The Deputy Attorney General                                                        Washington, D.C. 20530

                                                                                                 May 13, 2002

MEMORANDUM

Out of the evil of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Americans have looked for and found many opportunities to do good. President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps in an effort to capture those opportunities and foster an American culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility. During his State of the Union address, he called upon every American to commit to at least two years of their lives–the equivalent of 4,000 hours–to the service of others. Through the USA Freedom Corps, he challenges every American to answer the call to service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities for them to protect our homeland, support our communities, and extend American compassion around the world.

Many Department of Justice (DOJ) employees are already volunteering a few hours each week or month at a local school, church, neighborhood association, hospital, or other local service organization. Others are serving in the reserve corps of the Armed Forces and National Guard. Many more are looking for new ways serve. In the coming weeks and months, the Department's Events Management and Community Service Group (EMCS), a component of the Justice Management Division's Personnel Staff, will provide employees with information about how they can become more fully engaged with their communities. In the meantime, however, I wish to draw your attention to a few immediate tasks to which your assistance is needed.

Component Points-of-Contact and Departmentwide Coordination

EMCS is responsible for coordinating employee volunteer and community service programs. To ensure that information about volunteer opportunities is properly distributed throughout the Department, I have directed EMCS staff to reconvene the DOJ Volunteer and Community Service Committee. Components should designate a point-of-contact no later than May 17, 2002. Please forward the name of your point-of-contact to Vince Micone, Chief of Events Management and Community Service, via e-mail or facsimile on (202) 514-6669. Please note that your point-of-contact will have overall responsibility to manage your volunteer and community service initiatives and should be of an appropriate level within your organization to properly manage these responsibilities. This will include your participation in the Department's blood drives, Partners in Education Program, and other events and activities. Your point-of-contact will also be the primary resource for employees wishing to volunteer in your component. The DOJ Volunteer and Community Service Committee will meet quarterly. Your point-of-contact is expected to attend and play an active role.

Attorney General's Volunteer Awards Ceremony

This year, the Attorney General will once again recognize and honor Department of Justice employees who volunteer their time and talents in their communities and through component-sponsored activities. The theme for this year's celebration is "Celebrate the American Spirit - Volunteer!" The Attorney General's Volunteer Awards Ceremony will be scheduled in the near future. During this ceremony, the Attorney General will recognize those employees who volunteer with community service and faith-based organizations, those who are pro bono legal volunteers, and those employees involved with component-sponsored activities such as the DOJ Partners in Education Program, community service projects, blood drives, and other activities. This event will be used to highlight the Department's renewed commitment to and support of employee volunteerism, community service, and the USA Freedom Corps.

Awards Nominations

Please assist in identifying employees who are actively involved in volunteer activities for the Employee Volunteer Service Award. A "self-nomination" process is suggested as a way to identify employee volunteers. This process also allows the Department to conduct an informal survey of the number of employees who volunteer. A copy of the form is attached. Employees who complete this form will receive a certificate. Also attached is a memorandum from me for distribution with the survey.

The Attorney General will present a Community Service Award for the exemplary community service efforts by employees of a DOJ component, office, or multi-component volunteer project. If you wish to submit a nomination for this award, please forward a nomination memorandum with a brief, one-page description of the volunteer or community service activities and why you feel the component, office, or group should be recognized for these efforts.

In addition to recognizing staff volunteers and component programs, the Attorney General will recognize the contributions of citizen volunteers who assist the Department in serving the public interest. Many components utilize volunteers to augment different programs, such as placing volunteer student interns in their offices. Other organizations use volunteers to provide services to inmates and detainees. To nominate a private citizen for the Citizen Volunteer Service Award, please submit a nomination memorandum with a brief, one-page description of the citizen volunteer, his or her contributions to your component, and why you feel the citizen volunteer should be recognized for these efforts.

Lists of component nominees for the Employee Volunteer Award should be generated by hard copy and floppy disk in preparation for the awards ceremony. The attached summary form for Employee Volunteer Nominations must also be completed. Nominations for all awards are due to Vince Micone, National Place Building, Suite 1110, by June 7, 2002. Further information on the nominations process will be provided to the members of the DOJ Volunteer and Community Service Committee at their first meeting in May.

The Attorney General and I are strongly committed to employee volunteerism and community service. This year's awards ceremony will provide an excellent opportunity to recognize the contributions of those who work to improve the conditions of their communities through service. Your assistance in acknowledging the special role of volunteerism and community service in the Department will be appreciated. If your staff has any questions, please have them call Mr. Micone on (202) 305-1756.

Attachment 1 - Component Summary Form - Employee Volunteerism Survey
Attachment 2 - Memo: Volunteerism and Community Service - To All Department of Justice Employees
Attachment 3 - Employee Volunteerism Informational Survey

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