UCT recognizes member achievements

As a 501.c.8 membership organization, UCT is all about the folks who make our status possible – our members. I don’t need to tell anyone what a tough year 2020 was, and our members felt every bit of the hurt. Still, it takes more than a pandemic to keep them down, and they persevered despite fears and restrictions, looking out for their communities and striving to bring new members into UCT. For that they deserve a shout out.

Once a UCT member, always a UCT member, or so it seems. During our 2020-2021 membership year, which runs from April 1-March 31, we celebrated 464 25-year members, 361 50-year members, 148 60-year members and two 75-year members. Congratulations to all these members who are the heart and soul of our organization.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, several of our local councils worked hard to bring new members into UCT as well as retaining the members they had – and they experienced membership gain due to their efforts. Congrats to these troopers:

TLC Foundation Council 2009, Greeley, Colorado
Lincoln, Nebraska Council 104
Richmond, Virginia Council 159
Jonesboro, Arkansas Council 573
Buckeye Council 2000, Columbus, Ohio
Empower Council 2008, Fort Worth, Texas
Warren, Ohio Council 222
Many, Louisiana Council 872

Despite lock downs due to the pandemic, several of our local councils soldiered on and earned Medals of Honor this year. Our Medal of Honor Program recognizes and rewards councils that go above and beyond in volunteering and engaging in community service projects. Congratulations and great job to the councils that participated this year:

Platinum Level
Sudbury, Ontario Council 1051
Columbus, Ohio Council 1
Lincoln, Nebraska Council 104
M.J. Terapak Council 144, Columbus, Ohio
Fraternal Council 380, Jackson, Ohio

Gold Level
Buckeye Council 2000, Columbus, Ohio

Bronze Level
Sherwood Park, Alberta Council 1022
Gem City Council 3, Dayton, Ohio
Capitol Council 95, Springfield, Illinois
Alliance, Ohio Council 261
Regina, Saskatchewan Council 266
Logansport, Indiana Council 354
Glenboro, Manitoba Council 943
Minnedosa, Manitoba Council 926

Our councils use a number of channels to communicate with their fellow members – websites, social media, email, and the tried-and-true council newsletter. Each year we hold a newsletter contest for those councils publishing them. When applicable, first, second and third place is awarded at both the regional and local council levels. The local council newsletters are judged in two divisions: 199 members or fewer and 200 members or more. Winning councils receive cash prizes.

The regional council newsletter contest winners are:

First place – Manitoba-Saskatchewan Regional Council
Second place – ACT-UCT Dominion Regional Council

The local council newsletter contest winners are:

199 members or fewer
First Place – Edmonton, Alberta Council 1016
Second Place – Sudbury, Ontario Council 1051
Third Place – Thunder Bay, Ontario Council 1039

200 members or more
First Place – Lincoln, Nebraska Council 104
Second Place – Racine, Wisconsin Council 337

Due to the pandemic and the lack of in-person regional sessions, there were only 14 entrants in this year’s UCT safety poster contest. We applaud those student artists who participated – and the local councils that worked with the schools and facilities that sponsored them. We want to keep this program alive and will continue to judge posters on the international level with the hope that we will be back to our pre-COVID participation rates in the next year or so.

Public, Private & Parochial School Division
Upper Level
First Place – Morgan Allen, Hastings, Nebraska Council 109
Second Place – Ciara Taborn, Capitol Council 95, Springfield, Illinois
Second Place – Aliyah Lamb, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Council 1027
Third Place – Reece Mlady, Hastings, Nebraska Council 109

Middle Level
First Place – Alexis Case, Hastings, Nebraska Council 109
Second Place – Connor Ralston, Capitol Council 95, Springfield, Illinois
Second Place – Scout Panko, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Council 1027
Third Place – Kandis Schmidt, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Council 335

Lower Level
First Place – Holden Gilbert, Hastings, Nebraska Council 109
Second Place – Sapphire Cloud, Yankton, South Dakota Council 384
Second Place – Parsyn Neighbors, Capitol Council 95, Springfield, Illinois

Intellectual Disabilities Division
Upper Level
First Place – Xander Doty, Coldwater, Michigan Council 452
Second Place – Emilee, Frontier Council 727, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Middle Level
First Place – Alexander Kanalos, Coldwater, Michigan Council 452

Our thanks to all the councils and individual members who went above and beyond during this most difficult membership year to serve their communities and UCT when it was so desperately needed. You certainly made a difference – and we appreciate it.