IWL Awards for 2009

The 2008 awards were presented at the conference held in Idaho Falls on September 27th. Click on the links below to see who the 2008 IWL Award winners are.

Send the nominations for any of these awards to IWL Second Vice President,
Wallace Swenson
339 Berrett Ave
Shelley ID 82374-1256
208 357-3503
Nominations may be posted from February 1, 2009 through July 01, 2009.

IWL Published Poet of the Year, Published Writer of the Year, and Lifetime Service Awards

The following comes from the Operational Procedured enacted at the 2006 conference.

ARTICLE XI: Rules and Regulations

Section 4. Writing Contests and Awards.

f. IWL Poet of the Year, Writer of the Year, and Lifetime Service Awards:

(1) The League Second Vice President has the responsibility for the three IWL awards.

(2) Any chapter or member may nominate one IWL member per year for these awards. Eligibility is per Article III of the Bylaws. Authors may be re-nominated if not selected. Previous Poet of the Year or Writer of the Year winners may be re-nominated.

(3) Three copies of all nominations must be mailed to the League Second Vice President. Postmark deadline is July 1st for any nominations.

(4) The Second Vice President selects three judges for each of the awards. Judges must not be current or former members of the Idaho Writers' League or related to any IWL member. One person may judge two or all three award nominations. The prizes will be determined each year by the State Officers.

g. IWL Poet of the Year and Writer of the Year Awards:

(1) Criteria for nomination:
(a) Publication (see i. Publication) of written work during the previous year.

(2) Nominations must include:
(a) A completed Nomination form.
(b) A letter of introduction about the nominee.
(c) A resume of the writer's work published in the previous year (e.g., work published in 2004 for the 2005 award).
(d) Photocopies of work(s) published in magazines, journals, newspapers, etc., including the masthead of the publication showing the date of publication. Entire published books should be sent; these will be returned.

h. Lifetime Service Award:

(1) Purpose for award
(a) The IWL Lifetime Service Award is established as the highest honor the league may bestow on any of its members. The award may be presented in any given year to a worthy nominee or nominees, but does not need to be awarded every year.
(b) The IWL recognizes that members make many sacrifices to provide leadership and service to the league and the chapters.
(c) The IWL presents this award in recognition of outstanding service given by members to the League, their chapter, and their community.

(1) Criteria considered for nomination:
(a) Current member of the IWL with a minimum of eight consecutive years as a member of the IWL prior to the nomination.
(b) A minimum of five years of service to the IWL at the state and chapter level with two or more years as a state or chapter officer. Service must consist of any of the following:
(i) Any state officer position.
(ii) Any chapter officer position.
(iii) State or chapter secretary.
(iv) Committee chairperson.
(v) State or chapter newsletter editor.
(vi) Participation in IWL sponsored community service.
(c) Written works, whether published or not.
(d) Cannot be a previous Lifetime Achievement or Service Award winner.

(2) Nomination must include:
(a) A completed Nomination form.
(b) A cover letter from the nominator.
(c) List of years as a member of the IWL.
(d) Summary of IWL service at state or local level.
(e) Samples of written work. Minimum page limit 10; maximum 25.

i. Publication:

(1) Publication for all Contest and Awards categories include any of the following:
(a) Self-published books or booklets for sale to the general public (this includes vanity press).
(b) Published books or booklets for which the author received payment.
(c) Magazines, newspapers, literary and other journals, and any other publications which may or may not pay in kind or in cash, but which provide a byline for the author.
(d) Chapbooks of poetry, essays, articles, or short stories published by chapters, the author, or outside publishers which are for sale or are available to the general public, which may or may not pay in kind or in cash, but which provide a byline for the author.
(e) Electronic or other media which include byline.

Updated: October 12, 2008