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DSAGNO Stipends Guidelines for the 2020 National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC)

DSAGNO STIPENDS GUIDELINES

2020 NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME CONGRESS (NDSC)

In the 2019/2020 DSAGNO budget, funds are earmarked for 30 stipends for families to attend the 2020 National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) convention, to be held June 25-28, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year DSAGNO is offering two tiers of stipends in an effort to encourage as many families as possible to attend.  

Stipends are not meant to cover the total cost, but to incentivize families to attend and significantly reduce their cost.  The convention will be held June 25-28, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Tier One

Each of the families will be given a maximum stipend of $1,500 that can be used only for transportation, convention registration, conferences not included in general registration, Kids’ Camp and hotel expenses (food and drinks are not covered by the stipends). 

To apply for a DSAGNO stipend, those applying must have a family member with Down syndrome.

In order for members to be eligible, the guidelines are identified below. The deadline for meeting the criteria below has been extended until February 21, 2020.  The application must be emailed or postmarked by February 28, 2020, with requirements met prior to application submission.

Either

            Fundraising a minimum of $1,500

  • this can be items donated to the Buddy Walk 2019 Silent Auction or the Buddy Walk Team fundraising

  • items donated for the 2019 DSAGNO Christmas Party

  • items donated for DSAGNO athletic events

Or

Worked at a DSAGNO event for, a minimum of 10 hours (attendance at the Buddy Walk does not qualify as working the DSAGNO event)

Pre Buddy Walk Preparation

  • Setup

  • Teardown

  • During the event (does not include hosting a booth for another organization)

Or a combination of the two methods above to equate to 100% (example: 60% of $1,500 is $900 leaving 40% to be raised through volunteer hours which would be 4 hours).

Tier Two

Each of the families will be given a, maximum stipend of $750 that can be used only for transportation, convention registration and hotel expenses (food and drinks are not covered by the stipends). 

To apply for a DSAGNO stipend, those applying must have a family member with Down syndrome.

In order for members to be eligible, the guidelines are being identified, in enough time to meet the guidelines which are identified below.  For the period of January 1, 2019 – February 21, 2020 (emailed or postmarked).

Either

            Fundraising a minimum of $750

  • this can be items donated to the Buddy Walk 2019 Silent Auction or the Buddy Walk Team fundraising

  • items donated for the 2019 DSAGNO Christmas Party

  • items donated for DSAGNO athletic events

Or

Worked at a DSAGNO event for, a minimum of 5 hours (attendance at the Buddy Walk does not qualify as working the DSAGNO event)

Pre Buddy Walk Preparation

  • Setup

  • Teardown

  • During the event (does not include hosting a booth for another organization)

Or a combination of the two methods above to equate to 100% (example: 60% of $750 is $450 leaving 40% to be raised through volunteer hours, which would be 2 hours) 

Suggestions for ways to earn volunteer hours are:

  • Telephone calls to remind members about upcoming events

  • Assisting/coordinating at DSAGNO events, such as the Christmas party

  • Self-advocate participation and work for the Self-Advocate Advisory Committee (SAAC)

  • Being a committee chair or member

  • Assisting at DSAGNO membership meetings

  • Family member (teenager or adult) volunteering for child care at DSAGNO membership meeting

Please keep documentation of either fundraising or work effort as these will need to accompany each application for a stipend. Documentation should be validated by a DSAGNO board member’s signature.

The DSAGNO Board will review each application to ensure that all guidelines have been met.  If more than 30 families apply and have, successfully, met all the guidelines, either the DSAGNO Board will decide to increase the number of families who are able to attend or a lottery will be conducted to select the 30 families.  Successful applicants will be notified at the end of February 2020 and stipends will be distributed after families have attended the convention and submitted receipts for:  transportation, convention registration and hotel rooms.  No total family reimbursement will exceed the amount that has been agreed upon based on the Tier level, regardless of the family’s total expenses.

DSAGNO will not be responsible for any cancellation fees. 

Prior to the end of 2020, all families who received stipends and attended the NDSC convention will need to present and share their experiences at one of the DSAGNO membership meetings or write an article for the DSAGNO magazine.

DSAGNO will send a notification in early January 2020 calling for stipend applications for the 2020 NDSC convention. The NDSC convention is a life changing experience that families will want to attend year after year.  Please take advantage of this early notification and ensure your family is eligible for this exciting experience. 

 

Stipend applications can be mailed to:

DSAGNO

PO Box 23453

NOLA  70181

Or emailed to:

lguillot@dsagno.org

Any questions, please, call:  Lydia Guillot @ 504-669-3283

 

DSAGNO is excited to provide stipends for its members, however, stipend funding is not guaranteed from year to year. Stipend funding is limited by the DSAGNO budget and may be restricted by the DSAGNO Board of Directors at any time. We realize we cannot meet all of the funding requests of our members, but we hope we can at least make a difference.

DSAGNO appreciates member input on the stipend program and any recommendations concerning how it could better serve its members. If you have any questions or comments, please email the Stipend Committee at lguillot@dsagno.org and a committee member will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

 Use the links below to download the DSAGNO Stipend Application and Agreement

 

STIPEND APPLICATION 2020 1500

STIPEND APPLICATION 2020 750