The Power of A Awards September 2010

Power of A Objectives –Broaden the understanding among DC influentials of the vast, diverse association community and how it as a whole benefits the nation – beyond expertise, constituent outreach, legislation vetting –Prepare the industry for future legislation, fill the reservoir of goodwill toward associations and non-profits –Engage ASAE members about sharing and contributing to the Power of A, viewing themselves as part of larger community and taking action

Power of A Awards Objectives –Recognize and celebrate the extraordinary contributions associations make to society –Communicate the value the industry provides, including yet beyond impacting legislation –Expand excitement and education about The Power of A among members and legislators –Generate increased award entries –Integrate AAA Awards and Make a Better World programs

Strategy –Transform the AAA Awards into The Power of A Awards as part of the 360º integration into a sustained communications campaign

What Past Winners Said –Key Benefits: Recognition, awareness for what they do, generation of sponsorships and participation in programs –Reinforces the value of working collectively and “good citizenry” of associations –Validates their work, character, heart –Winning helped introduce a Bill re: tax incentives for veterans –ASAE channels (website, etc.), members directly responsible for reaching potential entrants (particularly for international) –Receiving recognition and networking at Annual Meeting is vital for international winners –Significant value to winning the award, but you have to “work” it and “milk” it

Power of A Award Elements: Structure Timing and Presentation Communications Entry and Judging Website Integration

Structure Summit Awards will remain highest honor; Gold and Silver Power of A Awards will replace Award of Excellence and Honor Roll. Award categories will be mapped to the Powers of A as denoted in the message box: Category: The Power to Enrich Lives Improving the Community and Society: programs that draw on the talents of volunteers or staff to solve an immediate problem in the local community or society at large. Educating and Informing the Public: information campaigns targeting the public or a segment of the public on an association’s members, products, value to society or career opportunities. Promoting Social Responsibility: programs that use the association’s resources to improve the environment or address a social justice cause.

Structure Category: The Power to Keep America Competitive Training and Efficient and Productive Workforce: programs that help individuals gain and apply new technical skills, as well as learn best practice tips for their profession. Also can focus on training the next generation of leaders in the profession. Setting the Standard for Best Practices: programs that create a “code of conduct” for professionals or an industry designed to ensure the safety and optimal performance of the profession’s services. Creating Jobs through New Technology: programs that use a new technology (or finds a new use for an existing technology) to advance the profession and improve society.

Structure Category: The Power to Prepare for the Future Forecasting, Benchmarking & Other Research: conducting or facilitating research that helps members prepare for the future or focus on emerging trends and critical factors facing the industry or profession. Research Application: Applying existing or new research to manage challenges and foster innovative solutions to issues that emerge at the local, regional, national or global level. Pioneering Problem Solving Strategies: developing new strategies for problem solving, including sustaining services in times of declining resources, cutting through red tape in times of emergency and community need, and linking practitioners to share information and build new collaborative solutions.

Structure Category: The Power to Innovate Product and/or Service Innovation: Developing new products or services that benefit communities, enrich society and/or facilitate domestic or international business. Category: The Power to Make a Better World Developing Nation: Associations eligible to apply in this category will be headquartered in countries with a purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita of less than $10,000 per annum as determined by the World Bank Statistics. The countries included in this category are those that are beginning to develop an associations culture. The category is intended to recognize outstanding examples of associations making a significant contribution to societies and economies in developing nations around the world. Examples of activities include economic programs, projects and activities; social programs, projects and activities; and advocacy/policy programs, projects and activities.

Timing and Presentation Similar to most awards, we recommend all entries are solicited at once for Power of A Awards. February – April: All entries solicited May – June: Judging July: Alert all “domestic” finalists; “international” winners August Annual Meeting: Finalists for four “domestic” categories are announced; Winners of “international” categories are revealed/presented September Summit Awards Dinner: Summit winners are revealed, including: four “big” Power of A category winners, a recap of the Domestic and International “Make a Better World” winners, possibly one “CEO’s Choice” that exemplifies the Power of A Can we secure a representative/ from the state where the association is based to present each award

Communications Publicizing/Promoting the Power of A Awards: Internal Announcement (award name/content) Announcement/logo at 2010 Summit Dinner ASAE publications (remnant ad and editorial/logo) Feature and/or link on asaecenter.org to members Mentions/materials at conferences/shows External Announcement (entry period begins) Press release to trades Outreach to bloggers previous entrants/winners Facebook/Twitter Announcement/materials at conferences/shows ASAE publications (ad/editorial) Power of A committee recommendations/outreach/ambassadors

Communications Publicizing/Promoting the Winners: Post-Event Collateral piece for winners; Hill fly-ins Letters to Hill Press release/distribution Article in publications to members CNN Airport piece Website link/feature Power of A committee recommendations

Entry and Judging Soliciting Entries and Judging: One collective entry period (rather than multiple) February - April Online entry Entry form redesign based on new categories, Power of A branding Cost does not change (in year one) Judging by committee takes place May-June 5 category awards CEO award

Website Integration Asaecenter.org and PowerOfA.org: Features on asaecenter.org When entry period launches Mid-way Final push for entries Page or content that showcases the awards, explains the transition, makes entry easy Easy to find links on asaecenter.org (relevant content) Links from PowerOfA.org