For the 20th consecutive year, volunteers will be recognized and honored for their community efforts at an upcoming reception and awards ceremony.

Volunteers in Action, a coalition of area groups that rely on volunteers, is currently seeking nominations of outstanding area volunteers and of businesses that promote volunteerism.

“This is such a volunteering community,” Community Education Enrichment Coordinator Anne Grubbs said. “Right now with the economy, people are still willing to go out and help others.”

Volunteers will be recognized in three categories: Rookie Volunteer, Spirit of Service and Team Spirit. A local business also will receive the Spirit of Community Award.

The event used to honor just one winner each year, but with BB&T Bank signing on as a title sponsor two years ago, the awards expanded. Winners will be picked from among the nominees by a panel of neutral judges.

“Most of us don’t even know who the (judges) are,” Grubbs said.

Nominees will be judged on history of community activity, demonstration of cooperative attitude and the impact of his or her work.

The annual awards usually draw more than two dozen nominees. Winners will be publicly announced and honored at 3 p.m. April 19 at a reception at Christ Episcopal Church. Previous winners and special guests will also be in attendance, Grubbs said.

Nomination forms are available at www.commed.us (click the Volunteer Information link), or by calling Community Education at 842-4281 or the ALIVE Center at 782-0082. There is a submission fee, based on the number of nominees, to cover costs and to pay for the medallions that will be given to winners.

Last year’s winners were Hugo Becker, a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates, Nell Ruth Hill, a cook for The Salvation Army’s soup kitchen, and CASA fundraisers Ralph and Lucia Maxson. Community Greeters Newcomers Club won the Team Spirit Award, while BB&T Bank was given the Spirit of Community Award.

Grubbs said it’s important that volunteers, who often work in and ask for anonymity, are publicly acknowledged through events such as these.

“Sometimes they need the pat on the back. They set an example for others; it’s a sort of pay-it-forward thing,” she said. “And it means the world to them because they don’t expect it.”

 

Swietek, Wes (2009, March). Volunteers in Action seeks nominations for ceremony. Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/volunteers-in-action-seeks-nominations-for-ceremony/article_19bb33e1-105c-596b-8a6c-45dc427888c1.html