Nominations Wanted for SCRA Fellows

Each year the SCRA recognizes individuals for "outstanding and unusual contributions or performance"
in community psychology by nominating them for Fellow status in the Society. Persons who are members
of the American Psychological Association are also nominated for fellowship in APA. Nominations for
Fellow may be self nominations or may come from a current Fellow of the SCRA.

The most difficult judgment that must be made in connection with nominees for Fellow Status is to
determine whether or not there has been "unusual and outstanding contribution or performance in the
field of community research and action."

Number of publications, grade-level of an administrative position, academic rank, or number of public
addresses, workshops, or committee memberships are not automatic determiners. The contribution to
the science or practice of community research and action should be original, and perhaps also a
contribution to society as a whole. The following considerations are by no means intended to be exhaustive, but do help Fellowship Committee members frame their judgments regarding a nominee.
o Evidence of steady and continuing competence does not in itself meet the criterion of
"outstanding and unusual."
o The impact of innovations must be documented.
o Accumulation of impact and performance over time must be demonstrated. The minimum standard for Fellowship includes five years of outstanding professional experience, although a longer period of sustained excellence is preferred. There is no degree requirement for SCRA Fellow Status.

o Offices held in the Society for Community Research and Action, involvement with Society
committees and interest groups, political and legislative activity, and the like, while relevant, are
rarely enough in themselves to prove contribution - endorsers must show positive impact and
contribution beyond the local level.
o Conducting and organizing workshops is not an automatic criterion, but frequent workshop
leadership with positive evaluations and evidence of impact over time can be good evidence of
contribution.
o The candidate must be a member in the Society for Community Research and Action at the time
a nomination is made.

Specific Criteria for Fellowship Status in The Society for Community Research And Action

Fellows must provide evidence of "unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in community
research and action." Commonly, the nominee for Fellow status has a particular area on which the
nomination is primarily based, including: (1) community practice and action; (2) research; (3) teaching;
or (4) administration or professional service. In other words, the Society seeks to recognize a variety of
exceptional contributions that significantly advance the field of community research and action
including, but not limited to: theory development, research, evaluation, teaching, intervention, policy
development, policy implementation, advocacy, consultation, program development, public education
administration, and service. The outstanding contributions may be in more than one category.

Please send all nominations, whether for oneself or others, along with a paragraph of justification, to the Fellows Committee Chair, Mo Elias at SCRA27MJE@AOL.COM , at your earliest convenience. A slate of nominees will be forwarded to the Executive Committee for approval at the Midwinter Meeting in February, but all materials, including the APA Fellows Form and letters of reference, must be completed and available before that time.