In many states in the USA, the governor of that state has an annual event to recognize outstanding volunteer efforts. There are lots of categories of recognition for these award programs: for an outstanding senior volunteer, a youth group of volunteers, an individual youth volunteer, a corporate volunteering program, a life-time volunteer, and more. And in many of these states, like Oregon, applications are being accepted NOW.

(I just wish these award programs all also recognized outstanding volunteer managers – those who recruit, support and supervise volunteers, and make volunteer engagement possible!)

Some of these governor’s award programs also award people and groups on the regional level. And many of these award programs have trouble getting enough nominees to give an award in every category.

To find out if your state has such an award’s program, go to Google and use these searches:

• yourstatename governor volunteer award (such as Kentucky Governor Volunteer Award)
• yourstatename volunteer award (such as Oregon Volunteer Award)
• yourstatename community service volunteer award (such as Iowa Governor Volunteer Award)

If your state never comes up in the search of any of those phrases, your state probably doesn’t have a state award for volunteers (and maybe you should start a petition so they do!).

I served as a judging panelist for the Governor’s Volunteer Awards in Texas in 1999; my category was group volunteering. I was also a judge for the National Volunteer Awards by Women in Community Service (WICS) (part of JobCorps) in 1998 and a member of the 1995-96 San Jose (California) Festival, Parade and Celebration Grant Review Committee. Having read so many applications for these awards – as well as reviewing more grant applications over the years than I care to say – I know what things that you need to include in a nomination form to make sure your effort gets considered for a governor’s award:

1. Follow the nomination form guidelines precisely. Read the directions carefully and provide every piece of information asked for.
2. Don’t just focus on number of hours done. What difference did this volunteer effort make? What is different now because of this volunteer effort? Answer this question in detail: So what? If you can include any hard data that proves you made a difference – changed minds and perceptions, a reduction in crime or pollution or hunger, an increase in something good like people people able to read or dogs being adopted – that better ensures your nomination form will go somewhere.

And don’t think this is a wasted effort if your nomination doesn’t get recognized; for students, you now have great information to use on scholarship and university applications. Nonprofits, you now have great information to feature on your web site and in funding proposals. You also have some fantastic information to blog about!

All this comes to mind because the Oregon Governor’s Volunteer Awards are now accepting nominations. A cash award of up to $500 will be given by presenting sponsor Wells Fargo to a non-profit of choice for each state and regional volunteer award recipient.

And unlike other governor’s award ceremonies I’ve been to, the Oregon awards ceremony is focused ON THE VOLUNTEERS. There are no high-profile guests, no long speeches by politicans – it’s all about hearing about the difference the award winners have made (are you listening California? Or Texas?).