Awards Ceremony & Best Practices Showcase
We will present the 2015 Maryland Responds MRC Awards during the Conference on June 19, as a way of highlighting the tremendous success and contributions of the Administrators, Partners, and especially Maryland Responders. The awards ceremony will also include a presentation of best practices employed by our award winners.
The 2015 Maryland Responds MRC Awards highlight innovative local practices and achievements by recognizing individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward making their communities safer, stronger, better prepared, and more resilient. Every year we are inspired by the tremendous work being done by Maryland Responders to prepare their communities for emergencies, or to help their neighbors cope with the effects of a disaster. We know that it is the Maryland Responders, Unit Administrators, and response partners who have helped build and strengthen the MDRMRC network. And for that, they are most worthy of being recognized. Please help spread the word about the 2015 MDRMRC Awards!
The application period for the 2015 Maryland Responds MRC (MDRMRC) Awards is now open! Download an Award Application Form HERE and nominate an individual or organization who inspires you today.
EXTENDED DEADLINE: Nominations are due April 30, 2015.
The application period for the 2015 Maryland Responds MRC (MDRMRC) Awards is now open! Download an Award Application Form HERE and nominate an individual or organization who inspires you today.
EXTENDED DEADLINE: Nominations are due April 30, 2015.
2015 Maryland Responds MRC Award Categories
The award categories are split into two main types: (1) Individual Recognition Awards, and (2) Group Recognition Awards.
INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION AWARDS:
Individual recognition awards are presented to individuals who are Maryland Responders or Unit Administrators. Nominees must be registered with the MDRMRC or be a MDRMRC Unit Administrator. Click HERE for a current list of all MDRMRC Unit Administrators. Application must feature achievements and program activities occurring between January 1, 2014, and April 24, 2015.
The Individual Recognition Award categories include:
1. Distinguished Maryland Responder Award: Presented to a Maryland Responder who actively gives exemplary service in support of the MDRMRC in recognition of their outstanding commitment, achievements, and leadership in disaster preparedness and response.
2. Emergency Response Hero Award: Presented to a Responder who has played an instrumental role in responding to a disaster or public health emergency on behalf of the MDRMRC.
3. Public Health Hero Award: Presented to a Responder who has been actively engaged in carrying out public health activities (or a specific public health initiative) on behalf of the MDRMRC.
4. Outstanding Leadership Award: Presented to a Responder or Unit Administrator whose ongoing commitment, leadership and service have an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the MDRMRC Network.
5. Unit Administrator of the Year Award: Presented to a Unit Administrator that has served as an exemplary leader and has successfully supported, advocated on behalf, and helped integrate the MDRMRC into the local community's public health and preparedness infrastructure.
6. Innovative Practice Award: Present to a Responder or Unit Administrator that has initiated and carried out an innovative activity over the past year that has helped build on the unit's and health department's efforts, engaged unit Responders in the process, and contributed to strengthening the community's public health, preparedness, or response system.\
7. Behind the Scenes Award: This award recognizes a Responder or Unit Administrator who represents a strong, yet unseen force which has a profound effect in their environment. It recognizes those who contribute solid and consistent devotion to the job and the team with their efforts behind the scenes.
GROUP RECOGNITION AWARDS
Group Recognition Awards are presented to the groups or organizations that support the Maryland Responds MRC (MDRMRC) Network. Any program, organization or jurisdiction that has partnered with or is affiliated with the MDRMRC Network may apply or be nominated. This includes Maryland Responds County Units and Response Units, local and state government programs, faith-based organizations, civic or volunteer organizations, and private sector entities. Application must feature achievements and program activities occurring between January 1, 2014, and April 24, 2015.
The Group Recognition Award categories include:
8. Excellence in Volunteer Engagement: Presented to an MDRMRC Unit that has successfully implemented innovative and creative solutions for keeping volunteers engaged year-round, and executed successful strategies for securing resources for long-term sustainability.
9. Outstanding Response Partner Organization (or Partnership): Partner Organization (or Partnership) that has helped support the MDRMRC in carrying out its mission and has provided opportunities to participate in public health, preparedness, and response activities. The exemplary partner has played a role in helping to raise MDRMRC awareness and foster its integration into the local community's public health and preparedness infrastructure.
10. Maryland Responds Picture of the Year: A photograph of Responders in action at public health, response, training or other events. Submissions should be in .jpg or .gif format and have a minimum resolution of 640x480. The application narrative must include the MDRMRC Unit name, Unit Administrator's name, photographer's name, and a detailed caption for the photograph. Photo releases for the individuals in the picture must be held by the unit submitting the photograph for recognition.
INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION AWARDS:
Individual recognition awards are presented to individuals who are Maryland Responders or Unit Administrators. Nominees must be registered with the MDRMRC or be a MDRMRC Unit Administrator. Click HERE for a current list of all MDRMRC Unit Administrators. Application must feature achievements and program activities occurring between January 1, 2014, and April 24, 2015.
