Cookie Connection old-timers may recall that, back in April 2016, I announced the founding of Cookie Connection's Milestone Awards program, designed to honor the incredible volunteers who have stood the test of time by serving this community with outstanding content for more than one year. Since that time, I've awarded only a handful of such awards - all to very dedicated and capable cookiers who have poured themselves into this site. Well, today, I am thrilled to announce that we have another very deserving Milestone Award winner. (This announcement is a classic example of how incredibly fast time flies, because it seems like just yesterday that this person joined our team of contributors, when, in fact, it was over a year ago!)
Sure enough, the insightful and business-savvy @SugarDotCookies (aka Dotty Raleigh) joined us back on November 11, 2018 with her very first Sugar Dot Surveys, the bimonthly feature where she asks you questions about your cookie decorating habits and then recaps those results, all in an effort to help us learn more from each other. Since then, she's conducted six in-depth surveys and shared six recaps, on topics running the gamut from social media practices (her latest) to methods for speed-drying icing. Though wildly diverse topics, each has consistently delivered fascinating results, thanks to the thoughtful analysis and hard work of Dotty. If you've missed any of Dotty's surveys, you can still take them (here) and, of course, read all of her marvelous recaps on our blog (here). I urge you to do so - it's such good stuff, and it could very well give you reason to re-think some of your cookie/business practices.
In recognition of this Cookie Connection milestone, Dotty will receive this custom-engraved Waterford crystal vase (my apologies for the photo, which does not do it justice) . . .
. . . as well as my undying gratitude for her commitment to this community and to furthering our collective cookie knowledge. Please join me in giving Dotty a huge round of applause! 
To learn more about Dotty, I encourage you to read her contributor's bio below, and to take part in all of her surveys. (Psst! The next one should post in about a week.) Again, my sincerest congratulations to our wonderful Dotty! May we be lucky enough to have her surveying us well beyond the year 2020!
Dotty Raleigh is the owner of Sugar Dot Cookies and author of Sugar Dot Surveys, a bimonthly Cookie Connection survey/blog feature designed to foster experience-sharing and identify best business and decorating practices. Dotty starts by posting a survey every other month about a specific cookie practice, tool, or technique, and concludes with a recap of responses aimed at helping everyone learn and grow. Sugar Dot Cookies began in 2013 with custom cookie orders, and has since grown to include decorating classes and cookie parties. In 2018, Dotty began teaching a series of online classes called Cookies as Business and providing business e-books, which cover everything from finding the optimum shop location and workflow management to pricing and packaging cookies. Dotty loves sharing her years of experience and encouraging those just getting started in their own cookie businesses. You can find Dotty’s past Cookie Connection surveys here, and her survey recaps here. Please also visit her Cookie Connection member profile and Facebook and Instagram pages.
Photo credit: Dotty Raleigh
Comments (17)