2008 SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDALS (SAMMIES) AWARDS PROGRAM

R 271509Z FEB 08 ZUI ASN-A00058000007 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-12//
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS //N12451//
ALCOAST 101/08
COMDTNOTE 12451
SUBJ: 2008 SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDALS (SAMMIES) AWARDS PROGRAM
1.  THE SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDALS ARE PRESENTED ANNUALLY BY THE
PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TO CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE IN THE
FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE.  THIS PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM
RECOGNIZES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF AMERICAS PUBLIC SERVANTS, PAYING
TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR
COUNTRY.  HONOREES WILL BE CHOSEN BASED ON THEIR COMMITMENT AND
INNOVATION, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF THEIR WORK ON ADDRESSING THE
NEEDS OF THE NATION.  THE SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDALS ARE FOR CAREER
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ONLY.
2.  ALL CAREER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ARE ELIGIBLE.  (ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC AWARDS MAY ALSO APPLY).  NOMINEES MUST
HAVE SHOWN A STRONG COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND DEMONSTRATED
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITHIN THEIR PARTICULAR GOVERNMENTAL
FIELD THAT WERE INNOVATIVE, OF HIGH IMPACT, AND MET A CRITICAL
NATIONAL NEED.  PROFILES OF PAST SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDAL WINNERS
MAY BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:
HTTP://SERVICETOAMERICAMEDALS.ORG/SAM/RECIPIENTS/. (THIS LINK WILL
NOT WORK WITH ALL UPPERCASE LETTERS. TO ACCESS THIS LINK, YOU MUST
USE ALL LOWER CASE LETTERS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WORD SAM WHICH
MUST APPEAR IN ALL UPPER CASE LETTERS).
3.  THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE SAMMIES IS 2359
EST ON 10 MARCH 2008.  NOMINATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED USING THE
ONLINE NOMINATION FORM LINK
HTTP://SERVICETOAMERICAMEDALS.ORG/SAM/NOMINATIONS/. (THIS LINK WILL
NOT WORK WITH ALL UPPERCASE LETTERS.  TO ACCESS THIS LINK, YOU MUST
USE ALL LOWER CASE LETTERS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WORD SAM WHICH
MUST APPEAR IN ALL UPPER CASE LETTERS).  THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT
FOR INTERNAL COAST GUARD REVIEW OTHER THAN THE IMMEDIATE CHAIN OF
COMMAND.  GENERAL ELIGIBILITY, SELECTION CRITERIA AND AN
EXPLANATION OF THE NOMINATION PROCESS MAY ALL BE FOUND AT THIS
WEBSITE.  THE MEDALS CATEGORIES INCLUDE: CALL TO SERVICE, CAREER
ACHIEVEMENT, CITIZEN SERVICES, HOMELAND SECURITY, JUSTICE AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT, NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, AND
SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT.  ALL FINALISTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THE
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD.  THERE IS NO SOLICITATION FOR
THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD AS THE RECIPIENT OF THIS
AWARD WILL BE CHOSEN FROM AMONG THE FINALISTS BY THE SELECTION
COMMITTEE.
4.  NOMINATION PACKAGES WILL BE REVIEWED BY A SELECTION COMMITTEE
AND FINALISTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MIDDLE TO LATE JUNE 2008.  THE
SELECTION COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF NATIONAL LEADERS REPRESENTING
GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, ACADEMIA, A NATIONAL UNION, ENTERTAINMENT,
MEDIA, AND THE NON-PROFIT/FOUNDATION COMMUNITY.  THE SELECTION
COMMITTEE WILL CONTACT THE EMPLOYEES AGENCY TO RECEIVE CLEARANCE
AND APPROVAL ON ALL SELECTIONS BEFORE FINAL APPROVAL OF AWARDS.
AWARD RECIPIENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MIDDLE TO LATE SEPTEMBER
2008.  RECIPIENTS OF THE 2008 SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDALS WILL BE
HONORED AT AN AWARDS GALA IN WASHINGTON, DC.  THEY WILL ALSO
RECEIVE A MONETARY AWARD.  FOR INFORMATION AND TRACKING PURPOSES
ONLY, PLEASE FORWARD COPIES OF YOUR NOMINATION PACKAGES TO
COMMANDANT (CG-1213) ATTN:  MS. SHERRIE HAILSTORKS.  INQUIRIES MAY
BE DIRECTED TO MS. HAILSTORKS AT (202)475-5318 OR MR. RON COLEMAN
AT (202)475-5321.
5.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
6.  RDML DANIEL A. NEPTUN, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, SENDS.
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