Need more time to nominate a deserving person or group for the 2013 Access Press Charlie Smith Award?
You’re in luck. The deadline for nominations has been extended to Aug. 9. The newspaper’s Board of Directors has decided to give community members more time to submit nominations for the coveted award, which is given in recognition of outstanding service to Minnesota’s disability community. Award applications are available on the newspaper’s website, at www.testing.accesspress.org and can be easily downloaded in pdf and docx formats or by calling the office at 651-644-2133. Anyone needing accommodations in obtaining and submitting an award nomination is urged to call.
The Award is named in honor of the late Charlie Smith, founding editor of Access Press. He was a well-known Minnesota disability rights advocate and worked on many issues at the local and state levels. With the support of his family, Smith founded the newspaper in 1990. Smith died of cancer in 2001 but not before establishing Access Press as one of the nation’s first disability publications.
Nominations and questions about the nomination forms and process can be sent via email to [email protected], via fax to 651-644-2136, or mail to Access Press, c/o Charlie Award Committee, 161 St. Anthony Avenue #910; St. Paul, MN 55103.
If possible, send the newspaper office either a jpeg photo or an actual picture of the nominee, or be prepared to tell the editors where a picture can be obtained. Pictures and biographies of nominees will be published in the September issue of the newspaper and displayed at the Nov. 1 award banquet. Mailed photos will be returned if requested.
Nominees can be from anywhere in Minnesota. The board encourages nominations from throughout the state. Additional information, such as news stories and resumes, can be attached to the nomination. Past nominees can be nominated again, although people cannot win more than once. The board does ask that people not nominate themselves.
Previous winners of the Charlie Award
2012: Charles “Chuck” Van Heuveln
2011: Jeff Bangsberg, consultant, legislative activist
2010: Steve Kuntz, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
2009: Anne Henry, Minnesota Disability Law Center
2008: Pete Feigal, Cofounder, Tilting at Windmills
2007: Jim and Claudia Carlisle, People Enhancing People
2006: John Smith, University of Minnesota
2005: Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (MN-CCD)
2004: Rick Cardenas, Co-Director of Advocating Change Together (ACT)
2003: Margot Imdieke Cross, Minnesota State Council on Disability
