The Buzz Besadny Award for
Fostering Great Lakes Partnerships

Purpose

Presented by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to recognize an individual or group exemplifying extraordinary commitment to building strong and lasting partnerships in Great Lakes resource management.

Criteria

Nominations for the Buzz Besadny award should be based on the following criteria:

1. Any person or group who has displayed exemplary commitment to building or strengthening partnerships: (1) under A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries, (2) with non-traditional stakeholders (i.e., stakeholders with whom an individual or agency did not previously interact), or (3) that promoted efficiencies in resource management through partnerships.
2. Any person or group who has achieved a specific accomplishment that significantly contributed to ecosystem management of the Great Lakes resources.
3. Any person or group who has displayed distinguished career-long contributions to partnerships and ecosystem management.

 Eligibility

Those eligible to receive the Buzz Besadny award are any person or group whose performance matched the purpose and criteria of the award (as expressed above).  Recipients may include (but are not limited to) an employee of the GLFC’s contract agents, a cooperator of the GLFC, commissioners, and secretariat.
 

Nomination Process

Any person may nominate an individual or group to receive the Buzz Besadny award.  Lake Committees, the Council of Lake Committees, the Council of Great Lakes Fishery Agencies, and the GLFC’s Committee of Advisors are especially encouraged to consider and present nominations to the GLFC.  Nominations for the award will be accepted following each GLFC annual meeting.  A form asking for the name of the nominee, a description of the nominee’s accomplishments, and the name of the nominator will be required.  Completed forms must be received by the GLFC secretariat by November 15th of each year.  Facsimiles of nomination forms are acceptable.  The form is available from our website in the following formats:

• Online form
• word format (to print and mail/fax)

GLFC Consideration and Public Presentation

Members of the GLFC will consider all nominations during the GLFC’s interim meeting executive plenary session.  (In the event a member of the GLFC is nominated, he/she shall be excused from the consideration process.)  It is anticipated that this award will be presented annually.  Recipient(s) of the Buzz Besadny award will receive the award publicly during the GLFC’s annual meeting, plenary session.  The GLFC is eligible to provide travel expenses for recipients, as appropriate.

The Award

The name of each recipient the Buzz Besadny award shall be engraved on a plaque displayed prominently at the GLFC Secretariat office.  In addition, award recipients shall receive a framed certificate stating the accomplishment(s) meriting its receipt.  The certificate shall be signed by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the GLFC.   If appropriate, a formal letter shall be sent to the recipient’s employer, acknowledging the award.