September 19, 2007
MEMORANDUM
TO:
All Commissioners
FROM:
Beth A. Botsis, Director of Programs
RE:
National Mineral Education Award Nominations for
2008
Enclosed for your use and distribution is the application for the Interstate
Mining Compact Commission’s (IMCC) eighth annual National Minerals
Education Awards and copies of a color flyer. The awards will be presented at
the next annual meeting scheduled for Teton Village, Wyoming (near Jackson),
May 18-21, 2008.
You should begin distribution of the awards applications at this time.
Appropriate contacts would include your state mining associations, your mining
industry mailing list, your state Department of Education, your state or regional
National Science Teachers Associations, and your state and county school boards
or boards of education. Other types of teacher associations would also be
appropriate. If you or others in your department are aware of particular schools,
teachers, mining companies or associations which are active in minerals
education, I encourage you to send copies of the flyer and nomination information
directly to those persons/organizations as well. The broader the distribution the
better. We hope to see excellent participation for the 2008 awards.
Nominations for the education awards may be submitted directly to
IMCC, rather than to the states as is done with the reclamation awards. Anyone
may make nominations for these awards. The nominations do not have to come
from the state regulatory authority. The Education Work Group is responsible for
choosing award winners from all nominations received. This procedure is laid
out in the attached award criteria and application.
Please note that nominees for the Mining Awareness Educator award must be either a
school teacher or a school, not other individuals who may have an interest in minerals
education. It was felt that this award should be restricted to only teachers and schools so that
they have an opportunity for special recognition. All other individual nominations will fall under
the Public Outreach Category. Given the broad range of nominees (in terms of nature and size)
in this category, it may be appropriate to potentially award plaques to winners in several
subcategories (individual, company, and organizational/government) when deemed deserving by
the Awards Committee. Winners do not necessarily have to be chosen for every category each
year, but the decision will be made by the Awards Committee as to which categories will be
awarded in any given year, depending on the level of excellence of the nominations received.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Attachments
IMCC National Minerals Education Awards
The Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC) sponsors two annual
national minerals education awards to recognize the efforts of those who educate
others about the use of minerals and the issues associated with mining,
particularly from an environmental perspective, and those who have undertaken
special outreach programs to inform the public about mining. There are two
awards that are presented each year:
#
Mining Awareness Educator Award
This award will be presented to a(n) individual school teacher or school
from an IMCC member state that has achieved excellence in one or more of the
following categories:
—
provided educational outreach in an innovative manner that
increases the level of understanding in the classroom and
community about mining and its impacts
—
promoted environmental stewardship while enhancing the
understanding of issues associated with mining and natural
resource development
—
created unique educational materials or curriculum demonstrating
the production and/or use of minerals and associated
environmental protection.
These criteria may be met through classroom and/or out-of classroom (i.e.
field trips, mine tours, etc.) activities. This award will consist of a plaque or a
framed award certificate and a $500 gift certificate for classroom resource
materials.
#
Public Outreach Award
This award will be presented to an industry, environmental, citizen or other group, and/or
to a state government body, and/or an individual (other than a school teacher), that has achieved
excellence in one or more of the following categories:
—
provided educational outreach in an innovative manner that increases the level of
understanding in the community about mining and its impacts
—
promoted awareness of environmental stewardship associated with mining
through active involvement of citizens
—
fostered cooperation and partnerships with diverse groups to achieve
understanding
—
enhanced the understanding of issues associated with mining and natural resource
development
—
fostered public education through mine tours, visitor centers, community
awareness days, career days, personal volunteerism in the schools, maintaining
adopt-a-school programs or education partnerships, or any other innovative
initiative deemed deserving by the awards committee.
This award will consist of an engraved plaque recognizing the winner.
A person or organization may self-nominate or may be nominated by someone else using
the attached format (and any supporting materials). The winners of the two awards will be
selected by the IMCC Education Work Group from among those nominated using the above
criteria and the information provided. Awards will be presented at the awards banquet held in
conjunction with IMCC’s annual meeting. The deadline for submissions is February 1 of each
year.
For further information contact Beth Botsis at IMCC 703.709.8654, or E-mail:
bbotsis@imcc.isa.us.
Interstate Mining Compact Commission
National Minerals Education Award
Name of Nominee (Individual or Organization Being Nominated):
Contact Information for the Person and/or Organization Being Nominated (If an
Organization, Be sure to Include a Contact Person’s Name Within the Organization),
Address, Telephone Number (Required), E-mail Address (If Available) and Fax (If
Available):
Contact Information for Person Who is Nominating this Individual/Organization, if
Different from Above (Address, Telephone, E-mail, Fax):
Nomination is for (check one):
Mining Awareness Educator Award
(MUST BE a School Teacher or a School)
Public Outreach Award
(Can be an Individual or Organization)
Description of Activity or Initiative for which Nominee is being Nominated (continue on
back if needed):
Description of How the Activity or Initiative Meets the Applicable Award Criteria:
Why Do You Think the Nominated Person or Organization is Deserving of this Award:
The award nomination can be supplemented by other information that may be helpful to
the Education Work Group in their selection process. This could include pictures,
brochures, example curriculum, project descriptions, etc.
Mail Application and Supplemental Materials by February 1 to:
Beth A. Botsis
Director of Programs
Interstate Mining Compact Commission
445-A Carlisle Drive
Herndon, VA 20170
**This completed form MUST accompany nominations. Please do NOT submit
award nominations to IMCC electronically (E-Mail).