What are the award categories?
Best Committee: This award recognizes overall outstanding achievement by a Substantive Committee. A “Best Committee” distinguishes itself by its strong leadership; active engagement of members; cultivation of future leadership; production of membership benefits; innovation in projects or products; engagement with Section leadership and other Substantive Committees or Special Committees; and timely fulfillment of administrative requirements.
Best Membership Engagement: This award recognizes a Substantive Committee that consistently and effectively connects with its membership during the ABA year through various means including email, ABA Communities, letters, in-person and remote meetings, committee networking events, and social media to deliver timely, relevant information and opportunities to connect with other members and to participate in committee activities.
Best Webinar/Podcast: This award recognizes the Substantive Committee that produces the best CLE or non-CLE webinar or podcast during the ABA year. The best webinar or podcast may be distinguished by one or more of the following qualities to be identified by the nominator: innovate presentation style, timeliness in addressing a new or emerging issue, attendance, collaboration with other entities inside or outside of the Section, or quality of speakers.
Best Written Content: This award recognizes a Substantive Committee the consistently produces quality original written content throughout the ABA year. The award recognizes an overall body of work which may include articles, postings to ABA Communities, and the Year in Review chapter. As the Year in Review chapter is required of all Substantive Committees, a Substantive Committee must produce a Year in Review chapter to be considered for the Best Written Content award.
Outstanding Work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: This award recognizes a Committee that stands out through its excellence in promoting the SEER and ABA values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by creation and delivery of content related to those goals and related issues such as environmental justice, notable collaborations within or outside the Section, and increased recruitment, retention, and engagement of a diverse membership within the Committee and thus to the Section’s capacity to serve such members.
Special Achievement Award: This award recognizes an outstanding effort or achievement by a Substantive Committee during the ABA year. This may include a Substantive Committee that has shown significant improvement, a Substantive Committee that has undertaken an innovative committee activity, or another achievement to be identified by the nominator.