Q. First of all, what is the program all about?
A. The IVV Individual Achievement Award Program was introduced to encourage participation in non-competitive sports events under the rules and regulations of the International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV). There are two categories of awards in the program - one for DISTANCE walked, cycled or skied and the other for the number of EVENTS completed.
Participation in the Individual Achievement Award Program is voluntary. However, most volkssporters choose to experience the personal incentive and satisfaction available through the program.
Q. Is Participation in the Individual Achievement Award Program free?
A. No. In order to participate in the program, you must purchase record books and pay a nominal registration fee at each event. The money is used to pay program administration costs and Event Sanction fees.
There is a provision, however, for newcomers to volkssporting to participate in their first five events free, using "Free Stamp Books". These books will be discussed in more detail later.
Q. On what basis can I earn Awards as a participant in the program?
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A.You are eligible for Awards based on your record of the number of EVENTS completed and/or the accumulated DISTANCE in kilometers that you have walked, cycled, or skied during sanctioned IVV events. NEW! As of August 30, 2009, Canadians who volunteer a minimum of one hour for the planning, management or administration of a CVF-sponsored event may earn the Participation credit only without having done the walk itself for Distance credit. Those claiming the Participation credit must also register for the event. No Distance credit may be claimed without having actually done the sanctioned distance[s]. See also the CVF President’s Communiqué #9 - link from the Documents page.
Q. What is considered an Event?
A. An EVENT is a walking, cycling, swimming or cross-country skiing Guided/Map Event, Annual Volksmarch Event or a Seasonal/Year-Round Event that has been officially sanctioned by the Canadian Volkssport Federation (CVF) on behalf of the IVV. As a matter of interest, clubs must pay a fee to the IVV (through the CVF) and acquire liability insurance in order to conduct an Event. Each event is assigned a specific Registration Number which appears on the certification stamp.
Q. How do I register for the Event Program?
A. You can register for the Event Awards Program by purchasing an IVV Event Certification Record Book from any CVF volkssport club for a nominal fee.
Q. Where and when can I purchase an Event Certification Record Book?
A. All volkssport clubs are encouraged to have both categories of record books (EVENT and DISTANCE) available for sale at all events including Seasonal/Year-Round Event start points. Hence, you may normally purchase the book at the start point of any event.
Q. How do I get credit for an Event?
A. Event credit is given for each event completed. Participants who have paid the registration few (normally $2.00) and have successfully completed the EVENT get their Event Certification Record Book certified (i.e. stamped) by a member of the host club at the conclusion of the event.
Q. On multi-day Events, can I get my Event Book stamped each time I complete an Event?
A. No. Even though some EVENTS (i.e. Annual and Seasonal/Year-Round Events) are conducted over a period of days or throughout a season or year, only one EVENT stamp is permitted per participant regardless of the number of times you participate in the EVENT during any given year.
Q. At what point do I become eligible for an Event Award?
A. Green Event Certification Record Books are used to record events 1 through 10, 11 through 30, and 31 through 50. Hence, you are eligible for awards at the 10, 30, and 50 EVENT levels.
When the 50 Event Book has been completed, you will graduate to purple Event Certification Record Books for events 51 through 600. You will then be eligible for additional awards in 25 EVENT increments (i.e. 75, 100, 125 and so on).
Q. How does the Distance Awards Program compare?
A. The Distance awards program is very similar except that it is based on the accumulated distance (in kilometers) walked, cycled or skied by participants.
Q. How do I register for the Distance Awards Program?
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A.You can register for the DISTANCE Awards Program by purchasing a Distance Certification Record Book from any volkssport club for a nominal fee.
Q. How do I get credit for Distance completed at an event?
A. DISTANCE credit is given for the number of kilometers completed at an Event. If you have paid the registration fee and have successfully completed the required distance, your DISTANCE book will be certified (i.e. stamped and distance completed indicated in the appropriate column) by a member of the host club at the conclusion of the Event.
Q. On multi-day Events, can I get credit for Distance each time I complete an Event?
A. Yes. Unlike the Event Awards Program, credit is given for actual distance walked, no matter how often the Event trail is completed. However, you are normally required to pay the Registration fee each time you participate in the Event. It is not uncommon for volkssporters to walk a trail several times during the course of an Annual or Seasonal/Year-Round Event.
