Most achievements from the previous year are recognized at the Annual Awards Dinner Dance held during the winter. GEBA members, family and friends gather to honor fellow members for a job well done..
DECKER CREW AND TOROK SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS ELIGIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS – Any GEBA member can nominate deserving individuals for the Decker Crew Award or the Torok Award. The nominee must have been a GEBA member in the year for which they are nominated. The deadline for nominations is December 31st. Awards will be presented at our Annual Awards Dinner.
DECKER CREW AWARD NOMINATION PROCEDURE – Nominations are sent to any Board member. Include the name(s) and give an explanation of why you feel they are deserving of the award. The Board selects the winners. The Treasurer will verify Decker nominees are GEBA members prior to the Board deciding the scholarship winners. Decker recipients are awarded entry to the next scheduled GEBA Continuing Education Seminar. The Board will consider extending the scholarship by one year if notified 30 days prior to the Continuing Education Seminar.
TOROK SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINATION PROCEDURE – Nominations are sent to the current Torok Award winner(s). Please include the name of the individual along with reason(s) you feel they are deserving of the award. A team consisting of the previous five Torok recipients will choose the winner.
Competition Trophy
For those GEBA balloonists that enjoy this activity, competition involves flying in different types of events throughout the season, which is November 16th through November 15th of the following year. Points are awarded for each event/task completed. At the end of the year, those with the greatest number of points are recognized by the club.
Decker Award
The Dan Decker Crew Achievement Award is typically presented to a number of GEBA crew members yearly, allowing them to attend the next scheduled GEBA Continuing Education Seminar at no cost. Nominations are accepted in writing from any member and the winner will be selected by the Board. The award is given in honor of past GEBA member Dan Decker.
President’s Award
This award is given at the president’s discretion to a GEBA member who has truly gone above and beyond in their service to the club and ballooning.
Torok Award
The Torok Sportsmanship Award is presented to a member of GEBA who best exemplifies the true meaning of sportsmanship and has made a positive contribution to the sport of ballooning. Nominations are accepted in writing from any member and the winner will be selected by the five previous winners of the award. The award is given in honor of past GEBA member Ted Torok.
Junior Balloonist Camp Scholarship
This scholarship is presented in the spring to help offset the costs for attending one of that year’s Junior Balloonist Camps. To apply for the scholarship, applicants must be 13-18 years old, members of GEBA and must write an essay describing his or her ballooning experience and why he or she wants to attend balloon camp. Previous recipients may not receive a second scholarship. The GEBA Board will read the essays, select a winner and announce the winner at the May meeting. The deadline for entries is March 30th. Please submit the essays to Jenn Goldbloom. Scholarship winners are required to do a presentation on their camp experience at the following November meeting. If you would like more information, please contact a GEBA Board member.
GEBA Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is offered to a student hot air balloon pilot to help offset the costs of the Private Pilot Written Exam. This scholarship was conceived to honor the memory of those late GEBA members who played major roles in the training of new pilots. To apply for the scholarship, applicants must hold a student pilot certificate, be a GEBA member, and have taken and passed the Private Pilot Written Exam during the previous year (January 1 December 31). The student pilot must have been a GEBA member in good standing for the year in which their exam is completed, and also when the scholarship is awarded at the current year’s May meeting. Note: due date for submitting their results is March 30th of the year following their exam.
GEBA Crew Achievement Awards Program
These awards are independent of the Decker Award and are presented upon completion of various task levels. This program is for crew and student pilots who are members of GEBA. The program can be both an educational and fun way to enjoy ballooning. If you would like more information, please contact Bill Miller at crewchief@gebaballoon.org or a GEBA Board member.