Q: Who is eligible for a Good Neighbor Award?
A: Any person, couple, family, business or group who is connected to our community – through residency, business, the school district, or any other affiliation – who demonstrates the mission of CFF through their actions. Award winners are inclusive, tolerant, and they reach out to others in a variety of ways to bridge the gap between people, cultures, and ideas. (See the CFF Mission Statement HERE). Also, keep in mind that we recognize those activities that are volunteer in nature as opposed to those that are considered part of a person’s job description.
Q: Who is NOT eligible for a Good Neighbor Award?
A: At this time, CFF does not give Good Neighbors Awards to those who have received the award before (see a full list of past award winners HERE). However, CFF reserves the right to reconsider this policy if, for example, someone is nominated on the basis of a new activity or initiative that is completely different than the activities for which they were previously recognized.
Q: Who can nominate candidates for a Good Neighbor Award?
A: You! CFF accepts nominations from any source – from students, residents, business owners, city employees, etc.
Q: How many candidates can I nominate?
A: There is no particular limit to the number of candidates that one person can nominate. In order to facilitate efficiency for the selection committee, however, please send us only your top choices. There’s always next year!
Q: If I nominated someone in a prior year and they did not receive an award can I nominate them again?
A: Absolutely! You may want to look at your previous nomination and see if there are additional details that you could include in order to enhance the application. The committee has a tough job and you want to make sure your written nomination offers a complete picture of the nominee’s activities.
Q: How much detail should I include in my nomination?
A: Start with the full name and contact information for your nominee. Tell us what you know about them that you think makes them a good candidate for the award. Give us some examples or anecdotes that exemplify the qualities that you’d like to highlight regarding your nominee. We receive many nominations and the more specifics you can include the more likely the committee is to understand why you have nominated this person.
Q: Do I have any other obligations, once I submit my nomination(s)?
A: We may contact you for some follow up information (clarification, etc.), but for the most part your job is done. If your nominee is selected, we will notify you and invite you to attend the award event.
Q: Are nominations confidential/secret?
A: No, but we strongly encourage discretion. Each year, as more people learn about this award, we receive more nominations than before. Yet, only roughly 10 neighbors are recognized each year. These are often difficult and narrow decisions. Many nominees who are not recognized in the first year they are nominated end up being chosen the following year. So we suggest that nominators keep their suggestions private so that the experience isn’t tainted for the nominee if/when they are eventually selected.