The Geoff Riggs Award
For the Society with the Best Website
Revised Format for 2012
The Best Website Award was first introduced in 2001 and has been awarded annually to the society which, in the opinion of the judges, presented the best website. The decision was taken to rename the award The Geoff Riggs Award with effect from 2012 in memory of Geoff Riggs, former Chairman of FFHS, who introduced it.
Given the importance of this form of media and the changes that have affected family history research over the past few years a thorough review of the award has now been completed in consultation with members of the 2011 judging panel.
Entries are invited for the 2012 Award, the closing date for which is 31st October 2012.
Previously societies entering for the award have been categorised as follows:
Large societies – declared membership of 750 and over
Small societies – declared membership of fewer than 750
One-name societies
Overseas societies
Under the new rules, there will be three categories:
Large Societies – 1000 members and over
Medium Societies – 201 – 999 members
Small Societies – 200 members and under
10 entries must be received in each category for judging to take place
The overall winner will be selected from the three category winners.
The runner up in each category will be Highly Commended.
The winning society will receive £250 sponsored by ABM Publishing and the FFHS.
ABM Publishing will run a feature article on the winning society in Family Tree magazine (next available issue after the announcement of the award).
In addition the overall winner will be given greater exposure by the FFHS during the twelve months following the announcement of the award i.e. Spotlight feature in the Ezine, Home Page of the website etc.
The Chair of the Judging Panel will be an FFHS Officer; currently the FFHS Education Officer, this will ensure continuity of the role. The Chair will not be involved in the judging process but will assume overall responsibility for promotion of the award, administration of the award and overseeing the judging panel as well as continual assessment of the award and its aims and objectives.
The judges will be the winners of each category and will change on an annual basis.
For the 2012 Award the judging panel, chaired by the FFHS Education Officer, will be:
- Susan Davis, British Isles FHS of Greater Ottawa
- Chris Loudon, Western Australian Genealogical Society
- Roger Shearer, New Zealand Society of Genealogists
The judging panel for the 2013 award will be the Webmasters of the winning websites 2012 in each of the three newly defined categories: large, medium and small.
The overall winning society will only be barred from entering for one year.
The societies nominated for an award in the 2012 competition will be announced ahead of the AGM 2013 when the presentation will be made. It is hoped that wherever possible the webmasters or representatives from the nominated societies will be present at the AGM to receive the awards in person.
Following the AGM a copy of the report of the judges will be sent to all societies who entered for the award. This will be general report and individual feedback will not be given. The judge’s decision will be final.
Details of How to enter, Entry Form, Competition Rules and Judging Criteria are now available on the website.
