City Club of Central Oregon opened nominations to the public for its second annual Conversation of the Year Award. The Award recognizes the community conversation that best reflects City Club’s mission, which is “to build a conscious and civic minded community through dialog, education and research that results in responsible civic engagement.”
Unlike most awards, which recognize individual achievement, the Conversation of the Year Award celebrates the quality of the conversation, itself, and recognize the community as the true winner. That said, one or more individuals, for-profits, non-profits, or government entities will receive the circulating trophy for their participation in the conversation. The custom trophy contains several historically significant symbols of historically significant Central Oregon conversations.
As City Club is nonpartisan, the award recognizes the quality of the conversation rather than its outcome. Although City Club hosts numerous forums on matters of public interest, the selection committee will consider community conversations that occur throughout the region — not just those at City Club venues.
Important conversations often span months or even years. It, therefore, stands to reason that the winning conversation may have taken place over a longer period than just the preceding year. There will be no strict restrictions limiting conversations based on when they occurred, particularly given that this is the first year in which the award will be given.
City Club prides itself for being tough on issues but easy on people, and in training its members to disagree without being disagreeable. In keeping with those values, zealous advocacy will not be penalized, but will be embraced, by the selection committee provided that such advocacy is civil, responsible, and reflects City Club’s mission.
The “Westside Transect” was the winner of last year’s Conversation of the Year Award. The conversation is credited, at least in part, for accomplishing three things: (1) it helped bring finality to Bend’s decade-long Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) dispute; (2) it created a de facto permanent boundary for Bend’s westward expansion toward the forest and Tumalo Creek; and (3) it re-directed the community’s focus toward revitalization of its neglected urban core between the Bend Parkway and Fourth Street. That area has become known as the Bend Central District (BCD).
The selection committee is comprised of City Club’s former presidents. Nominations can be made by anyone by emailing their nominations to joey@cityclubco.org , to any City Club board member, or to any past president. To nominate a conversation, simply identify the conversation, its key participants, and why you believe that conversation best reflects City Club’s mission.
City Club of Central Oregon
City Club of Central Oregon exists to be the top-of-mind hub for citizens and community leaders. We intentionally shape our community and influence public policy while preserving our uniquely warm and connected culture. We champion “passionately non-partisan” discussion between diverse perspectives.
