Time to Select Your Outstanding Volunteers

Now is the time for genealogical organizations to select their local outstanding volunteers and teams so they can be honored at the WSGS Annual Meeting on June 27, 2015 in Ellensburg.

Each year, the State Society recognizes local volunteers and teams nominated by their society or organization at the annual conference. In 2014, almost 30 local volunteers and three teams from 19 organizations were recognized for their support and dedication to their society and the researching public.

The process for this year’s Outstanding Volunteer Award program is much like last year’s, with a special emphasis on team awards, as well as for individuals. In addition to the traditional Outstanding Volunteer Award program, in 2015, there will be three new recognition awards: Outstanding Project, Outstanding Communication, and the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. Information about those awards will be forthcoming, but should not impact organizations’ nominations for their Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Letters to local societies and organizations, with additional details, will be mailed in early February, but societies are encouraged to begin their nomination process now. The milestones for this year’s nomination process are:

• No later than March 1, 2015: Submit the name(s) of your honorees to the Recognition Committee.
• May 1, 2015: Submit a narrative (approximately 150 words) explaining the accomplishments of your nominee and why you are honoring him/her/team. Include a good quality digital photograph (at least 300 dpi).
• June 27, 2015: Formal announcement and presentation of certificates at the State Conference in Ellensburg.

Additional details and deadlines, plus indexes and narratives of accomplishments of past honorees, since 2003, may be found at the Volunteer Awards section of the WSGS website.

Please contact Roxanne Lowe at roxanne@thekeeffes.com if you have questions or suggestions.