"Consumer of the Year" Contest

As part of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) a contest will be held to recognize an individual who serves as a role model and whose experience best illustrates what an individual consumer can achieve. The individual recognized would be a non-professional advocate (a regular person) who has accomplished something outstanding in pursuing his or her own rights as a consumer.

Who may be considered?

Any individual who does not advocate for consumer rights in a professional capacity. Employees of any of the sponsoring organizations and individuals involved in the consumer arena in a formal capacity are disqualified. Contestants should have utilized wise consumer advocacy to address an issue any time between December 1, 1997 and November 30, 1998.

Judging Criteria

In choosing a winner, the following factors will be considered. A consumer need not meet all criteria.

• Did consumer’s activities impact upon others?
  
• Was consumer’s problem unique, new, complicated, or novel?
  
• Can consumer’s actions be used as a model for other individuals with a similar problem?
  

• Was consumer particularly tenacious or creative?
  
• Did consumer’s actions require an unusual amount of courage?
  
• Did consumer employ resources that are available to the average person?
  
• Was consumer ultimately successful in resolving his/her problem?
  
• Did consumer resolve problem largely on his or her own or did he/she rely heavily on outside resources such as government agencies, private attorneys or the media?

• An individual can nominate himself or herself, or be nominated by others (with permission).

• Documentation of the circumstances of the advocacy should be submitted along with the completed application.
  
• Contest entry forms may be obtained from: Consumer of the Year Contest, State of New York, Office of the Attorney General, 163 West 125^th Street, Room 1324, New York, N.Y. 10027-8201, 212-961-4475, or printed from the web.
  
• All entries must be received by December 4, 1998.

Announcement of winners and prizes

The three finalists will be announced at a national press conference during National Consumer Protection Week (February 1-7, 1999.) The press conference will highlight the achievements of the winners. The winners will be given a plaque as well as cash prizes of $500 for 1^st place, $200 for 2^nd place and $100 for 3^rd place.