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Mayor's Award of Distinction

February 02, 2011

Every day someone in the Bristol area goes the extra mile to help a neighbor, enrich the community or impact the world. Those individuals – or organizations – deserve formal recognition, and the Mayors’ Award of Distinction was created for that very purpose.

On Tuesday, Bristol Virginia Mayor Don Ashley and Bristol Tennessee Mayor Margaret Feierabend held a joint news conference to initiate the call for nominations for this year’s award.

“We all know of neighbors, friends and business associates who have made a difference in our community,” says Mayor Ashley. “This is the fourth year we are encouraging the public to document these selfless acts so we can recognize the most outstanding contributors. We are excited to join Bristol Tennessee in sponsoring this worthwhile event.”

In 2008, the cities of Bristol Virginia and Bristol Tennessee established the annual Mayors’ Award of Distinction to recognize an individual or organization that has demonstrated a single outstanding act or contribution, or a series of acts or contributions, that made a significant, lasting impact on the Bristol community through services to the arts, industry, commerce, entertainment, education or the welfare of others. The award can also recognize someone who has achieved regional, national or international recognition, while promoting Bristol in the process. More than 10 individuals have been recognized since the award was created in 2008.

An award panel comprising members of civic organizations, nonprofit groups and the media will review and select up to three winners. The winners will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception on May 1, 2011. Amy Christian of the Bristol Herald Courier is chairing the 2011 Mayors’ Award of Distinction panel.

Nominations may be mailed, delivered or emailed to Bristol Virginia or Bristol Tennessee city offices. The deadline for nominations is March 1, and all submissions must be postmarked by that date. Previous winners are not eligible.

Nominees must have been born in, live in, work in or have strong ties to the Bristol community. Self-nominations are welcomed, and posthumous nominations may be submitted up to 24 months following the death of a nominee, commencing 12 months from the date of death. Nomination forms are available at the Bristol Public Library, YWCA, YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, Slater and Douglass community centers and at Bristol Virginia and Bristol Tennessee city halls. Nominations must include the following supporting materials:


* Statement explaining why the contribution is outstanding (one-page maximum);
* Description of the nominee’s projects, activities or services, with dates (two-page maximum)
* Supplemental documents such as letters or brochures (limit of four).


Additional information, rules and nomination forms are available at www.bristolva.org or www.bristoltn.org.