Community Member's Shield

The Community Members’ Shield

Community has commissioned the Community Members’ Shield as a new award that is open to all members of Community, and is available at the discretion of the NEC. The Community Members’ Shield will take the place of the Confederation Shield Award that was open to members of the former-ISTC only. The Community Members’ Shield is for those that have given service to the union as a Lay Official, as a Full-Time Officer, or as a member of the National Executive. Service will be recognised from all unions incorporated into Community.

The criteria are:

  • Service on the Community NEC, which must include re-election.
  • Those members who, in the opinion of the NEC, have been especially active and rendered Meritorious Service. The member must have served at least 15 active years as an official of the union, subject to a minimum membership qualification of 20 years.
  • Those members that hold office as an elected Branch Official for 10 accumulative years, subject to a minimum membership qualification of 20 years. This Shield would have inscribed on it 'Branch Officer'.

Applications for the Community Members’ Shield will only be considered on the recommendation of the nominee’s branch, and all applications must be supported by the relevant Regional Director.

No member will be entitled to two Shields. However, former-ISTC Executive Council Members, Community NEC Members and Full-Time Officers may have an extra inscription on a Shield, or on the Confederation Shield if previously received, at the expense of the union, provided that they also qualify in accordance with i) or ii) above.

Nothing in these rules shall prevent the NEC from awarding a Shield to a member where there are special circumstances prevailing. The award of a Shield under this rule will not constitute a precedent and each case must be individually considered.

The Community Members’ Shield is not available to those who have previously received an award for Meritorious Service.

To apply for the Community Members’ Shield branches should write to their Regional Director, who will make a decision on whether to support the application, and forward endorsed applications to the Awards Department at Head Office. Applications should include the membership details of the person being nominated and a brief summary of why the branch believes the member qualifies for an award, i.e. length of service, a list of offices held (complete with dates), and details of how the member has otherwise enhanced the good name of the union.