Written by CAPA-BC Executive Committee
Congratulations for completing another academic year! As the graduation season comes to an end, summer vacation is just around the corner. We hope that while enjoying the summer break, children will also engage in a variety of enriching academic and community activities.
Since the announcement of our eligibility for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award by the Chinese American Parent Association of Baltimore (CAPA-BC), many parents, including those who have received volunteer assistance, have shown great interest. They have inquired about the award and expressed regret for not being able to retroactively apply for previous volunteer activities. Through these conversations, we discovered that some children have been actively participating in various volunteer activities, which is truly touching. Many parents believe that the purpose of their children's volunteer work should not be solely for college applications or awards. More importantly, it should be about cultivating a sense of participation in public service from a young age and growing into exemplary citizens who promote social fairness and progress. Our community still has a long way to go in terms of participating in public service, engaging in community affairs, and contributing to society.
Our leadership team fully supports the viewpoint stated above. Furthermore, we have been inspired by the recent conclusion of the Howard County CAPA Presidential Volunteer Service Award. They experienced a record number of applicants this year and expanded the age groups to include both children and adults. The relentless dedication of Howard County volunteers in serving the community has inspired an increasing number of people to join the ranks of volunteers. After continuous discussions and deliberations, our association has decided to establish a Community Service Award for volunteers who may not have the opportunity to apply for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This award aims to recognize the pioneers of volunteer service, set an example, and attract more individuals to engage in community volunteering. We believe it will enhance the cohesion, influence, and activism of the Chinese American community.
For this purpose, we have established a selection committee, and the details of the award selection are still being discussed. We will write a separate article to introduce the award. The minimum requirement for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award is 100 hours (for ages 16-25, see attached table). Our previous regulation was that 20% should be done at CAPA-BC, which means that 20 hours should be done at CAPA-BC and 80 hours should be completed elsewhere. The selection criteria for our CAPA-BC Community Service Award are generally consistent with the rules of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. It includes volunteer hours accumulated from September 1st of last year (2022) to August 31st of this year (2023), both at other organizations and at CAPA-BC. We are initially setting the minimum requirement at 100 hours, with a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer service at CAPA-BC, and the remaining hours can be from non-CAPA-BC volunteer work. For volunteer hours at other organizations, the application will require a signature from the responsible person overseeing the volunteer work. These suggested time requirements and ratios take into account that most children have limited opportunities to volunteer during the school year and are more likely to engage in volunteer activities during the summer vacation. There is approximately three months left until the application deadline. This year is the first year of establishing this award, and the rules are still being developed. The required volunteer hours for the final award evaluation may be adjusted.
Within CAPA-BC, volunteer service opportunities include IT support, writing, the summer Asian American history series, participation in Board of Education member Zoom meetings, and our special needs and youth clubs. The calculation of volunteer service hours will be announced alongside the specific details of each activity. Additionally, we encourage everyone to participate in community service on behalf of CAPA-BC. Especially for older children's volunteer activities, they can be organized and planned not only by CAPA but also by their families or the children themselves, such as park clean-ups and visits to senior centers. CAPA-BC can provide strong support for these initiatives! Currently, we are ordering CAPA-BC T-shirts and flags, and we also have liability insurance.
This award issued in the name of CAPA-BC is a form of local recognition. It is not limited to children, and adults can also apply. Furthermore, if someone has completed over 30 hours of CAPA-BC volunteer service this year, there will be an additional award. This way, after the official launch of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award next year, we can continue with this community recognition award.
This is one of the ways our association is working for the benefit of the community's children during the early stages. With this community service award, we hope to enrich the entire range of CAPA-BC's summer activities and drive our organization forward! For example, in the future, we can invite award recipients to share their volunteer experiences and further encourage individual growth and the development of the association through newsletters and other means.
Attached Table: The Presidential Volunteer Service Award has different categories (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Lifetime) based on volunteer service hours in a year and different age groups. (https://www.capamc.org/english/scholarship/pvsa/).
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