Best Practices for Completing the 2016 Honors Award Application

Best Practices for Completing the 2016 Honors Award Application

Your Webinar Hosts Linda Stokes President & CEO PRISM International, Inc. Fernando Serpa Executive Director Association of ERGs & Councils

Honors Award & Conference Host PRISM is a WBENC-certified full-service provided of innovative and proven consulting, training and products for: leveraging Diversity & Inclusion increasing cross-cultural competencies preventing harassing and discriminatory behaviors creating more impactful ERGs & Diversity Councils PrismDiversity.com Since 1992, serving hundreds of organizations in 24 countries. In recognizing the important organizational contributions and impact that ERGs and Diversity Councils have, we created three supporting practices: Created in 2005, the Association is the premier resource for strengthening the capability of ERGs and Diversity Councils to impact key organizational & business objectives. ERGCouncil.com Started in 2009, it s the only annual national award that recognizes, honors and celebrates the outstanding contributions and achievements of ERGs and Diversity Councils ERGCouncilConference.com Initiated in 2012 it s the only annual national conference for ERGs and Diversity Councils that provides opportunities to learn and share best practices, network, celebrate and grow. ERGCouncilConference.com

Honors Award Overview Now in it s 8 th year, recipients of the award have set the standards of excellence for ERGs, BRGs and Diversity Councils in the U.S. Completing the application provides your group with a comprehensive process for internal assessment and measurement. All applicants receive their 2016 Application Summary Report that provides their results in comparison with those of the TOP 10, TOP 25 and all applicants In 2015, the TOP 10 recipients were given additional recognition and were inducted into the first Leader s Circle. 2015 had record participation of 538 ERGs, BRGs and Diversity Councils. 2016 s TOP 25 award recipients will receive their rankings and their awards at the 2016 ERG & Council Honors Award Dinner & Ceremony October 20 th at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.

Conference Overview Educate - Engage - Empower! Now in its 5th year, it s the only annual conference designed specifically for ERGs, BRGs and Diversity Councils that provides opportunities to network, learn and share best practices. 2015 s conference attracted 350 attendees from 101 organizations from across the U.S. The 2 day conference consists of workshops, repeating concurrent sessions, assembly sessions, keynotes, networking breaks and the honors award reception, dinner and ceremony. This year s conference is themed Educate Engage Empower! and is set for October 20th & 21st at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.

Honors Award Application Overview The Application is free and opened to all U.S. based ERGs, BRGs and Diversity Councils that have been in operations for at least 2 years. Applicants complete and submit an online application of 67 questions that evaluates their impact on their organization over the past 12 months (2015). Award applicants are evaluated on contributions and achievements in these four categories: 1. Demonstrated Results 2. Demonstrated Management Commitment 3. Measurement and Accountability 4. Communication and Education The 2016 Application opened February 24th and closes June 30th. In fairness to all applicants, no extensions will be granted and no late applications will be accepted.

Honors Award Application Overview. Applications from multiple ERGs, BRGs or Diversity Councils within one organization are permitted. 1. A Diversity Council may submit one application representing multiple Diversity Councils, ERGs and BRGs that operate under and report to it and that have been in operation for at least 2 years. Each Council, ERG and BRG involved will need to be identified Individual ERGs BRGS and Diversity Councils may not apply Separately 2. A Diversity Council, ERG an BRG may submit one application representing its multiple chapters that operate under and report to it and that have been in operation for at least 2 years. Each Chapter will need to be identified Individual Chapters may not apply separately

Everyone in the Poll 1. Have you applied previously? Yes/No 2. Are you planning on applying this year? Yes/No/Don t Know 3. What is your top reason for applying? A. The Application process provides a cost effective assessment B. The Application Summary Report C. "Braggin' Rights" - We want to be/stay in the TOP 25/TOP10 D. A, B & C 4. If you thought about applying before but did not, what was your reason for not doing so? A. We don't have many members B. We have little or no budget C. We are too young D. We are a not for profit and not responsible generating revenue E. We're just not ready

Top 4 Reasons for Applying Reason #1: All Reasons It s all the reasons! Reason #2: Bragging Rights Making the TOP 25/TOP 10 provides national recognition, prestige and credibility and proves that the group has met an externally recognized standard of excellence. Reason #3: Application Summary Report The Application Summary Report allows benchmarking with the TOP 10, TOP 25 and all applicants while providing best practices tips. Reason #4: Cost-Effective Assessment Completing the application provides a cost-effective internal assessment and measurement which helps identify strengths and development opportunities.

5 Myths for Not Applying 1. We don t have many members 12 of 2015 s TOP 25 had less than 50 members 2. We have little or no budget 12 of 2015 s TOP 25 had operating budgets less than $50K 3. Our Group is too young 8 of 2015 s TOP 25 were between 2 and 6 years old 4. We are a not for profit/non profit/don t generate or not responsible for revenue/not a Fortune 500 National Guard s Joint Diversity Executive Council was 2015 s #2; 2014 s #3; & 2013 s # 7. There have been 13 similar organizations (some who repeated) since 2009. 5. We re not ready 10 of 2015 s TOP 25 were first time applicants!

