Comrade of the Quarter 2012 2nd Quarter Winner is….

 APSP UHURU MOVEMENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RECOGNITION PROGRAM

PROUDLY ANNOUNCES THE BIKO LUMUMBA 

COMRADE OF THE QUARTER JUNE 2012 WINNER:

JANICE KANT

APEDF ADMINISTRATOR AND UHURU FOODS COORDINATOR, ST. PETERSBURG, FL

Janice Kant, Administrator APEDF

Nominated by Kitty Reilly, Director of the Office of Reparations and Economic Development APSC

This what Kitty had to say about Janice!

I am nominating APSC member, Janice Kant as Comrade of the Quarter for her outstanding work in this past quarter under the leadership of the Party’s Office of Economic Development.

Under the leadership of Deputy Chair Ona Zene’ Yeshitela, all of Janice’s talents, skills and training were called on by the Party in the process of implementing the mandates of the 5^th Party Congress for OEDF. Janice brings science and professionalism to all areas of her work.  She readily makes herself available with enthusiasms and responds immediately to requests, regardless of how busy she may be. She solves problems and empowers others to solve problems and move forward. She gives the tools needed through research and by referring back to the documents representing the policies, protocols and procedures that have been established. If there is no protocol, Janice will propose one. She is one of the most valuable members of every committee she is on.

 

Under the leadership of the Chairman, Janice participated in the committee establishing the legal documents to form BSI as an LLC. Janice was the liaison with the lawyer to ensure all legal documents reflected the Party’s determinations and the LLC was consolidated. This was no easy task, because it meant interpreting African Internationalism into legalese!  BSI is now a legal entity in the US and registered in Europe.  Janice was the liaison with ASI UK to establish YES as a non-profit registered in Europe as well.

 

Janice participated in all of the Budget Training Meetings under Deputy Chair for all Party Departments and Organizations and created the Monthly and Annual Budget process and forms.  She contributes to advancing economic development strategies and has made herself available to all departments and organizations for additional trainings in the new and complex system that is part of the 5^th Party Congress mandate to create one Party Budget.  This process contributes to bringing all of the resources and assets of the movement under the centralized leadership and ownership of the Party.

 

She has contributed to creating many of the protocols, procedures, and policies for areas of work and created Manuals for each, such as the Budget and Finance Manual for all Party Departments/Organizations and Non-Profits; the very complex Black Star Industries Manual, and the APEDF Human Resources Manual.

 

This level of professionalism can’t be overlooked.  The Manuals codify the organizational entity into an institution with guidelines that enable everyone to participate and build, and enables the work to be held accountable as the Party intended.  It allows the organization/institution to continue to develop with or without individuals involved now for the future growth of the Party.

 

In addition, Janice is the Administrator for the African People’s Education and Defense Fund and as a leading member of APSC’s Office of Reparations and Economic Development; she coordinates Uhuru Foods and Pies in Florida. Janice coordinates, with Uhuru Solidarity Movement, a successful weekly Market Breakfast booth at the Saturday Market in St. Pete based on unity with reparations and winning material solidarity to the APSP.

 

Thank you for your consideration of this outstanding candidate. Uhuru! Kitty Reilly

Uhuru Foods Coordinator in St. Pete, here coordinating the Uhuru Foods fundraising food booth at the St. Pete Saturday Morning Market.

As Coordinator for Uhuru Foods in St. Pete Janice also coordinates the Uhuru Pies campaign!

