STAR Awards Nominations

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Please be sure to review all of the rules and recommendations below.

The 2012 nomination period has ended.

STAR Awards (Sharing Time And Resources) celebrate the spirit of volunteerism throughout our community by paying tribute to individuals and groups who actively donate their time and talents in service to others. Join us in celebrating 27 years of recognizing our community’s volunteers!

Each year, community members nominate individuals or groups of people to be considered for selection as STAR Award recipients. Winners will be selected in 14 different categories and awards will be presented at a breakfast program on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel. This program is attended by more than 500 community members who support volunteerism throughout the Greater Kalamazoo area. Additionally, stories about the volunteer service of the winners will be featured in the Kalamazoo Gazette and on Volunteer Kalamazoo’s website. Tickets will go on sale on March 21, 2012.

Nominations are open to the public and anyone may submit a nomination. A panel of independent judges appointed by Volunteer Kalamazoo will select winners. If you know someone, perhaps a neighbor, family member, co-worker, volunteer manager or volunteer at your organization who exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism, this is your opportunity to give them public recognition for the wonderful work that they are doing.

Please help us recognize the unsung heroes in our community by making a nomination.

Tips for writing a winning nomination

Previous STAR Award winners in the Individual categories may not be nominated or receive an award in the same category more than one time. However, you may nominate the individual for an award in a different category. Previous STAR Award winners in the Group categories may be nominated to receive an award in the same category once every six years. To view a list of all previous recipients, click here.

Previous Volunteer Manager of the Year recipients may not be nominated or receive the award again. To view a list of all previous recipients, click here.

Award Categories Age requirements are effective as of the end of December of the prior calendar year.

Awards will be granted in categories with qualified nominees and decisions of the judges are final. Nominations are subject to verification and become the property of Volunteer Kalamazoo.

Categories:

• Youth Volunteer: Individual 18 years of age or younger
• Youth Volunteer Group: Organized group of people 18 years of age or younger
• College Volunteer: Student enrolled in any college/university within the Kalamazoo Gazette’s circulation area
• College Volunteer Group: Organized group of students enrolled in any college/university within the Gazette’s circulation area
• Young Adult Volunteer: Individual age 19 – 30 years
• Adult Volunteer: Individual age 31 – 64 years
• Senior Volunteer: Individual 65 years of age or older
• Adult Volunteer Group: Organized group of people who are older than age 18
• Employee Volunteer Group: Organized group of coworkers volunteering from one business/organization
• Family Volunteer Group: Organized family group
• Career Volunteer: Individual volunteering 1,000 hours or more, with one or more organizations in the calendar year
• Community Leadership: Individual demonstrating volunteer leadership by managing/influencing programs at more than one organization in the calendar year
• Irving S. Gilmore Lifetime Achievement Award: A person whose dedication and breadth of service has profoundly influenced the community over his/her lifetime.

New for 2012:

• Volunteer Manager of The Year*: An individual serving as a volunteer manager (paid or unpaid) for a nonprofit that serves the Kalamazoo Gazette’s circulation area. (See more information below.)

Eligibility:

Nominations are open to individuals and/or groups residing or volunteering in the Kalamazoo Gazette circulation area (Allegan, Barry, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties) during the last calendar year. Approval must be obtained from the person or group being nominated before submitting the nomination form.

The Irving S. Gilmore Lifetime Achievement Award is a one-time award. Past recipients are ineligible to be re-nominated for this award.

With the exception of the Irving S. Gilmore Lifetime Achievement Award and the Volunteer Manager of the Year Award, all nominations are limited to volunteer service performed during the last calendar year.

Previous STAR Award winners are not eligible to be nominated or receive an award in the same category again. However, they may be nominated for an award in a different category, for example the Young Adult, Senior or Career categories. Due to changes in membership, Youth Groups and College Groups may be nominated to receive an award in the same category, after a waiting period of four years. All other Group categories can be be nominated to receive an award in the same category after a waiting period of six years.

Awards will only be granted in categories with qualified nominees, and decisions of the judges are final. Nominations are subject to verification and become the property of Volunteer Kalamazoo.

Who May Nominate:

Nominations are accepted from citizens, non-profit organizations, public agencies and businesses. A panel of judges appointed by Volunteer Kalamazoo will determine STAR Award winners.

Selection Criteria:

Honorees will be chosen on the following criteria (except for Volunteer Manager of The Year). Be sure to address all of these elements in your submission.

• Volunteer Activities Performed:
  Describe the types of activities and services that your nominee provides. Include the special talents and skills that are a major contributor to their success and impact as a volunteer.

• Organizations Served and Time Given:
  Include the organizations where the service occurred and the number of hours that the nominee has volunteered.

• Overall Impact:
  Describe how the nominee’s work had a significant impact on others or the community.

• Obstacles Overcome:
  If applicable, include examples of how the nominee overcame obstacles and challenges in their own life as it relates to their volunteer activities.

• Other Relevant Information:
  Example: The nominee’s efforts are “above and beyond the call of duty.” While others contribute to the volunteer program, this person makes a particularly noteworthy contribution, such as initiating a program, encouraging others to volunteer or helping in a way that is uniquely their own.

Making your Nomination:

1.) Choose your nominee and collect the information that you will need to complete the nomination form.

2.) Review the different categories listed above to decide which award best suits the individual or group that you would like to  nominate.

3.) Remember that when counting the number of volunteer hours, you may only include hours served within the last calendar year. (The Irving S. Gilmore Lifetime Achievement Award is an exception to this rule.)

4.) Complete a nomination online by clicking the link at the top of this page or complete and send the appropriate form to:

Volunteer Kalamazoo, 709-A S. Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Phone: 269-382-8350 • Fax: 269-382-8362 • Email: vckzoo@volunteerkalamazoo.org

5.) Be sure that you have provided all of the required information. The total number of volunteer hours is required (with the exception of the Volunteer Manager of the Year Award). This number can be approximate, but please be as accurate as possible.

Questions? Contact Volunteer Kalamazoo by email or phone: 269.382.8350 during Mon-Fri [8:30-5pm].

Volunteer Manager of the Year Award

The Volunteer Manager of the Year Award is joining the STAR Awards Program as a collaboration between the Kalamazoo Association of Volunteer Administrators (KAVA), Volunteer Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Gazette.

KAVA has been recognizing Volunteer Managers with this award since 1988.

Volunteer Managers (both paid and unpaid), are often an integral part of a volunteer experience. We want to recognize these individuals for all that they do to display leadership and promote volunteerism in our community. By bringing this award from a small standalone award into the STAR Awards program, we hope to highlight the important role such positions play in our nonprofit community.

For a list of previous Volunteer Manager of the Year Award recipients, click here.