RACI Newsletter
Seeking Entries for Good Neighbor Awards (Back)
Published by on Apr 09, 2009
Good Neighbor Awards
The Good Neighbor Awards recognize REALTORS® who've made an extraordinary commitment to improving the quality of life in their communities through volunteer work. Five winners each year receive $10,000 grants for their cause.
The National Association of Realtors® is now accepting applications for the 10th annual REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards, which recognizes Realtors® for their exemplary volunteer service.The five winners will be announced in November in REALTOR® Magazine. Each winner will be recognized at the 2009 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Diego, receive travel expenses to the conference, national media exposure for his or her community cause, and a $10,000 grant. In addition to the winners, five honorable mentions will each receive a $2,500 grant.“Realtors® build communities, and through their tremendous dedication and commitment to community service are helping to address critical issues many of our cities and towns are facing today,” said NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Dallas-Fort Worth. “The Good Neighbor Awards allow us to salute the very best of our Realtor volunteers who give so much of their time and energy to helping those in need.” “REALTOR® Magazine’s Good Neighbor Awards recognize the significant contributions made by our Realtor volunteers and the important role they play in their communities,” said REALTOR® Magazine Editorial Director Pamela Geurds Kabati. “We hope more Realtors® are inspired to get involved and help make a difference.”
REALTOR® Magazine’s Good Neighbor Awards is sponsored by eNeighborhoods, Homes.com and Lowe’s. In addition to the grant money, each winner will receive a $2,000 Lowe’s gift card and each honorable mention will receive a $1,000 Lowe’s gift card.Good Neighbor Awards entries must be received by Friday, May 22, 2009. For more details and a nomination form, call 800/874-6500, visit www.REALTOR.org/realtormag and click the Good Neighbor button, or see the March 2009 issue of REALTOR® Magazine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can nominate a Good Neighbor?
Anyone can nominate a Good Neighbor—common examples include the nominee's broker, a colleague, a spouse, or a representative from the charity or real estate board. Many candidates nominate themselves. The nominee, however, must be a REALTOR®, that is, a current member in good standing of the local REALTOR® association and NAR.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes, in fact, we encourage you to. Though some people aren't comfortable "selling" themselves, you are uniquely qualified to share the details of your experience with us. If you do nominate yourself, we encourage you to provide at least one testimonial letter from someone else who is familiar with your volunteer work--these testimonials usually speak in more glowing terms than you would use to describe yourself and provide insight into how your work is viewed by others.
Can a group be nominated?
Though there are plenty of deserving groups, this award is specifically intended to recognize individual REALTORS®. The only exception would be if two people—such as husband and wife—work together equally on a project. If their work truly cannot be separated, they can be nominated together. However, keep in mind that the judges will be comparing them with individual candidates. Generally, it is advisable to designate one person as the nominee if possible.
Am I eligible if I volunteer for more than one organization?
Absolutely. It is common for volunteers to be involved in more than one area of community service. If you would like your application to be considered based on your work with several charities, include the information on the application (attach additional pages if necessary). One word of caution: Quality is more important than quantity. Generally, the more organizations you include, the harder it is for judges to determine the impact you have made, so it's often better to limit the details to only the organizations for which you have made a significant impact.
How can I make my application stand out?
The essay and the testimonial letters are often the most valuable portions of the application for the judges. The following tips provide insight into what the judges are looking for and can help you submit the most effective essay: · Be as specific as possible. For example, give a close estimate of the number of hours volunteered, the number of people the nominee helped, the number of dollars raised, etc. Vague words like "countless" "incalculable" or even "thousands" are of very little use to the judges. · Don't rely on adjectives. Superlatives like "kindest", "most dedicated", "most generous"—though certainly true—don't help the judges evaluate a nominee's achievements. Instead, describe something the nominee did that illustrates how kind or dedicated he or she is. · Don't be modest. If you are uncomfortable talking about your achievements, have someone else write the essay portion for you and/or provide detailed testimonials. Testimonials from someone you've helped are particularly valuable. · Focus on your accomplishments, not the organization's in general. The judges need to evaluate the impact that the nominee has personally made. Don't make the mistake of only emphasizing how much good the organization has done; instead, focus on what the nominee has done for the organization.
Can I send a video with my application?
You can send videotapes or DVDs, but we discourage it. With the amount of materials the judges need to review, we can't guarantee audio-visual materials will get full attention. If you feel the content of a video is truly important and not covered elsewhere in your application, please consider sending a written transcript of the video.
When will the winners be announced?
Ten finalists will be named in August. The five winners will be announced at the end of October, in the November issue of REALTOR® Magazine.
What do the winners receive?
Five winners will each receive a $10,000 grant for their charity, national and local publicity through a REALTOR® Magazine cover story and many other print and online publications, travel expenses for the winner and a guest to attend the REALTORS® Conference & Expo, a custom crystal trophy, and much more. In addition, five honorable mentions will each receive $2,500 grants.
Can I fax or e-mail my application?
No, nominations must be received by mail to the address below. We must receive five copies of your application and all attachments by May 23, 2008. Send to:
Good Neighbor Awards
REALTOR® Magazine
430 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Further questions?
Please call Sara Geimer, Good Neighbor Awards Program Manager, 312-329-8296, sgeimer@realtors.org.