AmeriCorps Video Contest

2008 AmeriCorps Video Contest FAQ

1. Do I have to be an AmeriCorps member or alumni to enter?
   Yes. The contest is only open to current AmeriCorps members, or AmeriCorps alums who have successfully completed their terms of service. AmeriCorps includes VISTA, NCCC, and State and National.
2. Can I submit an individual or group entry?
   You can work as a team, but the video must be submitted by one individual. The prize will be awarded to the individual who submitted the video. In the case of the grand prize, the winner may take a guest of their choosing on the volunteer vacation.
3. What is the contest schedule?
   Contest Kick-Off: March 7, 2008
   Submission Deadline: May 2, 2008
   Judges Voting: May 3-9, 2008
   Public Voting: May 11-18, 2008
   Winners Announced: June 1, 2008
   
4. How and where do I submit my video entry?
   Beginning March 7, all entries may be uploaded digitally at www.AmeriCorpsContest.org or mail your entry and contact information to Kate Houston, AmeriCorps Video Contest Coordinator, 607 14^th Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005.
5. What is the theme of the AmeriCorps Video Contest?
   The theme of the AmeriCorps Video Contest is Why AmeriCorps? Think about:
   • How does AmeriCorps help America tackle some of its biggest challenges?
   • What does/did your experience mean to you?
   • How do you show your AmeriCorps?
   • Why should someone join AmeriCorps?
   • What would America look like without the thousands of AmeriCorps members?
   The possible answers to Why AmeriCorps are endless -- use your creativity and tell us what the answer is to you.
6. How long should my video be?
   Videos must be 60 seconds or less. We recommend making your video 60, 30, or 15 seconds to correspond with typical lengths of television advertisements. As noted, the contest videos or derivatives of contest videos may be used in future public service ad campaigns for AmeriCorps.
7. Can I submit the same video I submitted last year?
   No. We are looking for new videos.
8. How will I know if my video is one of the five semi-finalists?
   The five semi-finalists will be notified directly via e-mail, overnight package and/or telephone prior to an announcement made on the website for the public voting.
9. How will I know if I won the contest?
   We will notify the winner directly using contact information submitted with the video entry.
10. How are winners chosen?
    All entries will first be reviewed by a panel of judges who will recommend five semi-finalists. The five semifinalist entries will then be available for viewing and voting on the AmeriCorps Video Contest website during AmeriCorps Week, May 11-18. The general public will have one week to vote. General public votes will be combined with the votes of Corporation officials to determine the winner.
11. What are the contest rules and guidelines?
    
    • A full listing of rules and guidelines is available at www.AmeriCorpsContest.org
    • All video entries must be received no later than 11:59PM EDT on May 2, 2008.
    • Entries must be 60 seconds or less in duration and in WMV, .AVI, .MOV, or .MPG format and be less than 100 MB in size.
    • All entries must include the AmeriCorps logo, and a transcript must accompany your video submission.
    • Starting March 7, video entries can be submitted digitally online at www.AmeriCorpsContest.org or sent by mail to Kate Houston, AmeriCorps Contest Coordinator, 607 14th Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005
    • You must enter original work and be the sole author or have written permission to incorporate portions authored or owned by third parties (music, photos, etc).
    • The contest is open to any currently serving AmeriCorps member or AmeriCorps alum who has successfully completed their term of service.
    • Any contest participant who publicly insults and defames another contestant’s entry, whether in the media, in personal blogs, on social networks, or by any other means, may be disqualified from the contest.
12. Can I submit more than one entry?
    Yes, you can submit as many entries as you like.
13. If I submitted an entry last year, do I need to create a new account?
    Yes, you need to create a new account.
14. What can I win?
    The grand prize is a volunteer vacation worth up to $5,000 courtesy of Travelocity® through its Travel for Good^SM Change Ambassadors program. Second prize is an iPod Shuffle, and third prize is an AmeriCorps Alums Prize Package, both courtesy of AmeriCorps Alums. The five semifinalists will receive a free one-year membership from AmeriCorps Alums. The first, second, and third place videos will be unveiled at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service during the AmeriCorps Town Hall meeting on June 1, 2008. In addition, the winning entry, or a derivative work of the entry, will be aired on the AmeriCorps website (www.AmeriCorps.gov) and the contest website (www.AmeriCorpsContest.org) and may be used for future marketing purposes.
15. If I win the volunteer vacation, do I get cash?
    No. If you receive the volunteer vacation from Travelocity®, the money goes directly to Travelocity’s designated volunteer travel partner participating in Travelocity’s Travel For Good’s Change Ambassadors program to pay for your qualifying trip, and it goes toward your airfare and other necessary travel-related expenses. No cash will be paid directly to you. Travelocity will only fund up to $5,000 of the qualifying trip. Any costs over and above that must be covered on your own. The grand prize will be treated as income for tax purposes. All applicable federal, state, local tax laws apply.
16. Where can I get answers to questions that are not posted here?
    Please visit the AmeriCorps website at www.AmeriCorps.gov where you can learn more about the work AmeriCorps is doing across the United States. You may also reach a contest coordinator by sending a message to questions@americorpscontest.org.