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2008 Jett Award Winning Program Information is Now Available!

Entry Deadline November 1

The NALS Foundation is pleased to sponsor the NALS Jett Awards. Established in 1994, and named after NALS founder, Eula Mae Jett, the Jett Awards is an annual competition in which states and chapters outline their successful programs and submit them for review by an Awards Committee. The Jett Awards program was developed with a two-fold purpose in mind. First to recognize the “best of the best” programs throughout NALS; and second to provide a resource of proven successful program guidelines for other states and chapters to emulate and adapt for their own use.

Effective state and chapter membership efforts and educational endeavors are the foundation of success for NALS. Through your efforts, NALS has excelled in education, certification, and professionalism.

Is your state or chapter struggling to come up with new programs or ideas?
Why reinvent the wheel when your state or chapter can access the Jett Awards library of successful programs? The full Jett Awards library contents are available for your use. A catalog is available on-line by downloading this request form.

Has Your State or Chapter Implemented a Successful Program?
If you can answer yes, then you should share your successful program with other states and chapters throughout NALS by submitting your program for consideration for a Jett Award. All entries are classified first by association type/size. To maintain a level playing field, NALS states and chapters compete against other states and like-sized chapters. There are four classifications for all programs:

State: Programs or campaigns conducted exclusively by state associations.

Large chapter: Programs or campaigns conducted by chapters with more than 51 members.

Medium chapter: Programs or campaigns conducted by chapters with 26 to 50 members.

Small chapter: Programs or campaigns conducted by chapters with 25 or fewer members.

In addition, programs are categorized in eight general areas, and are evaluated against other like programs. The eight categories are:

1. Membership Development

• Successful membership promotion
• Effective use of direct mail
• Recognition of new members
• Rewarding current members
• Retention campaign

2. Association Development

• Enhancement of image
• Bar relations
• Charity events
• Working with a changing membership base

3. Association Enterprises

• Handbook development
• Leadership training
• Nondues income

4. CLE One-Time Program

• Special guest speaker
• Law Day
• Promotion of educational program
• Evaluation of educational program

5. CLE Series of Related Topics

• Court Observance Day activities
• Legal Training Course
• Promotion of educational series
• Evaluation of educational program

6. ALS Certification Program

• Establishing study groups
• Recognition program

7. PLS Certification Program

• Establishing study groups
• Recognition program

8. Certification Programs

• Creating an environment of professionalism
• Promotion to members
• Promotion to law firms
• Promotion to nonmembers

Judging

An Awards Committee, consisting of an independent panel of association executives, will evaluate each entry based on an established set of six criteria. The criteria were developed to ensure that each entry provided adequate information to allow the program to be adapted and implemented by other states and chapters. The criteria include:

• Needs Assessment
• Planning and Design
• Logistics and Production
• Budgeting and Finance
• Marketing, Promoting, and Advertising
• Evaluation

Awards

The Awards are divided into three levels. Programs in each classification and category are eligible for either a second place Cornerstone Award, or a first place Keystone Award. One program out of all the entries, among all classes and categories will be recognized as the best overall program and will receive the Founders Award. If the judges deem no entries submitted in a particular category deserve an award, none will be given. Award winners will be notified upon completion of judging.

All award winning programs will receive special recognition at the Professional Development Conference and will be displayed throughout the conference, but the recognition does not end there. Award winning programs will also be featured in @LAW and on the NALS Website.

Entry Rules

All entries and supporting materials used in the program, including marketing materials, manuals, brochures, flyers, and budget must be received at the NALS Resource Center by November 1. All entries must follow the prescribed format and must be submitted in both a hard copy format on white 8 1/2" x 11" paper, placed in plastic sleeves in a three-ring binder AND electronically on a CD in PDF Format.

Entries will not be judged unless all the questions are answered. Responses should be numbered in the same order as the questions. Please keep your responses as concise as possible.

All entries become the property of the NALS Library, and all award-winning programs will be available for use by other NALS states and chapters.

Format for Submission

I. General Description of Your Program

A general description of you program must be limited to one 8 1/2" x 11” page. This page should provide a summary of your program and must include the following information.

A. The official title of the program, the classification and category for which the entry is being submitted (entries may be re-categorized at the discretion of the Awards Committee), the state/chapter name, and your name, address, telephone number, and email address.

B. A brief description of your program, including its format, size, purpose, topic, and audience. For example, "a series of six 2-hour audio conferences for support staff to assist them in dealing more effectively with clients."

C. A brief summary of your program. The purpose is to direct the reader's attention to those aspects or elements of the program that make the program exceptional and that make the program applicable to other states or chapters.

II. Judging Criteria

A. Needs Assessment

1. How was the need for this program identified (surveys, requests, please quantify)?

2. How does this program address this need?

B. Planning and Design

1. List the program's objectives.

2. Describe the steps taken to design and develop the program (planning process, members involved, creativity).

C. Logistics and Production

1. How was the program delivered to the target audience (room, room set up, etc.)?

2. Provide details describing educational materials, methods, and resources. Include samples of printed materials used (lecture, small group discussion, handouts).

D. Budgeting and Finance

1. What is the annual income and expenses of your chapter/state?

2. Was this program funded in whole or in part by a Grant from the NALS Foundation?

3. What were the program's broad financial objectives (profit, break-even, or subsidized service)? Choose one and tell why.

4. Provide both the projected revenue and expense, as well as the actual revenue and expense.

5. Provide your best estimate of association resources expended on this program. You might use, for example, total dollars and total volunteer time.

E. Marketing, Promoting, and Advertising

1. List and describe the specific marketing, promotional and advertising vehicles used.

D. Evaluation

1. To what extent did the program achieve stated objectives (quantify results such as 10 new members)?

2. What broader impact, if any, did this program have on the growth, image or performance of the state/chapter or its members?

3. Based on the outcome of this program, describe the most significant changes that might be made the next time a similar program is offered.

Why reinvent the wheel? Not just a competition,
the Jett Awards are a terrific member benefit!