First Coast Chapter Merit System Program Guidelines

First Coast Chapter Merit System Program Guidelines The purpose of the First Coast AACN Merit program is to award eligible chapter members for participation in chapter activities. Points can be earned by completing certain activities and tasks throughout the year and members will be eligible for nursing educational scholarships or reimbursement for nursing education on the basis of points earned. I. General Information A. All funds awarded from the chapter are awarded only to chapter members and are nontransferrable between chapter members. The applicant must have been a National and Local member for 1 year, prior to receiving funds and must be current with both National and Local membership when applying for and receiving funds. B. The applicant must apply with a specific program, book or journal. Such program, book or journal shall be content-related to the development of expertise in critical care nursing or other nursing specialty. II. Guidelines A. Merit points may be accrued for one (1) year only (June 1st – May 31st). B. Merit worksheets (Part I) with supporting documentation must be turned in by June 1st of the ending accrual year so that award winners can be announced at our annual June Gala. C. Applicant must have a minimum of twenty five (25) points accrued to apply and must receive points from at least four (4) of the five (5) categories. D. Points must be redeemed in total during the fiscal year immediately following accumulation E. An application for a scholarship or reimbursement (with receipts) must be submitted with the on the validated merit form (Part II). F. Applicant is limited to receive one scholarship recipient per Fiscal Year. G. Points may not be used to pay membership dues to either local or national AACN, or any other professional association. H. The Board of Directors, by majority vote, reserves the right to add and subtract eligible items that are point redeemable and or to change the point values for category items. III. Point Redemption A. Points will be redeemable at ten dollars ($10) per point with the highest redeemable value of three hundred and fifty dollars ($350) for thirty five (35) or more points. If the sum total of the applications exceeds twenty percent (20%) of the Chapter treasury, the Board of Directors will decide the dollar value of the points per FY budget. B. Applications for Scholarship must be submitted one month prior to appropriating monies. Application should be submitted to the Scholarship Chairperson (or Board Treasurer if no Scholarship Chairperson) for review with supportive documentation at the beginning of the month to allow subcommittee and Board of Directors time for review/ approval process.