Best New Member 2026 Additional Information
As part of the Club of the Year competition, an award for Best New Member is presented to a Macra member from each region: Leinster, Munster and the North West. This member must have joined the organisation for the first time between 1st March 2025 and 28th February 2026, and is deemed by their club to have made a significant contribution to the development of the club during their first year of membership. Macra members who were previously affiliated with the same or different club during another affiliation year are ineligible to enter.
Key Dates for 2026 Best New Member Competition
Ø Competition Launch and Applications open 18th May 2026
Ø Application Closing date 24th July 2026
Ø Shortlisting of candidates in August 2026. Correspondence to applicants by 28th August 2026.
Ø National Final at the Rally in Limerick on the October Bank Holiday Weekend.
Competition Guidelines
· Clubs can enter any number of new members in this competition. Applications will open on 18th May 2026 and must be completed and submitted online via JotForm by 24th July 2026.
· Applications will be shortlisted by a panel of judges in August 2026. On or before 28th August 2026 the top 4 candidates from each region will be invited to interview at the final on the weekend of the 2026 Rally in Limerick. All unsuccessful candidates will be notified on the same day. Club Secretaries of all candidates will also be notified by 28th August 2026. By 28th August 2026, all candidates will be made aware of what tickets they receive for the Rally.
· Candidates will receive their interview time by 2nd October 2026. Candidates will be interviewed by at least two judges, and each interview will last no longer than 15 minutes. Candidates will not receive interview questions prior to the interview; however, the marking scheme below will be made available to candidates.
Interview Marking Scheme
|
|
Marks Available |
Category |
|
1. |
40 marks |
Club Development |
|
2. |
30 marks |
Personal Development |
|
3. |
30 marks |
Community Involvement |
|
Total Marks |
100 |
|
Best New Member Awards and Prizes
Best New Member winners will be awarded at the Rally in Limerick on the October bank holiday weekend following the final interviews. There will be a winner from each region, and the prize is a trophy and a tablet.
In November 2026, all 12 candidates will receive feedback from the judges following the final of Best New Member 2026. All Best New Member finalists will be asked to submit feedback on their experience of the competition which will be used in the review of the competition for the succeeding year.
Final Judges
The judges will be arranged in August to interview Best New Member candidates at the Rally. Judges will receive the marking scheme, sample questions and briefing prior to the interviews. Judges will be asked for feedback for each candidate following the interviews.
Best New Member 2026 Application: https://form.jotform.com/260474515298363
Communications
For all communication regarding Best New Member 2026, please contact Macra’s Events Co-ordinator, Ciara Murray, by email cmurray@macra.ie. Best New Member is not the responsibility of the Rally committee.