When the final nominations for Stars of Lake County were published, the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers were listed among the nominees in the group-volunteer category.
Many kind folks took the time to contact us and offer congratulations; thank you. This week, we withdrew our nomination.
Since so many people told us how happy they were to see our group nominated, we feel we need to explain our decision to withdraw.
Last week, we were informed that the Stars committee had moved us out of the volunteer category into a different one. The Chamber has every right to do this, of course, since it is the chamber”s event.
However, being moved out of the volunteer category shifts the focus away from a large, dedicated group of people who collectively labored nearly 1,300 hours in 2010 alone and would have made the award about something else rather than our volunteers.
We thank the person who submitted the nomination and we thank the Chamber of Commerce for inspiring us to ponder the true meaning and spirit of volunteerism. We wish the chamber a successful 2011 Stars show and offer congratulations to all the nominees and recipients this year.
Most of all, we thank our volunteers. We will find another way to honor the great folks who make participation in the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers so meaningful and fun.
Kim Riley and Karen Sullivan
Organizers of Highland Springs Trails Volunteers
