COMPETITION RULES & REGULATIONS
Process
From July 26th 2010 to October 11th, 2010 midnight (Pacific Standard Time), any 18-26 year old American citizen is encouraged to:
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Create a Log In Account and register for the competition.Create a Log In Account and register for the competition. Account type is optional and is not part of the competition judging criteria.
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Verify that you have viewed the entire website to gain full understanding of Our Voice Our Country's premise, purpose and process. This should not take more than 15-20 minutes.
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Recommend one of more sets of a Topic (an urgent national problem), paired with at least two experts in the problem area (ProblemSolvers), whom you have identified through research or prior knowledge (heard them speak, an article they wrote, someone you know, etc.). ProblemSolvers are individuals likely to have achievable plans of action for the Topic you have identified. For more guidance, see Recommend a Topic and Recommend a ProblemSolver (click 'participate' in third horizontal bar from the top of this page) for further instructions. Please note: Elected officials and companies or organizations are not eligible as ProblemSolvers.
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After you Recommend a ProblemSolver, follow up with them by email, encouraging your ProblemSolver(s) to post one or more Solution(s). By doing so, your entry becomes complete, and their great ideas can be considered by the American people.
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Encourage everyone in your networks to create a log in account, then to RATE both your and other users' Recommended Topic(s) and accompanying ProblemSolver Solutions. This is more than a competition, it’s a new initiative where you can help move America forward past its current political quagmire.
Based on ratings and the quality of both the Recommended Topic and ProblemSolver Solution, finalist entries will be reviewed by a non-partisan judging panel after the competition ends. We intend to announce the winner and one or more honorable mention recipient(s) in October.
Please note: the opportunity to get ratings decreases over time, so act soon to increase your chances!
Our Voice Our Country = People Power!
No matter the outcome, all entries can have a further life at the site, through ongoing discussions and public ratings following this competition. Entries that are highly rated by users over time at this educational website will be reviewed by a non-partisan Selection Committee, for a month-long consideration by the public that concludes with a vote. In the end phase of the website's process, OVOC and its users will deliver authentic majority decisions to key leaders in Washington with the clout to take action on The People's will. Follow up advocacy by those leaders' constituents, and a scorecard showing actions taken from the clear guidance they received will clarify which leaders are responsive and which are not.
Eligibility
Citizens who are now or will be anwhere between 18-26 years old between July 26 and October 11, 2010.
Immediate family members of Our Voice Our Country employees, interns, volunteers or board members are not eligible.
All content is expected to show respect toward others, and must meet the site's Terms of Use.
The basis for entries is: to identify our greatest problems, and the best solutions for those problems.
The underlying theme of all content should be: specifying what most people would agree are our most urgent problems, and giving visibility to achievable solutions that are in the best interests of The American People.
No limitations are placed on the views, ideologies or agendas that may be expressed or advocated by entries, as long as they do not violate
Terms of Use. Take a chance and see what flies in the court of public opinion!
Selection Criteria
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Entries should not duplicate prior, existing Recommended Topics and ProblemSolver Solutions.
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At least one of the participant's two ProblemSolver nominees must have posted a ProblemSolver Solution.
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Combined public rating for Recommended Topic and ProblemSolver Solutions (those that result from a competition entrant's
Recommended ProblemSolver).
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Urgency and clarity of posted Topics.
ProblemSolver Solutions are achievable and concise plans of action that could be used to fix a national problem. The solution they propose should be of a quality that could be given serious consideration by Congress.
Rules
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Participants are not allowed to rate their own entries.
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One rating only will be allowed per user for each entry shown in the catalog.
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Scholarship winner must provide invoice(s) or receipt(s) to show the award has been spent for college-related expenses.
Guidelines
Ratings are intended to be the genuine opinions of unbiased individuals who have taken time to consider and compare other options posted at the site. Therefore, persuading friends or family to rate one's entry favorably is discouraged.
To get ratings and be competitive, Recommended Topics and ProblemSolver Solutions should be articulated clearly and compellingly.
Judges for Past Competitions:
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Jim Ramstad, House Republican from Minnesota (1992-2008)
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Mindy Fullilove, Columbia University Professor, also an author and researcher
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Brian Nickerson, Iona College Dean of Arts & Sciences, also a public policy expert
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Charles Bass, House Republican from New Hampshire, (1994-2006)
An Example of Success
View Summer '09 winning entry by Kelsey Price and ProblemSolver Hassan Abbas here: http://www.ovoc.org/press/documents.aspx
Winner and Honorable Mention Recipient Videos
Go to Watch & Post Videos on the 'participate' page.
Join a Discussion About Getting ProblemSolver Solutions Posted
Visit the Discussion Board to participate in a discussion created to help participants get their ProblemSolver nominees to respond and post their ProblemSolver Solutions.
To do so log in, then click this link to Brainstorm tips and strategies.
Inquiries/Contact Information
To inquire about this program, email yourvoice@ourvoiceourcountry.org