Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Volunteer Award : Department of Parks and Recreation : Arlington, Virginia

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Department of Parks and Recreation

Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Volunteer Award

The Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Award was established to pay tribute to lifelong parks volunteer Bill Thomas and to honor and encourage those residents who also demonstrate a passionate dedication and support for our dynamic programs, natural resources and public open spaces.

Award Criteria
Nominations are judged on the basis of the nominee's direct involvement with an activity or contribution.

A contribution is the giving of personal time, expertise, a tangible gift or financial donation.
The activity or contribution upon which the nomination is based must have been completed prior to the year of selection.
The award may be for a specific accomplishment or for an accumulation of accomplishments over an extended period of time.

Eligibility for the Award
The Bill Thomas Park Service Award is open to individual and groups. Excluded from nomination for the award are currently serving members of the Arlington County Board, and Arlington Park and Recreation Commission, and Arlington County Staff.

Widespread participation in the award process is encouraged. Anyone may submit a nomination for The Bill Thomas Park Service Award.

Selection Procedure
Awards are made annually on a case-by-case basis. There is no requirement to select an award winner within a given year. Ordinarily, there is not more than one award winner each year. Winners are selected based on submissions. If a submission is not selected, it is reviewed the following year with new nominations.

The Bill Thomas Park Service Volunteer Award Committee selects the award recipient. The committee is approved by members of the Park and Recreation Commission and composed of a representative from the Park and Recreation Commission, Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, Friends of Arlington Parks, and Arlington Civic Federation as well as an at-large committee member appointee by the Park and Recreation Commission Chair.

Award Procedures

2011 Bill Thomas Park Service Award Nomination Form (44 KB PDF)

Complete a separate application for each nomination. Nominations are due by 5:00pm on February 24, 2012. Each nomination should include:
1. A completed nomination cover sheet that identifies both the nominee and the nominator by providing the full name of the individual or group, address, phone number and email.
2. A written nomination statement (not more than three pages in length) to support the nomination that shows the worth of the nominee’s contribution in terms of results achieved or its potential for future results. The evidence presented must show in detail how the contribution was above and beyond that of a typical parks service volunteer. The statement should include:
  1. details of the contribution that supports our dynamic programs, natural resources and public open spaces.
  2. details of the nominee's role, and
  3. the extent to which the contribution has benefited the department’s dynamic programs, natural resources and public open spaces.
3. To the extent possible, pertinent exhibits to supplement the nomination statement such as documentation of the contribution, testimonials, news stories, resumes and biographical information.
The Committee is not responsible for returning applications and supporting materials. Requests for their return will be considered if appropriate arrangements are made in advance.

Background
William "Bill" Thomas served the Arlington County parks community for more than two decades. He became a member of Friends of Arlington Parks when the organization was established more than twenty years ago and was appointed to the Park and Recreation Commission in 1995. He had a personal love of birding, and the acquisition of parkland was one of his priorities. He served on the Countywide Dog Exercise Area Work Group and was instrumental in the institution of the first fenced-in dog exercise area in Arlington. He strongly supported tot lots and the upgrading of playground structures to address important safety needs.

Bill Thomas was a tireless worker on the behalf of Arlington's parks and citizens. His dedication over the years sets an inspiring example for others. "The Bill Thomas Park Service Volunteer Award" was established both to pay tribute to Bill Thomas and to honor and encourage similar dedication among other residents and organizations.

Nominations for The Bill Thomas Park Service Award must be delivered to Susan Kalish: Bill Thomas Park Service Award, Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 414, Arlington, VA 22201, or emailed, or faxed to 703-228-3328 by 5:00pm, February 24, 2012.

2011 Bill Thomas Outstanding Park
Service Volunteer Awards