As the winner Janice will receive the following:  

A $50 gift card

The Biko Lumumba Comrade of the Quarter Plaque

A article in the Burning Spear Newspaper

Recognition on Uhuru News/Radio

Recognition at an Uhuru Event

*Please comment on this blog posting congratulating Janice on a job well done.*

The African People’s Socialist Party wants to recognize our other nominees who did a outstanding job:

Camilla Hyppolyte,  AAPDEP Assistant Tour Manager, Dunedin, Florida 

Nominated by Dr. Aisha Fields, Director of  AAPEDP

Markus (Malako) Kothner, APSP LPO Leader Brussels

Nominated by Ruth Kimathi, ASI Secretary London

Lusila Ledu, APSP LPO Leader Paris

Nominated by Ruth Kimathi, ASI Secretary London

Stephanie Midler, USM National Chair, St. Petersburg, Florida

Nominated by Jesse Nevels, USM National Outreach Chair, St. Petersburg, Florida

Mudjacka Mvunku,  APSP Director of Agitation and Propaganda, Germany

Nominated by Ruth Kimathi, ASI Secretary London

Pete Yaroschuk, Operations Director & Project Coordinator Uhuru House/Uhuru Jiko, Oakland, CA

Nominated by Maureen Wagener, Director of Uhuru Foods and Pies

I want to thank all of you and our Recognition Committee for their contributions to this important program. 

The Recognition Committee 2012  consist of the following comrades:
Nyabinga Dzimbabwe, Director of Agitation and Propaganda, St. Petersburg, FL

Nate Gilliam, Director Economic Development AAPDEP, Milwaukee, WI

Penny Hess, Chairwoman APSC, St. Petersburg, FL

Kwabena Gyakye Kimathi, President InPDUM, United Kingdom

Stephanie Midler, President of USM, St. Petersburg, FL

Rich Piedrahita, NE Regional Representative, Washington, DC

Princess Williams, President of InPDUM, St. Petersburg, FL

When you see an email asking for nominees, please nominate your comrades, this is a very important program and it’s success depends greatly on your participation.

Thanking you in advance.

Ona Zene’ Yeshitela

Deputy Chairwoman, APSP

Chairman Congratulatory Notes and Informal Departmental/Regional Awards

Congratulatory Notes will be sent by the Chairman Omali Yeshitela:

A. To individuals who have completed one year of continuous service

B. To individuals selected to a higher body of leadership

C. When the Chairman determines it would be appropriate to do so

Informal Departmental/Regional Awards:

A. Leadership in all areas of the organizations are encouraged to recognize individuals informally when the individuals have just provided excellent service or ideas, or completed a special project, etc. 

B. The department can award the individuals with a variety of items such as movie tickets, books, revolutionary DVD’s, gift certificates, novelty items, etc. to present to the comrade in their area.

Bold Initiative Award

Whether it is a novel improvement or an innovative way to accomplish a task, submissions for this award should help to move the organization forward. Suggestions that improve the quality of the organization’s operations and services are eligible for consideration for an award. To accomplish a task or advance the struggle.

A. Ideas should be realistic and include:

1. A description of the problem to be addressed or the area to be improved;
2. A detailed description of the solution or intended results; and
3. A synopsis of how the idea will benefit the organization

B. Ideas should focus on:

1. Saving resources, time and money;
2. Improving organizational capacity;
3. Eliminating inefficiencies, waste or duplication; and/or
4. Streamlining a process or procedure or operating method

C. Ideas would be ineligible for an award if:

1. The idea is already being considered;
2. The suggestion is a correction to a scrivener’s error

D. Submission of Suggestion:

1. To submit a suggestion it is required to completely fill out the Bold Initiative Form (Attachment C)
2. The Bold Initiative Form needs to be submitted to your immediate leadership who will be responsible for implementation of the initiative if it is approved. If you do not know the correct person to submit the Bold Initiative Form to, confer the Office of the Chairman to determine who should receive the Bold Initiative Form.
3. Every effort will be made by the approving authorities to be cognizant of duplicate submissions. If a “new” idea is approved that was submitted within the past two (2) years by another individual but was not able to be approved at that time, the individual who submitted the idea first will receive the award.

