A realignment in the schedule for the annual Governor's Volunteer Service Awards will mean changes in the Moore County program administered by RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program).

Shiela Klein, Moore County RSVP coordinator, says the changes are designed to align the state and local recognition events with National Volunteer Week in April. This year, the dates will be April 10-16, when the theme will be "Celebrating People in Action."

Klein says the changes are significant because categories have been expanded and deadlines moved up.

The realignment means that nominations must be submitted by no later than Feb. 1. In the past, nominations were solicited in the summer, and the local commission announced the recipients in November.

"This state mandated realignment has put the squeeze on the time allotted to submit 2011 nominations," Klein says. "We may be short on time, but not on remarkable volunteers. There is no shortage of volunteers to nominate. We all have friends, neighbors, co-workers, church workers, first responders, youngsters, oldsters, or neighborhood service clubs whose story needs to be told."

Nominations will be accepted for volunteers in 11 additional categories: individual, family, group/team, youth volunteer (age 18 or younger), senior volunteer (age 55 or older), perseverance in volunteerism, national service volunteer, outstanding mentor, faith-based volunteer, corporate volunteerism and lifetime achievement.

In a Dec. 13 conference call, Klein was notified of three other major changes. First, the nominee must have a minimum of one year of volunteer service. Second, two references will now be required for each nomination, and finally, a new category, director of volunteers, has been created to recognize paid professional directors of volunteers.

"Doesn't every one of our county's volunteers truly deserve to be recognized for their faithful, life-changing and unconditional volunteer service?" she asked. "Yes, but sadly, if they are not nominated, they will go unrecognized."

Klein urges Moore County residents to begin work on their nominations as soon as possible. Copies of the guidelines and nomination forms are available at the Moore County Senior Enrichment Center on U.S. 15-501 between the Pinehurst Traffic Circle and Eastwood, or by e-mail to sklein@moorecountync.gov. More information is available by calling Klein at (910) 215-0900.

The state volunteer recognition program was established 33 years ago.

Annually five local volunteers are singled out for this honor, and one of the five is selected to compete for the state Medallion award.

The 2010 winners were announced in the fall and were honored at the Nov. 1 meeting of the Moore County Board of Commissioners.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.