Entry deadline: February 10
While there’s no magic behind the Municipal Achievement Awards entry process, there are specific qualities the judges look for in a winning entry. The 2016 judges include two executive directors from municipal leagues in other states as well as a retired local government professional with 30 years of South Carolina experience. Here are the top three suggestions from previous Achievement Awards judges.
Select the best category for the project.
Municipalities can enter only one category. Those entering one of the subject categories must make an oral presentation to the judges and submit a written application. The judges choose the winners for the population categories based solely on the written application.
When deciding between a population category and a subject category, consider how to best tell the story of the project. Oral presentations can have visuals, posters, models and charts to help explain a difficult process or concept. Also, elected officials, municipal staff, community partners and residents can participate in the presentation to offer their perspectives.
Municipalities with a population less than 20,001 can compete in a population category or a subject category. Municipalities with a population more than 20,000 must compete in a subject category.
Answer the award application questions completely.
The application questions directly correlate to the judging criteria. The "fill-in-the-blank" form provides an easy-to-use format to highlight a project’s key points. Each answer is limited to 100 words.
Thorough answers are essential for cities and towns entering the population categories because the entries are judged solely on the submitted application. The judges do not have the opportunity to ask questions about the project as they do with entries in the subject categories.
Submit a complete entry package.
Each category has an average of four entries for the judges to review. A complete entry package gives the judges the opportunity to compare all of the entries equally.
Completed application form signed by the mayor. The mayor’s signature indicates the municipality agrees to send the mayor or a councilmember to the Association’s Annual Meeting Awards Breakfast should the town win.
Completed responses to the 11 program description questions. Omitting a question will disqualify the project.
Supporting materials (no more than four pages). Supporting materials can be newspaper clippings, letters from constituents or other items that help you present the program.
Three digital photographs. The three digital photographs (no smaller than 3" x 5" and 300 dpi) depicting the project are used during the judging process as well as in the awards video and publications. Collages or compilations of photos will not be accepted.
The submission deadline is February 10 for online and hand-delivered submissions. Mailed entries must be postmarked by February 10. The main contact person for each entry will receive an email confirmation by February 17 from the Association confirming it has received the entry.
Applications are available online.
For more information regarding the 2016 Achievement Awards, contact Meredith Houck at 803.933.1215 or mhouck@masc.sc.