Family of the Year Program

 Welcome to the Madison Family of the Year

Back Row: Joshua, John (dad), Joseph, and John Travis Front Row: James, Julianna, Denise (mom), Jessica

Please click on one of the below links to find out more about the “Family of the Year” honor and the nomination process.

What is the Madison Family of the Year?
  (This provides the purpose, background, and general process for “Family of the Year” selection)

What's the nomination process?
  (This provides the rules for nomination as the “Family of the Year” and the minimum criteria by which a family may be considered for selection.)

What are the rules?
(This provides the procedure for nominating a family for consideration as the “Family of the Year”)

Forms

Family of the Year Nomination Form

Any questions?

Contact one of the following individuals

NAME
POSITION
PHONE
EMAIL
John Butterfield
Chairperson
656-5438
Bill Weinzierl Deputychair 721-8607 Wweinzierl@aol.com
Cindy Spratley Secretary 679-0233 Sprat99@knology.net

What is the Madison Family of the Year ?

In April of 1996, The Mayor of the City of Madison, recognizing the diversity and richness of family life in Madison, directed the development of a "Family of the Year" program. The goal of the program is to recognize families in our community that maintain wholesome family values and live their lives in a way to promote the qualities of family life that make City of Madison a desirable place to live.

A committee developed to coordinate and implement the program includes members nominated by or through the incumbent committee with appointment from the Mayor.  This membership represents a cross section of Madison residents.  The Mayor does not participate on the Committee, but his office staff provides administrative support. 

Program implementation starts from the nomination of a family that meets the eligibility criteria.  These criteria can be accessed from the home page (http://www.madisonal.gov/familyoftheYear.htm).  Members of the community nominate families that they feel should be considered for selection as the “Family of the Year”.  From the nominations submitted, the Committee will select a number of finalist families.  After meeting with each of the finalist families, the Committee will select the “Family of the Year”.  The selected family will be formally announced at a reception held at City Hall.  Additionally, all the finalist families will be recognized at the reception.  Donated prizes from area businesses and organizations will be presented to the finalist families. 

Any adult may nominate any family that resides in the City of Madison and meets the eligibility criteria. The selection criteria used by the Committee include: Community/Civic Involvement; Religious Participation; School Participation; Individual Awards, Achievements, and Recognition; and Family Cohesiveness.

The nomination forms and instructions will be available in the foyer of the Madison City Hall or can be copied from the Web site.  The nomination forms will remain sealed until the Committee begins its screening and selection process.  Only those nominations postmarked or delivered to the Mayor’s office by midnight February 28 will be accepted.

Nomination Procedure

1. Any adult person may nominate any family that resides in the city of Madison and meets the eligibility criteria.
2. Complete and sign the form at the bottom of this page. The nominator signature attests that the family meets the eligibility criteria.
3. Deliver or mail the nomination form by midnight of the designated closing date to the Madison City Hall as follows:

Madison Family of the Year
Madison City Hall
100 Hughes Road
Madison, AL 35758

Ground Rules


1. “Family”, for the purposes of nomination and selection, mean persons who are members of an immediate household in accordance with Alabama law.

2. The nominating party, herein called the nominator, may consider nominee activities before January 1, 2006, but should concentrate on those activities between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006 and this is the period which the selection Committee will focus. Areas of involvement within the City of Madison should be the primary focus, but activities outside of Madison may be included.

3. Nominations must be delivered to Madison City Hall or postmarked by midnight , Tuesday, February 28, 2007 . No late submittals.

4. Families must agree to a family interview with representatives of the Selection Committee if selected as a finalist.

5. The nominator must sign the nomination form attesting that the family meets eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Criteria

1. The family must have been residents of the city of Madison for the entire period January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006.
2. All family members must be U.S. citizens or legal aliens.
3. Elected officials of the city of Madison or members of the Family of the Year Selection Committee are not eligible.
4. Spouses must be legally married as recognized by Alabama law.
5. A single parent must be a widow or widower, or legally divorced or separated as recognized by Alabama law.
6. No family member may be the subject of any criminal indictment or be delinquent in compliance with any outstanding civil action.
7. The family selected should be able to fulfill their obligations to the City for the coming year.