awards committee: unsung heroes

​CODA Midwest appreciates our donors, supporters, and retreat attendees. We also appreciate our volunteers. 

The Awards committee, chaired by the Member-at-Large, is an important, busy, and appreciated group of volunteers. 

Their process starts in January, when the budget for each award category is approved. Amounts are budgeted based upon the previous year’s surplus, primarily from retreat and donations. 

Kamper Grant applications open in early spring, CODA Conference Stipend applications open in late spring, and Retreat Waiver applications open in late summer. 

KAMPER GRANTS
In 2023 $10,000.00 was budgeted toward supporting koda’s to attend KODA camps. From that amount $5,975.00 was spent to assist 20 kodas in attending the camp of their choice. Specifically:
~15 kodas supported to attend KODA Midwest ($5,100)
~3 kodas supported to attend KODA Camp Ohio = ($375)
~ 1 koda supported to attend KODA West = ($400)
~ 1 koda supported to attend Camp Mark 7 ($100.00)

This year, (2024) $7,500 was budgeted toward supporting kodas to attend KODA camps. From that amount $6,000.00 was spent toward assisting 17 kodas in attending the camp of their choice. Specifically:
~13 kodas supported to attend KODA Midwest ($5,500 total)
~4 kodas supported to attend KODA Camp Ohio = ($500 total)

STIPENDS TO ATTEND CODA CONFERENCE
Last year (2023) $3,000 was budgeted toward supporting Codas to attend the CODA conference. The full amount was given to CODA International and went toward assisting 3 Codas (two from Japan and one from India) in attending their first international conference.

This year (2024) $4,500 was budgeted toward supporting Codas to attend the 2024 CODA conference, and $4,000 total was awarded to 2 applicants (Indiana and California).

CODA MIDWEST RETREAT WAIVERS
Last year (2023) $5,000 was budgeted for retreat waivers. Ten applicants received waivers for a total of $2,000.00. 

As of this time, the 2024 retreat is still in the planning stages. We look to have more information after retreat. 

While CODA Midwest supports all codas, preference is given to those residing in Region 3 of CODA International (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin). 

Basic rubrics of the point-based grading system as to how applicants are graded to be chosen can be found on the CODA Midwest website at https://www.codamidwest.org/awards.html

Awards Committee volunteers have been an integral and important component of CODA Midwest since its inception. Without them, CODA Midwest could not do what it does, and countless applicants would not receive support in a fair and timely manner.

If interested in volunteering with CODA Midwest, please contact any board member, or complete the web application at https://www.codamidwest.org/join.html