Who can nominate a Good Neighbor?
Can I nominate myself?
Can a group be nominated?
Am I eligible if I volunteer for more than one organization?
How can I make my application stand out?
Can I send a video with my application?
When will the winners be announced?
What do the winners receive?
How do I submit an application?
Who can nominate a Good Neighbor?
Anyone can nominate a Good Neighbor, including brokers, colleagues, spouses, representatives from charities or real estate boards, or candidates themselves. Nominees, however, must be REALTOR® members in good standing.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes, in fact, we encourage you to do so. Though some people aren’t comfortable “selling” themselves, you are uniquely qualified to share the details of your experience with us. If you do nominate yourself, we encourage you to provide at least one testimonial letter from someone else who is familiar with your volunteer work; these testimonials usually speak in more glowing terms than you would use to describe yourself and provide insight into how your work is viewed by others.
Can a group be nominated?
Though there are many deserving groups, this award is specifically intended to recognize individual REALTORS®. The only exception would be if two people—such as a husband and wife—work together equally on a project. If their work truly cannot be separated, they may be nominated together. Keep in mind, judges will compare group nominations with individual nominations, so it is advisable to designate one person as the nominee, if possible.
Am I eligible if I volunteer for more than one organization?
Absolutely. It is common for volunteers to be involved in more than one area of community service. If you would like your application to be considered based on your work with several charities, include the information on the application (attach additional pages if necessary). A word of caution: Quality is more important than quantity. Generally, the more organizations you include, the harder it is for judges to determine the impact you have made, so it’s often better to limit the details to only the organizations for which you have made a significant impact.
How can I make my application stand out?
The essay and the testimonial letters are often the most valuable portions of the application for the judges. The following tips provide insight into what the judges are looking for and how you can submit the most effective essay:
- Be as specific as possible. For example, give a close estimate of the number of hours volunteered, people helped, dollars raised, etc. Vague words like “countless,” “incalculable,” or even “thousands,” are of very little use to the judges.
- Don’t rely on adjectives. Superlatives like “kindest,” “most dedicated,” “most generous,”—though certainly true—don’t help the judges evaluate a nominee’s achievements. Instead, describe something the nominee did that illustrates how kind or dedicated he or she is.
- Don’t be modest. If you are uncomfortable talking about your achievements, have someone else write the essay portion for you and/or provide detailed testimonials. Testimonials from someone you’ve helped are particularly valuable.
- Focus on your accomplishments, not the organization’s in general. The judges need to evaluate the impact the nominee has personally made. Don’t make the mistake of only emphasizing how much good the organization has done; instead, focus on what the nominee has done for the organization.
Can I send a video with my application?
You may send videotapes or DVDs, but we discourage it. With the amount of materials the judges need to review, we can’t guarantee audio-visual materials will get full attention. If you feel the content of a video is truly important and not covered elsewhere in your application, please consider sending a written transcript of the video.
When will the winners be announced?
The finalists will be decided by the end of October. The winner will be announced at the end of November, and will be featured in the December issue of the “The Voice,” MAR’s online newsletter.
What do the winners receive?
The winner will each receive a $2,500 grant for his or her charity, statewide publicity through the “The Voice,” and additional publicity through their local publications and newspapers. In addition, the winner will receive a professional video shoot of their efforts and paid lodging for themselves and a companion to MAR’s Capitol Conference in January 2012 for the Missouri Good Neighbor Awards ceremony.
How do I submit an application?
Applications may be e-mailed to goodneighbor@morealtor.com or sent to the address below. Two (2) copies of your application and all attachments must be received by Oct. 1, 2011.
Good Neighbor Awards
Missouri Association of REALTORS®
2601 Bernadette Place
Columbia, Mo. 65203