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Who was Alphonse Desjardins? |
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Alphonse Desjardins (1854 – 1920) was a credit union pioneer who was instrumental in forming the Canadian and U.S. credit union movements. Besides helping to found the first credit unions in Canada and the U.S. Desjardins pioneered youth savings clubs and in-school "banks," known as caisses scolaires. More information here. |
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What period do the award entries cover? |
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Judges from the National Youth Involvement Board will evaluate relevant league activities that took place between the (league-determined) state-level timeframe, which is July 1, 2003 through May 31, 2004. |
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What activities are eligible? |
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Credit unions and chapters could receive an award for involvement in almost any kind of activity that raises awareness and marshals resources on behalf of youth financial literacy. This might include public relations, teacher and classroom volunteer training, advocacy, and coalition building. |
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Are efforts in support of the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program® eligible? |
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Yes. |
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Is involvement in the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program required to enter the Desjardins Award program? |
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No. |
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What determines whether a league entry will be judged on four criteria or five? |
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All entries will be evaluated on the first four criteria described on the appropriate Entry Form. Each credit union or chapter will decide for itself whether to enter evidence pertaining to the fifth criteria, which covers legislative and regulatory advocacy. Criterion #5 is OPTIONAL because legislative and/or regulatory youth financial education initiatives are not an annual occurrence in every state. Credit unions and chapters that enter according to criteria 1 through 4 will be rated an 80-point scale. Credit unions and chapters that enter according to criteria 1 through 4 plus 5 will be rated on a 100-point scale. |
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How does Desjardins scoring work for league entries? |
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The Desjardins Award in any given league category will go to the entry that receives the highest percentage score among those awarded an average among judges of at least 64 points (80% of maximum) on the 80-point (four-criteria) scale or at least 80 points (80% of maximum) on the 100-point (five-criteria) scale.
For example, in a single category:
Entry A receives 67 of 80 pts. (83.8% of maximum)
Entry B receives 82 of 100 pts. (82%)
Therefore A wins the award. |
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How does state-level Desjardins scoring work? |
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State-level scoring works the same way as national scoring and on the same scales, although each league may decide on a different minimum average score for determining finalists.
Winners are ranked using a point system, and the first place winners are selected to advance to CUNA & Affiliates for national level competition. (Reminder: Only one first-place chapter winner and only one first-place credit union winner per asset category can advance to the national competition from any given state.
If there are multiple first-place awards in a given category at the state level, the league must apply a tie-breaker, so that only a single entry advances for that chapter or credit union asset category.
(See the credit union asset categories above. See the appropriate Entry Form for a description of all five criteria scales.) |
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How many credit union and chapter entries may a league submit for national Desjardins Award judging? |
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Each league is limited to entering one credit union entry in each asset category and one chapter entry for national judging. With one chapter category and four credit union asset categories, that means there could be a maximum of five state-level winners advancing to national competition per state.
(See the credit union asset categories above.) |
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What is the judging fee for national credit union and chapter entries? |
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There is a $50 fee for each credit union and chapter entry submitted to CUNA & Affiliates for national Desjardins Award judging. |
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What is the judging fee for state-level credit union and chapter entries? |
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Each league will determine the entry fee, if any, for state-level competition. Consult your league for details. |
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How many Desjardins Award winners will there be? |
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State-level judges will determine no more than one first-place winner in each asset category and one chapter winner per state. State-level judges are not required to select a first-place winner in any category. State-level judges may recognize as many honorable mention awards in any category as they see fit. National judges will determine no more than one first-place winner in each asset category and one chapter winner per state. National judges are not required to select a first-place winner in any category. National judges may recognize up to three honorable mention awards in any category as they see fit. |
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What are the procedures for credit unions and chapters that wish to submit entries in the Desjardins Award program? |
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See the appropriate Entry Form. (credit union or chapter) |