This section is the major feature
of RAU Awards Institute�. It is intended to take you
step-by-step through the process of building a web awards program,
with a discussion of each individual element that concerns the
building of a program as well as articles concerning some of the
current thought about each element.
I have attempted to
discuss all of the elements that are commonly found in web awards
programs of today, so that you may gain an understanding of
each. Please remember throughout your research, however, that
the process of building a web awards program is a highly individual
one. The information provided at RAU Awards Institute� is
simply a place for you to begin. You may choose to use none,
some, or all of the elements and ideas discussed here.
Ultimately, the awards program is your own, and you must be happy
with the choices that you have made.
A Word of Warning
One caution I would offer to you:
create your own program. Do not steal someone else's
program, or portions of someone else's program. It's
perfectly OK to look over other programs for possible ideas.
But it is absolutely unacceptable to take someone else's work, or
parts of some else's work, and present it as your own. This
applies whether you are presenting it word-for-word or have
slightly re-worded it. In the academic world, we call that
"plagiarism." On the Internet, we call that "copyright
violation."
Both practices are unethical and illegal.
The world of awards is a fairly small one, and awards masters talk
to each other and visit each other's programs frequently. If
you have stolen someone else's work, you will eventually get
caught. Whoever you stole from will recognize their work on
your site, or someone else will inform them about your site.
You will lose a lot of credibility with your peers on the
Internet. You will also lose a lot of respect.
(Credibility and respect are lost very easily, and take a long time
to restore.) Your peers in the world of awards will be much
more wary about dealing with you. In a few cases, formal
complaints and nasty lawsuits have resulted from these
practices.
It can be so tempting to take a shortcut and steal someone else's
work. Fight the temptation. There are no shortcuts to
accomplishing greatness on your own--but there is a lot of
satisfaction.
