• Don’t Miss Out on a National Awards Program – Submit Your Nomination for the 2020 NACo Achievement Awards

  By Lori Letzring, Hillsborough County Florida Community Services and Outreach Manager

  NACIO Past President

  As communicators, we do a great job of telling our county’s stories, but are we telling them to an audience that rewards our work, recognizes innovations and relishes ingenuity?  The National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards program is a relatively easy way to spotlight your best work.

  Here’s why it’s worth it to enter NACo Achievement Awards.  First, it’s a non-competitive awards program, so all entries are judged on their own merit and not against other counties’ entries.  Second, it’s like many other awards programs we enter with a.) an overview b.) problem or need statement c.) implementation and d.) results/benefits of the program.  Sounds like most of the other awards programs we enter.  Finally, NACo Achievement Award entries are relatively inexpensive at $75 an entry – especially for a national competition.

  If that doesn’t convince you, here’s another reason.  You can enter the Civic Education and Public Information category OR you can demonstrate the collaborative nature of our work by entering a program or product you’ve partnered with another department to create.  For instance, you could enter a new type of health fair event in the Health category.   An employee recruitment campaign could be submitted in the Personnel Management, Employment and Training category.   Using social media, web or other technologies in a new way makes a great entry for Information Technology.

  Here are some things to consider as you prepare your entry:

• Make sure your program abstract (overview) is no more than 200 words
• Efficiencies in budget, staff time, or customer service response time are meaningful
• Links to supplemental materials, news coverage and public feedback help
• Tell how other counties can easily replicate your program with similar success

Gaining national attention from NACo with Achievement Awards has been meaningful to my co-workers and my board of commissioners.  It has given us a reason to stand up and be recognized in board ceremonies.  And, who doesn’t like being spotlighted for achievements?!  Visit www.naco.org/awards. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m., March 30, 2020.