​​Amount and purpose:
 
Five scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded to cover registration fee, hotel and travel for advocates from the Hudson Valley Chapter area to attend the 2018 AIM Advocacy Forum. The purpose of these scholarships is to foster and enhance advocacy skills in individuals who have previously demonstrated interest and aptitude in this area. Our hope is to develop dedicated advocates who will remain involved year-round and help us advance our legislative agenda and make a difference for individuals with Alzheimer’s.
 
Payout of scholarship funds:
 
Scholarship recipients will be reimbursed for registration, transportation and meals related to forum attendance upon submission of receipts. Hotel arrangements will be made by the chapter and paid through the chapter’s credit card; this amount will be deducted from individual scholarships. Payout of forum-related expenses will be capped at $1,000 per recipient.
 
Guidelines for scholarship recipients:

1. Recipients must agree to join the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) at a cost of $20, which cannot be reimbursed by the Alzheimer’s Association, due to Internal Revenue Service regulations.
2. Recipients must participate in the District-Forum-District program, which includes local meetings with his/her member of Congress both before and after the Forum.
3. Recipients must agree to attend all three days of the forum, which will begin in the afternoon of June 17, 2018, and end upon the completion of scheduled Capitol Hill visits on June 18.

Considerations for choosing scholarship recipients:

1. Ambassadors will be given preference, as they are required to attend the forum.
2. Advocates from congressional districts that are underrepresented in the Hudson Valley delegation will be given preference.
3. Financial need (if known) will be considered. (The chapter will not require the disclosure of financial information.)
4. We will be mindful of the need for the Hudson Valley delegation to be representative of the diversity of our chapter area.
5. Consideration will be given to applicants who have previously participated in Alzheimer’s Association events such as Walk to End Alzheimer’s and The Longest Day, have been involved in the association’s local advocacy activities, or have volunteered for the chapter in other ways.
6. Chapter staff members may apply for a scholarship. It is anticipated that one of the five scholarships could go to a staff member.

Selection process:

1. Applicants must complete an online application by Dec. 31, 2017. Hard-copy applications will be available upon request and must be received by this date.
2. Scholarship recipients will be notified via email by Jan. 31, 2018.