OPERATING BY-LAWS
ONEONTA HIGH SCHOOL WALL OF DISTINCTION
The Wall of Distinction Committee is pleased to announce that they received 36 nominations (some duplicates) for induction.
I. PURPOSE
The Oneonta High School Wall of Distinction was established to honor and memorialize Oneonta High School graduates who have distinguished themselves through recognition, honor and distinction during their lives after graduation.
II. LOCATION
A public display of plaques honoring each of the inductees will be maintained on a wall across from the main office in the Oneonta High School building. The web site will be used to publicize the Oneonta High School Wall of Distinction.
III. INDUCTION AND CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
To be eligible for consideration and induction, the individual must have demonstrated noteworthy or outstanding achievement in any of the following categories:
a. Leadership
b. Community Service
c. Academically
d. Arts
e. Nationally
IV. TIME LINE FOR SELECTION AND INDUCTION
The induction ceremony will be held in conjunction with, and as part of, the Oneonta High School Alumni Association Weekend, held during the last week of September. Each year, the Oneonta High School Alumni Association will solicit through its newsletter, nominations of individuals to be considered for induction. Nominations will be sent to: Chairperson, Oneonta High School Wall of Distinction Committee. A master list of nominees will be compiled and maintained by the Chairperson. The full committee will begin meeting in January and each month subsequent (or as business dictates), until the final vote is taken in April. A full narrative ballot will be available to each Wall of Distinction Committee member one month prior to the final vote.
The Wall of Distinction Committee may, at its discretion, devise other methods of soliciting names of nominees for induction. Committee members themselves may submit names for consideration.
After the voting has been completed, the names of the inductees will be forwarded to the President of the Oneonta High School Alumni Association so that the individual (s) may be contacted. It is the hope of the Committee that the individual (s) will attend the ceremony to receive their award. However, if this is not possible, or unless, of course they are being inducted posthumously, a representative may attend in his/her place. (Note): The President must be able to contact to contact and communicate with the individual (s) nominated, or their representative, in order to ascertain their interest and commitment to being inducted to the Wall of Distinction.
V. SELECTION PROCESS
a. Up to five nominees will be selected for the Wall of Distinctions each year.
All nominees eligible for induction will have an equal opportunity to be selected through the voting procedure outlined below. All members of the selection committee present at the voting meeting are eligible to vote. (Selection Committee and Wall of Distinction Committee are defined below.) All nominees will remain on the master list for a period of five years before being removed. Names can also be removed from the master list if they received no votes for three straight years. Once a name is removed it can always be added back if that individual is re-nominated at a later time.
a. Voting Procedure
1. Narrative ballot put together by the Chair of the Wall of Distinction Committee to include all nominees and pertinent information available select 10 names to start, and eliminate by vote to final of 5 inductees.
2. The ballot will be reviewed the day of the vote and will include a discussion of individual nominees. Facts in the narrative will also be verified.
3. First vote: Each committee member will mark up to 10 names from the master list and those individuals who receive three votes will advance to the final vote.
4. Second vote: Each committee will mark up to 10 names from the shortened list. Those individuals receiving five votes will advance to the final vote.
5. Before the final vote takes place the floor will be open for a brief discussion of any of the nominees included on the final ballot.
6. Third vote: Each committee member will mark up to 8 votes from the final list. Voting will continue until 5 individuals receive the majority vote.
VI. SELECTION COMMITTEE
The Selection Committee will include all members of the Oneonta High School Wall of Distinction Committee. Members of this committee shall be appointed by the full Oneonta High School Alumni Association.
Please use the following application: the wall of distinction nomination form