Hello list, Please see the below announcement from the Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association about an exciting opportunity to receive some funds to pursue that dream O&M idea/project you or someone you know may have been thinking about. I would love to see some folks from the NOMC community apply. Please note the January 15 deadline and feel free to pass along the announcement. Regards, Dezman 2025 OMSA Pay It Forward Funds Supporting special projects to promote O&M Hey O&M Instructors & GDMIs! Know of a group or individual who is doing something cool in the field and could use a little extra cash to grow their idea? Or do you yourself have a project in mind you'd like to get off the ground? Let OMSA help! Nominate that co-worker, friend, parent, organization, or even yourself to receive OMSA's second annual Pay-It-Forward Funds! We are offering up to $500 to an individual or group who could use some extra funding for a program or education, the more innovative the better! For example, know someone who'd love to attend a conference but needs help with the registration fees? Or are you a teacher who would love some funding for a cool O&M field trip or activity? Is there someone in your life who's not currently an O&M Instructor but would like to learn more about the profession and has a chance to attend an O&M event? Is there a parent who'd love some additional funding to help their kiddo be involved in more community activities? The list is not exhaustive-all are great examples of how OMSA funds can make a difference! Nominate that person or group by submitting a short video clip describing what your nominee would do with a little extra cash! Winner will be selected and approved by the OMSA Pay it Forward Scoring Group (the Membership Committee plus two additional OMSA Board Members). How to apply: -Eligible activities are those that promote and support the field of O&M -A video clip no longer than 2 minutes must be uploaded with a description of how the funds will be spent, along with a short application to OMSA's Google Drive here https://forms.gle/HgecMtqBN4AuSa5Z9 -An OMSA Media Consent form for anyone appearing in your video must be submitted Here https://forms.gle/q2d9CtrwAwoiDc6Z8 Who can apply/be nominated: -Any OMSA member may submit a nomination (however current OMSA Board or Committee Members will not be eligible to nominate or be nominated for this award) -The recipient does NOT need to be a current OMSA member, or even an O&M Instructor Important Dates: -Applications will be accepted until 5 pm Eastern 1/15/2025. Only full applications will be considered. No applications submitted after this deadline will be considered. -The applicant will be notified by 4/1/25 with an OMSA invoice for funds to be appropriately dispersed to the winner -Winner will be asked to submit a subsequent video by the following April (4/1/26), demonstrating the results of their project, which will then be posted via email blast and Facebook The following rubric will be utilized by each member of the committee to score each submission: OMSA Pay it Forward Scoring Rubric 1. How well does the application meet the goals and intent of the Pay it Forward Fund? Score 1-7 2. How innovative is the proposed activity? Score 1-7 3. How much does this project benefit the actual recipient(s) of the funds? Score 1-7 4. How impactful will this be to enhance, promote, and encourage professionals in the O&M field? Score 1-7 5. How impactful might this project be regarding the perceptions of the general public towards people who are blind and promote knowledge of O&M? Score 1-7 6. What's the potential of this project to promote OMSA membership? Score 1-7 7. What is the potential of this project to encourage OMSA members to actively participate in OMSA events and committees? Score 1-7 2025 OMSA Pay It Forward Funds Supporting special projects to promote O&M Hey O&M Instructors & GDMIs! Know of a group or individual who is doing something cool in the field and could use a little extra cash to grow their idea? Or do you yourself have a project in mind you'd like to get off the ground? Let OMSA help! Nominate that co-worker, friend, parent, organization, or even yourself to receive OMSA's second annual Pay-It-Forward Funds! We are offering up to $500 to an individual or group who could use some extra funding for a program or education, the more innovative the better! For example, know someone who'd love to attend a conference but needs help with the registration fees? Or are you a teacher who would love some funding for a cool O&M field trip or activity? Is there someone in your life who's not currently an O&M Instructor but would like to learn more about the profession and has a chance to attend an O&M event? Is there a parent who'd love some additional funding to help their kiddo be involved in more community activities? The list is not exhaustive-all are great examples of how OMSA funds can make a difference! Nominate that person or group by submitting a short video clip describing what your nominee would do with a little extra cash! Winner will be selected and approved by the OMSA Pay it Forward Scoring Group (the Membership Committee plus two additional OMSA Board Members). How to apply: -Eligible activities are those that promote and support the field of O&M -A video clip no longer than 2 minutes must be uploaded with a description of how the funds will be spent, along with a short application to OMSA's Google Drive https://forms.gle/HgecMtqBN4AuSa5Z9 here -An OMSA Media Consent form for anyone appearing in your video must be submitted https://forms.gle/q2d9CtrwAwoiDc6Z8 Here Who can apply/be nominated: -Any OMSA member may submit a nomination (however current OMSA Board or Committee Members will not be eligible to nominate or be nominated for this award) -The recipient does NOT need to be a current OMSA member, or even an O&M Instructor Important Dates: -Applications will be accepted until 5 pm Eastern 1/15/2025. Only full applications will be considered. No applications submitted after this deadline will be considered. -The applicant will be notified by 4/1/25 with an OMSA invoice for funds to be appropriately dispersed to the winner -Winner will be asked to submit a subsequent video by the following April (4/1/26), demonstrating the results of their project, which will then be posted via email blast and Facebook The following rubric will be utilized by each member of the committee to score each submission: OMSA Pay it Forward Scoring Rubric 1. How well does the application meet the goals and intent of the Pay it Forward Fund? Score 1-7 2. How innovative is the proposed activity? Score 1-7 3. How much does this project benefit the actual recipient(s) of the funds? Score 1-7 4. How impactful will this be to enhance, promote, and encourage professionals in the O&M field? Score 1-7 5. How impactful might this project be regarding the perceptions of the general public towards people who are blind and promote knowledge of O&M? Score 1-7 6. What's the potential of this project to promote OMSA membership? Score 1-7 7. What is the potential of this project to encourage OMSA members to actively participate in OMSA events and committees? Score 1-7