mrydel wrote: to require attendance to a dinner is just not right.
You've got that bassackwards... it is not right for the person NOT to attend. It's a shame common courtesy and good manners have to be mandated these days, but if an individual thinks so little of the award that it is an imposition to accept it in person, choose another person... one who will appreciate the gesture... respect is a two-way street. Seems a lot of people have forgotten that.