Richardson Real Heroes Program Seeking Selfless Residents

Call for entries honoring silent generosity in the City open now through February 12th

RICHARDSON, Texas (January 4, 2012) – With the start of the New Year, a group of Richardson volunteers have begun the process of soliciting nominations for the third annual Richardson Real Heroes Award.

The Real Heroes Award was created in 2010 by the Richardson Coalition, a non-partisan community group dedicated to promoting economic progress and the preservation of the City’s values and quality of life.  The Award exists to draw attention to individuals who give of their time and talents for the betterment of the Richardson community.

According to Chelsea Schmidt, 2012 Richardson Real Heroes chair, the selection process for this year’s group of finalists and the ultimate Real Hero starts with the all-important nomination.

“From the first two years of the program, we’ve learned that the most critical – and, yet, most challenging – aspect of the program is surfacing nominees,” said Schmidt, a paramedic currently attending nursing school who personally has served in a number of volunteer capacities.  “The committee knows that thousands of people throughout the City of Richardson are making a difference in seemingly countless ways, but the humility that frequently accompanies these volunteers makes it challenging to get their nomination.  That’s why we’re working to encourage anyone in Richardson who is aware of someone who are silently generous with their time and talents to go online and make a nomination.”

Criteria for selection of the 2012 Richardson Real Hero include a review of information provided in each nomination, initial assessment of all nominees by the selection committee, an individual interview between each selected finalist and a member of the selection committee, and popular votes garnered online.

In 2010, a group of ten finalists were interviewed by the inaugural Award committee, from which two award winners – Courtney Scott and George Jones – were named.  Last year, six finalists were chosen, with Lisa Rees selected from among them for the 2011 award.  All selected Real Heroes and each year’s finalists have been recognized for their contributions at receptions held annually at the Richardson Civic Center.

This year, nominees must again represent one of two different categories for entrants:

  • Richardson residents who provide unpaid service in an exemplary manner inside or outside of the City
  • Non-residents who volunteer their time and talents to benefit Richardson community members 

Additionally, candidates should not have received prior recognition for their efforts in the recent past.  Public sector employees are eligible only if the qualifying activity occurs on personal or unpaid time.  Past and present elected officials cannot be recognized for any activity.

Volunteers can nominate themselves or be nominated by another member of the community.  According to Schmidt, the selection committee invites both self-nominations and nominations submitted by another member of the community.

Nominations are now being accepted online at www.richardsonrealhero.org, with the process open through Sunday, February 12.  Public voting on the nominees will begin on Friday, March 2 and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 6.  Finalists and the winners will be announced at a special reception to be held in Richardson on April 19.

For more information or to nominate a candidate for the Real Heroes program, visit www.richardsonrealhero.org

 

Six Richardson Residents Named Real Heroes

Richardson mom and school volunteer Lisa Rees named 2011 Real Hero of the Year

Five individuals and a couple are the latest honorees in a Richardson initiative to recognize people who quietly make a difference to city residents. These seven Richardson Real Heroes were honored in a special event recently held at the Richardson Civic Center.

The Richardson Real Heroes committee celebrated the volunteer endeavors of:

  • Dean and Carol Brown for service to community through First United Methodist Church
  • Jerry Gray in recognition of years of volunteer commitment to the Richardson Police and Fire departments and other humanitarian causes
  • Victor Hegemann for counsel and guidance provided to the Network of Community Ministries
  • Sandra Keiser in honor of faithful volunteer service to Richardson Adult Literacy Center
  • Nancy McKay in serving numerous Richardson community groups, including the Network of Community Ministries, Richardson Women’s Club and the Richardson Police Department
  • Lisa Rees for serving as volunteer director of the Kid’s Hope USA program at Northrich Elementary School

Additionally, the Real Heroes committee selected Lisa Rees as the 2011 Real Hero.

“Celebrating the spirit and accomplishment of these seven individuals is at the core of why the Richardson Real Heroes award program was created. While each shares a common commitment to selfless service to others in our community, each has demonstrated their passion through unique endeavors,” said Stan Bradshaw, 2011 chair of the Richardson Real Heroes committee. “In addition to honoring all seven for their unsung contributions, we selected Lisa Rees as a volunteer among volunteers for her work with young students at Northrich Elementary through the Kid’s Hope USA program. The committee was particularly impressed by the leverage that Kid’s Hope and Northrich received through Lisa’s mission to engage, train and deploy other adult volunteers to tackle and solve a wide array of academic and social challenges that some of Richardson’s youngest citizens face on a daily basis.”

The Richardson Real Heroes Award was created in 2010 by the Richardson Coalition, a non-partisan community group dedicated to promoting economic progress and the preservation of the city’s values and quality of life.

The search for the 2012 Real Heroes will begin early next year, so residents and community organizations are encouraged to start considering star volunteers to nominate for recognition

For more information about the Richardson Real Heroes program, visit www.richardsonrealhero.org.


Richardson Coalition - News

Richardson Real Heroes Program Announces Call for Entries

Citing the ongoing quest to recognize people who quietly are making a difference to city residents, a group of volunteers in Richardson today are announcing the opening of applications for the 2011 Richardson Real Heroes Award.