The Individual Recognition Award categories include:
1. Distinguished Maryland Responder Award: Presented to a Maryland Responder who actively gives exemplary service in support of the MDRMRC in recognition of their outstanding commitment, achievements, and leadership in disaster preparedness and response.
2. Emergency Response Hero Award: Presented to a Responder who has played an instrumental role in responding to a disaster or public health emergency on behalf of the MDRMRC.
3. Public Health Hero Award: Presented to a Responder who has been actively engaged in carrying out public health activities (or a specific public health initiative) on behalf of the MDRMRC.
4. Outstanding Leadership Award: Presented to a Responder or Unit Administrator whose ongoing commitment, leadership and service have an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the MDRMRC Network.
5. Unit Administrator of the Year Award: Presented to a Unit Administrator that has served as an exemplary leader and has successfully supported, advocated on behalf, and helped integrate the MDRMRC into the local community's public health and preparedness infrastructure.
6. Innovative Practice Award: Present to a Responder or Unit Administrator that has initiated and carried out an innovative activity over the past year that has helped build on the unit's and health department's efforts, engaged unit Responders in the process, and contributed to strengthening the community's public health, preparedness, or response system.\
7. Behind the Scenes Award: This award recognizes a Responder or Unit Administrator who represents a strong, yet unseen force which has a profound effect in their environment. It recognizes those who contribute solid and consistent devotion to the job and the team with their efforts behind the scenes.
GROUP RECOGNITION AWARDS
Group Recognition Awards are presented to the groups or organizations that support the Maryland Responds MRC (MDRMRC) Network. Any program, organization or jurisdiction that has partnered with or is affiliated with the MDRMRC Network may apply or be nominated. This includes Maryland Responds County Units and Response Units, local and state government programs, faith-based organizations, civic or volunteer organizations, and private sector entities. Application must feature achievements and program activities occurring between January 1, 2014, and April 24, 2015.
The Group Recognition Award categories include:
8. Excellence in Volunteer Engagement: Presented to an MDRMRC Unit that has successfully implemented innovative and creative solutions for keeping volunteers engaged year-round, and executed successful strategies for securing resources for long-term sustainability.
9. Outstanding Response Partner Organization (or Partnership): Partner Organization (or Partnership) that has helped support the MDRMRC in carrying out its mission and has provided opportunities to participate in public health, preparedness, and response activities. The exemplary partner has played a role in helping to raise MDRMRC awareness and foster its integration into the local community's public health and preparedness infrastructure.
10. Maryland Responds Picture of the Year: A photograph of Responders in action at public health, response, training or other events. Submissions should be in .jpg or .gif format and have a minimum resolution of 640x480. The application narrative must include the MDRMRC Unit name, Unit Administrator's name, photographer's name, and a detailed caption for the photograph. Photo releases for the individuals in the picture must be held by the unit submitting the photograph for recognition.
Award Application
Anyone may serve as a nominator. Individuals may also nominate themselves or a group in which they participate. Individuals may nominate more than one nominee; however, include only one nomination per application form. All entries must be received by April 30, 2015 at 5 p.m.
Award Application: Download an Award Application Form HERE and nominate an individual or organization who inspires you today.
Award Application: Download an Award Application Form HERE and nominate an individual or organization who inspires you today.
- If submitting multiple nominations, complete a separate Award Application Form for each.
- For Individual Recognition Award nominations, complete Section 2 and Section 4 of the Award Application Form including all fields for contact information, award category, and how the nominee met the award criteria.
- For Group Recognition Award nominations, complete Section 3 and Section 4 of the Award Application Form including all fields for contact information, award category, and how the nominee met the award criteria.
- It is highly recommended that you include with the application form some form of visual representation of the person, event, initiative, or organization to be used in the Awards presentation. For example, you may attach a picture of the person being nominated or the event in which they participated, an infographic showing the impact of the service provided, or a logo for a housing or partner organization. Be sure to list all attachments as directed in Section 4 of the Award Application.
- E-mail the completed Award Application Form and supplemental materials or attachments to [email protected] by April 30, 2015, at 5 p.m.
- Subject line of the e-mail must note the award category for the nomination (e.g., Distinguished Maryland Responder Award).
Selection Process and Award Presentation
- Once all applications have been received, a panel of representatives from the Office of Preparedness and Response will select winners in each of the award categories.
- All award winners will be notified in advance of the event, in order to arrange their schedules for participation.
- A representative for the winner of each award category will be invited to attend the Maryland Responds Conference on June 19 to accept the award during the awards ceremony. If the winner cannot attend, a representative of the winner may accept the award on his/her behalf.
- Please note that while we can’t recognize all submissions with awards, all will be considered for other forms of MDRMRC recognition throughout the year (e.g. profiled on the MDRMRC website and newsletter, highlighted via social media, considered for other awards, etc.).
If you have questions about the awards process or criteria, please email [email protected]. We look forward to hearing about the incredible work that individuals and organizations are doing to make their communities safer, stronger, better prepared, and more resilient!