SECRETARIES OF STATE;
SECRETARIES OF STATE;
April 25, 2003 |
2003-R-0403 | |
SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC SERVICE AWARDS | ||
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By: Mary M. Janicki, Assistant Director | ||
You asked for information on the secretary of the state’s public service awards program, such as its purpose, origination, and scope.
The information in this report comes from the Office of the Secretary of the State and its website.
The program is not statutory. Secretary Susan Bysiewicz established Connecticut’s Public Service Award program to “recognize individuals who contribute to their communities and state in a wide variety of ways. ” Modeled after a program in Vermont, it recognizes individuals’ contributions, shows appreciation for the roles they play, and encourages the service of others.
Secretary Bysiewicz awarded the first public service awards in 2000. Since then, 3,474 people have received this recognition and on May 5, 2003, approximately 1,700 will do so. For the first awards, town clerks identified and suggested award winners in their towns to recognize civic volunteerism. In 2002, mayors and first selectmen created bipartisan nominating committees to (1) propose 10 community volunteers and activists for the award based on criteria the secretary provided and (2) name a young person to receive the Youth Volunteerism Award.
The next award ceremony will recognize people serving on state boards and commissions. Awards are presented in each congressional district at a ceremony that awardees and their guests attend. Awardees receive a certificate and congratulatory letter from the secretary. Six plaques have been presented to the longest-serving individuals at the ceremony for municipal elected and appointed officials. The Connecticut Citizenship Fund, Inc. sponsors the ceremonies through corporate grants and contributions.
Tables 1 and 2 show the details for the public service award program for 2000-01 and 2002.
Table 1: 2000-01 Public Service Awards
2,296 Awardees for civic volunteerism identified by town clerks | |||
Cong. Dist. |
Location |
Date |
Number of Awardees |
1 and 4 |
Central Connecticut State University |
November 21, 2000 |
218 |
2 |
UConn, Jorgensen Auditorium |
March 19, 2001 |
835 |
3 and 5 |
Quinnipiac University |
April 24, 2001 |
698 |
6 |
Central Connecticut State University |
June 11, 2001 |
602 |
Table 2: 2002 Public Service Awards
1,121 Awardees for volunteerism identified by mayors and first selectmen | |||
Cong. Dist. |
Location |
Date |
Number of Awardees |
1 and 5 |
Central Connecticut State University |
June 19, 2002 |
323 |
2 |
UConn, Jorgensen Auditorium |
August 6, 2002 |
406 |
3 and 4 |
Parsons Complex, Milford |
September 18, 2002 |
392 |
The 2003 awards will recognize people currently serving on state boards and commissions. Participating agencies will submit names of approximately 1,700 people who will receive public service awards on May 5, 2003 at a ceremony to be held at Central Connecticut State University.
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