Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, July 03, 2014

Michell Ricker of Mount Ayr received a 2014 Governor's Volunteer Award from Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds during a special recognition ceremony held on June 18 in Pleasant Hill.

Ricker was honored with a Length of Service Volunteer Award by South Central Iowa Community Foundation for "the wonderful service, dedication and leadership she provides to SCICF."

"It's always a great pleasure for me to honor and recognize the volunteers who accomplish extraordinary things through service to help their communities, fellow citizens, and the great state of Iowa," said Governor Terry Branstad. "These dedicated volunteers lead by example -- not only encouraging the people they help, but motivating others to serve as well. I sincerely thank them for their dedication and efforts."

"The Governor and I are strong believers that our community volunteers, charitable nonprofits, and faith-based institutions are often best equipped to provide long-term solutions to the challenges we face," said Lt. Governor Reynolds. "Some of our most promising and cost-effective solutions to literacy, disaster response, drop-out prevention, and community development are fueled by tapping into our best assets -- our people and our volunteer spirit."

The Governor's Volunteer Awards (GVA) program was created in 1982, with inaugural awards presented in 1983. What began as a small program for state government agencies has expanded over the years and now provides all Iowa nonprofit charitable and government organizations with an easy way to honor their volunteers with a prestigious state-level award. Hundreds of volunteers are recognized each year with awards in one of four categories: Individual, Group, Length of Service of Disaster Volunteer.

Recipients of the Governor's Volunteer Award do not necessarily need to live in Iowa, but their service must have benefited Iowans or an Iowa organization. Award criteria include an individual or group who has:

made an outstanding contribution to state or community through volunteer service

The Governor's Volunteer Award program is coordinated by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and the Governor's Office. For more information, visit www.volunteeriowa.org/ awards or call 515-725-3094.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2014