2004/2005 National Rural Community Assistance Awards Nomination Information and Forms

Transcription

1 2004/2005 National Rural Community Assistance Awards Nomination Information and Forms TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Award Objective and Eligibility 2. Nomination Procedure 3. Instructions for Completing Nomination Cover Page 4. Instructions for Completing Narrative Statement of Achievement 5. Cover Page Form 6. Narrative Statement of Achievement Form Follow the instructions to complete the nomination cover page and narrative statement of achievement. Send it either by or by hardcopy to the appropriate office described in the Nomination Procedure. AWARD OBJECTIVE AND ELIGIBILITY Objective: To nationally recognize community-based, -led, or -oriented action, leadership, and spirit that successfully accomplish the intent of rural community assistance as envisioned by the Forest Service in its National strategies. This includes scientific, as well as non-scientific, actions and leadership. The first strategy was titled, "A Strategic Plan for the 90's: Working Together for Rural America." The second is Working Together For Rural America: 2000 and Beyond, Part A Integrating Natural Resource Management and Rural Community Assistance. Eligibility: Action and/or Leadership Awards: Any Forest Service, other government, or private individual or group working together, in conjunction with the Forest Service, through internal and/or external partnerships to implement community-based, -led or -oriented Rural Community Assistance activities during or before the current fiscal year. Spirit Awards: Any community or group currently working in cooperation with the Forest Service to implement community-based, -led or -oriented Rural Community Assistance activities. Individuals are not eligible for the Spirit award.

2 NOMINATION PROCEDURE Who May Nominate: All Forest Service employees, as well as non-forest Service partners in conjunction with a Forest Service sponsor, may submit nominations. Nominations will not be accepted directly from Ranger Districts, National Forests, Research Work Units, or WO Staff Offices. To submit nominations, complete the nomination forms and send them through Forest Service offices to the Regional Forester, Station Director, Area Director, or IITF Director. Nominations involving multiple Forest Service units should be coordinated for joint submission by the affected Regions, Stations, Area, IITF or WO Staffs. Washington Office employees should send nominations through their Staff Director to their respective Deputy Chief. Non-Forest Service partners should submit nominations to their local Forest Service sponsor to be forwarded. Nominations may be submitted electronically or hard copy. Because of duplicating needs, hard copy nominations must be on standard-sized paper with NO hard cover or binder. Hard copy attachments or supporting documents may be sent separately. No videos may be submitted as supporting materials. Nominations are limited to a maximum of SIX TOTAL nominations from each Region, Station, Area, IITF, and Deputy Area. The six may be spread across the three categories with a maximum of THREE nominations in any one award CATEGORY.

3 AWARDS NOMINATION COVER PAGE INSTRUCTIONS Award Category: A nomination may be listed only in one category. Assure that the nomination is being submitted for the correct category, based on the following descriptions: Action: Completed activities by individuals and/or groups, in conjunction with the Forest Service, which show successful implementation of the concepts in the Forest Service's national strategy for rural community assistance. Actions rewarded are examples of community-based, -led, and/or - oriented rural community assistance activities. Leadership: Federal and/or non-federal individuals and/or groups who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in enabling community-based, -led, and/or -oriented rural community planning or action. The leadership may be done in conjunction with their job. People rewarded are examples of formal and informal leaders with vision, perseverance, and the ability to bring a vision to reality. Spirit: Rural communities working on a current activity in conjunction with Forest Service units to further their rural community assistance efforts in the spirit of the Forest Service's national strategy for rural community assistance. Communities selected for national recognition are those working on broad-based strategic efforts to address long-term concerns and opportunities. This is not an award for basic community spirit; rather an award that recognizes those communities which fully embrace the collaborative approach to reaching their goals. Name Of Nominee: Furnish the nominee's individual, group, or organization name exactly as it should appear on the award. Please keep the number of letters in the "Name" to a reasonable amount. (See "Remarks" below.) Suggested Citation: All nominations must include suggested wording for a citation. The certificate format limits the citation to 25 words. Be as specific as possible about the significance or special accomplishments associated with the nominee(s). Do not use generic words of praise. The certificates are pre-printed with the following lead-in: "In the Spirit of Working Together for Rural America (name) is recognized for outstanding accomplishments..." Contact Person And Nominating Unit: Furnish the name, title, address, mailing address, and telephone number of a Forest Service contact at the nominating unit who can answer questions. Provide the name of the Forest Service unit that is sponsoring the nomination. For National Forest System units, include the Region, Forest, and District, where applicable. Remarks: Include any explanatory information concerning entries on this page. Only one trophy is awarded per nomination, but multiple individual certificates may be presented. Use the remarks area to list the name of each individual/organization in a group that should be acknowledged on an individual certificate, such as key organizers, officers, or "spark plugs."

