Except for unusual circumstances, the Chapter Awards are given out yearly at the annual meeting and Christmas party.  Awards are not given just for the sake of giving awards. We want them to be truly deserved and we want those who receive them to feel honored for their contributions.  The only award that is definitely given out each year is the President’s award.  Generally speaking, only one award is given per person per year with the exception of the Broken Cable Award, which is in a class of its own.  An individual receiving any award in one year is ineligible to receive that same award for a period of three years, with the exception of the Cal Jordan Spirit Award—which is only given to an individual once.

It must be noted that co-members are members as well and are eligible to receive awards.  Also, other awards may be established from time to time to address extraordinary situations.

Securing the physical awards:  The President is responsible for picking out the award, determining the wording, and arranging for the purchase.  He or she may appoint a member to handle this task, but the ultimate responsibility lies with the President.  The ACBS supplies (at no charge to our chapter):  the President's Cup, Most Original Boat (Boat Show Award) and Best Non-Wood Boat (Boat Show Award), but they must be requested in a timely manner.

President’s Award—Given yearly  (ACBS provides the President’s Cup)
Whoever is President that calendar year is the one who solely determines who gets this award and for what reason.  The President will give a short speech providing details on why the award was deserved.

Special Recognition Award—May or may not be given each year
The President is the one who makes the final determination of who receives this award, but generally, he or she will consult with other Board members.  In rare cases, the Directors may choose to present a Special Recognition Award, as in recognizing the President for outstanding service.  This award is given to an individual who makes a contribution to the chapter over and above what is expected or required.  There may be more than one Special Recognition Award given in a particular year.  The President will give a short speech providing details on why the award was deserved.

Rookie Award—May or may not be given each year (Awarded for the first time in 2021)
The Board determined that the chapter should recognize a new member or co-member who has immersed himself or herself in the chapter—attending events, volunteering to assist, showing up, contributing in some way.  The nominee must have been a member of the chapter for less than two years to be eligible. The President in consultation with the Board, determines if the award is to be made in any year and who is eligible to receive it.  The President will give a short speech providing details on why the award was deserved.

Broken Cable—May or may not be given each year
Members don't recall the year this award was first conferred, but they do recall the history.  Charles Mansfield is a member who lives on Lake Gaston and was hosting a chapter event at his house.  Charles kept his boat on a lift at his dock on the lake.  He was getting something out of his boat and standing on the swim platform when the boat lift cable broke.  Charles was thrown into the water and the boat took on a huge amount of water. Fortunately he didn't sustain any injuries--only his ego was bruised.

This “coveted” award is given to a member who may have experienced an unfortunate occurrence at one of our events that might have been caused by bad luck, poor judgement, or any other determining factor or combination thereof.  It is given in the spirit of fun and we hope it is received in that same spirit. The President in consultation with the Board, determines if the award is to be made in any year and who is eligible to receive it.  The President will give a short speech providing details on why the award was deserved.

Cal Jordan Spirit Award—May or may not be given each year
Cal Jordan joined the Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society in the fall of 2008 soon after purchasing the 1952 Chris Craft Kit Boat he named the Admiral Alexander.

Cal had been around the water and boats for the majority of his life.  He spent many good times at his parent’s vacation home in Bath, NC where his great grandfather had once been a builder of wooden work boats.  Some of those boats are still at the family home on the water today.

Cal and his wife Cindy made many friendships with the members of our ACBS family.  They enjoyed showing the Admiral Alexander at various shows in NC, SC and VA.  Cal was a great storyteller and taking the Admiral Alexander to shows gave him the opportunity to tell anyone interested the stories they had discovered about their little boat and its builder Robert Eugene Alexander from Asheville, NC.

Cal passed away in 2012 after a battle with cancer.  As a gesture of goodwill and remembrance from his friends in our chapter, they decided to carry his enthusiasm of all things wooden boat-related forward at their annual boat shows with a special award called the Spirit of Cal Jordan Award. This award is given to the club member each year that most resembles Cal’s spirit and passion for wooden boats, the boat show and the chapter.  The person who receives this award each year has added value to not only the club and its members during the year, but has lived the mission statement of the chapter, “To provide a means through which individual sharing a common interest in antique and classic boats can meet, share experiences and information, exchange ideas, and generate enthusiasm for all aspects of these unique boats.”

As the years have passed, this award has morphed slightly.  The chapter does not have its own show each year.  The Board felt that this award was so special that it should not just be given out each year for the sake of giving the award.  It is reserved for an individual who truly embodies the Spirit of Cal Jordan in the year it is awarded.  This special award is only given once to an individual. The President will give a short speech providing details on why the award was deserved.

Other Awards
Other awards may be established from time to time to address extraordinary situations or to commemorate an accomplishment or just for fun. "Winners" of these awards are eligible to receive other awards in the same year.  Winning one of these other awards does not make the recipient ineligible for any of the awards in future years.

Boat Show Awards
Our chapter may or may not hold its own “show” in any given year.  Some years, the Board may determine that a particular show will be “our show” for that year (e.g., NC Maritime Museum Annual Boat Show in Beaufort or the Cape Fear Community College Show in Wilmington).  The Board will determine when our members may receive awards for their entries into the show. The specific awards and the winners will be determined by the Boat Show Chairman and Chief Judge (if one is appointed).  The Chair will work with the President to ensure that the awards are secured.  ACBS will provide at no charge:  the Most Original Boat  and Best Non-Wood Boat awards, but they must be requested.

Award Past Recipients

President’s Award
2019    Jim Alexander
2020    Judy Hills
2021    John Justice
2022    Sharon Conley
2023    Blackbeard Sailing Club

Special Recognition
2019    Bob Banta
2020    Alan & Judy Hills for their leadership
2021    Bill & Sharon Conley for hosting Christmas parties over the years
2023   Alan & Judy HIlls for Chapter Support over the past year

Spirit of Cal Jordan
2019    Joe Peacos

Broken Cable
2019    Alan Hills
2021    Dan Bixler
2022    John Justice

Rookie of the Year
2021    Dan Bixler
2022    John Dougherty