HONOR YOUR MEMBERS
WITH THE KCGS VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD
Encourage
membership and volunteerism in your Society by promoting this unique and
rewarding benefit your members! As a
member of the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, your organization can
offer an exciting award package to your members that involves recognition from
your local Society, State recognition from KCGS, and National recognition
through KCGS from the Corporation For National & Community Service and the
Points of Light Foundation.
There are 3
levels of recognition. 1) You can
recognize local volunteers no matter how many volunteer hours they give
in a year's time. 2) At the State
level, KCGS will recognize (at no cost) all your volunteers who give at least
48 hours in the year to genealogy and family history projects (that averages
just 4 hours a month). 3) Through your certification,
KCGS will offer the National Award (3 Levels - Bronze, Silver, &
Gold) based upon the following PSVA award criteria:
Hours By Award BRONZE SILVER GOLD
Kids (5-10) 26-49 50-74 75+
Teens (11-15) 50- 74 75-99 100+
Young Adults (16-25) 100-174 175-249 250+
Adults (26 and older) 100-249 250-499 500+
Thus, your
adult members can easily earn the National PVSA Bronze award package by
completing 100 hours of Volunteer Service between January 1 and December
31. This would average out to only about
2 hours each week. There is also a
special Lifetime Achievement Award when 4,000 volunteer hours are reached, no
matter how many years it may take.
The full
Awards package consists of a personal Thank You letter from the KCGS President,
a personal Congratulations letter signed by the President of the United States,
a personalized Certificate of Achievement, and an official President's
Volunteer Service Award pin. You will distribute
these awards to your volunteers and recognize their service to your
organization however you see fit.
How Does This Work?
1. As a
member of KCGS, simply send your organization name & contact information in
a note to Darren McMannis, the KCGS Volunteer Awards Coordinator (Email Volunteers@KCGS.us).
In return you will receive an electronic and paper master volunteer
record-keeping form, a press release you can use in your local newspaper, and
sample ideas for getting the word out to your members.
2. Start
encouraging your members to record their volunteer time.
3.
Encourage new members to join in order to take advantage of this Award
program. Those in your county who are
active in genealogy or history but who are not current members may be prompted
to join in order to participate.
4. Develop
volunteer projects for your members to participate in. KCGS will keep you supplied with new
ideas, and step-by-step volunteer guides for a variety of projects
(newspaper transcription, cemetery documentation, etc).
5. In
January of 2016, collect all volunteer record sheets, certify that the work
being reported is "reasonable and consistent" with their involvement
in society projects, and certify that each individual meets the National
requirements if receiving the National award:
- Recipient(s)
must be a United States citizen or a lawfully admitted permanent resident
of the United States.
- Awards
are issued for volunteer service only; additional levels of participation
with the organization (i.e., charitable support) are not a factor
considered for the award.
- Court-ordered
community service does not qualify for the award.
- Volunteer
Service must be with projects directly or indirectly connected to the
overall purpose of your local Society or Museum, or in achievement of the
purposes of the KCGS; primarily, in promoting genealogy and family history
research, collection and preservation of genealogical and historical
records, assisting others in their research, educating others in any
aspect of family history, etc.
6. Submit a summary and certification to KCGS
for each award recipient along with payment for the National Awards
package. The actual fee is determined by
the Points of Light Foundation and is currently $ 5.50 for the Award letter,
certificate, and pin. The cost is $ 8.00
if you prefer the Medallion & Ribbon instead of the Pin for your
members. KCGS will pay shipping
fees. Also, KCGS will provide you with
several ideas and sample letters to assist you in raising donations, if needed,
to pay for the cost of these awards.
While you cannot charge the recipient for this cost, this can be
provided for in many other ways.
7. KCGS
will send you the State & National awards when they arrive, along with a
Press Release to honor your volunteers, as well as any corporate sponsors of
your local volunteer efforts during the previous year.
That's it! Even if you're not entirely sure you will
want to participate in the full National Presidential Volunteer Service Award
at this time, you will at least want to encourage your volunteers to record
their time so that you and the KCGS can recognize their annual efforts.
In an age when the typical Genealogy &
Historical Society is struggling and being forced to adapt to new technologies,
getting your County resources compiled and online is essential. The Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies
wants to help your organization remain viable and thriving in today's world,
preserving the past for all future generations.
The KCGS Volunteer Awards program is one way we can support you in your
mission and at the same time promote recognition of the tremendous
contributions made by all of the Genealogy and Family History volunteers in
Kansas.
