National 4-H Council announces that Betsy Chandler of Vatavuk, N.C. and Dee Raftery of Massachusetts are the national winners of the 2007 Salute to Excellence Award.

Chandler is the recipient of the national Lifetime Volunteer Award, which honors an individual who has volunteered for 4-H for more than 10 years. Raftery is the recipient of the national Volunteer of the Year Award, which honors an individual who has volunteered for 4-H for less than 10 years.

Chandler and Raftery were chosen for national honors from a pool of regional 2007 Salute to Excellence Award recipients that were chosen from nominees by state 4-H offices.. Cathy Marvin of Michigan, Rita LaPointe of Massachusetts, Sandi Campbell of Montana and Chandler were honored with regional Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer awards.Mike Johnson of Minnesota, Sam Deal of Oklahoma and Raftery were honored with regional Volunteer of the Year Awards.

National Salute to Excellence Award recipients winners will receive a gift, $1000 to give to a local 4-H program of their choice, and a trip to Washington, D.C., where they will be recognized during the National 4-H Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on October 5, 2007. The regional Salute to Excellence awardees receive a plaque, $200 to give to a local 4-H program of their choice and recognition at their regional volunteer leader's forum in fall 2007 or winter 2008.

National 4-H Council will begin accepting nominations from state 4-H office for the 2008 Salute ot Excellence Awards in October 2007. For more information about the award, please contact Arletta Gustafson at 301-347-3801 or agustafson@fourhcouncil.edu. If you wish to make a donation to the 4-H Salute to Excellence Fund, please contact Aggie Wright at 301-961-2949 or awright@fourhcouncil.edu.