E. Approval/Denial of Suggestion

1. Leadership accountable for the implementation of the Bold Initiative is responsible for making the initial evaluation and the recommendation for an award to be approved (Attachment C). Leadership is authorized. Chairman may approve cash awards up to $100.00 or higher when appropriate.
2. The Office of the Chairman will receive approved award documents from leadership and will keep a record of all documents and awards under this program.
3. If an idea will not be implemented, the leadership to whom the idea was submitted will appropriately inform the member as such and encourage the member to continue to submit his or her Bold Initiatives.
4. Decisions regarding whether or not to implement a Bold Initiative should be made in a timely manner. Most decisions should be made within two (2) weeks from the date of receipt. However, the process may take longer depending on the type of review and evaluation some initiatives may require. However, it should never take more than three (3) months for a determination to be made. Individuals submitting suggestions should be kept up-to-date regarding the status of their initiative.

Organizational Service Award

The Chairman may recognize comrades who have displayed exceptional involvement in an organization project outside of his or her own areas of work.

A. A comrade who, not in the line of duty but in a volunteer capacity, fosters or contributes to a valuable and successful program within the Uhuru Movement will be eligible to receive the Organizational Service Award.

B. Leadership will prepare a document outlining the particulars of why the award should be presented and submit to the Chairman for approval.

C. The award will consist of a wall mounted or desktop plaque acknowledging the accomplishment and a gift appropriate to the occasion. The Chairman, in a celebratory/congratulatory manner as deemed appropriate by their respective leadership, will present the award to the comrade.

Movement Unity Award

The Movement Unity Award is presented to a group of the comrades whose outstanding performance and accomplishments together or with other comrades warrants recognition.

A. Leadership should prepare a document outlining the particulars of why the award should be presented and submit it to the Chairman for approval.

B. Once approved, leadership will work with the Office of the Chairman for the purpose of:

1. Ordering an appropriate plaque
2. Preparing a letter to the team for their accomplishment and for a presentation
3. To coordinate attendance of those who will be present to receive the award
4. If it is impossible to get the team together, the leadership who elected them will present the award in a celebratory/congratulatory manner as deemed appropriate

Comrade of the Quarter and Outstanding Comrade of the Year

Individuals whose performance demonstrates extraordinary efforts above and beyond the “call of duty” should be recognized for their hard work and dedication. Individuals who demonstrate enthusiasm and who promote pride, teamwork and a positive image throughout the organization should be recognized for their contributions.

A. Eligibility and Qualifications for Nominations for Comrade of the Quarter and Outstanding Comrade of the Year:

1. All comrades are eligible to be nominated except Chairman Omali Yeshitela, APSP and APSC Central Committee, and Political Bureau members.
2. Nominees must be members of one of the organizations with the Uhuru Movement, such as the APSP, InPDUM, AAPDEP, APEDF, AISO, APSC and OEDF, etc.
3. Individuals who have previously been a recipient of the Outstanding Comrade of the Year award are not eligible again for consideration for that award until at least five (5) other individuals have been recipients.
4. Individiuals who have previously been a recipient of the Comrade of the Quarter award are not eligible again for consideration for that award until at least eight (8) other individuals have been recipients.
5. In order to be considered for either award, the nominee must not be on any type of probation or have received any written disciplinary actions within 1 year of the nomination deadline.
6. Those serving on the Recognition Team who have been nominated would be prohibited from voting in this quarter.

B. Submitting Nominations:

1. The completed nomination form (Attachment A) is required along with a narrative.
2. Comrade of the Quarter nomination forms are required to be submitted tot he Office of the Chairman by the 15th of the month in December, March , June and September of each year.
3. Outstanding Comrade of the Year nomination forms are required to be submitted to the Office of the Chairman by January 10th of each year.
4. The four (4) winners of the Comrade of the Quarter awards are automatically entered as nominees for the Outstanding Comrade of the Year award as long as they still meet the eligibility requirements list in 2A (above).
5. It is highly recommended  that leadership nominate their best comrades on a quarterly and annual basis. However, any comrade may nominate any other comrade for Comrade of the Quarter and Outstanding Comrade of the Year.
6. Nomination forms must be reviewed and signed off/on by the comrade’s respective leadership.
7. If only one nomination is submitted during the quarter, the persona nominated will be considered the winner, as long as the nominee meets all the eligibility qualifications.
8. All nomination entries  must be verified through the National Office of membership and Recruitment for any discipline actions, non-payment of dues, probation, etc.

