Overview:
The Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year (VOY) Award recognizes and rewards an outstanding professional chapter leader whose contributions have added significantly to the goals of the American Marketing Association and the larger marketing community.
Who is eligible to be nominated?
Any volunteer with an American Marketing Association membership in good standing and currently serves or previously served on the board of their Professional Chapter is eligible. Nominees should be active volunteers anytime between July 2023 and February 2025 and have recently made a significant impact on the AMA and their community.
Who is eligible to nominate candidates?
- Volunteers with an American Marketing Association membership in good standing.
- Community leaders with a connection to a nominee and the AMA community.
How are the winners chosen?
A panel of volunteer judges evaluates nominations submitted by chapter and community leaders and completes a rating form based on the submission. The nominee with the highest rating will be the winner of the VOY award.
Judges cannot be current nominees or someone who has nominated a volunteer for that year’s submission.
What does the winner receive as recognition?
The Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year recipient is recognized during National Volunteer Appreciation Week and through AMA social media and communication channels.
The winner will also receive an honorary lifetime AMA membership, a trophy recognizing their achievement, and a letter from the AMA CEO.
When is the deadline to submit a nomination?
The 2025 VOY application opens on February 10th and closes on March 7th.
The Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year Process and Judging Criteria:
While the nominations are submitted via Submittable, below are the questions asked, in case you want to prepare your nomination ahead of time. When you are ready, complete the nomination form here.
Submission Form
Submitter’s Details
- First Name
- Last Name
- Your Chapter/Organization
- Your Current Position Held
- Current Email Address
- Current Phone Number
Nominee Details
- Nominee
- Nominee’s Chapter
- Current Board Position Held by Nominee
- Nominee’s Past Board Positions held and/or committees served
- Nominee’s Years of Membership (can be an estimate)
- Nominee’s Years of Volunteer Service (can be an estimate)
- Current Email Address
- Current Phone Number
Please upload ONE letter/document to support your nomination. To better understand the nominee and their qualifications, ensure that your document addresses the following questions in the five categories listed below.
You are welcome to provide examples and quotes for each category where applicable. You can download this template that you can use to write your nomination. Please make sure not to exceed the word count limit for each section.
- Commitment to Chapters and the AMA Community
- Consistency: How has the nominee contributed to their chapter and the AMA community?
- Longevity: How long has the nominee been involved with AMA?
- Dependability: How has the nominee met the needs of their AMA Chapter and the AMA community?
Limit: 250 Words
- Impact and Change Leadership
- Positive Change: How has the nominee’s work made tangible improvements for the chapter, the AMA, or the wider marketing community?
- Leadership and Initiative: Has the nominee taken on leadership roles or initiated projects that have made a significant difference? If so, how?
- Innovation: How has the nominee introduced creative or unique solutions to challenges their chapter or marketing community faces?
Limit: 250 Words
- Community Engagement and Outreach
- Community Involvement: How does the nominee engage the wider marketing community or other stakeholders?
- Diversity and Inclusion: How does the nominee help ensure inclusivity in their work, reaching diverse populations and perspectives?
- Community Leader: Is the nominee viewed as a leader in the AMA community or wider marketing community at either the national or local level? How so?
Limit: 250 Words
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Team Contribution: How does the nominee collaborate with others?
- Mentorship: How has the nominee helped to mentor or guide other volunteers?
- Building Relationships: How does the nominee foster positive relationships and work to resolve conflicts quickly?
Limit: 250 Words
- Overall Excellence and Dedication
- All-around Contribution: How well does the nominee embody the values and mission of the AMA in their actions?
- Consistency in Excellence: How has the nominee maintained a high level of service throughout the year?
- Above and Beyond: How has the nominee demonstrated extraordinary dedication or exceeded expectations?
Limit: 250 Words
Volunteers nominated for the Ric Sweeney Chapter Volunteer of the Year award will be evaluated by a group of judges using the following criteria outlined in this document.
Easy Links:
Submission Template (Please Download/Copy)
Questions? Please email Kendra Clarke, PCC Chair of National Recognition and Celebration.