Conference Information

The Utah Commission on Volunteers, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, is pleased to invite you to the 2008 Utah Conference on Service, April 29-30 at the Provo Marriott. This year’s conference on service brings new partners and activities to the features that you’ve come to expect from past conferences - informative workshops, an inspiring awards banquet, great entertainment, and networking with friends.

This year’s theme, “Service ~ The Sweet Life” will focus participants on the benefits and rewards of service. Our graphics purposefully reflect some of the aspects of “The Sweet Life” – teaching a child to fish while enjoying the serenity of the outdoors as well as the hope of hooking a child on a lifetime of service. We’ll also reflect on how last year’s “Building Bridges” focus impacted your organizations and how to move your action plans forward in your communities. Our goal this year is to provide examples of “teaching someone to fish” with the net result of real sustainability of programs and projects that bring “the sweet life” to more and more of the people we all serve.

The Conference opens on Tuesday, April 29th, with a welcome reception at the BYU Alumni Center from 5:00-7:00 PM. Immediately following, you’re invited to attend the Hope of America Foundation Student Showcase concert at the Marriott Center (right across the street) where the Commission on Volunteers will be recognized on behalf of Utah’s citizens for making us #1 in the nation for volunteering! Returning this year is Steve James, Seasons of Service musical presenter, who will perform Tuesday evening.

Wednesday, April 30th, opens with a keynote by Merrilee Boyack, outstanding lecturer and author of the new book, “52 Weeks of Fun Family Service”. Workshops throughout the day include a track for Learn and Serve school districts and anyone interested in grant writing and service learning, a track sponsored by the Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, and the ever-popular offerings on volunteer management. New this year is a service project area where you can learn and unwind while volunteering with friends.

Nominations are now open for the outstanding volunteers and organizations to be recognized at the awards luncheon on April 30. Please nominate a volunteer or a volunteer group using the link at the bottom of this page. Deadline for nominations is April 8 . Keynote speaker at the awards luncheon will be Jedd Medefind, Deputy Director of the Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives.

(Please note that Tuesday, April 29th, is the date of the Silver Bowl Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the Utah Volunteer Centers Association and the Utah Commission on Volunteers. If you’re traveling long distances, we hope you’ll plan for both events. To nominate an outstanding volunteer from your county, contact your local Volunteer Center; locate your county’s volunteer center by selecting the Volunteer Centers tab in the left panel of this site. Registration and nominations for the Silver Bowl Awards and the 2008 Utah Conference are separate.)

Any questions, please feel free to contact the Commission on Volunteers at 1-888-755-UTAH (8824) or (801) 538-8785.  We look forward to seeing you in April!

Please register online at www.regonline.com/08COVConference . General Attendee registration fee is $89.00 until April 8th. After April 8th, the registration fee is $109.00. The conference and lodging are both at the Provo Marriott, 801-377-4700. To receive the lodging conference rate of $65.00 you must request that
you are a part of the conference group for the 2008 Utah Conference, “Service - The Sweet Life.” After April 15th, this conference rate is not guaranteed.

The flyers below are for your convenience.  Please distribute broadly the one-page flyer and save the date cards about our 2008 Utah Conference with your friends and colleagues!

Additional Conference Material:
* One Page Flyer
* Save the Date Card (front)
* Save the Date Card (back)

Opening Reception: Tuesday, April 29 at BYU Alumni Center & Marriott Center:
*Map to the Marriot Center

Conference on Service: Tuesday, April 29 - Wednesday, April 30 at Provo Marriott 101 West 100 North, Provo
*Conference Agenda
*Workshops at a Glance Schedule
*Workshop Descriptions and Presenter Bios
*Conference Room Layout
Presenter Handouts
**Action Planning Session: Action Planning Session, Tips for Moderators and Exercise Handout
**Judy Zone- Project Proposals
**Bob Ligget: Thriving Amidst Conflict Handout
**Katherine A. Smith- Building Sustainability: Presentation, Handout A and Handout B
**Lloyd Pendleton- Bridges Out of Poverty
**Merrilee Boyack-Planning the Large Service Project
**Tracy Healey - Links to Consider and New Age Technology to Recruit Volunteers

Award Nominations
Outstanding volunteers and organizations will be recognized at the Awards Banquet Luncheon on April 30th at the Provo Marriott.

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Please indicate one of the following for your nomination.

* Utah Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award

* Utah Lieutenant Governor's Civic Volunteer of the Year Award

* Utah Corporate Volunteer Program of the Year Award

* Utah Non-Profit Volunteer Program of the Year Award

* Utah Volunteer Administrator of the Year Award

* Utah AmeriCorps Member of the Year Award or Utah AmeriCorps VISTA of the Year Award

* Youth Service Utah Award