Founders Merit Award Series

Description

The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) recognizes that its strength lies in volunteers, who contribute their time, ideas, and energy to serve the healthcare industry, their profession, and one another.

Active participation in HFMA at the national, regional and/or chapter levels provides members with numerous opportunities for professional development, information, networking and advocacy.

The Founders Merit Award Series, launched in 1960 with the William G. Follmer Award (now the Follmer Bronze), was created to recognize individual HFMA members for meritorious service at the chapter level. The Robert H. Reeves and Frederick T. Muncie Awards (now the Reeves Silver and Muncie Gold) were developed during the next nine years to recognize increasing levels of chapter service. In 1986, a fourth award, the Founders Medal of Honor was added, along with categories of points for national service to HFMA. Through the series, HFMA members are rewarded for their contributions of time and effort, without which chapter growth and success would not be possible.

Each of the first three awards is part of a merit rating plan in which specific chapter activities are assigned a range of point values. When the number of points earned by a member reaches 100, the Follmer Bronze Award (stage one) is presented. When a second 100 points is earned, the Reeves Silver Award (stage two) is presented. Members who earn a third 100 points are presented with the Muncie Gold Award (stage three).

Each award consists of an appropriately inscribed plaque, presented at chapter ceremonies during September or October each year. The award that will be presented is determined by the number of 100-point increments the member has accumulated through services at the chapter level. Regulations governing attainment of each award are the same.

The fourth award, the Founders Medal of Honor, is not based on the point system, but is conferred by nomination of the chapter Board of Directors. To be eligible, a member must have a minimum of three years of service since earning the Muncie Gold Award, have provided significant service at the chapter and/or national level in at least two of those years, and currently be a member in good standing.

The merit rating plan on which the first three awards are based measures both quantity and quality of services performed for local chapters. Members may earn points for a variety of activities including serving as an elected or appointed chapter or national leader, attending meetings, authoring a technical paper and making a presentation.

Chapter level points earned by members are reported by the Chapter’s Founders Contact to HFMA National by August 10th of each year. Member points are totaled and an award list is provided for verification to each Chapter’s Founders Contact. Although HFMA National and the Chapters track most member points, it is ultimately the responsibility of the individual member to report points earned to the Chapter’s Founders Contact, who is liaison to HFMA National.

Member points are automatically transferred from one Chapter to another. Retroactive scoring of points for all categories is permissible if appropriate documentation is provided. However, points are not earned for member services that are: (a) related to holding a term of office of less than one-half of a Chapter’s fiscal year for any category; (b) services for which a member is paid; or (c) Chapter participation prior to HFMA membership.

Each member can review the status of Founders points, under "activities" in your "personal profile" in the Membership Directory area, at the following web site:

http://www.hfma.org/login/index.cfm

Colorado Chapter members with questions or corrections to the information listed on the web site should contact Ellen Stewart at estewart@bw-legal.com or (303) 592-8310.

Founders Award Point Categories and Allocations

Literary Contributions	Points entered by HFMA National	Points entered by chapter	Definition
Write Articles – Local Chapter		2	Write and publish an article in local HFMA chapter publication (points awarded for each time published)
Write Articles - National	2		Write and publish an article in an HFMA national publication: HFM, Notes from National
Article Review - National	1		Review for HFMA National any of the following: E-learning/ Manuscript/Self Study/Article
Book Review - National	1		Complete a book review and publish in HFM
Chapter Committees/Titles	Points entered by HFMA National	Points entered by chapter	Definition
Chapter President	8		Serve as Chapter President
Chapter Officers	5		Chapter officers include: President elect, VP, Treasurer, Secretary, Sec/Tr, Director (Board member) Newsletter Chair, Program Chair, Certification Contact, Founders Contact, DCMS Contact, Membership Chair, Sponsorship Chair and Membership Directory Contact
Chapter Board of Directors	3		Participate as member of Chapter Board
Committee Chair	4		Chair of any chapter committee-excludes officer positions. Chair of regional committee- officer positions NOT excluded
Co-Chair	3		Co-Chair of any chapter committee excludes officer positions Co-Chair of regional committee officer positions NOT excluded
Committee Member	2		Member of any chapter committee - excludes Chapter Board Member of regional committee-officer positions NOT excluded
National Committees	Points entered by HFMA National	Points entered by chapter	Definition
National Chairman	12		Serve as National Chairman
National Officers	8		Includes- Chair-elect and Secretary/Treasurer
National Committees	4		Serve on a National Committee. Includes: P&P Board, Executive Committee, BOE, Standing Policy, Cat Consultant, Forums, NAC Governance Committee, RE Council Chair and Co-Chair
National Board of Directors	6		Serves on the National Board of directors
National Task Force	2		Serves on a National Task Force or National Judging Committee
Regional Executive	6		Serves as primary liaison for the region at the National level, participates in RE Council meetings
Miscellaneous	Points entered by HFMA National	Points entered by chapter	Definition
Regional Executive-elect	4		Serves as liaison for the region at the National level, participates in Fall President Meetings
Mentor		1	Serve as a mentor for a one- year term, complete any chapter required activities
Proctor	1		Serve as a Proctor for an HFMA Certification Exam (It is 1 point total no matter how many exams are proctored)
Speakers - 4 speaking hrs. or less		1	Participate as a faculty member in a formal HFMA National or chapter program
Speakers - More than 4 speaking hrs.		2	Participate as a faculty member in a formal HFMA National or chapter program
Event Volunteers	2	2	Participate in a chapter or national meeting in a volunteer role. Includes: ANI Floor Manager, ANI Course Coord., Chapter meeting/ event set up