Community Achievement in Knowledge and Ideas

ABOUT THE AWARD
This award recognizes chapters and other communities for demonstrated achievement in making human connections through knowledge and ideas.  Recipient(s) will have displayed innovation and creativity in the development, planning and execution of ground-breaking initiatives.

Deadline for completed entries was December 15, 2009*

Eligibility
Nomination Process
Submission Deadline
Judging Process
Questions

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA?

Influence

• Within the community, what was the lifespan of the program and will it be repeated? 
• Describe whether the objectives of the program were met and how these benefit the community and the industry.
• How does the community operate more efficiently after implementing the new program?
• List any recognition the program has received within the industry. 

Innovation 

• Provide an executive summary in 500 words or less explaining the program details and the process that was followed to identify the need for the program.
• Provide examples of the communication tools used to promote the program including content and medium.  Provide qualitative and quantitative measurements and evaluation successes. 
• Summarize the program’s strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities.  List results to-date of utilization by the community and feedback received.
• Indicate if program is first of its kind.

Transferability

• Describe the program’s impact across boundaries. Achievements should have a global reach.
• List any planning practices such as marketing, green practices, cost-saving measures, or removing geographic boundaries that could be carried over to other programs.
• Explain how other communities may find success with the program. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

  •  MPI Communities of Geography, Practice, Peers, Marketplace, Cultures
  • Nominated activity/program must have been completed in the community between July 1, 2007 to time of submission.

WHAT SHOULD THE NOMINATION INCLUDE?

  • Nominated by peer individuals, communities or organizations 
  • Specifically articulated goals, objectives for the program, initiative or project 
  • Impact must be documented in measurable terms 
  • Achievements must be validated by at least three recommendations by individuals with at least one from outside the community 

HOW DO I NOMINATE A COMMUNITY?
The nomination process is electronic.

  •  Step One: Complete the online peer nomination form. Explain how the nominee meets the criteria. The peer nomination form will serve as a letter of recommendation. The nomination form will be submitted to MPI Headquarters.
  • Step Two: MPI will contact the nominee and request an application be completed. This is an opportunity for the community to provide more details of the achievements and provide two additional letters of recommendation. 
  • Step Three: Nominated community must submit the completed application, release statement, two letters of recommendation and documentation explaining how it meets the criteria. All items must be received prior to the submission deadline.

*WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION?
All documents must have been received by MPI no later than Tuesday, December 15, 2009. A completed entry includes:

  • online peer nomination form 
  • completed application including contact information and release statement
  • documentation explaining how the community meets the criteria
  • and two letters of recommendation.

No hard copy submissions will be accepted.  No late or partial entries will be accepted.  All recommendation letters must be received by the deadline.

WHAT IS THE JUDGING PROCESS?

Applications and the letters of recommendation will undergo two rounds of judging. The judges are an international group of volunteers representing a range of professions and expertise. Applications are collected by MPI and reviewed for completion and compliance. Any nominations that require further review will be considered by the Chair of the judging panel.

1st Round of Judging: First-level judges review and score all qualified entries. Finalists are submitted to the MPI Executive Committee for review. After review, finalists go to 2nd round of judging.

2nd Round of Judging: The finalists are judged and the Chair of the judging panel verifies the results. The decisions of the judges are final.

WHEN WILL THE WINNER BE ANNOUNCED?

The winner of the Community Achievement in Knowledge and Ideas award will be selected and notified May 2010. The presentation of the award is July 2010 at MPI’s World Education Congress in Vancouver, Canada.

WHO DO I CALL WITH QUESTIONS?
Please contact Janice Parker at jparker@mpiweb.org or 972-702-3048 with any questions.