LITERACY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS PROGRAM of the Sales Association of the Paper Industry

Purpose

The Sales Association of the Paper Industry (SAPI) has established the Literacy Achievement Awards Program to help reduce functional illiteracy in the United States by encouraging paper manufacturers, wholesalers, converters and labor unions to take action steps in the workplace and in communities in which they conduct their businesses.

Illiteracy is a major problem because it restricts personal growth, reduces the chance to participate in a democratic society and curtails the opportunity to contribute effectively in the work place. At work, functional illiteracy can cause loss of promotional opportunities for the worker and loss of productivity for the organization. Other results include, misinterpreted orders, missed deadlines, poor quality products, safety violations and work place accidents, customer dissatisfaction and the inability to use new technology.

Some Examples of Qualifying Programs

• Remedial literacy training programs within the organization and/or the communities in which it operates.
• Preparation, distribution and application of literacy materials.
• Projects developed in partnership with other organizations, including libraries and literacy organizations.
• Programs that help create public awareness of the problems of illiteracy.

Criteria for Entering

• Any organization engaged in the process of manufacturing, distributing and/or converting of pulp, paper and paperboard in the United States may submit an entry. Entries are limited to activities in the United States. "Confidential" entries cannot be accepted.
• Entries must be submitted by an organization. The citation of names of individuals and/or departments as part of the entry is permitted.
• The achievement must have become actual practice during the 2002-2003 period.
• There is no limit to the number of entries that may be submitted. However, each such entry must be treated as a separate application.

Format of Entry

• The official Application Form must be included with the submission, including the responses to questions I through VII.
• Entries may included photographs, illustrations, brochures, direct mail pieces, posters and public service announcements. Please do not included videotapes, films or 35 mm slides.
• Entries must be submitted in 8 ½ x 11” size in a three ring binder.

Deadline

• Entries must be submitted no later than Friday, February 14, 2003.

Judging

• Entries will be judged based on the following:
1. Originality of ideas or concepts, research, planning, execution and relevance
2. Impact of results, current and future
3. Quality of presentation
• Entries will be evaluated by an impartial committee made up of independent experts from outside the paper industry.
• The names of the judges will be announced in the near future.
• The judges may give a duplicate award, or no award at all, based on the quality of the applications received.

Award Description

• Award will be in the form of a specially commissioned plaque suitable for prominent display.

Award Presentation

• Award(s) will be presented to the winning organization(s) at the Annual Luncheon of the Sales Association of the Paper Industry, during Paper Week, in the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, on Monday, March 10, 2003. The winner(s) will be notified in sufficient time prior to the luncheon so that suitable arrangement for acceptance can be made.
• Entries will not be returned and will become the property of the SAPI Literacy Achievement Awards Program.
• Publicity, publication, advertising and exhibition rights to all entries may be exercised by the SAPI Literacy Achievement Awards Program.

Click Here to Download the Application in PDF Format