| Download the 2010 All-Star Community Award application form |
The Purpose
With the All-Star Community Awards program, the Iowa League of Cities seeks to acknowledge and encourage excellence in local government. The program provides an opportunity for officials and staff of member cities to receive recognition for their superior and innovative efforts. In addition, the program provides a means for sharing Iowa’s best public service ideas and demonstrates that those involved with local government are progressive, caring and committed to their communities.
Guidelines and Preparation
- One entry to the All-Star Community awards per city per year.
- Entries must come from a member city.
- Programs or projects successfully operating or completed between January 1 and December 31, 2009.
- Only the information found on the entry form will be used for judging.
- Your entry must include the project’s costs or the savings it achieved.
- Your entry must include how the project will impact your city in the future.
- Entries will only be eligible if the entry form is completed and submitted by the due date, which is April 9.
- The mayor and city clerk must sign the entry form.
The Judging
Entries are divided into three population categories; less than 3,000, 3,000-9,999 and more than 10,000. Independent judges knowledgeable in local government will evaluate each project. One winner will be chosen from each population category.
The judges will look for each project’s impact on the community, including how it met the community’s needs, its value to the community, how many people it affected and its longevity. Projects will also be judged on originality, cost-effectiveness and innovation. Projects involving collaboration between entities, such as a city-county project or a partnership between a city and a school district, could receive special recognition.
A new special recognition category is being added this year. A separate panel of judges with knowledge in the area of sustainability will have the opportunity to give special recognition to a project for its efforts in sustainability. Like the special recognition for service sharing, judges may choose not to award this recognition. Wondering what sustainability means? Below are some definitions.
- Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Most accepted definition from the 1987 UN Brundtland Commission
- To create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
The Prize
The All-Star Community Award is an attractive, stand-alone, star-shaped award suitable for display in your city hall. Winning projects will be highlighted at the League’s Annual Conference & Exhibit in Coralville, September 22-24, 2010. Winners will also be featured in the League magazine, Cityscape, and brought to the attention of local media. All entries will be featured on the League’s Web site in the Cities in Action section, and in the City Showcase at the League’s Annual Conference & Exhibit. More information on the showcase is available in the next section.
City Showcase
Last year, a new component was added to the All-Star Awards, the City Showcase. Any All-Star Award applicant could exhibit at the showcase at the 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibit. Those who participated found it to be an extremely valuable and fulfilling commitment. It was a great opportunity for all applicants to share the innovative and progressive projects in their city with other officials.
Any 2010 All-Star Award applicant may display their project at the 2010 Annual Conference & Exhibit. Showcase participants set up a booth, open during exhibit hall hours, and city personnel may be available to discuss the project and answer questions. Exhibiting in the showcase costs $35, which includes the booth, table and chairs. Participants will also receive one free registration with a paid registration (limit one).
As with the All-Star Community Award, the goal of the City Showcase is to celebrate city projects or programs that have helped improve the community, including city service improvements, quality of life enrichment and local government partnerships. The League encourages communities of all sizes to participate.
If you’re interested in exhibiting in a City Showcase at the 2010 Annual Conference & Exhibit, to be held September 22-24 in Coralville, please be sure to check the box on the application noting your interest. Interest will determine whether the showcase will be held in 2010.
Entry Deadline
Entries are due in the League office by Friday, April 9, 2010. Late entries will not be accepted. Email the completed form to bethanyduncan@iowaleague.org or mail to: Iowa League of Cities, ATTN: All-Star Community Awards, 317 Sixth Avenue, Suite 800, Des Moines, IA 50309
For more information about the program, please call the League at (515) 244-7282 or e-mail bethanyduncan@iowaleague.org.