National Public Service Awards Nomination Guidelines
Nomination information must be received by Friday, October 20, 2000

The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) proudly established the National Public Service Awards (NPSAs) to honor individuals who make outstanding contributions to the public service. The National Public Service Awards Program recognizes individuals who exhibit the highest standards of excellence, dedication, and accomplishment over a sustained period of time and who are creative and highly skilled career managers at all levels of the public service.

Nominations for the awards programs are solicited from the public service community, and may come from any source. ASPA or Academy membership is not a requirement for nominators or nominees. Nominations are accepted throughout the year, but must be received by each year's established closing date.

A distinguished committee will review nominations and select award recipients. The award ceremony is scheduled for March 12, 2001 during ASPA's 62nd National Conference in Newark, New Jersey. A Steuben crystal eagle is presented to as many as five individuals who have spent a significant portion of their careers as public service practitioners.

THE AWARDS SELECTION CRITERIA

Award winners are selected from all levels of public service -- local, state, and federal governments, international, and public service nonprofit organizations. However, awards are not made by category. While individuals may hold a position in academia or a nonprofit organization, all recipients must have made significant contributions as career public servants in at least one level of government.

Nominees holding elected office will be evaluated on the basis of their careers in public service, excluding time served as an elected official. Legislative branch staff are eligible, however, legislators without public management experience should not be nominated. Nonprofit organizations are those with a service delivery mission.

Nominees must have

 • made outstanding contributions on a sustained basis rather than having performed a single exceptional deed

 •managed, created, or facilitated significant programs or projects within their areas of responsibility to the ultimate benefit of the general public

Previous nominees may be renominated provided they meet the other provisions of this announcement and their nominations are updated to include their latest achievements.

KEEPER OF THE FLAME AWARD

The "Keeper of the Flame" Award was established in 2000 as a regular special recognition award for "an individual who has continued to provide public service after their official retirement from the profession." The physical memento is a candlestick. In establishing the new award, the NPSA Executive Committee recognized that many individuals retire from their career positions and continue to serve the public in other volunteer or paid positions. Often, these active retirees become very directly involved in their local community, working with civic or nonprofit organizations.

Nominations for the Keeper of the Flame Award will follow the timeline and other requirements of the National Public Service Awards. Those who have retired from their public service career as of the nomination deadline will automatically be considered for the Keeper of the Flame Award.

Awards Timeline

Nominations Due
October 20, 2000

Finalists Selected
mid December 2000

Winners Selected
mid January 2001

All nominees and nominators notified
late January 2001

Awards Ceremony
March 12, 2001

Instructions
A cover lever must accompany the nomination from the nominator. The nomination itself may be no more than six pages (including attachments) and may be supplemented by up to five letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation may be signed by more than one individual. Self-nominations are not accepted.

All components of the nomination must be received by the October 20, 2000 deadline. Materials received after that date will not be provided to the Screening Committee. Full nomination packages received after the annual deadline will be submitted for the next year's awards.

Nominations must follow the format provided.

Please send 12 copies to:

National Public Service Award
c/o ASPA
1120 G St., NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
phone: 202-393-7878
fax: 202-638-4952 (Faxed nominations will not be accepted.)
e-mail: info@aspanet.org (Emailed nominations will not be accepted.)

General Information

Name, address, daytime phone, title, and organization of the nominee and the nominator. Also include names, address, and phone numbers of three references who can evaluate the nominee's recorded achievements.

Nominee's biography summarizing positions held, educational background, civic and professional involvements, and other personal data. (May be in the form of a resume or vita if this does not exceed the six-page maximum for the entire nomination.)

INFORMATION ON NOMINEE

Describe the nominee's current responsibilities and accomplishments over the course of his or here career. Describe why the nominee deserves to an NPSA winner.

• Description of the political or institutional environment in which the nominee has worked and the organizational complexities encountered.
• Highlights, or examples, of creative and innovative programs, and accomplishments resulting from the nominee's efforts. Did he/she "make a difference?"
• The major impact of the nominee's work as a public manager or program leader.
• The overall commitment of the nominee to the public service and how his or her service exemplifies or can be viewed as a model of public service, both within and outside the work environment.

The Screening and Selection Committees consider most strongly each individual's accomplishments rather than positions held or other awards received. They encourage including information on the nominee's community service activities conducted outside of the work environment.