Who’ll Be Named As #CelebrateEssex ‘Chairperson’ Winner?
The unpaid efforts of some of the grassroots game’s local volunteer legends and unsung heroes are being recognised as our #CelebrateEssex Twitter contest invites ‘Chairperson’ category nominations until Wednesday 9th June.
#CelebrateEssex, organised via the @EssexCountyFA account, showcases personal stories from Essex grassroots personalities, increasing their visibility as role models to engage new members and inspire newcomers to join the community as volunteers. Once nominations for the monthly competition close, the final voting stage on Twitter will identify the latest winner.
June is the month of the ‘Chairperson’ category, coinciding with Volunteers’ Week. A chairperson oversees the running of a club or league, ensuring it is operating efficiently and is managed appropriately. They head-up meetings and provide leadership in all areas, such as tournaments etc. At the heart of a well-run club is an organised and passionate chairperson.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of grassroots football, putting in countless hours of their time so others can enjoy playing the game. Football needs more helpers, but it also needs to retain and recognise those already involved. Through this regular Twitter activity, #CelebrateEssex aims to do just that, promoting ten different roles throughout the year.
2020’s Chairperson winner was Jonathan Dalton from Tiptree Jobserve YFC, who commented: “I mainly try and set a clear vision for the future to continually develop the club, using fundraising and volunteer resource and accessing funds from The FA, and others, to improve facilities.”
“We’ve built the club from a small village club with poor facilities, to one with excellent pitches, facilities and teams from Under 7s to adults. Our goal is to provide the safest and best possible environment for players of all abilities to participate in sport. Over the years, you see how much it means to the kids, regardless of ability.”
Stage One: Make Your Nomination on Twitter
If you know a Chairperson who you think should receive some special thanks, anyone can make a nomination by tweeting (by 9th June):
“I nominate [Insert Name or Twitter Username] from [Insert Club/Team or Twitter Username] as @EssexCountyFA #CelebrateEssex Chairperson because…”
State why your nominee should be the winner and be as descriptive as you can in 280 characters! It’s important to use the #CelebrateEssex hashtag to ensure your entry is registered.
Stage Two: Nominations Reviewed
Once the window closes, all the nominations received will be collated and a panel will decide which individuals will be progressed to the Twitter poll/vote.
Stage Three: Let Voting Commence!
A Twitter poll/vote will be available at @EssexCountyFA for seven days, featuring profiles of the nominees so voters can make an informed decision on who to vote for.
Stage Four: And Our Winner Is…
The winner of the poll will be contacted to be that month’s ‘Volunteer of the Month’!
Follow the #CelebrateEssex hashtag on Twitter to keep track of the nominations! To find out more about volunteering in grassroots Essex football, browse the 'Volunteers' menu above, follow @EssexCountyFA on Twitter and search for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.
#CelebrateEssex Terms and Conditions
* previous category winners are ineligible for 2020/21 voting
* irregular voting patterns could result in the suspension of a category
* Twitter’s interpretation of the vote winner, as viewed by @EssexCountyFA, is final
Volunteers’ Week (Tuesday 1st to Monday 7th June)
Thank You for Millions of Valuable Contributions
We support Volunteers’ Week, a time to say thanks for the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering. Anyone can get involved this year to recognise the fantastic impact volunteers make.
As well as helping others, volunteering has been shown to improve volunteers' wellbeing. It’s human nature to feel good after helping someone out. Volunteering can also help someone gain valuable new skills and experiences and boost confidence. Find out more at www.volunteersweek.org, or browse the 'Volunteers/Opportunities' page in the menu above for vacancies near you.