FGS ANNOUNCES NEW VOLUNTEER AWARD Ruth C. Bishop Family History Volunteer Award 2003 Year of the Volunteer New Award Honors Volunteers The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) reports a very special component of the 2003 Year of the Volunteer, as presented by FGS President Dean J. Hunter in the fall of 2002. It is with great pride that the Federation of Genealogical Societies declares the creation of the Ruth C. Bishop Family History Volunteer Award the Volunteer Hall of Honor. Volunteers are the lifeblood of genealogical societies. They manage our societies and administer the committees of the society and work tirelessly on those committees. They help organizations meet their goals and complete important projects outlined by our groups to benefit of the genealogical community. Volunteers build bridges between genealogy and the record-keepers and institutions that we as genealogists depend on. CRITERIA FOR NOMINEES The Volunteer Hall of Honor will have two sections: 1) Living Volunteer Hall of Honor one person a year will be inducted from the nominations received. 2) Posthumous Volunteer Hall of Honor an unlimited number of deceased individuals will be inducted based on the nominations received. AWARD SPECIFICATIONS: Those to be considered for placement in the Volunteer Hall of Honor can only be nominated by a current FGS member society. Each qualified group may submit one nominee per category per year. The Living Volunteer Hall of Honor winner will receive a registration to the FGS conference for the year in which he/she is inducted, five (5) complimentary hotel nights (Tuesday through Saturday at the conference hotel), airfare to the conference and a ticket to the FGS banquet. The Living Hall of Honor winner will also merit a cash award of $1,000, donated in their behalf, to the nominating society. A certificate will be presented to the nominating society for each person inducted into the Posthumous Volunteer Hall of Honor. An additional certificate can be requested for the family of the individual installed. The Volunteer Hall of Honor will be a part of the FGS Web site. Nominations must be received by the 17th of April of each year and may be submitted at the FGS Web site at <www.fgs.org>. The criteria for choosing the winner will be based solely on the amount and type of volunteer service rendered. Genealogy background, years of research, education, etc. will not be a part of the criteria. FIRST INDUCTIONS FGS will induct the first members to the Volunteer Hall of Honor at this year's FGS conference in Orlando, Florida on 5 September 2003, during the FGS Banquet. (Editor's Note: Where else do you think the first inductions would be held?) ****************************************************** HOW TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS Please take this opportunity to nominate an outstanding volunteer who has made significant contributions to your organization. Also, consider nominating posthumously a member of your society who, during his or her lifetime, made a significant contribution benefiting the genealogical community. Nominating societies MUST be members of FGS. To become a member society visit the Web site www.fgs.org/fgs-mbr.asp Submit to the FGS Web site or FGS Business Office the following: Name and address of the Nominating Society Name, title, and contact information for Nominator Name and contact information for Nominee Several paragraphs describing the Nominee's service FGS Web site <http://www.fgs.org> DEADLINE The 2003 deadline is April 17. A panel of seven judges from the across North America will consider the merits of each nomination and make the final selections. The Federation of Genealogical Societies is proud to have been chosen the administrator of this prestigious award and the Ruth C. Bishop Family History Volunteer Hall of Honor. We encourage all FGS member societies to participate in our celebration of Volunteers! Thank You, Susan Kaufman Public Relations Committee Chair Federation of Genealogical Societies www.fgs.org