Chapter members who volunteer and participate in local awards programs see big payoffs. But these programs can be a lot of work. Do some research for your chapter before you jump in.
- Contact IABC International for a list of chapters and regions that host such programs. Then call a few chapters that are of similar size for insight into their experiences and if they’d willing to share templates. No need to reinvent the wheel.
- Reach out to your region for guidance and support based on their awards program.
- Poll your board to see if there is sustainable energy and funds to host such a program.
Remember, awards programs usually include two significant parts:
- the awards portion which includes: call for entries, securing evaluators, evaluating entries, and informing winners, and
- the recognition portion which includes: ordering awards, awards presentation at a chapter event, media relations, and profiling winners in member communications.
- Next, go the extra step and do a feasibility study to gauge your members’ interest. Students are great at assisting with this type of activity. Some questions to consider:
- Do members think the chapter should stage a local awards program?
- Would they enter such a program?
- How much would they be willing to pay to enter the program?
- Would they be willing to volunteer to run the program?
- How many of them enter IABC regional or international awards programs now?
- What other local/regional/national/international awards programs do they enter?