Website Community Choice Award - Kudu Awards 2016 - VOTE!

[DinkyBird]

Dear SANParks forum members

This is YOUR chance, as a member of the SANParks forums, to reward excellence in the SANParks workplace.

The Kudu Awards ceremony will be held in November 2016. Please see this announcement.

The Website Community Choice Award is for an individual who is nominated and voted for on the SANParks Web Forums by SANParks Web Forum members for exceptional service in the workplace. This award can provide deserved recognition for some of the unsung heroes in the parks (whether they are online or not).

The Kudu Awards, which is aimed at recognising excellent contributions to conservation by external stakeholders, is open to public contributions and has always been and I would like to encourage you to throw in your lot before the closing date. The Chief Executive Award, however, which is aimed at rewarding and recognising excellent performance by SANParks staff members and is part of the umbrella that is called Kudu Awards for logistical reasons, is one that has not been open to public participation.

This website forumite category then is one that is aimed at giving our valued stakeholders an opportunity to choose the person they consider to have been the best service provider to the public within SANParks as our staff cannot be chosen for the external Kudu Award.

I must also add that members of our Executive Management do not qualify for a Chief Executive Award and may not be nominated in this category either, in case you were considering anyone of them.

Please note that SANParks Communications personnel at Groenkloof, and in the Clusters/Parks, also do not qualify for nomination for the WCCA.

Please read the Rules and Guidelines below on how to nominate and how to vote.

Once the nominations are all in, they will be listed on the forums and a voting process will take place where you, the SANParks Forum member can cast your vote for the nominee of your choice.

All nominees, motivations and the results of the voting process will be submitted to the Kudu Award Panel for final adjudication.

Rules and Guidelines

Timelines:
Nominations will close at midnight CAT on 20 July 2016

Voting will begin on 21 July 2016 and will close at 13:00 CAT on 12 August 2016

Who is eligible to nominate and to vote:
1. All registered SANParks Forum members who have registered on the forums on or before 5 July 2016 and have a minimum post count of 20, may nominate and have one vote.

2. Forum moderators may not nominate.

Nomination process:
1. Please remember to provide the full name of the person you are nominating,
the park that they are stationed at and,
your motivation for why you are nominating them.
Please ask the moderators for assistance if you do not have the full name of the person you wish to nominate.

2. Post your nomination on this topic. You may nominate as many candidates you feel worthy of a nomination. If the candidate of your choice has already been nominated by another forum member, you may nominate them again. Being nominated for this award is an honour, so let us honour these deserving people.

3. Post each candidate/nomination in a separate post.

4. No discussion nor chit chat is allowed in this topic.

5. Any evidence of lobbying or canvassing for nominations and/or votes for, or on behalf, of a nominee, will result in the nominee being disqualified.

Qualification for nomination:
1. Personnel in the Communication department of SANParks and SANParks Executive Management may not be nominated.

2. Only SANParks employees qualify for nomination.

Voting process:
1. All nominees will be placed on a 'ballot list' on the forums in alphabetical order.

2. Only registered SANParks Forum members who have registered on the SANParks forum on or before 5 July 2016 and have a minimum post count of 20 may vote.

3. Only one vote per forum member.

4. Votes will be cast by a process of emailing SANParks (email address will be provided once the voting process starts) from the email address your user name on the forums is registered at. (mods can assist you to change defunct email addresses)

5. In the email state your forum username and the nominee you are voting for.

Should you have any questions please PM any of the forum moderators.

[DinkyBird]

Just over a week to get those nominations in!

[Hippotragus]

Let's get this ball rolling! I nominate the following for their outstanding service and dedication. They are a pleasure to meet and make visitors feel so welcome.


1. Frank Mabaso Pafuri Picnic Site
2. Christa von Elling Shingwedzi Camp
3. Sydwell Shirinda Punda Maria Camp
4. Rodgers Hobyane Tsendze Rustic Camp
5. Elina Mona Tsendze Rustic Camp

Come on people, think of some more wonderful SANParks staff who deserve nomination.

[salamanda]

I should like to nominate Shirley Mdluli. (Could someone very kindly check the spelling of Shirley's name?) of the front office at Mopani. We found her to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and she radiated grace and calmness. In particular, she was so very thoughtful and organised in ensuring that our transfer from one chalet to another was carried out with the least disruption to ourselves as guests, while accommodating the needs of the cleaning staff. This move was entirely our own fault as we forgot to make the other half of our booking on 1st June 2015, so although we had nights two three four and five booked in a BD4V, night one had to be in a non-perimeter one. Shirley made sure the transition was as smooth and stress free as humanly possible, and when we arrived at Mopani we were booked into the chalet closest to the BD4V to make the move even easier. She arranged that the cleaning staff would clean the BD4V as soon as the occupants left the next morning and suggested we go out for a short early morning drive, return and await the completion of the cleaning process before moving directly from one chalet to the other. It played out in exactly that way, and we were thrilled. We had thought our first day in Mopani might be wearying as we would have to travel around with our (considerable) luggage for the day so this made all the difference to our stay.