4 NARRATIVE STATEMENT OF ACHIEVEMENT INSTRUCTIONS Name Of Nominee: Enter nominee's individual or group name exactly as it should be on the award. If the name is long, also provide a short version that would fit on a trophy plaque. Narrative: Provide a narrative statement of achievement for the nomination for the National Rural Community Assistance Awards. The total length of the narrative is limited to four pages. NOTE: The narrative statement of achievement form is presented as an outline to help you address key items in developing your narrative and to provide consistency in submissions to make the review team more effective. Nominators may deviate from this format, exclude portions that don't pertain to their nominee, or add additional portions within the page limit. Review Team evaluation scores generally are guided by the suggested points in the outline.

5 National RCA Awards Form NOMINATION COVER PAGE Award Category: Action Leadership Spirit Name of Nominee: Suggested Citation: (25 words or less) Contact Person and Nominating Unit: Remarks:

6 National RCA Awards Form NARRATIVE STATEMENT OF ACHIEVEMENT I. Description of Activity. (10 points) A. Objectives. 1. Local/community need(s) being addressed. 2. Expected long-term benefits. 3. Other. B. Execution. 1. Challenges. a. Problems encountered. b. Obstacles overcome. c. Level of significance of challenges. 2. Outcomes and successes of effort to date. a. Why the project is significant in leading to or supporting sustainable communities. b. Creativity and initiative used in solving issues/problems. c. Points of learning that can be shared with others. d. Other. C. Role of Nominee(s). 1. Description of internal and external nominees. 2. Description of nominee's roles. 3. Description of levels of support nominees gave to activity. 4. Description of nominee's interaction with both internal and external partners. 5. Other. D. Status of Action. 4. Planned (applies to Leadership and Spirit awards.) 5. Partially completed (applies to Spirit award.) 6. Completed (applies to Action and Leadership awards.) II. III. IV. Explain the connection to the Forest Service's National Strategies--"A Strategic Plan for the 90's: Working Together for Rural America" and/or Working Together For Rural America: 2000 and Beyond, Part A Integrating Natural Resource Management and Rural Community Assistance. (20 points) Describe the role and involvement of the community. (25 points) A. Does the community have a broad-based plan to follow? If so, describe how the activity reflects or furthers the community's plan for itself. B. Comprehensive or focused approach by the community. C. Community participation in initiating/implementing activity. D. Community spirit and commitment to activity. E. Other. Describe the partnership(s) from both the internal (Forest Service) and external (other government and private) standpoints. (20 points) A. Who are the partners? B. How did they interact? C. What is the value of partnership building in the locale by the nominated activity? D. Other?

7 V. Describe the benefits of this activity and why it is significant. (15 points) A. Local, multi-county, statewide, multi-state or national in scope. B. Relationship to desired rural community assistance goals and outcomes. C. Significant change from local history, practices, expectations. D. Other. VI. VII. For the Spirit Award only, describe: (10 points) A. What is planned or has been done so far. Additional Information A. If available, include with your nomination up to four slides and/or four photos of the activity. Digital photos may be included with electronically submitted nominations. B. Please limit copies of newspaper clippings or other supportive information to two pages. C. Hard copy nominations must be on standard-sized paper with NO hard cover or binder. Please do not include videos.