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AFA Opens Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame Nomination Process
For more than two decades the American Football Association has relied totally on its Hall of Fame alumni inductees to place 'in-nomination the names of those individuals deserving of the national associations highest honor - induction into the AFAs elite Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame.
(PRWEB) March 7, 2004 -- For more than two decades the American Football Association has relied totally on its Hall of Fame alumni inductees to place 'in-nomination the names of those individuals deserving of the national associations highest honor - induction into the AFAs elite Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Over the past 23 years the AFA has inducted 431 footballers that have dedicated a good portion of their lives to the semi-pro football level of the game. Currently there have been 225 players, 81 coaches, 56 executives, 17 pioneers, 16 officials, 16 historians/media personnel, 7 trainers/equipment managers, 3 gals in the womans player category, 4 in the youth football group, 5 recognized for their contributions to the international football level and even 1 semi-pro football 'super fan.
While this very diverse group of footballers have been selected from dedicated semi-proers stretched from Maine to San Diego (including Hawaii), from Seattle to Miami and almost every state from coast-to-coast, the AFA national office has been looking for suggestions on how to tweak the annual nomination process.
While it will continue to mail nominating ballots this year to all of its HOF Alumni, the AFA will also open the nominating process to individuals seeking an avenue for impressing the AFAs Hall of Fame selection committee by suggesting the name of individuals they would like to be considered for induction into the AFAs 24th annual Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Because the annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinners have been so successful over the years (annual sell-outs) and the number of nominations submitted each year are usually well in excess of a hundred, the nominating committee is taxed with a major job of reviewing nominating profiles and trying to give equal opportunities to all of the deserving candidates.
Opening the nominating process to those other than HOF Alumni could cause a significant influx of additional work for the nominating committee", commented the AFA president Ron Real. But we think its worth the effort to give more people an opportunity to be recognized for their dedication and commitments to our level of the sport over the years", he added.
With 657 teams participating in 63 different leagues across the country last season alone (which calculates to more that 50,000 'active players, coaches, executives, officials, etc.) the AFA will need a way to limit the number of profile nominations it accepts for review.
At the last HOF alumni business meeting in December the nominating committee talked about several ways the AFA could open the nominating process to the semi-pro football people looking to get someone nominated but who may not have direct access to any of the 431 Hall of Fame alumni.
The solution, it seems, will come from the semi-pro footballers cooperation in joining any of the affiliate AFA programs such as the AFA Alumni Assn. (open to anyone who has ever been associated with the semi-pro level as a player, coach, administrator, etc., etc.); AFA National Coaches Assn.; AFA Players Assn.; and/or AFA Officials Association. As individuals join any of AFAs affiliate programs and pay their appropriate membership fees for the year, they will receive a 'profile form for submitting a name for nomination into the Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame. Those profiles meeting the criteria for consideration will be forwarded to the nominating committee. From there the nominating committee will send their suggestions to the Hall of Fame selection committee who will in turn name those who will be enshrined as the Class of 2004" this December in Sarasota, Florida.
Individuals interested in joining any of the AFAs affiliate programs may do so by sending an e-mail request to AFAMember@aol.com. Be sure to list your name, home mailing address, phone number, and what AFA affiliate program you are requesting membership in (AFA Coaches Assn., AFA Players Assn., AFA Officials Assn., or the AFA Alumni Assn.). Memberships into each of AFA affiliate programs require a $25 membership fee. Because the AFA is a national 'public non-profit tax-exempt corporation, membership contributions are tax deductible.
For AFA logo merchandise click http://www.cafeshops.com/amerfootball/58394
Media - contact Dave Burch at AFA National Office
(877) 624-4485 or (941) 388-3510
(e-mail) amerfoot@aol.com (or) usafoot@aol.com
(website) http://www.americanfootballassn.com/
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