Warren dependents, civilians can compete for VEA

  • Published
  • By Donna Lorentz
  • Warren Airman and Family Readiness Center
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. --  Warren civilians, dependents and retired federal employees have the chance to compete for the 2007 volunteer excellence award during national volunteer excellence week April 15-21. 

The VEA was established by the Air Force chief of staff to recognize civilians, family members and military and federal retirees who perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature. 

Award winners receive a silver pin, gift certificates and, if there are enough nominees, a thank you luncheon for all the nominees. 

To be eligible, an individual's service must be performed either in the local civilian community or the military family community, have continued through multiple years and its results must be of a direct nature. The volunteer service must be significant in character, produce tangible results and reflect favorably on the Air Force. 

To be awarded the VEA, eligible people must be nominated by their supervisor using Air Force Form 1206, Nomination for Award, or by the voluntary agency for which they donated their service. For example, an individual can be nominated for long-term service as a family services volunteer, Boy or Girl Scout leader, etc. 

The VEA is intended to recognize exceptional long-term community support and not a single act or achievement. The nominee must be performing services on a voluntary basis, not as part of a tasking, and may not result in any personal gain. 

Nominations should be direct, fact-filled and results-oriented. Supervisors or voluntary agencies should emphasize the benefits from the nominee' s volunteer service and include qualifying factors that are out of the ordinary. Some suggestions are leadership and management, scope of responsibility, innovative and creative ideas, community involvement, initiative and reliability. 

Nominations should be specific when giving time frame of accomplishments.
Two photos of the volunteer, either at home with family, at work or in action volunteering need to be included. The photos will be used in a slide presentation. 

Six copies of the nomination letter are due April 16 to Donna Lorentz, Warren Airman and Family Readiness Center, at 7061 Randall Ave., Bldg. 207. For more information call Ms. Lorentz at 773-5941.