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Home > Volunteer Virginia > Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Governor's Awards Nomination FAQ

• How do I submit a nomination?
• How long is the nomination period?
• Is it necessary to complete the nomination profile form for the nominee and the nominator in addition to the nomination narrative?
• How long must the nomination narrative be?
• Does the nomination narrative need to follow any specific format?
• Have the nomination categories changed since last year?
• May I nominate someone for a category that isn’t listed on the nomination form?
• May I submit multiple nominations for different individuals or organizations?
• What are the general requirements for the letters of support?
• Can the author of the letter of support remain anonymous?
• Can the author of the nomination narrative also write a letter of support?
• Are previous Governor's Award winners eligible for nomination?
• May I submit additional information such as additional support letters, photographs and/or news clippings to further support my nomination?
• Who reviews the nominations?
• When will I be notified about my nomination's status and when is the 2010 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Awards ceremony?
• If I have further questions, where may I call or e-mail for assistance?

Question: How do I submit a nomination?
Answer: Your nomination may be submitted in either of the following ways:

• Complete the online nomination form and submit it electronically. Letters of support can be uploaded online, or downloaded and submitted by mail, fax, or e-mail.
• download the nomination packet, complete and mail or fax it to our office.

Mailing Address:
Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards
Office on Volunteerism and Community Service
801 East Main Street, 15th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219-2901
Fax: (804) 726-7088
E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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Question: How long is the nomination period?
Answer: The nomination process lasts two (2) months, beginning December 1, 2009 — February 1, 2010. All nominations must be received via fax, mail or submitted online no later than 5:00 PM, Monday, February 1, 2010. Any incomplete nomination or nomination received after 5:00 PM on February 1, 2010 will not be considered. Nomination narratives received without the two letters of support are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
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Question: Is it necessary to complete the nomination profile form for the nominee and the nominator in addition to the nomination narrative?
Answer: Yes. Please include the full name (first, middle and last for individuals) or full legal name (for organizations and businesses). It is very important that the category selected is that of the nominee, rather than the affiliation or category of the nominator.
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Question: How long must the nomination narrative be?
Answer: For online submissions, the nomination narrative is comprised of five questions, each with a 200 word limit (totaling roughly one typed page). For offline submissions (PDF or MS Word downloads), the nomination narrative must be no more than one page single-spaced on 8 ½ x 11 paper with one-inch margins and typed in 12-point font.
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Question: Does the nomination narrative need to follow any specific format?
Answer: Yes. The nomination narrative should answer all six of the questions, as stated in the nomination narrative section of the nomination form and in the order presented.
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Question: Have the nomination categories changed since last year?
Answer: Yes. In an effort to streamline the process, the nomination categories have been modified since last year. See here: http://www.vaservice.org/go/volunteer/award_category/
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Question: May I nominate someone for a category that isn’t listed on the nomination form?
Answer: No. Nominators must select only one of the listed categories. Please do not select multiple categories for the same candidate.
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Question: May I submit multiple nominations for different individuals or organizations?
Answer: Yes. An individual or organization may submit as many nominations as desired for different individuals and organizations.
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Question: What are the general requirements for the letters of support?
Answer: Two letters of support are required, no longer than one page each. Letters should clearly state the author’s relationship to the nominee and knowledge of his/her service in order to provide sufficient information on the individual or organization. Letters may not be used to serve as both a letter of support and the nomination narrative. Letters must be submitted by someone other than the nominator and by someone not directly related to the nominee. If possible, letters of support should be signed and submitted on the letterhead of the letter writer.
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Question: Can the author of the letter of support remain anonymous?
Answer: We prefer that the nominator provide the contact information of those submitting letters of support. Providing the contact information allows us to contact the author in case we need to track the letter of support.
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Question: Can the author of the nomination narrative also write a letter of support?
Answer: No. A letter of support must be submitted by someone other than the nominator. Letters must also be written by different individuals, not the same person.
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Question: Are previous Governor's Award winners eligible for nomination?
Answer: Previous winners of a Governor's Award are eligible to be nominated again provided that five (5) years have elapsed since receipt of previous award.
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Question: May I submit additional information such as additional support letters, photographs and/or news clippings to further support my nomination?
Answer: No, such additional information will not be considered. However you may mention this information in the narrative. Two letters of support is the required number and additional letters will not be accepted.
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Question: Who reviews the nominations?
Answer: Nominations are reviewed by a diverse panel of independent judges. Judges are selected based on their experience and expertise in the field of volunteerism.
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Question: When will I be notified about my nomination's status and when is the 2010 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Awards ceremony?
Answer: A judging panel will review and score the nomination during February to determine the 2010 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service awardees. Letters will be mailed to all nominators in late March notifying them of the judging results. The awards ceremony will take place in late April 2010 in a location yet to be determined.
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Question: If I have further questions, where may I call or e-mail for assistance?
Answer: You may contact the Office on Volunteerism and Community Service at (804) 726-7065 or e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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