PRIDE, in cooperation with TECO Coal Corporation and WYMT Television, instituted the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month program to recognize those individuals who routinely give of their time and resources to better their communities and our state. The PRIDE Volunteers of the Month exemplify the spirit of the PRIDE initiative — Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment.

The PRIDE Volunteers of the Month receive certificates, as well as recognition in their local newspaper, on WYMT-TV and at the PRIDE web site. The 12 Volunteers of the Month are considered for the annual Tony Turner Volunteer of the Year Award.

PRIDE selects the Volunteers of the Month from nominations submitted by the 15th of each month. The person submitting the nomination form should have first-hand knowledge of the nominee’s volunteerism, character and service. PRIDE will not consider nominees who were paid for the service for which they were nominated, unless their service was above and beyond the normal description of their regular duties.

To print a nomination form for the PRIDE Volunteer of the Month program, click here.

FEBRUARY 2010: Jackson County PRIDE Committee

The Jackson County PRIDE Committee won the region’s PRIDE Volunteer of the Month Award for February 2010. The group was honored for leading an innovative environmental education project. The Jackson County Schools’ Roadway Sign Project allowed 4th and 5th grade students at McKee, Sand Gap and Tyner Elementary Schools to design road signs that remind everyone to take pride in the community’s appearance. Five designs were selected to be turned into road signs, which soon will be erected along major roads entering the county. The project was launched at the Jackson County PRIDE Committee in September 2009. The idea was presented by the committee’s education director, Wonda Hammons. The committee strongly supported the project, and Judge-Executive William Smith, a committee member, agreed to make and post the road signs. Hammons oversaw the project in her role as the Jackson County PRIDE Environmental Education Outreach Program Liaison. The outreach program, which is funded by the fiscal court, sends a liaison into schools to lead fun, hands-on activities related to state science standards and environmental stewardship. The PRIDE Committee assists the liaison with developing and implementing projects that excite students about Jackson County’s natural beauty. “Jackson County’s PRIDE team has a winning game plan,” said Karen Engle, who heads the nonprofit PRIDE organization. “By educating students, the committee is helping thousands of people realize that personal responsibility for the environment benefits us all.” “The better we educate our children, then the better our future will be,” explained Ed Morgan, Jr., who chairs the committee and is the director of buildings and grounds for Jackson County Schools. “We’ve got generations of people used to doing things one way. We’re trying to show our children that there’s a better way to do things. That’s what will make us successful in the end.” “I think we are seeing more volunteers due to greater involvement with the school system through the PRIDE outreach program,” said Barry Spivey, the county’s solid waste and PRIDE coordinator and vice chairman of the PRIDE Committee. “The kids are taking the message home to their parents.” The county set a new record for volunteer participation in its annual PRIDE Spring Cleanup campaign last year. The committee recruited 1,152 volunteers for the 2009 PRIDE Spring Cleanup. The committee is now preparing for the 2010 PRIDE Spring Cleanup Month in April. Plans will be announced through the local newspapers and radio stations, as well as the county’s web site, which is www.jacksoncountyky.us. “Everyone is welcome to attend our monthly meetings, and we invite anyone who has questions or wants to get involved to call me at 287-7181 or Barry Spivey at 287-7688,” Morgan said. The committee meets every fourth Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Jackson County Fiscal Court Meeting Room in the court house. In addition to Morgan, Spivey and Hammons, the remaining committee officer is Secretary Sue Wright, who is an employee of the school system. The other committee members are Judge Smith; Deputy Sheriff/Litter Enforcement Officer Lynn Goforth; Shellie Thompson of the Kentucky Division of Forestry; Fletcher Gabbard, community representative; Rodney Chrisman of Jackson Energy, who is the business representative; and Jason Thomas, who represents the county’s recycling program. The PRIDE Volunteer of the Month program recognizes hard work and dedication to the PRIDE initiative. With corporate sponsorship from TECO Coal, WYMT-TV airs commercials about each PRIDE Volunteer of the Month. The 12 Volunteers of the Month are considered for PRIDE’s annual Tony Turner Volunteer of the Year Award. “Volunteers are the backbone of PRIDE,” said Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5), PRIDE co-founder. “We wouldn’t be where we are without our volunteers. More than 260,000 volunteers have helped with PRIDE cleanup and education projects. We want to thank TECO Coal for helping PRIDE give these generous people the recognition they deserve.” ###