Call for Nominations
Friend of Southern IPM Award

Submission Deadline:
5:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, November 21, 2008

The Southern Region IPM Center is pleased to release this call for nominations for Friend of Southern IPM Awards. This award program recognizes extraordinary achievement in research, Extension and implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Southern Region of the United States.

Integrated Pest Management is an approach to managing risk associated with pests and pest management that optimizes economic, environmental and social benefits. Since 2003, the Southern Region IPM Center (SRIPMC) has worked with USDA, Land Grant universities, and many other partners in promoting and facilitating the development and implementation of IPM in many settings across the region. Many of these partners have contributed to the region’s well being through IPM for years or even decades.

The Friends of Southern IPM Awards Program (hereafter, “Friends Awards”) provides public recognition for individual and team contributions to development of IPM in the region. Small monetary awards are included in order to further support the work of award winners. These funds are intended to showcase the winning projects. (see below).

What is the Prize?

• The Friends Awards provide recognition to award winners. Each winner will receive a plaque or similar prize to be presented at an appropriate venue before an audience of his or her peers.
• Each award (except the Lifetime Achievement Award) will have access to funds up to $2,000 per award for activities supporting the development or dissemination of the work on which the award is based. For instance, these funds might pay for travel to a professional meeting at which a presentation about the work is made. The award will not be made as an honorarium nor may it be applied to personnel costs (salary or benefits).

Award Categories:

We will award as many as six (6) awards in categories shown here. The number of awards made will depend on the quality and number of nominations submitted. Although nominations are expected to suggest an appropriate category, awards may be made in a different category. We will make only one award per category. Categories include:

• Bright Idea: To recognize development of new/innovative ideas or approaches in IPM. Individuals or groups in this category have made significant breakthroughs and devised methods that make IPM implementation easier or more effective. Individuals and groups are eligible. Nominations might include people undertaking research projects.
• IPM Implementer: To recognize success in achieving effective use of IPM “on the ground.” Individuals or groups in this category are IPM practitioners rather than researchers or teachers. Individuals and groups are eligible. Nominations might include IPM users (farmers, managers, etc.) and their advisers (consultants, CCAs, etc.)
• IPM Educator: To recognize successful outreach and education programs that increase the implementation of IPM. Individuals or groups in this category have delivered innovative workshops or classes in IPM that have inspired their students to practice IPM or pass the information to others. Individuals and groups are eligible. Nominations might include Extension agents or specialists.
• Pulling Together: To recognize success by a group in any aspect of developing, promoting, teaching about, and implementing IPM. Only groups are eligible for this category. Groups in this category come from a variety of interests and backgrounds and have “pulled together” for a common goal.
• Future Leader: To recognize extraordinary potential and promise for IPM. Only individuals are eligible for this category. Nominees in this category should be in the early stages of their IPM career and have demonstrated strong potential of providing leadership in some aspect of IPM (for example research, Extension, teaching). Nominees may include graduate students, new faculty, interns, etc.
• Lifetime Achievement: To recognize contributions to any important aspect of Southern Region IPM over many years. Only individuals are eligible for this category. Nominees may include administrators, researchers, educators, and implementers. This is the only category for which no monetary award is anticipated.

Eligibility:

• Any person or group whose work is primarily in the Southern Region is eligible for an award. The Southern Region is defined here by the boundaries of the Southern Region IPM Center (http://www.sripmc.org), and includes 13 states and 2 territories.
• Nominees need not be based in the South. The work upon which the nomination is based must have significant benefit to the Southern Region.
• Anyone may submit a nomination for any person or group. Self-nominations are accepted.

Nominations:

Nominations consist of a short nomination document and (optional) supporting attachments (including photos). Nominations must be submitted using the electronic submissions process located at http://www.sripmc.org/friendaward2009/.

• The nomination document must be submitted as a PDF file and is limited to 2 pages using a standard 12 point font and 1 inch margins. The nomination should clearly include the names, email and telephone numbers of the nominee(s). This should include a suggested award category and rationale for the nomination.
• Supporting materials may be submitted as attachments in PDF format. These might include letters of support, illustrative examples of the nominee’s work, etc. Nominators are strongly advised to limit the number and length of supporting documents.

Submission Process:

• Deadline for nomination submissions is 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, November 21.
• Use the online submission process found at http://www.sripmc.org/friendaward2009/.

Selection Process:

• Nominations will be reviewed and recommendations for awards will be made by the SRIPMC Advisory Council. The SRIPMC Steering Committee will approve the final list of awards.

Award Presentations:

• SRIPMC Staff will confer with those writing winning nominations to determine the best way to notify winners.
• Awards will be presented at a venue chosen by the award winner, preferably in front of the winner’s peers. Award winners may be asked to assist with obtaining approval for inclusion in certain venues with setting up local arrangements. Past award presentations have been done in conjunction with field days, regional commodity meetings or conventions, and statewide Extension conferences.
• Award winners are expected to cooperate with SRIPMC in developing one or more public interest news items focused on the award.

Use of Award Funds:

• Short, informal proposals detailing how monetary awards will be used must be approved by SRIPMC staff. SRIPMC will work with award winners to find the most effective way to manage these funds.
• Award winners who use award funds will be required to submit a short report, format and content to be determined, describing how the award funds were used and resulting impacts.

Submit your nominations to Rosemary Hallberg at rhallberg@sripmc.org. If you have any questions, you can call at 919-513-8182.