The Real Heroes Award was created  in 2010 by the Richardson Coalition, a non-partisan community group dedicated to promoting economic progress and the preservation of the City’s values and quality of life.  

According to Stan Bradshaw, 2011 chairman of the event, selection of the Award winner or winners will be the based on several judging criteria.

“After an open nomination period where the public will bring candidates forward, the 2011 Real Heroes committee will select the finalists. These finalists will be interviewed and a brief summary describing each will be posted on our website.  Richardson residents can vote on their favorites, with one vote per unique email address, through the website.    The winner or winners will be selected through the consideration of overall popular voting results, individual finalist interviews and collaboration of the judges,” said Bradshaw, who also serves as chairman of Richardson-based The Bradshaw Group, Inc..  “This approach, using multiple criteria, provides every candidate with the broadest opportunity to be recognized.”

Last year, a group of ten finalists were interviewed by the 2010 Award committee, from which two award winners – Courtney Scott and George Jones – were named.  The winners and finalists were recognized for their contributions at a reception held at the Richardson Civic Center.

This year, nominees must again represent one of two different categories for entrants:

  • Richardson residents who provide unpaid service in an exemplary manner inside or outside of the City
  • Non-residents who volunteer their time and talents to benefit Richardson community members

Nominations are now being accepted online at www.richardsonrealhero.org, with the process open through Sunday, February 13.  Public voting on the nominees will begin on Monday, March 7 and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 2.  Finalists and the winners will be announced at a special reception to be held in Richardson in April.

For more information or to nominate a candidate for the Real Heroes program, visit http://www.richardsoncoalition.org/real-hero-awards/about-real-heroes.html.

Violent Crimes Down 13% This Year

The Richardson Police report that Group A crimes which are the violent and other major crimes, are down 13% for the first eight months of 2010.  Richardson now has fifteen active neighborhood Crime Watch patrols with 408 citizens participating in this Richardson Police Department initiative.  

To help the police in case of thefts citizens can record their property inventory on the RPD's Knowyourstuff website.   You can call 972-744-4955 for free police assistance or go the RPD website at www.cor.net/pd for more information.

Cisco Systems Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Expansion in Richardson

Cisco Systems recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its major expansion to a new 70 acre campus in the city. Cisco Systems employs about 1200 people in Richardson and the Richardson campus is one of Cisco's best performing sites according to the company.

An Updated City Parks Master Plan is Approved

The city's Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan is updated every five years.  The current update has just been finished and approved by the Richardson city council. To view the plan go to the city website and then click on the Parks and Rec department page.  At the top of that page is a link to the complete plan.   www.cor.net

The Richardson City Council Ethics Ordinance Adopted

The Richardson City Council held a public hearing on September 13 to get input regarding its proposed new ethics ordinance.  On September 27 the council adopted the new ordinance.  Go to the city website at: www.cor.net to get more details and see the complete ordinance.

Update on City and County Property Tax Rates

The City of Richardson has adopted the 2010-2011 budget. It is  up 4.9% over prior year's budget and details can be viewed on the city web site at www.cor.net.  The city property  tax rate for 2010 is set at .63516/100 which is up 6 cents over the prior year.  The tax rate increase in Richardson is necessary to cover the debt service on the recently passed bond program.

Dallas County Commissioners have approved the latest Dallas County budget and a property tax rate increase of 1.5 cents or 6.5% over the prior rate.  This puts the latest Dallas County tax rate at .2431/100.

Collin County has also approved next year's budget and the Collin County tax rate for 2010 is a small decrease in the rate.  The 2010 Collin County property tax rate is .2400/100 versus the prior rate of .2425/100.

City Bond Program Projects to be Tracked on the Web

Richardson will be implementing a new web based tracking program for the 2010 Bond Program projects.  The tracking program is planned to be up and running in October. With use of this tracking program citizens will have available details on each bond project, such as timing, cost, scope, and contracts awarded.

Richardson Chamber of Commerce President Bill Sproull Receives Award from IEDC and  Appointed to Economic Leadership Position by Governor Rick Perry

Bill Sproull, president and CEO of the Richardson Economic Development Partnership and the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, has been named the recipient of the 2010 Fellow Member Award by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).  This annual award recognizes an IEDC member who has attained unusual stature in the field of economic development and closely related disciplines.
Additionally, Bill Sproull was recently appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry as chair of the Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee for a term to expire at the pleasure of the governor. The committee recommends proposals eligible for funding under the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House. Sproull has been a member of the Advisory Committee since its inception in 2005.
The Richardson Coalition is proud to congratulate Bill on these achievements and his deserved recognition.

  • Richardson residents who provide unpaid service in an exemplary manner inside or outside of the City
  • Non-residents who volunteer their time and talents to benefit Richardson community members
    • Additionally, candidates should not have received prior recognition for their efforts in the recent past.  Public sector employees are eligible only if the qualifying activity occurs on personal or unpaid time.  Past and present elected officials cannot be recognized for any activity.
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