Excellence in Leadership (exclusive to presidents of community/neighborhood organizations) -
This award recognizes neighborhood organization presidents for outstanding leadership and/or accomplishments during their tenure. Presidents nominated must have started their term between January 1st and December 31st.

Excellence in Innovative Newsletter Production - Community newsletters are vital tools to keep residents informed of important neighborhood issues and events. The purpose of this award is to recognize publications that embody the "best practices" in newsletter production and distribution. Previous winners may not apply.

Excellence in Community Building Projects - Much of the hard work of citizens in preserving and maintaining neighborhoods goes unnoticed. This category provides means to recognize and reward these unsung heroes. Community building projects are activities that are initiated by any organization to improve the physical or social environment of their community. Examples include but are not limited to landscaping, signage, park improvements, youth programs, clean-up campaigns, and volunteer services. The project must have been completed between January 1st and December 31st.

Excellence in Neighborly Service - This award recognizes the simple acts of kindness, which help build community spirit. Individuals or groups nominated for this award demonstrate the importance of lending a helping hand and providing volunteer services within neighborhoods. Service must have been performed between January 1st and December 31st. 

Excellence in Safety & Security Initiatives - This award recognizes neighborhood organizations that have established programs, policies, and procedures that are designed to protect and ensure the safety of residents and property within the community. The initiative must have occurred between January 1st and December 31st.

Up & Coming Community Organization - Getting organized to address community concerns is no easy task. This award honors the journey of citizens in forming a community organization. Only community organizations that have been in existence for less than two years are eligible.

Clean and Attractive Neighborhood of the Year - Clean and Attractive Neighborhoods (C.A.N.) encourages and recognizes residents that take advantage of the many clean up and beautification programs available through various County Departments and Divisions. These programs include but are not limited to Community Clean Ups, Paint the Town, Streetscape and ReNEW grants. This award recognizes the organization that has gone "above and beyond" to make their neighborhood more beautiful. The project(s) must have been completed between January 1st and December 31st in newsletter production and distribution. Previous winners may not apply.

Any community or neighborhood organization within unincorporated Orange County is eligible for nomination. A community or neighborhood organization is one in which the membership consists of residents or property owners in a specified residential area. Nominations may be submitted by an individual or by a community organization representative.

In order to be considered for a Community Organization Award, a community/neighborhood organization representative must print and complete the nomination form (PDF - .05 MB) and mail to:

Orange County Community Organization Awards
Neighborhood Services Division
Post Office Box 1393
Orlando, Florida 32802-1393

Or, nominations may be hand-delivered to:

Neighborhood Services Division
Orange County Internal Operations Center I (IOC I)
450 E. South Street, 3rd Floor, Suite 332
Orlando, Florida 32801

Entries must be submitted to the Neighborhood Services Division by no later than 5:00 P.M., June 19, 2009. Late entries will not be accepted. Faxed documents will not be accepted. Mailed entries must be postmarked by the announced deadline.

After the applications are received, a panel of judges will review them and select candidates from the five categories. The winners will be honored at the annual Orange County Community Conference generally held in July of each year Community Conference. All award nominees must register for the conference.

Please submit the applications in the following manner:

1. Nominations should be typed or written legibly.
2. The entire nomination should not exceed two 8 ½ x 11 inch pages, excluding attachments, using at least a 12-point font size.
3. Do not include a cover letter or table of contents.
4. Please provide supporting documentation if needed, such as newsletters and/or newspaper articles, photos, or letters of support. All attachments, except newsletters, must be copied onto 8 ½ x 11 sheets of paper. Please do not exceed a total of five examples.
5. Submit the completed original nomination form along with three (3) additional copies.