VETERANS FOR PEACE
CONVENTION
Award Nominations
VFP will offer five awards this year. Four of the five awards are for individuals with the fifth award going to Chapter of the Year.
Read more about the award categories below.
Award Categories
The Gandhian Non-Violence Award
The Veterans For Peace Gandhian Non-Violence Award is given to a member who best exemplifies the qualities of compassion and selfless service according to Mohandas K. Gandhi’s philosophy that the highest form of service is rooted in love and non-violence and “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others.” Ideal candidates are those members who give themselves unselfishly in service to others in their personal lives, and in their communities. This award may also be given posthumously to Veteran or Associate members who have passed away since the previous convention.
Howard Zinn Lifetime Achievement Award
The Howard Zinn Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon the person who has made significant and ongoing outstanding contributions to the cause of peace over their lifetime. This individual will have also made exceptional efforts to increase public awareness of the costs of war (via activism, teaching, writing, lecturing, the arts, music, film, stage, screen, or radio). This award may also be given posthumously to Veteran or Associate members who have passed away since the previous convention.
Ken Mayers' Service and Stewardship Award
The Ken Mayers Service and Stewardship award is given to an individual or group who has performed exemplary service in support of the well-being of veterans and their families while advancing the culture of peace in their local community, nationally, or internationally.
Ken Mayers was once asked why he kept working for peace and justice year after year, and he replied, “I do it in part simply because I can, and I do it in the hope of creating a better world for my children and grandchildren. The world is a little less depressing when you are trying to make things better.”
His dedication, equanimity, kindness, and nonviolence, and the respect he showed everyone, friend or foe, in word and deed, were unwavering. He is admired, loved, and respected by people in VFP and beyond. He represents in his person the peace, love, and wisdom that we
want to see reflected in the wider world.
Leadership in Peace Award
The Leadership in Peace Award is given to a person or an organization that has displayed initiative, inclusiveness, and tireless perseverance in moving the mission of Veterans For Peace forward locally, nationally, and/or internationally.
Chapter of the Year Award
The VFP Chapter of the Year Award uplifts the work of those chapters that best exemplify the five criteria set forth by the awards committee (media exposure, honors, chapter growth, community service, and activism). Chapters are invited to nominate themselves and self-report their activities to the awards committee on the nominations form.
​The Ken Mayers Service and Stewardship award is given to an individual orgroup who/that has performed exemplary service in support of the well-being of veterans and their families while advancing the culture of peace intheir local community, nationally, or internationally.Ken Mayers was once asked why he kept working for peace and justice year after year, and hereplied, “I do it in part simply because I can, and I do it in the hope of creating a better world formy children and grandchildren. The world is a little less depressing when you are trying to makethings better.”His dedication, equanimity, kindness, and nonviolence, and the respect he showed everyone,friend or foe, in word and deed, were unwavering. He is admired, loved, and respected bypeople in VFP and beyond. He represents in his person the peace, love, and wisdom that wewant to see reflected in the wider world.