Lt. Governor’s 2010 Conference on Service Begins, Senator Orrin Hatch Keynote’s Tuesday’s Awards Banquet

Lt. Governor’s 2010 Conference on Service Begins

Senator Orrin Hatch Keynote’s Tuesday’s Awards Banquet

SALT LAKE CITY- Volunteers from across Utah began gathering at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center for the Lieutenant Governor’s 2010 Conference on Service Tuesday morning and will participate in a wide range of informative plenary sessions and workshops. The conference will run through April 8.

Hosted by the Utah Commission on Volunteers, the conference is the state’s largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, faith-based, government and corporate sectors. This year’s event features the Volunteer Recognition Awards Banquet which will honor and recognize the achievements of some of the most outstanding volunteers and volunteer programs in Utah and begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Lt. Gov. Greg Bell and the Utah Commission on Volunteers are pleased to announce this year’s conference keynote speaker is Senator Orrin Hatch. Senator Hatch co-sponsored the Serve America Act, which seeks to expand opportunities for people to serve their communities at every stage of life, from students and working adults to retirees. Senator Hatch is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

On April 7, Lt. Gov. Greg Bell kicks off the morning with his keynote address, “Service as a Strategy…Now More Than Ever,” at 8:30 a.m. Throughout Wednesday, 30 workshops will be held providing information designed to strengthen volunteer organizations and communities.

The conference wraps up April 8, when more than 250 volunteers descend upon Little Cottonwood Canyon to clean and maintain two hiking trails. This service project begins at 9 a.m.

“This is our most engaging conference yet,” said Shar Lewis, Executive Director of the Utah Commission of Volunteers. “Participants will come away inspired, energized and ready to serve.”

Media are encouraged to attend any of the conference’s events.  For more information, contact Shad West at (801) 505-2662.

The mission of the Utah Commission on Volunteers, an office of the Lieutenant Governor, is to improve communities through service and volunteering. For more information on the Commission on Volunteers, and various volunteering opportunities across the state, log onto www.volunteers.utah.gov.