C. Recognition Team (aka Selection Team)

1. At the beginning of each calendar year, the Chairman will approve a Recognition Team which will be comprised of: One (1) Central Committee member, One (1) member of the InPDUM IEC, Four (4) comrades who are members of the Uhuru Movement organization, One (1) representative from the Office of the Chairman
2. The Recognition Team will meet a minimum of five (5) times per year as follows: Four (4) times to select the Comrade of the Quarter (Attachment B), and One (1) time to select the Outstanding Comrade of the Year (Attachment B)
3. At one of the above meetings or at an additional meeting as determined by the Chairperson, the Recognition  Team will make recommendations to the Chairman regarding enhancements to or changes to the program. Additionally, the Team should also prepare recommendations to the Chairman of those to serve on the Recognition Team for the next year.
4. Winners are selected based on the accomplishments put forth by the nominator’s narrative for that quarter only.

D. Awards:

1. All nominees approved for either the Comrade of the Quarter or Outstanding Comrade of the Year will receive a letter from Chairman Omali Yeshitela congratulating him or her for having been nominated. This letter will be prepared by the Chief of Staff and signed by Chairman Omali Yeshitela and a copy will be given to their respective leadership for their records. Each department will be required to sponsor the recognition progra; this program budget is $375.00.
2. The Comrade of the Quarter shall be acknowledged as follows: Recognition at a major Uhuru event, A plaque with name engraved, Recognition Uhuru News/Radio, $50.00 gift certificate
3. The Outstanding Comrade of the Year shall be recognized as follows: In coordination with the Office of the Chairman, the Outstanding Comrade of the Year will be acknowledged at an Uhuru event (to be announced) sponsored by one of the Uhuru organizations where he or she will be presented with a plaque, $100.00 gift certificate, Recognition in the Burning Spear newspaper and on the Uhuru News website and all other organization’s websites, Recognition on the scroll of winners’ plaque in the Uhuru House

Chairman Omali Yeshitela Certificate of Achievement

The Chairman Omali Yeshitela Certificate of Achievement recognizes individuals who make significant contributions in leadership, program management, budgetary excellence, customer service or other areas with an organization-wide impact. Individuals who receive this award will normally have made contributions that materially improved the organization’s mission and vision. Those individuals in leadership roles may nominate individuals for this recognition. Approval of this award will be by the Chairman Omali Yeshitela.

OVERVIEW of the Recognitions and Awards of this Program

APSP Uhuru Movement Acknowledgement and Recognition Program

Policy Statement: It is the policy of the Office of the Chairman to recognize individuals for their accomplishments and contributions through a variety of acknowledgement and recognition programs. Acknowledgement and recognition is encouraged through one of the organization-wide programs as defined below:

PROCEDURES

Organization-wide recognition and award programs outlined in this Administrative Regulation are listed below. Leadership is encouraged , where appropriate, to establish department level award programs to recognize individuals and their contributions in your area. Click on the links below for more information about that recognition or award.

1. Chairman Omali Yeshitela Certificate of Achievement
2. Comrade of the Quarter and Outstanding Comrade of the Year
3. Movement Unity Award
4. Organizational Service Award
5. Bold Initiative Award
6. Chairman Omali Yeshitela Congratulatory Notes
7. Departmental/Regional Informal Awards

Uhuru Movement Acknowledgement and Recognition Program Launches Blog!

In January of 2010 the Office of the Chairman of the African People’s Socialist Party officially launched a new program called the “APSP Uhuru Movement Acknowledgement and Recognition Program”.

Today this program boasts over two years of successful recognition of Uhuru Movement members carrying out incredible work from throughout the world. 

Now the Uhuru Movement Acknowledgement and Recognition Program is excited to launch its new blog which will feature all the information needed for people to nominate individuals for recognition as well as announcements featuring the nominees and winners of the various awards. 

Stay tuned for more – Uhuru!