The States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) is happy to announce a call for its 2008 awards nominations. NOTE: Projects submitted in 2007 that were unsuccessful can be re-submitted in 2008 for consideration. Each year SOBA requests nominations for the following awards: • The William H. Ivers Award • Outstanding Service Award • Professional Service Award • Special Recognition Award • State Boating Access Program Excellence Award • State Clean Vessel (CVA) Program Excellence Award and • Outstanding Project Awards in Four (4) categories: 1) small, 2) mid-size, 3) large, and 4) marina and harbors. The awards will be presented at SOBA’s annual conference, October 13-16, in Norfolk, Virginia. Your Nominations are Worth the Effort! Recognition of outstanding work is very important and all too often outstanding work goes unrecognized. The SOBA Awards Program allows us to help you by recognizing outstanding achievement of your staff, your peers, and the many cooperators and partners you work with. The SOBA Executive Board makes an extra effort to recognize outstanding work; a nomination in itself is a statement of recognition and definitely worth the effort! How to Nominate Following is a complete description of award criteria for all awards and nomination forms. Nominations should be forwarded to Steve Miller, by fax, mail or e-mail (see nomination form) no later than Monday, May 12, 2008. All work initiatives should be completed when your nomination information is submitted, and if in rare circumstances this is not possible, please contact Steve Miller directly. Send Completed Application Form and Supporting Materials to: Steve Miller, Director c/o Ms.Kathy Shubak Bureau of Facilities and Lands Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707 E-mail: Katherine.Shubak@wisconsin.gov Tel: 608-264-8993 - Fax: 608-247-2750 E-mail: Steven.w.miller@wisconsin.gov Tel: 608-266-5782 - Fax: 608-267-2750 Award Descriptions The William H. Ivers Award is presented to an individual who has contributed significantly over at least 15 years to the design, construction, management or administration of boat access facilities or programs. The nominee’s contributions will exemplify high standards of professionalism and outstanding achievement. (See Criteria) NOMINATE TODAY! The Outstanding Service Award is presented to an individual or to an agency who have made either a one-time or continuing contribution to improved access on our nation’s public waters for boaters and anglers. (See Criteria) NOMINATE TODAY! The Professional Service Award is presented to an individual SOBA member or to a group of SOBA members (most often a designated Task Force or Committee) for service on a special project or for ongoing efforts on behalf of SOBA’s mission. (See Criteria) NOMINATE TODAY! The Special Recognition Award is presented to an individual, group, organization or political subdivision in recognition of activities that are singularly illustrative or supportive of SOBA’s mission. (See Criteria) NOMINATE TODAY! The State Boating Access Program Excellent Award is presented to a state agency that has primary responsibility for boat access development, and which has excelled over time and provided outstanding service to its residents and visitors to the state. (See Criteria) NOMINATE TODAY! The State Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Program Excellence Award is presented to a state agency that has primary responsibility for the state clean vessel act program, and which has excelled over time and provided outstanding service to its residents and visitors to the state. (See Criteria) NOMINATE TODAY! The Outstanding Project Awards are presented to agencies, groups, local government, or corporations involved in boating access projects that are judged to be useful, high quality, unique, economical and/or innovative. There are four (4) project award categories: 1) small, 2) mid-size, 3) large, and 4) marina and harbors (includes BIG projects). (See Criteria) NOMINATE TODAY!