About the awards

"The Exceptional DBA Awards, as a service to the SQL Server DBA community from Red Gate Software, provide a public forum for DBAs wanting to share the achievements and challenges of their profession with the IT community. By voting for a DBA to become the Exceptional DBA of the Year the DBA community also has the chance to set standards for their profession and celebrate outstanding work."
Wibke Weilacher, Exceptional DBA Awards team, Red Gate Software

As a nominee or nominator for the Exceptional DBA Awards, you agree to the following terms and conditions (“Agreement”):

Eligibility Requirements

The Exceptional DBA awards are open to all those currently employed as a SQL Server database administrator. Entrants must be 18 years old or over.
No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to be eligible to enter.
The Exceptional DBA awards are not a game of chance, and chance plays no part in determining the finalists or winners.
Entrants can nominate themselves or they can be nominated by a peer. All entries must be submitted by completing the nomination form online and agreeing to the terms and conditions set out on this page.
Entries must be received by Friday, July 10, 2009 at 14:00 hours (GMT). The awards organizers and the judges accept no responsibility for corrupted or delayed entries.
Employees of Red Gate, SQL Server Central and their family members are not eligible to participate in the awards.
Employees and family members of the Exceptional DBA Awards' judges are not eligible to participate in the awards.
Entries are limited to one per person. Entries for multiple employees from the same company are accepted, but only one entrant from each company (where multiple entries are submitted) can be selected as a finalist.

If the entrant has been nominated by a peer, the nominator acknowledges, agrees, and ensures that the nominee is willing, able, and eligible to take part and agrees to these terms and conditions. Red Gate Software accepts no responsibility or liability for disputes that may arise between the nominator and nominee as a result of nominations or entering the awards.

Important dates

Deadline for nominations: Friday, July 10, 2009 at 14:00 hours (GMT).
Finalists announced to SQL Server Central community for voting: Monday, August 10, 2009.
Deadline for votes for winner: Monday, August 17, 2009 at 11am (GMT).
Winner announced: week commencing Monday, August 31, 2009.
Awards ceremony: SQL Server Central Party at the PASS Community Summit, November 2009, Seattle, USA.

Judging the awards

By participating in the awards, entrants, nominators and nominees agree to the terms and conditions set out on this page. Entrants, nominators and nominees also agree to accept the judges' decisions with regards to the finalists as final.
Judges reserve the right to verify the eligibility of nominations (including but not limited to a nominee’s identity, age, place of residence) and to disqualify any nominee, or nominator for tampering with the nomination process for submitting a nomination that is not in accordance with these terms and conditions.
If the five finalists selected by the judges after Friday, July 10, 2009 at 14:00 hours (GMT) are unable to be contacted after five days of being selected as finalists, a right is reserved to the judges to select alternative finalists. It is the responsibility of the entrant, nominator and/or nominee to provide correct and up-to-date contact details.
Every entry is required to include a name, telephone number and email address. The judges may use these contact details for further questions about the entrant and nominee at the point of deciding whether to put the entrant forward as a finalist.
Entrants, nominators or nominees may be contacted by the judges to ask for examples of work, such as a sample of server logs.

Five finalists will be submitted by the judges to the SQL Server Central community for a final vote to select the winner. The public vote will make up 75% of the overall score for each finalist. The judges will also award points to each finalist; this will make up the remaining 25% of the overall score for each finalist. The judges reserve the right to hold a tie-break in the event of a draw from the results of the voting.

Other terms and conditions

The judges reserve the right, within their sole discretion, to disqualify, withdraw, or discount nominations for the awards if the nominations are deemed to be fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, or otherwise violate these rules. Neither the judges, nor the sponsors, are obliged to provide reasons for their judgments, or enter into any correspondence with the entrants or nominators.
Neither Red Gate Software nor any third party involved in the organizing, promotion, or operation of the Exceptional DBA awards are responsible for obtaining or verifying any intellectual property rights relating to any nomination or materials submitted with such nomination. As nominator or nominee, you acknowledge and agree that you have obtained any permission necessary to submit or otherwise use any intellectual property contained or incorporated within materials submitted with your nomination.
The winner will receive a full conference pass for the PASS Community Summit 2009 in Seattle.
In addition, the winner will receive four nights of hotel accommodation at The Westin Seattle and $300 to be used towards travel expenses for the PASS conference. The winner is liable for paying for any meals, mini bar or any extra charges incurred during the stay. Please note the sponsor organization reserves the right to select an alternative hotel at an equivalent value in Seattle, should The Westin Seattle be unavailable for any reason. The finalists will be notified of any changes and the website will be updated. A license key for a SQL Toolbelt with 36 months' support and upgrades will also be sent to the winner. The awards ceremony will take place during the SQL Server Central party at PASS, where a trophy will be offered to the winner to keep. No cash alternative for any of the prizes will be offered.

