ten easy steps

(how to create a strong nomination for tribute to women)

plan

1.      Ask your candidate for permission to nominate her.

2.      Spend a few moments with her to gather information for the form, including: 

- Her full name, address, title, etc., as well as her activities, honors, and affiliations. 

            - Ask for a copy of her resume, if she has one.

- Examine the information provided, and then play the role of journalist or talk show host.  Interview her, asking questions that elicit detailed, specific information about important contributions. 

organize and refine

3.      As you draft responses for the form, introduce your candidate and provide details on her accomplishments as if bragging about her to a stranger—because you are.  All Tribute judges live and work out-of-state.  The only way they can get to know your candidate is through your words!

4.      Focus your response so that it provides the big picture of the nominee’s greatest accomplishments.  Then, as your response grows, make sure you support the overall picture with specific details about her contributions. 

5.      While many nominees have accomplishments in several areas, please be sure to select and then emphasize your candidate’s achievements in only one nomination category:  Arts, Business & Professional, Education, or Volunteer Community Service.  If you do mention accomplishments outside the chosen category, explain why this is relevant.

6.      Consider listing your nominee’s achievements in traditional resume style (i.e., a listing by job, affiliation, or skill).  This will help organize material and also make room for specific details to support each accomplishment.

7.      Emphasize how your candidate’s accomplishments have impacted our community, and with regard to her nomination category, benefited businesses, schools, cultural organizations or volunteer groups.

finalize

8.      Once you have drafted all the details, please type them on the nomination form.  Forms are available online at www.ywcabristol.org.  Forms may be no longer than one legal sized page, front and back. 

9.      Ask the nominee to read and verify all the information provided on the form, and then sign it.  Forms must be signed and filled out completely upon submission.  Unsigned forms will not be accepted. 

10.  Submit the original form plus 4 copies to the YWCA by the nomination deadline: Friday, February 15, 2008.