Merit Point System

merit point system: what it is and how it works

What is the Merit Point System?

Youth club members earn merit points for participating in SPJST lodge, district, and state activities. At the end of the youth year, points are totaled and the youth with the highest points in the youth club receive cash awards.

Contest Dates

The Merit Point Contest begins on September 1 of each year and concludes on August 31. Only activities meriting points during that time period may be included in the contest. Note: The current youth year is January 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022.

Divisions

The grade of the youth in the current school year will be the recognized division in the Merit Point Contest.

Merit Point Contest Divisions Junior - Kindergarten through 5th Grade Senior - 6th Grade through 12th Grade

The Rules

The youth leader or assistant youth leader is responsible for keeping track of the merit points for each active member of the youth club. The points are to be sent to the State Fraternal Director on the Quarterly and Merit Point Reports each quarter. Youth club members are also encouraged to keep up with their points and turn them in to the youth leader on a quarterly basis. This system helps both the youth leader and the youth member keep better records of youth participation.

Current, official Quarterly and Merit Point Reports, available from the State Fraternal Director, may only be used in the Merit Point Contest.

The Quarterly and Merit Point Reports sent to the State Fraternal Director by the youth leader will be kept on file for at least six months following the conclusion of the contest.

Merit points are earned for only those activities listed under Youth Point Values. An activity can only earn points in one category on the point sheet. When in doubt about any activity earning points, contact the State Fraternal Director prior to the conclusion of the contest.

Everyone will be subject to the same rules in every contest. Failure to comply with any rule shall mean immediate withdrawal.

Merit Point Awards

Awards are presented on the district and state levels in the junior and senior merit point contests. At each District YAD, the Home Office presents first through third place awards to top qualifying junior and senior youth club members. The top junior and senior youth club members with the most points in each district will receive awards. In the event of a tie, all who tied for first through third places will receive the award. A youth may only receive the state award once in the respective contest division. State Junior and State Senior awards are presented at State YAD.

District Junior and District Senior Point Awards First Place $30 Second Place $25 Third Place $20

State Junior and State Senior Point Awards First Place $30 and Plaque

*Denotes change to Youth Club Handbook from previous year.