Louise Ristau, CAE, is the executive director of the Awards and Personalization Association, so naturally she shared some great advice in another Associations Now article.
For your ceremony’s host, she said, “Identify a member who has charisma, who has a presence that can serve as a host. They may appreciate the opportunity to help out, and if they’re well-received, they might serve in that capacity for several years.”
You definitely must develop a script for the event. The presentations segment should be “30 to 45 minutes tops.” Louise suggested using “graphics, videos, photos—whatever your budget allows.” These formats “help to add another dimension to the presentation to keep it interesting.”
Consider creating a template ahead of time for presenters and winners so they keep their speech meaningful and to the point—focusing on the why, what, and how.
Louise suggested recruiting award presenters who know the recipients and can help craft introductions. “They might have a story about that recipient from 10 years ago that the person writing the script doesn’t know about,” she said. They “can get personal and share the emotion behind the award.”
Sarah Lawler, a marketing and communications professional with more than 20 years of experience with association awards programs, said in that same Associations Now article, “Use video to tell the awardee’s story so when they come up to the mic that part is covered and they can get right to the thank you’s.”
She suggested scheduling a half-hour rehearsal with the hosts, presenters, and recipients—if they’re not surprise awards—to walk through the logistics.
