2009 nominations will be accepted from August 24, 2009 through 5 p.m. on October 9, 2009

Criteria

General Criteria

• Awarded annually
• Cary resident (Town employees, current or former elected officials, and memorial nominations in honor of deceased residents are not eligible)
• 21-years of age and older
• Demonstrates leadership and integrity
• Respected by peers
• An individual may only receive this award once

And at least one of the following:

Specific Criteria (with examples of each for illustrative purposes)

• Helps out neighbors and fellow Cary residents

e.g., starting a program where residents can volunteer to help each other with home repairs or simply going beyond the call of duty in assisting other citizens

• Demonstrates hospitality

e.g., someone who welcomes new residents, citizens and visitors, and helps them get to know the town and its small-town culture and helps them adjust to a new environment, or simply a citizen who exhibits “Southern” or “Cary” hospitality in an ongoing or extraordinary manner.

• Promotes and preserves traditional American past-times

e.g., bringing citizens together as a community in traditional ways by organizing or being a key volunteer for such events as a founder’s day celebration, a heritage music event, hayrides, ice cream socials, picnics, bandstand events, etc.

• Shows a concern for preservation and works to preserve traditions and the small-town atmosphere in the community

e.g., working to preserve historical Cary documents, structures, or events or someone who leads the charge to make Cary more family friendly

• Promotes entrepreneurship through supporting locally owned business

e.g., starting a local currency program that rewards citizens for shopping locally

• Promotes a sense of community in their neighborhood and all of Cary

e.g., starting fun family friendly activities in his/her neighborhood where citizens have the chance to meet and interact with one another

• Demonstrates patriotism through promotion and preservation of the country's symbols and dedication to the U.S. military, past and present

e.g., organizing or being a key volunteer for a formal event to honor our veterans or current military members

· Serves the community through business

e.g., a business owner who goes above and beyond their role to support and provide a service to the community in a down-home, hospitable manner

Process

• Nominations are accepted from August 24 through 5 p.m. on October 9, 2009.
• In October the Town Clerk invites individuals to a meeting to select one award winner (examples of people who might be invited to this meeting include the following or any combination thereof: board/commission chairs or members; department directors; past award winners; other staff and citizens involved with other Town or community award programs; etc.).

Award/Recognition

· All nominees will be invited to attend the November 12, 2009 Town Council meeting for public recognition. Each nominee’s application will be highlighted and the individual will be given a recognition certificate. The Mayor will then announce the winner and present him/her with a plaque from the Town.

• The award winner and family will be invited to attend the community Tree lighting event on December 5, 2009; the winner will be publicly recognized on-stage by the Mayor. Immediately following the tree lighting event there will be a reception to honor the award winner.

· All nominees will be recognized with a write-up on the Town’s Web site.

· Photos of the most recent winner with an excerpt from nomination form may be displayed in a designated area at Town Hall. The winner’s name will be engraved on a perpetual plaque at Town Hall.

Past winners will be invited to all future December receptions, and they will be recognized.

The most recent past winners will be invited to the November council meeting and will be given a role to assist the Town Council in announcing the new winner.

Nomination Submission Instructions

Nominations will be accepted on the official application form from August 24, 2009 through 5 p.m. on October 9, 2009. Nominations received after the deadline will not be considered. Submit nominations to Sue Rowland, Town Clerk, by any of the following delivery methods:

• E-mail: sue.rowland@townofcary.org
• Fax: (919) 460-4910
• Mail: Town Clerk, Town of Cary, P.O. Box 8005, Cary, NC 27512-8005

The town clerk will acknowledge receipt of all nominations.

Questions? Contact Sue Rowland, Town Clerk, at (919) 460-4941.