Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and first lady Lori Otter are gearing up to honor Idaho’s outstanding volunteers.
Nominations are being sought for the Governor’s Brightest Star Awards program recognizing active civic engagement by individuals, students, organizations, schools, small businesses and corporations. The awards program is administered by Serve Idaho, a division of the Idaho Department of Labor.
“Volunteers are everyday heroes and are truly Idaho's Brightest Stars, representing all corners of the state,” Serve Idaho Director Kelly Houston Staskey said. “These individuals understand that volunteering is not a luxury. Rather, it is a necessity and a privilege that helps create strong communities throughout Idaho.”
To nominate outstanding volunteers in the six categories, forms are available online at the Serve Idaho Web site at www.serveidaho.org. The deadline is Oct. 5, 2009. Panels of Idaho citizens will review the nominations, and the governor and Mrs. Otter will select a grand prizewinner in each category.
The Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism, which oversees Serve Idaho, will host the Governor’s Brightest Star Awards ceremony Nov. 10, 2009, at Boise State University. The governor and Mrs. Otter will recognize all the honorees and announce the grand prize winners in each category.
Since its inception in 2001, more than 440 individuals and groups have been honored as Governor’s Brightest Stars.
For more information on how to become involved or how to nominate an unsung hero, go to www.serveidaho.org or call Kelly Houston Staskey at (208) 332-3578 or (800) 588-3334 within Idaho.