By By EDWIN MODLIN II
edwin@wdnweb.com
Staff Writer
As 2011 marks the 33rd anniversary of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, Beaufort County residents are preparing their nominations for volunteers they want honored.
Carolyn Burke, a reference and network technician for Beaufort-Hyde-Martin Regional Library, said the program showcases North Carolina’s most-dedicated volunteers. Through the years, North Carolinians have proven their concern and compassion for their neighbors by volunteering in their communities, she said.
“The Governor’s Award Commission sends out awards every year,” Burke said. “Nominations for the awards are now being accepted for the 2011 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for Beaufort County.”
Burke said the program is being realigned with National Volunteer Week, beginning this year, allowing program recognition events to be held during National Volunteer Week.
“We choose five out of all the names sent to us,” Burke said. “And out of those five there will be one chosen for the Medallion Award.”
Burke said each county selects five individuals, businesses, groups or teams and one director of volunteers to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to their communities.
One of the five recipients will be nominated to receive the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service, and a local committee evaluates the nominations.
“We’ve actually received several awards here in Beaufort County,” Burke said.
Burke added that volunteers may be nominated in a number of different categories, such as individual, family, group/team, youth volunteer, senior volunteer, perseverance in volunteerism (which is an individual who has overcome significant personal obstacles in order to engage in service of others), national service volunteer, outstanding mentor, faith-based volunteer, corporate volunteerism and lifetime achievement.
The only nonvolunteer service category is the director of volunteers category.
“The Perseverance in Volunteerism Award can also be a returning veteran who is helping others,” Burke said.
The list of eligibility requirements notes that nominees must have served as a volunteer for at least one year in North Carolina and benefited his or her community in a substantially important way.
Burke said award selections are based on the nominees’ volunteer efforts and commitment of time, accomplishments, community impact and enhancement of the lives of others.
Burke said nominations are evaluated at the county level. Decisions regarding who receives the awards are based on merit without regard to race, religion, gender, national origin or physical/mental disability.
Nomination forms may be downloaded from the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award website: www.volunteernc.org.
For more information about the awards or the nomination process, contact Burke at 252-946-6401 or by e-mail at cburke@bhmlib.org.
The Details"
To make a nomination for the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, visit www.volunteer