As a group, independent insurance agents stand out as professionals who care about the world around them. Most agents find time in their busy careers to volunteer in a community organization, church or school, with the goal of improving their local community—all of which improve the area where they live.

But some agents and agencies stand above the crowd, going further to help others less fortunate. The Rough Notes Company Community Service Award was created to recognize those agents and agencies that have been exemplary in their investment of time, money and effort to improve the community and the world around them.

December 31, 2010, is the deadline to nominate an agent or agency for this award. The Rough Notes Company will present a check for $5,000 to the winner’s charity or community service organization in the name of the winning agent or agency. The winner also will receive an eagle statue with an engraved plaque recognizing its efforts to help the needy.

Nominations for the award may come from associations, companies, vendors or charities, as well as self-nominations.The winner will be honored at an awards dinner in Indianapolis in early 2011 in conjunction with Rough Notes magazine’s annual Marketing Agency of the Year celebration. In addition, Rough Notes magazine will feature an article on the winning agent/agency.

Please read the following rules and nomination form and submit your recommendation by December 31, 2010.

Award Conditions and Prerequisites

Purpose: To recognize and present an award to an independent insurance broker, agent or agency that has demonstrated extraordinary community service within his/her/its local, regional or national community. And, to present the winning community service project with a check in the amount of $5,000 to help further its special cause(s).

Criteria: Nominees will be judged on their overall contribution (funds raised, people helped, volunteerism, etc.) to their community service project and/or initiative, and the positive impact (both short-term and long-term) that their efforts have made toward their community service project.

Nomination Period: Nominations will be accepted at the offices of Rough Notes magazine by U.S. mail, overnight delivery or hand delivery up to and including December 31, 2010. No nomination forms will be accepted after December 31, 2010. Please note that no facsimiles or e-mails will be accepted.

Conditions:

1. Nominators must complete the nomination form in its entirety and provide all supporting documentation;

2. All nomination forms and supporting documentation must be received at the offices of Rough Notes magazine no later than December 31, 2010;

3. No facsimiles or e-mails will be accepted;

4. All nomination forms and supporting documentation become the exclusive property of The Rough Notes Company. Further, the nomination form and supporting documentation may be used at the sole discretion of Rough Notes magazine to publicize the award and award recipient, and to promote the Community Service Award program;

5. A letter from the community service project verifying and describing the project must accompany the nomination form;

6. Incomplete nomination forms or nomination forms without supporting documents will not be considered;

7. Nominators may nominate themselves or their agency.

Note: Please detail only one service project per nominee.

Selection: Designated individuals from The Rough Notes Company and selected others will review all nomination forms and supporting documentation and select a winner and honorable mention recipients. The winner and honorable mention recipients will be honored at Rough Notes magazine’s Marketing Agency of the Year awards dinner in Indianapolis. A representative of the winning community service project will also be invited to attend this function to be honored and presented with a check.

Awards: 

1. The winning community service project will be presented with a check in the amount of $5,000 in the name of the award recipient.

2. The winning broker, agent or agency and honorable mention recipients will be presented with a sculptured engraved eagle.

3. Rough Notes magazine will publish an article to publicize the community service project, the award winner and the honorable mention recipients.

4. The awards dinner will be held in Indianapolis in early 2011.

Mailing: All nomination forms and supporting documents are to be sent to:

The Rough Notes Company

Attn: Community Service Award

11690 Technology Drive

Carmel, Indiana 46032-5600