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| FAQ: PROFESSIONAL AWARD PROGRAM |
| Is
it okay to go just a little over the published length limits
for a nomination? No, the length requirements are firm. If you have a problem (like a long letter of recommendation) find a creative way around it like reducing copies of the letter so 2 pages fit on one. If a nomination exceeds the published length, we will remove pages to comply with the limit and you will have no control over which page we remove. Who can I contact to confirm my nomination was received? Please resist the urge to contact the awards chair to confirm a nomination was received. We regret that we cannot provide this service, the awards program has grown to the point that this is impractical. If you require confirmation please select a delivery option that provides confirmation of delivery. Can I have the letters of recommendation sent-in separately? Yes, you may, but we strongly recommend against it. We are handling dozens of nominations in a very short period of time and we may not be able to match all the letters up with the right nominations. We strongly suggest that you assemble the packet just as you want the reviewer to see it. Do I need to submit original documents or are copies acceptable? Copies are fine, just make sure everything is clear and readable. Each of the 6 nomination packets you submit will go to a different reviewer, so make sure every one of them looks good. For example, if your original has colored highlighting and you make photocopies of that, you may submit copies where your most important points difficult to read. Are faxes OK? We can not accept a nomination submitted by fax. But we will accept clean readable faxes included as part of a packet. It is not uncommon to have a letter of recommendation that has been faxed included in a nomination. But you should get the nomination together before you send it, don't fax us an addition. Is there a category for "Best Interpretive Program"? No. The Professional Awards Program is designed to recognize individuals who do an outstanding job in interpretation, or in the case of the Community Interpretive Service and Excellence in Interpretation, to recognize agencies or organizations that exemplify support for interpretation. Is the Media Awards part of the Professional Awards Program? No, the Media Awards program is administered by a different committee. Check this website and NAI literature for application materials. You don't really expect the Outstanding Volunteer Interpreter to be an NAI member? Yes, that is a requirement for the award. We have many volunteers as members and this category is designed to recognize their work. Many volunteers take advantage of the Associate Membership level. What should I check before I send in a nomination? Double check all of the points in the awards brochure; number of pages, number of letters, deadlines and where to send it. Remember, different award categories have different requirements. Be sure to submit all six copies requested. Make sure the cover page is complete and accurate — it is frustrating to call a winner and find their phone is disconnected. How can I make my nomination stand out? Notice in the Awards Brochure the types of information requested for that award. Generally there will be some points awarded in each area, so be sure to address each of them. If you forget to include one area, your nomination may lose points. Make it easy for the reviewers to see that you have addressed each of them. They are reviewing a big stack of nominations in a very short time, make it easy for them to see why your nomination should be selected. Is there a charge to enter? No, there is no charge to enter the professional awards program. Are NAI officers or employees eligible for awards? In general yes, however the current NAI president and members of the Professional Awards Committee are ineligible for awards during their terms. Can a person be nominated for an award more than once? Yes. Very often the winners had been submitted previously. Every year the competition is different so if you have a quality nominee, keep trying! It takes a lot of work to assemble a nomination, don't waste that effort if you are not selected. Freshen-up that nomination and submit it next year. Can a person be nominated for more than one award in the same year? There is no restriction against this, but we discourage the shotgun approach. It is generally better to select only the most appropriate category. If you have extraordinary circumstances though you are permitted more than one entry. Are winners required to attend the NIW to receive their award? No, winners are not required to attend. We sincerely hope they will, and we'll even cover the cost of the banquet for them. However if a winner is unable to attend we will make other arrangements to get their award to them. Is the Excellence in Interpretive Support given only to friends groups or are individuals eligible? This award is designed particularly to assure friends-type groups are eligible for recognition. However individuals may also be nominated in this category. Review the criteria carefully and pick the category that seems to fit your nominee best. Who should the letters of recommendation be addressed to? This is not critical, but since many writers struggle with it, it might be a good idea to give some direction when you request a letter of recommendation. Many letters come simply addresses to the NAI Professional Awards Committee. If it seems more appropriate to use a name, they may be addressed to the awards chair. What is the best way to send a nomination? Early! There is no one best way to get it there. FedEx, Express Mail, Priority Mail, UPS, and First Class Mail are all acceptable methods of delivery. If you need reassurance, perhaps you should select a delivery service that offers tracking capability. Remember, the awards chair may reside in a remote location that is not well served by overnight delivery service. Just because you paid for overnight service does not always assure they will make it. |
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| National Association for Interpretation | 888-900-8283 |