Q. At what point do I become eligible for Distance Awards?
A. The Blue Distance Certification Record Book is designed to record distances walked or skied in increments of 10 kilometers (minimum distance for walking or cross-country skiing events) or more. Each book is designed to record 500 kilometers, hence the Distance awards are given at increments of 500 kilometers up to and including the 8000 kilometer level.
The award increment above the 8000 kilometer level increases to 1000 kilometers and DISTANCE is recorded in Orange Distance Certification Record Books.
The Brown Certification Record Book is used to record distances cycled in in increments of 25 kilometers (minimum distance for a cycling event) or more. The Distance award levels (in kilometers) are 1000, 2500, 5000, 7500, 10000 and every 5000 kilometers thereafter.
Q. Can I participate in both the Event and Distance Awards Program?
A. Yes. You may register for one or both programs by purchasing the appropriate record books. Most volkssporters who belong to the program participate in both.
Q. Must I pay a Registration Fee per program to get my books stamped?
A. No. The registration fee per sanctioned event covers both programs and will entitle you to certification in the Event and Distance Certification Record Books.
Q. Can I get my Record Books certified at events conducted by all CVF clubs?
A. Yes. You may get your Event and Distance Record Books certified at all IVV sanctioned events conducted by CVF clubs in Canada (and by IVV clubs throughout the 25-plus member countries) providing you pay the required Registration fee and complete the Event successfully.
Q. Are Commemorative Awards part of the program?
A. No. The Commemorative Awards (i.e. medals, hat pins, mugs, sew-on patches and so on) that are offered by volkssport clubs for Annual Events and Seasonal/Year-Round Events are a different type of award. They are intended to provide participants with a tangible souvenir of having successfully completed a specific event. You may participate for a commemorative award without belonging to the Individual Achievement Award Program.
You should be aware, however, that when you register for a Commemorative Award, the fee normally includes certification of the DISTANCE and/or EVENT Books.
Q. What are the Free Stamp Books all about?
A. Newcomers to volkssporting are provided with complimentary Event and Distance "Free Stamp Books" as a means of introduction to the program. Recipients of these books may participate in their first five events and get the Free Stamp Books certified without cost. At that point, they must decide whether to continue with the program or not. If the decision is to continue, registration in either or both of the programs is required. This is accomplished by purchasing the desired record book(s) and paying the appropriate Registration Fees at sanctioned events.
It should be noted that the five free Event and Distance certification stamps are transferable to regular Certification Record Books.
Q. Can I join a club before completing my Free Books?
A. Yes. Participants in the Free Stamp Book program may join a club at any time. Membership in a club is not in any way associated with participation in this or the regular achievement award program.
Q. Is there a way I can protect my Record Books from the elements?
A. Yes. Plastic covers for your Record Books are available from most clubs' sales outlets at a very modest price.
Q. What do the Event and Distance awards consist of?
A. Awards in both programs consist of a sew-on patch and a hat pin. Each award indicates the Distance or Events level attained by you. The distance patch and pin awards issued for cycling are different that those issued for walking the cross-country skiing.
Q. Where do I send my Certification Record Book when I reach an award level?
A. In order to claim awards for your first level, just send the completed books to:
Lea Tocher, CVF Awards Co-ordinator
450 Rouge Road
WINNIPEG MB R3K 1K4
In about 6 or 8 weeks, you will receive the awards along with a CVF Passport (IVV Record of Achievement Book) in which each level attained by you will be recorded. You will be assigned a permanent registration number which will be indicated on the front of your Passport. In addition to your Passport and awards, the cancelled EVENT or DISTANCE Certification Record Book (i.e. holes will be punched in the book to indicate that the awards have claimed) will be returned to you.
Q. Will I need the cancelled Certification Record Book(s) in the future?
A. Yes. When claiming second and subsequent level awards in either category, you will need to forward the newly completed record book, your Passport and the cancelled record book for the previous award level for that category.
Q. Where do I get more information about the program?
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A.There are detailed instructions on the back of each category of record book explaining the Individual Achievement Award Program and the procedures involved. Committee members in most clubs are also able to provide advice on the program. You may also contact your Regional Director or the CVF Office