What Is Being Assessed? The Impact the Group had on the Organization it served as demonstrated by its Improved & Innovative practices that were implemented in 2015.

How are the TOP 25 Selected? 1. All individual applications are reviewed and scored on how well they: a. define the Situation b. describe the Action(s) taken c. provide the Result(s) achieved with appropriate metrics 2. All individual application scores are sorted and ranked.

What s New with the 2016 Application? 1. Word Response Increased - Response word count increased from the previous year's 50 words to 75 words. 2. Equal focus on "Improvement" and "Innovation" - Focus on improvement in addition to innovation of Group results 3. The addition of N/A response choice - A "N/A" (not applicable) response choice provided in the multiple choice questions 4. Responses to follow the "Situation-Action-Results" model - Responses should define the Situation, describe the Action(s) taken and provide the Result(s) achieved with appropriate metrics

Application Overview The Application consists of 4 Focus Areas & 10 Sub Measures. Focus Area #1 - Demonstrated Results 1. Organizational Impact 2. Talent Management 3. Culture of Inclusion Counts 35% Focus Area #2 - Demonstrated Management Commitment 1. Senior Leadership 2. Middle Managers Counts 30% Focus Area #3 - Measurement & Accountability 1. Measurement 2. Accountability Counts 20% Focus Area #4 - Communication & Education 1. Communication 2. Workforce Education 3. Member Education Counts 15%

11 Success Tips You Need To Know 1. Create a task team now. 2. Review and research responses first by downloading and printing the PDF or Word version of the Application. 3. Share the Application responses with other team members and for approval review by first downloading the WORD version of the Application, completing the responses and emailing it to others for their review and input. 4. Application does not support spell check. To spell check, download the WORD version Application, enter responses and use the WORD spell check. You can then copy and paste it into the online application essay boxes.

11 Success Tips You Need To Know 5. Application uses cookies so the Application must be completed using the same computer and browser. 6. Do not clear your browser data and delete cookies or you will lose all your Application information and will have to start over. 7. You can stop and resume work on your Application anytime. From the same computer & browser you started the Application, click the "Begin/Resume Application Process" button on the Honors Award Application on page 8.

11 Success Tips You Need To Know 8. Receipt of your completed and transmitted online Application is confirmed immediately once you ve clicked I ACCEPT. You will receive a Your Application was Received! Your application is now closed and no longer accessible. If you are submitting multiple Applications from your organization you will need to start a new online Application. 9. Please add "@PrismDiversity.com" and "@ERGCouncil.com" to your email acceptance lists so that you will receive Application and Conference relevant email notifications. 10. A PDF version of your completed Application can be emailed to you once it has been submitted. Request your copy by emailing award@ergcouncil.com. Please note that you will receive your completed Application in your complimentary 2016 Application Summary Report in October (after the Conference). 11. Please review the Application FAQs on the website prior to starting the Application.

Application Evaluation & Communication Process When you hit the "Submit " button at the end of your Application, why does it takes about 30 days before you receive notification of your results? 1. June 30 th - All Applications sit in the database until the Application process closes out on June 30 th. 2. (July 5-6) The Data Administrator (DA) downloads all the Applications, strips the Profile section and other organizational identifying information and forwards the revised Applications to the Judges panel. 3. (July 6-July 22) The Judges panel independently reviews and scores each Application using score sheets. When done they forward their results to the DA. 4. (July 25-26) The DA confirms receipt of all Judges panel score sheets and runs them through the WSA (Weighted Scoring Algorithm) producing each Applicant final score which is then sorted and ranked.

Application Evaluation & Communication Process When you hit the "Submit " button at the end of your Application, why does it takes about 30 days before you receive notification of your results? 5. (July 28-August 5) Every Applicant receives a personal call informing them if they made the TOP 25 or not from either the Director of the Association of ERGs & Councils or the President of PRISM International, Inc. 6. August 8 - Once all Applicants have been called, then a notification email is sent and a notification letter is mailed to all Applicants. On that same day, a press release is issued, a broadcast emailed is launched and the Conference website is updated announcing the TOP 25 recipients (in alphabetical order). 7. October 20 th - The TOP 25 recipients are honored and awarded and their rankings reveled at the 2016 ERG & Council Honors Award award dinner ceremony during the 2016 ERG & Council Conference.

Remember! Read the Question Accurately Interpret the Question Correctly Answer the Question Completely! Good Luck!

After Show Q&A Educate-Engage-Empower! October 20 & 21 Featuring the Honors Award Dinner & Ceremony Thursday, October 20th Reception 5-6 pm Dinner & Awards-6-8:15 After Awards Celebration 8:15-9:30 ErgCouncilConference.com