The Spalding County Parks & Recreation Department is accepting nominations for the annual “Bain Proctor Award for Volunteerism” through the end of the month.

Parks and Recreation Director Louis Greene said he doesn’t have any nominations yet.

“It’s sad,” Greene said. “This county has lots of volunteers.”

The Bain Proctor Award for Volunteerism, Green said, “is not just service to recreation, it is for any community service that is worthy of this award.”

The award is named in memory of the former commissioner and community advocate Bain Proctor, “whose public service career exemplified the virtues of community service through both elected and appointed office, as well as the intangible rewards received by all when residents are active in the affairs of their local community,” according to the county.

“Bain worked hard for recreation here and in his previous home in DeKalb Country," Greene said. "Recreation was not the only thing he volunteered for. He served as both a city and county commissioner, helped other youth agencies in Griffin and many other things.”

Proctor, in his 23 years in the Spalding County Communty, epitomized volunteer service, according to a statement from the county. He led by example, volunteering time and services, encouraging and organizing others.

“I know there is someone out there with an equal volunteer record,” Greene said.

Since its inception in 2004, the award has been given to community leaders such as Bonnie Pfrogner, Joe Harrell, L.V. Skipper, Laura Smallwood, Juanita Morris, James and Sally Johnson, Wayne Gardner, Ronnie Perdue and Kay Perdue.

Any resident of Spalding County who has volunteered his or her service for the betterment of the community may be nominated for the award. The candidate may not be paid or otherwise compensated for his or her service.

Nominations should be submitted by the close of business on Friday, March 1, to the office of the Spalding County Parks & Recreation director, 843 Memorial Drive. The nominations should include the following:

• A cover page with the nominee’s name and address, the name of the person submitting the nomination, contact information, and the name of the nominating association or organization, if any.

• A one-page statement (12-point font, 1-inch margins) documenting the nominee’s record of volunteer service to Spalding County and its residents.

For more information, call 770-467-4750.