2014-2015 Award Nomination Information The Awards program is a benefit of your MRPA Membership and it is designed to highlight the great work of our members to the profession, to elected officials and to local communities. Deadline: November 7, 2014
General Information The Michigan Recreation and Park Association honors exemplary park and recreation professionals and citizen advocates through the Association s annual awards. Award winners serve as an inspiration to our membership and embody the core values of the profession, demonstrating the highest level of performance in their job duties, as well as a tremendous commitment to MRPA and its membership. There are five award categories - details about each category and related awards are provided within this brochure. Eligibility Agency and individual professional members of the Michigan Recreation and Park Association are eligible to submit award nominations. MRPA vendor members are encouraged to collaborate with agency or individual members on design nominations, but may not nominate a project independently. Upcoming Dates Friday, November 7, 2014 All Award Nominations due to MRPA Local Presentation of Awards Local award presentations are encouraged; please consider presenting awards earned by your agency, employees or community advocates at City Council, local Park and Recreation Commission meetings and more. February 11-13, 2015 January 12, 2015 Awards presented at MRPA Conference & Trade Show Community Service Award Nomination Form Distributed to Members For assistance presenting an award locally, contact Wendy Longpre at wlongpr@cityofeastlansing.com Friday, March 6, 2015 Community Service Award Nominations Due Wednesday, April 15, 2015 Community Service Award Ceremony Award Notification All successful nominators and their award winners will receive formal notification prior to December 10, 2014. Nominations for all individual awards will be considered for an additional year from the date submitted. Photos courtesy of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation, Huron Clinton Metroparks, Ingham County Parks, Lansing Parks & Recreation, Midland Parks & Recreation, Miracle Recreation of Michigan & Indiana, Oakland County Parks, Genesee County Parks and Riverside Kayak Connection.
Design Awards Design awards are presented to MRPA agency members in honor of outstanding landscape design, facility or architectural design and park design. Entries must be submitted by MRPA agency members. Vendor members are encouraged to collaborate with agency members on Design Award nominations, but may not nominate a project independently. Design Award Categories Landscape Design projects include gardens, landscape art, earth sculptures, interpretive pathways and gardens, reclamation projects and conservation projects. Facility Design projects include community centers, indoor pools, gymnasiums, indoor sports complexes, welcome / information centers, nature centers, restrooms, picnic shelters, and park support amenities such as parking lots, lighting, water and sewer systems and more. Park Design projects contain landscape and facility components; examples include splash pads, outdoor aquatic facilities, sports fields, playgrounds, and trails and linear parks. Design Award Nomination Format All nominating MRPA agency members must submit two copies of a three-ring binder containing: Two to three pages of typewritten narrative A maximum of 10 images with captions Three plan views of the project The narrative should include the community size and description, the project purpose and local significance, as well as the project budget. The role of the parks and recreation professional and any unique problems or techniques used should also be described. All binders must be submitted to MRPA. Design Award Eligibility A project may be submitted annually until it wins an award, at which time it becomes ineligible for further submission. Plans or incomplete designs are ineligible; the first phase of a project must be completed to be considered for an award. The design awards will be judged on the following criteria: Degree of Innovation Aesthetic quality Functionality Construction viability Organizational Awards Innovative Park Resources The Innovative Park Resources Award honors an innovative maintenance program, equipment design or revenue producer. Please submit a narrative and two photos. Innovative Recreation Programming The Innovative Recreation Programming Award honors creative recreation programs, fund-raising activities, promotional tools and/or management practices. Please submit a narrative and one photo. The following Organizational Awards are presented annually to MRPA member agencies.