In the event that the winner is unable to attend the conference and the prize ceremony, the trophy will be posted to the winner. The winner's conference pass, hotel accommodation and $300 for travel expenses will be offered to the finalist who received the second highest number of votes.
The four finalists not selected to be the winner will each receive a license key for a SQL Toolbelt with 36 months' support and upgrades and a certificate to recognize their achievement.
It is the nominees' sole responsibility to ensure that their nominations for the awards or acceptance of any prizes do not violate any law and also do not violate any contract made between the nominee and his or her employer. Red Gate Software, SQL Server Central and the organizers, promoters and operators of the awards accept no liability or responsibility for disputes that may arise as a result of a nomination for the awards. If any such disputes arise, Red Gate Software reserves the right to withdraw prizes for the nomination(s) affected and to select an alternative winner for those prizes. Prizes are not transferable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash. Prizes are at the discretion of Red Gate Software, subject to change without notice, and may be replaced with an alternate prize of similar value.
Red Gate Software and the organizers, promoters, or operators of the Exceptional DBA awards reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend the Exceptional DBA awards, should causes beyond their control, including without limitation technical or natural conditions or acts of God or negligent or criminal acts of third parties, make it impossible or impracticable to carry out the Exceptional DBA awards as planned.
To the extent permitted by law, Red Gate Software and those involved in the judging, organizing, promotion, and operation of the Exceptional DBA awards and in the awarding of prizes explicitly make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the quality, suitability, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose of the prizes awarded and they hereby disclaim all liability for any loss or damage of any kind, including personal injury, suffered while participating in the Exceptional DBA awards or utilizing any prizes awarded.
As nominator or nominee, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the organizers, promoters, and operators of the Exceptional DBA awards, including the judges and Red Gate Software, from and against any and all liability and costs, including without limitations attorneys’ fees and costs, incurred in connection with any claim arising out of any information contained in your nomination or your breach of these terms and conditions.
As a nominator or nominee, you hereby release the organizers, promoters, and operators of the Exceptional DBA awards, including the judges and Red Gate Software, from all claims, demands, suits, judgments, cross claims and set-offs, including any claim in negligence, arising from or incidental to the Exceptional DBA awards.

Use of entrants' and nominees' data

In submitting a nomination or by allowing yourself to be nominated, you agree to allow a judge to contact you and/or the nominee by telephone or email to ask more detailed questions about the nomination.
You agree and authorize the organizers, promoters, and operators of the Exceptional DBA awards, including the judges and Red Gate Software, to conduct background checks, including obtaining criminal records, of nominees and nominators.
You also agree to allow your name, likeness, and image and/or the nominee's name, likeness, and image, as well as any photos, materials, statements supporting the nomination (except for personal contact information) to be copied, reproduced, or otherwise used in all online and print advertising and press releases related to the Exceptional DBA awards. Please note that personal contact details (address, telephone number, fax number, and email address) of the nominee and entrant will not be published or passed on to third parties not affiliated with the Exceptional DBA awards.

In addition, you agree to allow a member of the marketing department at Red Gate Software to contact you by telephone or email in case of potential press releases, case studies or testimonials that are relevant to the Exceptional DBA awards. You also agree to undertake all media and promotional activities, including but not limited to television, radio, print, and online media interviews and appearances, as directed by organizers, promoters, or operators of the Exceptional DBA awards, including Red Gate Software.

Sponsor organizations

The Exceptional DBA of the Year awards are hosted by SQL Server Central and sponsored by Red Gate Software. The decisions of the judges in the contest will not be influenced by entrants' affiliations to or connections with Red Gate Software or its products. Any feedback or comments about the awards should consider that the awards are intended to promote understanding and recognition of achievement in the DBA community.
Any questions about the awards can be directed to Wibke Weilacher and Claire Brooking at Red Gate Software, Newnham House, Cambridge Business Park, Cambridge, CB4 0WZ, United Kingdom.