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Process

** Before Completing Your Application **

First, please read the Qualifications Criteria, Disqualifications Criteria, Content Criteria, Technical Criteria, and the Overall Impressions Criteria and from there you can take the Self Test, view our Ethics Code, view the Points List, Tutorials, and then finally the Application. Please read our Privacy Policy to be assured that all information you provide would be held in strict confidence. Please read our Ethics Pledge to be assured your application would be judged fairly, honestly and according to the criteria we have established. We are not here in an attempt to disqualify you or create an item so that you will fail. We want to award every applicant that applies but we are proud of our awards, this is not a “give away” program. If you do not meet the criteria you will not win, it is that simple. If you request an evaluation we will strive to be clear and precise as to what we found that did not meet the criteria. We will only judge your site according to the criteria posted at the time of your application. Please note the application form will not send unless you enter the secret word indicating you read the criteria.

** How the Process Works **

After you fill out the Thomas Sims Graves Awards application form, you will be instantly added to the View Status page. If you submit your application by e-mail you will be added within 48 hours. You may follow the progress and ultimate outcome of your application by checking the View Status page. If you do not see your listing within 48 hours you may resubmit your application. All applicants will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of your application whether you submitted on line or by e-mail.

When we receive your application we will take a look at it to be sure that you have completed the application correctly. If everything is in order you will be assigned a status I.D. number. Your status I.D. number will be your initials (from the application form) and the two-digit month and day. Example MG -1101. This is my first and last initial and the application date received. (November 1, 2004.)

If you are listed and then receive a disqualification in the 'result' box then you failed the initial qualification. A non-qualification will be noted and further review of your site will cease. This indicates that you did not read the criteria! If you are disqualified in the first stage you will be required to wait 60 days before reapplying.

To speed up the process you may follow the status of your application by visiting the View Status page. Most reviews will take no more than two or three weeks. If longer periods are needed you will be notified.

Within twenty-four hours of the completion of the evaluation (and acceptance of the award by the winner), the successful applicant will be added to our winner’s page. Non-winners' status IDs will be listed for a period of fourteen days. It is your responsibility to check the status of your application. The date finalized that is posted in the second column (next to your Applicant ID) will be your starting date for reapplication for an upgrade or if you were not successful. You may reapply after 30 days if you passed the first round or 60 days if you were disqualified.

Please note! It takes considerable time to evaluate a site and write comments. You may apply for an award without requesting a review should you desire. Please keep in mind the suggestions for improvement are not mandatory and are given in a positive spirit to help you win.

Your site will be inspected and evaluated regarding all aspects of the Thomas Sims Graves Criteria and Scoring.

When we have fully investigated your website (this may take 2 or 3 weeks) your status will be posted on the Status Page. If you are a winner you will be notified via e-mail with the link back and our award. (A link back is never a requirement.)

Your site will be visited a total of 3 or more times until we are satisfied that we have come to the correct decision on your site.

The winners will be added to the appropriate winners list. All winners will be listed with a site description and a link to their sites. Diamond, Gold and Silver winners will also have a screen shot displayed. Your application constitutes your acknowledgement that a screen shot may be displayed.