It’s back. Not flu season, not a dreaded survey team, not the freezing temperatures if you live far enough north.
Oh, they’re all close or on their way. Some inevitabilities you have to put up with each trip around the sun.
But there are also some annual occurrences that make getting up and going to work that much better. They spark energy and get your creative juices flowing. These are the things we all live for, or should.
That’s why the “it” I write of is so important. It makes people happy, no matter what a person’s level of involvement is. It also raises up the profession collectively.
On Tuesday, we open nominations for the 4th Annual McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards program. It is one of the most celebrated events in long-term care today, and rightfully so. This year’s version will be bigger and better than ever, and best of all, you can take part.
And once again, it will involve an in-person celebration.
After two years of ceremonies forced online due to pandemic conditions, we will be honoring winners, along with family members, colleagues and many others, in May at a classic downtown Chicago location. Everyone is invited to come take part and rub elbows with some of the profession’s best. Full details will be released Tuesday, so keep your eyes peeled.
For now, I just wanted to let you know that you’ll need to mark your calendars soon. In addition to the return of the in-person ceremony will be the next day’s McKnight’s Women of Distinction Summit. It will feature a handful of CE-bearing webinars and a dynamite keynote speaker to kick off the morning.
We also have special plans for honorees from the Classes of 2020 and 2021, who were unable to be recognized in person. This time they will be. You’ll all be invited back for special recognition at the 2022 ceremony so get ready for your own brand of hootin’ and hollerin’ , past winners!
The catch: There is none
To be clear: This will be a valuable, insightful event for all stakeholders, regardless of age or gender. We are, after all, in this together and when in the profession does well, everybody does well.
So start looking around — in your work areas, on your company rosters, in the stretches of your memory — even in the mirror. There are loads of worthy women leaders in skilled nursing, senior living or home care who are making a difference.
You can take a look at past winners and coverage by heading here and scrolling through the personal profiles of the dozens who have been honored so far.
It’s your turn to nominate a winner, or be a nominee. Winners have come from all walks of work, from the nation’s largest chains to single facilities and everything in between.
There will once again be three divisions:
- The Hall of Honor, which recognizes top executives who have risen through many years of inspirational work and serve as examples to many around them.
- The Rising Stars division, for younger top performers who are net 40 years old or have fewer than 10 years in the business.
- The Veteran VIPs category. This is for high-quality, managers and accomplishers who have spent more than 10 years in the profession — often many more than that — and have earned the admiration of untold number of colleagues, clients and stakeholders. You don’t have to be a beginner or in the corner office to be a winner here.
The Veteran VIPs category was added last year and by most reckoning should have the greatest number of eligible nominees. There are a lot of amazing professionals out there who fit in this “’tweener” category.
We’ll also recognize a Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and other individuals who have performed inspirational acts.
So think about getting your ducks in a row as Tuesday approaches. That’s when the clock will be reset at mcknightswomenofdistinction.com. You can save a little money by entering your preferred nominees over the first few weeks. Once again, there will be a discount for early nominations, and I urge you to take advantage of it. Think of it this way: Any savings could go to an even bigger personal celebration once the winners list is unveiled in February.
We’ve had outstanding rosters of winners so far and expect to have even more enter this special sorority in 2022. The national panel of judges — quite happily — never has an easy time determining the final choices.
Your job is to make sure it’s tough on them again.
I’m confident you can do it.
James M. Berklan is McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Executive Editor.
