Important PMAE Application Reminder!

Pat

EBIDS would like to remind everyone of the following important information and updates regarding the 2014 Pat McAndless Award  For Excellence:

Dear Dancers and Families:

A final reminder for applying for the Patrick McAndless Award for Excellence. We have heard that some dancers have not started their application process. Reference Letter requests are due to Nora/Courtney ASAP. They do not want to receive requests at the last minute. The deadline has been extended again - so if you are planning to apply - do it today!!! Nora was gracious enough to keep reference requests open until Wednesday of this week (February 19th).

All you have to do is click on the link (to get started, go to the PMAE page on the EBIDS website and click on the green "APPLY NOW" link). Register your information and then input your reference names, emails and phone numbers. You are asked for 3 references. 

In response to a series of questions about the application - the following FAQ's will be added to the list on the EBIDS website. Please review as we have been responding to enquiries and feel that we have a current list. We have set up a FAQ page on the EBIDS website to help you with the application that we will keep updated.

Recently though, we have had a number of questions specifically about the award and how the selection process works, the answers to which we include below (and will add to the FAQ on the website). Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any questions that you don't see answered!

1) Who evaluates the applications?
Applications are evaluated, according to merit, by a special PMAE committee. This committee considers each application without names or identifying details. It is made up of individuals from the community, chosen for their experience, neutrality and ability to evaluate applications based on the Award's focus on community service, education and Irish Dance. Familiarity with Irish Dance, without having an applicant in the competition, is an asset.

In 2013, for example, the committee was chosen from a selection of: community leaders, teachers, volunteer leaders and parents of ineligible NPIDA children. Members were carefully chosen to ensure that they had no ties to specific teachers or students. Avoiding conflict of interest is of utmost importance when committee members are chosen. Our intent is to have the evaluation committee be comprised of a few returning members and a few new members each year. This ensures fresh sets of eyes every year for the application process. 

Each PMAE committee member will sign an agreement that ensures that their participation is confidential until winners are announced and that the information contained in the applications is kept confidential.

2) How can I be assured that information in the application will be kept confidential?
We do our best to keep your application material confidential and to ensure it is evaluated anonymously. Your application will be considered by the PMAE committee along with the references submitted on your behalf.
-the committee will consider each application by number only, with your identification information removed
-your references have been asked to avoid using any material that would identify you to the committee

Access to your application material will be strictly limited outside of the committee:
-you will not have access to your reference letters
-access to the full applications will (if at all) only be made for administrative purposes (e.g. identifying the winners, fixing technical issues, etc.)
-no teachers, EBIDS board members or other students will have access to your application-all applications will be deleted at the end of the competition.

We hope that these precautions will ensure that the competition will be fair and allow you to be candid in your submissions but you should use your own judgement as to the personal details you disclose (and above is subject to all relevant privacy and disclosure laws).

3) How is the Eire Born Irish Dance Society Board of Directors involved?
The EBIDS Board is involved to solicit community leaders to take part in the evaluations. Names come forward to the entire board and the board approves the nomination list. Two board members are the liaison with the committee. They do not attend meetings (except the first one for 1/2 hour to "meet 'n greet" and answer any questions). Their role is to keep the process sound and to flag any potential issues around applications that do not meet the criteria or incomplete applications.

The EBIDS Board of Director liaisons (last year it was Christina M, Chair and Kelly S) do not see any applications at all nor do they hear from the committee on the decisions or any deliberations about the decisions. They know the number of applications. In 2013, once the awards were decided, the board chair received the list of winners a few days before the announcement in order to prepare the winning packages and cheques.

4) Practise Hours
In the application you are asked for how many hours you practise outside of your Irish dance classes. This is hours per week.
 
5) Volunteer Hours
The committee is interested in the last two years of community service. And your hours is your total hours NOT hours per week. Please know that volunteer experience is not measured in hours but in value - this is just an indicator for the committee to help guide their decision making.

Thanks and happy writing - the final deadline for applications is March 7th at midnight.
- Christina M.