It's not too early to start thinking about your nominations for male and female athlete of the year, to be awarded at our annual symposium in Rochester this September.

The process begins with you, your State Games, and your athletes. If you don't have a workable procedure in place already, now is the time to begin one.

As chairman of the Athlete of the Year Committee, I am asking that we have 100% participation from our members this year. We want to give your athletes a chance to shine on a national stage.

Every year the Athlete of the Year banquet is one of the highlights of the symposium, and I'm certain this year won't be any different. We've been extremely fortunate to have some of the most remarkable athletes represent our organization, and yours, in this process. But it doesn't happen unless you put forth the effort on behalf of your athletes. This is a very marketable property for the National Congress of State Games if we use it properly. Please get on board with the AOTY award this year; especially if you haven't done so in recent years. Your athletes give their all for you, now's the time to give your all for them.

The deadline for submission of your nominations is August 10. PLEASE submit your nominations before that date, so the committee doesn't have to beg for them later on.

Now is the time to prep an intern for the task, or a staff member, or even a board member to provide you with several candidates so you can narrow it down to one male and one female athlete from your state.

INFORMATION WE'LL NEED FOR YOUR NOMINATION(s) (an online form will be used again this year to capture your information, making the process simpler and practically painless.)

1) NAME OF THE ATHLETE

2) SPORT

3) YEARS PARTICIPATED IN YOUR STATE GAMES

4) AGE

5) CITY OF RESIDENCE

6) AWARDS IN 2008

7) PREVIOUS STATE GAMES AWARDS

8) OUTSIDE ACHIEVEMENT

9) AVAILABLE TO ATTEND SYMPOSIUM AS OUR GUEST IN ROCHESTER

10) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERSON.

11) WE'LL EVEN LET YOU UPLOAD A PHOTO OF THE ATHLETE THIS YEAR.

It's the additional information that can make or break a nomination for this award. Don't cheat your athletes. Do some research; some homework, and make a phone call or two and get the straight scoop from the athlete or a close family member.

For more information email AOTY committee chairman, Jeff Scully (Maine Games) at: jeff@mainegames.org. Put AOTY in the subject line.

More information will be sent out in a few weeks about where you can go online to submit your nomination. This award doesn't happen without you, your athletes, and the National Congress of State Games. Please participate this year and submit your nominations as early as possible.