Community Advisor ___Spotlight ___Student


Nominee: Nominator:

Address: Address:

Phone: Phone:

Email Address: Email Address:


Please explain the outstanding contributions of the nominee during the month of nomination (i.e., how the nominee addressed recognition, motivation, and support for you or your organization).
(Maximum 600 words)



Please give a short 3-4 sentence summary of this OTM.