I would like to add that every year we have been to Mopani we have commented on the high quality of service by the front office staff, so for Shirley to have stood out is notable.

[hilda]

I would like to nominate Eric Minnies, camp manager at Urikaruus. Urikaruus underwent major construction by building a new unit, and maintenance to the four other units during September 2015 until June 2016. During this period he had to manage various complaints about a noisy generator and contractors, and had to keep visitors happy. Proof that he did everything possible to keep the visitors happy can be found in the following link.

Due to Eric's way of handling this problem, no complaints were sent through to SANParks regarding any unhappiness at Urikaruus during this period.

[hilda]

Bridgeman Zulu, a guide at Biyamiti, is very popular when it comes to sunset/night drives, and morning walks, so much so that he is seen as a legend by some overseas visitors. See here for an example.

Another example where he was thanked for his outstanding guiding abilities on a morning walk, here.

He also posts pictures of sightings on the forums here.

He also posted an invitation for a midnight dinner at the lookout point on the S139 road here.

[hilda]

Surprise Hlatshwayo, Duty Manager and Field Guide at Biyamiti. We visited Biyamiti from 23 - 26 October 2015. On 9 October 2015 we sent surpriseh an e-mail to request a specific unit to stay during this period. We received his confirmation on 10 October 2015. This shows the diligence regarding his work.

Surprise also opened a topic on the forum where he regularly posts pictures of sightings and reports on sightings from the bird hide at Biyamiti or on the S139. See here..

[salamanda]

I would also like to nominate, for the second year in a row, Dorris Khoza at Tshokwane Picnic Site. She continues to greet everyone with a beaming smile, her toilet block is as spotless as ever and made more welcoming and attractive by the flower arrangements that she places inside, her gardens are growing beautifully; they now no longer need covering with thorns as the aloes have toughened up and when we were there, they were all just about to come into flower - I'm sorry I missed that. Her pride is not just that she won an award last year, her pride is in continuing to put her all into improving the surroundings and making them a pleasure for all visitors. She is an exemplary employee.

[Hippotragus]

I did my nominations in a hurry, forgetting to do one per post. So here goes with separate nominations.

I nominate FRANK MABASO at Pafuri Picnic Site, Kruger National Park. He keeps the picnic area and toilet blocks absolutely spotless and supplied with plenty of toilet paper and paper towels. In addition, he is accredited by Bird Life South Africa due to his knowledge of birds. He is very keen to walk around with visitors, pointing out "special" birds.

[Hippotragus]

I nominate CHRISTA VON ELLING at Shingwedzi Camp, Kruger National Park.

The cleanliness, tidiness and efficiency of the camp is due to her. Christa can be seen most days, walking around with a clipboard, pad and pen, noting any things that need attention. She stops to talk to visitors and asks them if they have any comments. On our last stay at Shingwedzi, Christa came past our unit and I told her that our shower drain was blocked. She went away and within 10 minutes a maintenance chap arrived and sorted out the problem.

[Hippotragus]

I would like to nominate SYDWELL SHIRINDA at Punda Maria Camp, Kruger National Park.

Prior to our last trip to Punda Maria, I sent an e-mail to Sydwell, requesting either safari tent 2 or 3, as we did not feel up to lugging all our heavy boxes up to number 5! I received a very polite reply, saying he would do his best but couldn't guarantee that we could get 2 or 3 (the standard, correct reply to requesting specific accommodation). On checking-in, we were thrilled to be given tent 2 and it was beautiful. I have heard other good reports regarding Sydwell and Punda Maria Camp is great, partly due to him.

[Hippotragus]

I would like to nominate RODGERS HOBYANE at Tsendze Rustic Camp in Kruger National Park.

I have not stayed at Tsendze (yet) but did once meet Rodgers, when he spotted my yellow ribbon and came over to talk to me.

By all accounts, Rodgers runs a wonderful camp and makes all his visitors feel very welcome. Rodgers is active on the Forum, reporting interesting sightings and posting lovely photos. He is also very active on Face Book - posting some great photos of the birds and animals he sees around the area. This is very good Public Relations for SANParks.

He is passionate about his job and appreciates and loves the bush and all it contains.

[Hippotragus]

I would like to nominate ELINA MONA of Tsendze Rustic Camp in Kruger National Park.

I have not stayed at Tsendze, but have read so many compliments from visitors that I feel Elina is worthy of a nomination. She and Rodgers run a fantastic camp and make all their visitors welcome and comfortable.

[Hippotragus]

I would like to nominate DORRIS KHOZA of Tshokwane Picnic Site, Kruger National Park.

Dorris is responsible for cleaning the toilet blocks at the picnic site. This she does extremely well, but her real claim to fame is her amazing flower and wood arrangements. She adds so much more to the area with these beautiful creations. She is also very friendly and a pleasure to chat to.

[George_Brits]

I nominate FRANK MABASO at Pafuri Picnic Site, Kruger National Park. You can see that the picnic site is his pride and joy.