Wisconsin Good Government Awards Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not find the answers you are looking for, do not hestitate to contact Pam Pirman, Good Government Award program manager, (920) 497-2500 with your questions.

Q. What does it cost to enter?
A. Nothing.  There is no fee to enter.

Q. How long should a nomination be?
A. There are no minimums/maximums, but past nominations have averaged 10 to 20 pages, including supporting materials. The key is to tell your story in a clear and compelling manner for the judges.
 
Q. What do the winners receive?
A. Good Government Award sculptures (stainless steel sculpture pictured on the home page and throughout this site) are presented to the winning communities in each category at the annual conferences of the Wisconsin Counties Association, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Wisconsin Towns Association in September and October. 

Award winners in each category will receive a $1000 Community Enhancement Grant.

 
Q. What should I write?
A. Be sure to address each item on the nomination form. The amount of detail you write on any one area will depend on the initiative you are nominating.
 
Q. Should I include photos or other graphics?
A. Judges may find it easier to understand the material if graphs and photos are included to help illustrate your story. For instance, you may want to include graphs to document financial results.
 
Q. What else must be submitted with my nomination form?
A. If you are nominating a cooperative service agreement or other joint venture, you must provide documentation that the effort was approved by all participating entities between June 2004 and June 2009.

Q. Is financial information required?
A. Financial information helps the judges understand the benefits of your initiative, so it is a good idea to include that type of documentation.  However, nominations that do not include specific financial information will still be considered for recognition.
 
Q. Do the sponsors and supporting organizations choose the winners?
A. No. Award winners are determined by an independent panel of judges from industry, government and other sectors. The sponsor and supporting organizations do not judge the nominations.
 
Q. Is it better to submit a self-nomination or have someone outside the community write the nomination?
A. Who submits the nomination has had no impact on judging decisions in the past. It is most important to submit complete information.
 
Q. Are the winners notified right away?
A. Winners are notified several weeks in advance of the awards presentations at the annual conferences of our supporting organizations.