Marketing Awards Single Brochure This category honors outstanding seasonal brochures published in 2014. Entries are judged on graphic design and use of photography and/or artwork, as well as creativity, sentence structure and description writing. Please submit two copies of the brochure. Special Program Brochure Unique programming or events may require a special brochure. Judging in this category will evaluate a brochure or flyer s creativity, graphic design, readability and content for a specific agency program. Please submit two copies of any special brochure used in 2014. Web Site Agency websites are a critical way to communicate with residents and nonresidents alike. How well they function in serving a community is of utmost importance. Judging will focus on site functionality, ease of use, design and content. Integrated Marketing Campaign (IMC) Integrated marketing campaigns aim to create consistency of message through a variety of media channels. The IMC Award honors the agency, professional or organization that has developed an outstanding campaign using a variety of coordinated mediums to deliver an effective message to an audience. Candidates must utilize at least three of the following media tools: Video Social Media Web sites or blogs Printed material Audio Public Relations Other Media Advocate The Media Advocate award highlights a member of the media community who has been a vocal supporter of parks and recreation. Nominees may be a member of any media community, including television, radio, newspaper, online publication, etc. The Media Advocate Award allows MRPA members to thank media professionals who understand the importance of local parks, recreation programs and facilities. Video The Video award is designed to recognize an agency, professional or organization that has produced an outstanding marketing video. Submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following formats: Video used in social media, such as webcasts, YouTube or inserted in a blog or Facebook page Video produced for a promotional advertisement or public service announcement Video programming, such as TV or public access shows
Individual Awards Individual Awards are the highest honor our Association presents; the awards honor the highest performance of a MRPA member or advocate of the parks and recreation profession. Fellowship The MRPA Fellowship Award is presented to a member who consistently demonstrates significant investment, support and guidance to fellow professionals. Honorees exemplify the highest level of professionalism in all aspects of our profession, in his or her own organization and within the membership. Nominees must be a member of MRPA in good standing for a minimum of 20 years. Recreation Leadership The Recreation Leadership Award is presented to a member for outstanding contributions and leadership in the area of recreation programming. Nominees must be a member of MRPA in good standing for a minimum of 10 years. Park Resource Leadership Park Resource Leadership Award recipients demonstrate outstanding contributions in the area of maintenance practice, equipment management, resource development and environmental stewardship. There is no minimum MRPA membership requirement for this award. New Professional This award recognizes new professionals for outstanding service to their agency and the Association. Nominees must be a professional member of MRPA in good standing for no more than five years. Local Elected Official This award honors elected local officials who have made significant contributions towards enhancing resident quality of life through the promotion of parks and recreation. State Elected Official This award is presented to an elected official who has exhibited exceptional support of parks and recreation. Eligible nominees include, but are not limited to, state elected officials such as representatives, senators, governors, etc. Winners of the Individual Awards will be determined using the following criteria. Years of MRPA membership for the nominee, when applicable Educational background Association service, leadership, and regional group involvement Certifications Partnerships and collaborations Outstanding and/or innovative programs, services, and practices Speaker presentations Community affiliations and volunteer experiences
Therapeutic Recreation Awards The Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Awards honor outstanding professionals and programs within the field of Therapeutic Recreation. The TR Awards will be presented during the MRPA Therapeutic Recreation Institute (TRI). Young Professional The Young Professional Award recognizes innovative ideas and is intended to spotlight creativity and diversity in promoting, creating, and implementing therapeutic recreation services. Honorees demonstrate a strong desire to achieve personal and professional goals; all nominees must have 2-5 years professional experience and belong to one therapeutic recreation organization. Please submit a one page narrative describing the individual s qualifications and contributions. Karen Linn Medve Outstanding Achievement This award recognizes excellence in the Therapeutic Recreation profession. The candidate must have five years of experience in the field, maintain membership in at least one professional organization, contribute significantly to the profession s advancement, and mentor other professionals. Include information on the following areas: Experience - resume or curriculum vitae Leadership - committee activity/ professionals mentored Professional organizations, presentations, copies/titles of activities Outline significant contributions to the profession Description of mentorship role Community Service Awards Excellence in Therapeutic Programming This award acknowledges a hospital, agency, or department for innovation and breadth of service in TR program development. The award recognizes accomplishments and consistently high standards in the clinical or community setting. Submit a brief narrative description focusing on one facet or the overall program. Please include background on the following areas as they apply: number of people served, program goals and mission statements, sample documentation (initial evaluation, program evaluation, etc.), program results (participant satisfaction, analysis, ideas for improvement), and flyers, brochures, competencies, or types of programs offered. Mark Your Calendars for Additional Award Dates! Annual Award Nominations Due: November 7, 2014 The MRPA Community Service Awards recognize individuals and organizations throughout Michigan who demonstrate outstanding support to public recreation and park programs. The Community Service Awards are an excellent way to recognize volunteers, supporters and advocates in your community; awards include Community Service, Senior of the Year, Youth Sports Coach and Youth Sports Staff Member of the Year. Community Service Nominations Available: January 12, 2015 Community Service Award Nominations Due: March 6, 2015 Community Service Awards Ceremony: April 15, 2015 (Hannah Community Center, East Lansing)