CHESTERMERE – This year, National Volunteer Appreciation week is from April 15 to 21.
Although Chestermere Community Services has celebrated the week in previous years, for 2012 they decided to create an award for outstanding volunteers in the community. Nominations for the awards will be accepted until March 30.
Community Resource Coordinator Angela Normand said that they decided to establish an award simply because there are so many outstanding volunteers in Chestermere and the surrounding area.
“I think there are certain people that stand out in organizations that deserve to be recognized,” she said. “It’s great for them to be able to be recognized, and it also gives the people that are receiving their help the chance to recognize the people that are helping them.”
The individual that is nominated must be aware that they are a nominee, and must sign the nomination form before it is submitted. They must be a volunteer within an organization or group in Chestermere or southeast Rocky View, and it is preferred that they are a local resident.
The categories for the nominations are as follows:
Sports: an individual who provides support to sports teams or club through coaching, managing, etc. Arts: a volunteer who works to promote the arts through programming or leadership.
Community Services: an individual whose volunteerism improves the lives of others living within the community and/or supports community events.
Youth: an individual who is actively involved in the community and demonstrates positive leadership to peers through their volunteerism (ages 13 – 17.)
Leader of Tomorrow: an individual that engages in helping their community through creative ways of leadership, while demonstrating a sense of leadership for peers (ages 12 and under.)
Volunteer service will be evaluated based on the impact on others in the community, the need for the service provided, as well as the quality, diversity and originality of the individual.
All of the nominations will be considered by the Nomination Review Committee, which is made up of members from Chestermere Community Services.
The awards will be presented to winners during the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast that will be held at town hall on April 21.
The event will be open to all local volunteers and their families. There will be a pancake breakfast, facepainting and other activities. More details about the event will be made available in April.
The nomination form is available online at cscommunitycurrents.com. Forms can be dropped off in person to Community Services at town hall, or e-mailed or faxed in.
For more information, contact Angela Normand at 403-207-7079.
