FOL Awards Now Open to Public

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Heidi has the news:

In an effort to reach out to and recognize an even greater sphere of women creators, Friends of Lulu has decided for the first time ever to open the nominations and voting of our Lulu Awards to non-members! In order to accommodate our new voters, the deadline for nominations has been extended through May 7th, 2007!

In case you’re new to Friends of Lulu, our annual Lulu Awards bring honor and recognition to the most inspiring and noteworthy women in the comic book industry, as well as the efforts, achievements, and works that reflect Friends of Lulu’s goals. It’s up to you, Lulu members, to make the nominations and to vote for this year’s shining stars!

Nominations for the Awards are made by and voted on by current members of Friends of Lulu. The Lulu Awards are handed out during our evening awards ceremony at Comic-Con International in San Diego each year. (It’s always a blast!)

Start thinking about who you want to nominate for this year’s awards. The Women Cartoonists Hall of Fame nominees must have published work, whether self-published, company-published, or web-published. An individual cannot win more than once.

Past winners include: Roberta Gregory, Naughty Bits, Artistic Licentiousness – 2006; Rumiko Takahashi – 2005; Lynda Barry – 2004; Wendy Pini – 2003; Lynn Johnston – 2002; Trina Robbins, Hilda Terry (tie) — 2001; Marge Henderson Buell – 2000; Ramona Fradon – 1999; Dale Messick – 1998; Marie Severin – 1997.

The Women of Distinction award is designed to recognize those women who have made considerable contributions to the comics industry in non-creator roles like publishing, editing, reporting, or retailing. Past winners include: Diana Schutz, Editor, Dark Horse – 2006; Heidi MacDonald – 2005; Maggie Thompson – 2004

The Lulu of the Year Award honors the creator(s), book, or other project whose work best exemplifies Friends of Lulu’s mission. Past winners include: SCHOLASTIC/GRAPHIX, Publisher: Babysitters Club, Queen Bee, Breaking Up – 2006; Shaenon Garrity, Girlamatic.com, Modern Tales; Flight Anthology (tie) – 2005; www.Girlamatic. com, Lea Hernandez, Editor – 2004; Free Comic Book Day, Joe Field, Organizer – 2003; Sequential Tart, Marcia Allass, Editor – 2002; Go Girl!, Trina Robbins and Anne Timmons – 2001; From Girls to Grrlz: A History of Women’s Comics from Teens to Zines, Trina Robbins – 2000; Scary Godmother, Jill Thompson – 1999; Action Girl, Sarah Dyer, Editor – 1998; The Great Women Superheroes, Trina Robbins – 1997.

The Kim Yale Award nominees must have published work, whether self-published, company-published, or web-published. Nominees must be nominated for this category within three years of their first published work. An individual may not be nominated more than twice, and cannot win more than once. The award is named for comics writer Kim Yale, a founding Lulu member who passed away in 1997.
Past winners include: Leigh Dragoon, By the Wayside – 2006; Vera Brosgol (Flight, Hopeless Savages B-Sides) – 2005; Lark Pien (Long Tail Kitty) – 2004, Raina Telgemeier (Take-Out Comics) – 2003; Ashley-Jane Nicholaus (Haven) & Gisèle Legacé (Cool Cat Studio) (tie) – 2002; Anne Timmons (GoGirl!) – 2001; Rachel Hartman (Amy Unbounded) – 2000; Devin Grayson (writer, Catwoman, Black Widow) – 1999; Carla Speed McNeil (Finder) – 1998; Jessica Abel (Artbabe) – 1997.

So here’s the deal. We need you to nominate the people you think should receive the awards this year. Review the nominee requirements, think about who stands out in your mind for each award.

Then go to our online nomination form to submit your nominations…. Nominations are due MAY 7, 2007.

Nominate whomever you wish, up to THREE per category, as long as they fit the requirements. If you are able, please include additional information (i.e. publisher, date of publication) about each individual, so we can verify the nomination quicker and easier.

Now, I could speculate on why this action was taken (declining membership? few nominations?) but overall, I think this is a good thing. The public at large makes for a great brain if you can tap their expertise. It looks like this was a quick decision (see the non-edited comment to “Lulu members” and the now-erroneous line about being voted on by current members), and time is still short.

Particularly difficult is the Kim Yale Award, because of the requirement that “nominees must be nominated for this category within three years of their first published work.” By the time someone’s been noticed enough to be considered award-worthy, they’ve usually been working longer than that.

I’d like to see Colleen Doran in the Hall of Fame for her outspokenness in attracting attention to the issues that women face. Who do you think should be Lulu of the Year or receive the Kim Yale Award?



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