Georgia Family Connection Partnership is pleased to announce the 17 finalists for the 2007 Community Achievement Awards. This Family Connection initiative recognizes individuals and entities for their outstanding contributions that help improve conditions for families and children throughout the state.

This year's finalists call attention to strategies for success by providing leadership and guidance, sharing resources and information, building broad-based partnerships, and continuing commitment to community service.

An independent panel of judges with professional experience and knowledge in each category selected the Community Achievement Awards winners. All the finalists demonstrated outstanding success in six categories:

Coordinator
Zoe Myers, Cook County
Angela Westra, Sumter County
Emma Sinkfield, Warren County

Chair
Shirley Aaron, Madison County
Jeri Barr, Cobb County
Roger Vest, Columbia County

Partner
Drew Davis, Wayne County
(The Press Sentinel, Eric Denty, Publisher)

Linda Watson-Kaufman, Baldwin County
(Carrera Model Higher Achievement Program Georgia College & State University)

Gidget Haslam, Quitman County
(Quitman County Pre-K)

Family Advocate
Melanie Berryman, Madison County
Barbara Harris, Crawford County
Shanda Ashley, Calhoun County

Fiscal Agent
City of Harlem, Columbia County
Debra Moore

DeKalb Dept. of Family & Children Services, DeKalb County
Walker Solomon

Regional Collaboration
Region 1
Partners Group, KidsNet, ICAN, Comm. Action Partnership

Region 5
DHR Substance Abuse Prevention

Region 10
Regional Partners Network

Proficient in Standards Awards
Family Connection Partnership is honored to give special recognition to nine collaboratives that have applied for Family Connection Proficient in Standards.

The Proficient in Standards Awards is a Family Connection Partnership initiative recognizing Family Connection collaboratives that demonstrate Standards of Excellence in Collaborative and Communication Decision-Making. This award acknowledges ongoing commitment to community services as reflected in a variety of programs, and initiatives and honors collaboratives that are responsive to community and social needs.

Family Connection Service Awards
Coordinators

15 Years of Service
Tim Johnson, Clark County
Ellen Gerstein, Gwinett County
Robetta McKenzie, Richmond County

10 Years of Service
Catherine Hendrix, Bulloch County
Barbara Earle, Floyd County
Wanda Davis, Glascock County
Saundra Hathaway, Glynn County
Leila Anderson, Houston County
Sherry Cabaniss, Jeff Davis County
Carolyn Swint, Jefferson County
Caroline Chandler, Seminole County
Nancy Peacock, Taylor County
Melinda Quinn, Walton County

5 Years of Service
Glenn Bissett, Brooks County
Tara Jennings, Bryan County
Alicia Varnum, Calhoun County
Sonia Caruthers, Cherokee County
Tawanna Harris, Crawford County
Amanda Bryant, Douglas County
Tatnall Butts, Hancock County
Sheila Dobbs, Jones County
Ceila Mitchell, Lowndes County
Kevin Brown, Marion County
Shamikia Barnes, Oglethorpe County
Lois McDaniel, Pike County
Kathy Megahee, Thomas County
Sandra Wright, Tift County
Shari Adam, Toombs County
Roy Jackson, Washington County
Alicia Varnum, Calhoun County
Rhonda Heuer, Polk County

Appreciation Awards
Regional Family Advisors

Donna Sanders, Region 4
Joan C. Bell, Region 5
Glenda Brown, Region 5
Joanne Alford-Robinette, Region 6
Barbara Harris, Region 6
April Smith, Region 8
Cynthia Spaulding, Region 9
Gail Rakel, Region 10

Family Connection Door Prizes
Share Your Collaborative's Gifts
Want your collaborative to make a lasting impression? Donate a door prize (or multiple door prizes) to be won by one of this year's Familiy Connection conference attendees. Imagine your collaborative's reach when your door prize is awarded to a lucky winner from across the state.

The conference planning committee invites each Family Connection collaborative to contribute a door prize. By contributing a door prize to the event, your collaborative can connect with an existing or potential partner at the conference. The list of contributors will be shared with the conference attendees, so in addition to winning friends and influencing people, you will also get advertising for your collaborative.

What kind of door prize should we contribute?
Your door prize should represent something unique from your region and be valued between $25 and $50. Examples include: specialty items from your collaborative; T-shirts with collaborative logo; retail items from their organization or agency; gift certificates/cards; etc. Don't limit yourself to this list—door prizes have often included some very creative items, including gift baskets.

Please distinguish your door prize from others by attaching a business card or label that reflects your collaborative name, coordinator name, and contact information so that we can announce who made the donation. Feel free to include a brochure, a promotional item with your collaborative logo, or other information about your collaborative in the packaging.

How do I say, "Yes," to donating a door prize?
If your collaborative plans to contribute a door prize, please confirm your intent in advance by e-mailing Pearlette Cid at pearlette@gafcp.org by Sept. 28, so we can have an idea of the total number of door prizes that we'll have available to distribute during the conference workshops.