Mary Reid

From time to time I write about my work with the International Centre of Excellence for Local eDemocracy (ICELE).

And the news is that we are sponsoring the new international Making a Difference Online Awards for local edemocracy.

To quote from the blurb about the awards ......

The Awards will recognise politicians and organisations who have 'made a tangible difference' by engaging online.

Awards will be given in three categories:

1. Organisational eParticipation - touching communities
This eminent award will be given to the organisation who can show how, through engaging online, they have made a real difference to the communities they serve, from a change in services, to a change in policy, to the delivery of a new service.

2. ePolitician - making a difference on the ground
This award will be given to the politician who can demonstrate how, by engaging online, they have made a difference to their electorate, and how online engagement has improved local people's lives.

3. Ministerial Award - improving lives locally
In addition to the above two awards, Parmjit Dhanda, Minister for Local eDemocracy at Communites and Local Government, will look at the final short listed group and select the project which is the most outstanding piece of work in England and which he feels deserves to be highly commended. That person or project will receive a special Ministerial Award.

The awards are open to organisations, individuals and politicians worldwide and will judged by a panel of experts from ICELE's International Advisory Group which features organisations including Communities and Local Government, the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Entering the awards could not be simpler - a quick online application is available at www.icele.org. Remember the final date for submission is the 23rd January 2008.

So now you know what to do - don't be modest and wait for someone to nominate you or your organisation, just nominate yourself.