Appeal, CAT-10 inaugurate Community Awards

The search officially began Monday. When it's over we hope to have captured the essence of our community.

Late last year Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Larry Osborne said the chamber was ending its annual community awards program. For years it had been part of the chamber's installation festivities, an evening when citizens and businesses were also recognized for outstanding service.

The chamber will continue its annual installation dinner this summer, but will limit its community awards categories to businesses.

I figured it was a great opportunity for the Nevada Appeal to become more involved in the community it will have been part of for 135 years next month. The paper turns 135 on May 16.

And in order to really make the community awards a community event I contacted Craig Swope, the executive director over at Carson Access Television.

When you think of community involvement in Carson City you generally include Swope in that process. Before he moved to television, Swope was the man behind community-minded KPTL radio. He is thoughtful, insightful and knows the National Hockey League better than anyone I know.

Swope agreed it would be shame not to seek out and recognize our area's best and brightest, so he agreed to cosponsor the First Annual (I've always wondered how you can have a first and an annual at the same time) Nevada Appeal and Carson Access Television Community Awards. We're taking nominations now for:

- Academic of the Year - This could be a teacher, student, administrator, or anyone who has made a significant contribution to academics.

- Artist of the Year - Don't limit your thinking on this one. An artist could include a musician, for example.

- Athlete of The Year - Male, or female, young or old.

- Boss of The Year - This would be a great time to score some points.

- Employee of the Year - This would be a great time for the boss to score some points.

- Humanitarian of the Year - With all the good deeds done in the community every day, this could be a real competitive category.

- Organization of The Year - This could be a non-profit organization, government organization or any other kind of organization. I don't even think you need to be organized to be an organization.

The only thing we ask is that nomination letters be at least 150 words long. We want some thought put into these and there's something about 150 words that makes you have to think a little.

All nominations are due to us (send them, or drop them by the Nevada Appeal at 200 Bath Street) by May 10. The Nevada Appeal reader panel, composed of Barbara Assante, Judy Biddleman, Don Carlson, Andy Harvey, Maizie Harris Jesse, Rob Joiner, Bill Lawson, Guy Rocha, Frank Taylor and Roger Volker, will judge the nominations. They will be joined by Tom Baker and Peter Smith, two members of the Carson Access Television board. The judging will be conducted May 18 and the top three finalists in each of the seven categories will be notified and invited to a luncheon at the Pinon Plaza June 8. The winners will be announced at that time.

It's fairly safe to say that everyone wants to be appreciated. We want others to help us feel valued. Unfortunately, we tend to get too busy with other "stuff" to take the time to recognize good deeds.

This is the time to do that. With your help, this first-year community awards luncheon will be the first of many more to come. Please take a few minutes to nominate an outstanding individual or organization.

Jeff Ackerman is publisher and editor of the Nevada Appeal.