1. I. Cooperation with Excelsior Award, Inc.
2. A. The State of New York shall encourage and cooperate with Excelsior Award, Inc. in its efforts to:
3. (1) administer the overall Excelsior Award Program, which includes:
4. (1) (a) the Excelsior Award, a self assessment process designed to recognize world-class role model organizations and to provide a framework against which organizations can be measured; and
5. (1) (b) the Quality Academy, a structure that provides:
6. (1) (i) broad public and private outreach through a Speakers Bureau;
7. (1) (ii) ii. assistance and guidance for organizations implementing quality management;
8. (1) (iii) research of quality issues;
9. (1) (iv) collaboration with existing programs and organizations to broaden quality initiatives;
10. (1) (v) encouragement of local quality networks statewide; and
11. (1) (vi) the development of programs to meet the needs of organizations statewide, including the Starter Guide program, a tool designed for organizations just beginning to use quality strategies.
12. (2) develop partnerships with organizations within each economic sector to institute the concept of continuous improvement and to increase the use of quality tools in organizations; and
13. (3) develop and implement a strategic plan for the overall program.
14. B. The Board of Directors of Excelsior Award, Inc., in cooperation with the State of New York, has agreed to enlarge its Board of Directors to fifteen members. The fifteen members will be appointed by the current Board of Directors of Excelsior Award, Inc., working with the Excelsior Award Executive Committee. Of the fifteen members, six shall be upon the nomination of the Governor, one upon the nomination of the Temporary President of the Senate and one upon the nomination of the Speaker of the Assembly. Of the members nominated by the Governor, two shall be heads of State agencies advancing quality initiatives, two shall represent organized labor and two shall be at-large members. Board membership will reflect all the sectors served by the Excelsior Award Program, including but not limited to business, education, health care, not-for-profit organizations and organized labor, as well as organizations that support quality initiatives.
15. C. Excelsior Award, Inc. has agreed to provide an annual report for the Governor and the Legislature.

16. II. Assistance of State Agencies

    All departments, divisions, boards, offices, and public corporations of the State are requested to cooperate with and provide appropriate assistance to Excelsior Award, Inc. to enable it to fulfill its purposes.

    Signed: Mario M. Cuomo Dated: September 26, 1994

WHEREAS, the adoption of quality improvement principles has demonstrated benefits for employees, employers and customers of all types of public and private organizations in all sectors, including business, education, health care, not-for-profit organizations, organized labor and government;

WHEREAS, the State of New York seeks to advance the understanding and adoption of quality improvement principles by all organizations in New York;

WHEREAS, the Governor's Excelsior Award Program was established in 1991 by the Statewide Labor-Management Committee to develop and enhance economic and workforce development efforts within various types of organizations by fostering a stronger environment for quality in New York State;

WHEREAS, the Excelsior Executive Committee, comprised of volunteers from all sectors and types of organizations, has contributed critical support and expertise that has allowed the Excelsior Award Program to succeed;

WHEREAS, the Excelsior Award Program has proved to be a low-cost economic development tool that fosters a conversion to high performance work organizations;

WHEREAS, the interest in quality has expanded, and a flexible structure is needed to meet the changing needs of a broader range of organizations;

WHEREAS, the State of New York and Excelsior Award, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation formed by volunteers from the State's private sector, are mutually desirous of advancing the State's Excelsior Award initiative;

WHEREAS, Excelsior Award, Inc., in addition to providing ongoing financial and administrative support for the Excelsior Award Program, has agreed to collaborate with the State of New York to assist in advancing the State's Excelsior Award initiative;

WHEREAS, the collaboration will be evidenced, among other ways, by an expanded Board of Directors of Excelsior Award, Inc., composed of fifteen members chosen by the current Board of Directors of Excelsior Award, Inc., with recommendations for some seats by the Governor and the Legislature;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARIO M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows: