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Access our news feedCommunity-Wide Events for Volunteer Recognition
Recognition
Volunteer Book Launching with Community Celebration
Volunteer Nelson NZ has produced a book of volunteer stories and photos. The book is to be launched on December 5, 2007 at a cafe, with a special guest (NZ author) and Darnz Hip Hop Salsa group to perform—a group of young people who mentor and lead others through example. New Zealand delicacies to be cooked and served by two local chefs, with the event organised by a Texan events coordinator and generously supported by DeVille, our local cafe. All generously volunteered to Volunteer Nelson and a very special event for all volunteers in our region. "It's a sign of mediocrity when you celebrate gratitude in moderation." Goooo Volunteers!!!!
Submitted by Jude McNabb
Lovely legacy of IYV: View the "Volunteer!" - an original, exclusive, new tulip produced in honor of IYV. It's now in full bloom within the five boroughs of New York City, synchronistically for National Volunteer Week . Read more about it.
Join Hands Day
A committee comprised of volunteer managers from a variety of non-profits
organized a "Join Hands Day" to celebrate volunteers from all sectors
of our island community. We got the local newspaper on board to provide
publicity which was the key to our success in creating a community wide
recognition event. We did a mailing to over 100 organizations asking
them to create "hand prints" representing their volunteers. They were
encouraged to be as creative as they wanted in making the "hands". We
collected over 1000 very unique hands that were strung up in a park
for a day. There was also some refreshments and entertainment to celebrate
the day. The simple act of submitting a hand print was fun for the volunteers.
The newspaper ran 6 separate articles to spot light the event which
generated awareness of volunteerism and showed much appreciation to
our local volunteers. Submitted by Lisa Coble, Manager of volunteer
Services, Newport Hospital
Honoring All Volunteers in a Community
Several years ago, another DVS and myself pulled together all the volunteer
coordinators of all the non-profits in our area. We now have an annual
event which honors all volunteers in the City of Loveland. Our group
is called..."Loveland Honors Volunteers" We are planning our event for
April and using the theme of "A World of Thanks" in keeping with the
International Year.... We ask all non-profits to submit an honoree each
year. Submitted by Patty Morrison, DVS McKee Medical Center
Recognizing Youth Volunteers
Every summer we have approximately 500 youth volunteers spread across
the city in various facilities such as: pools, leisure centres, area
offices, art centres etc.... Rather than having small multiple celebrations,
we pool our resources and plan one large event the last Sunday evening
before school starts. This year we were able to gain access to one of
our Leisure Centre facilities after public hours. The facility closed
at 6:00 PM and we started at 6:30 PM We provided pizza and pop from
6:30 - 7:15 PM and then the games begin! Activities include: the wave
pool, carnival games set up in the gym with a DJ and prizes, the dunk
tank and climbing wall, beauty tips and makeovers, photo booth and craft
station, temporary body tattoos, henna painting and great door prizes
the last 10 minutes of the evening about 9:15 PM. This is our second
year providing this type of recognition event and the attendance increased
by 30%. Submitted by Kathy Sokolan-Oblak, Volunteer Coordinator,
Calgary Parks & Recreation
Community Volunteer Recognition Program
When I first arrived at my child advocacy volunteer program, there was
nothing in the budget for recognition. I did some research and found
a free community volunteer recognition program. Nonprofit agencies nominate
volunteers every month. The volunteer's name and story is announced
on a local talk radio station, and the volunteer receives a free engraved
plaque from a local trophy company. It's great advertising for the radio
station and trophy company, and the volunteers love it. This program
was organized by the local volunteer center, and was a huge help to
non-profits. Submitted by Lori George, Volunteer Coordinator, CASA
Mini-Grants to Volunteers
For several years, the County Commissioners have awarded mini-grants
to volunteers in County government volunteer programs. Volunteers submit
proposals for grants that will benefit the work of their volunteer program,
the clients served by the volunteer program, or the program volunteers,
e.g., a demonstration project, the enhancement of a current project,
the purchase of a piece of equipment or supplies that will improve or
enhance the volunteer experience or the volunteer program, training
or publications that will increase volunteer skills or knowledge. Awards
are made at a Commissioners' meeting followed by a reception. The volunteers
are recognized publicly as are the very creative programs in which they
work. Contribution from Diane Knudsen, Volunteer Coordinator, Boulder
County, Colorado
Downtown Mural
Many years ago Columbia, South Carolina had a construction project going
on downtown with a rather ugly protective wall. The Volunteer Center
coordinated a community-wide volunteer recognition event that started
with permission to paint this wall (it surrounded a complete city block)
and the donated services of an artist who painted an outline all around
it of people of every description tugging together on a rope. The local
agencies were asked to submit photographs of a representative volunteer.
The photos were blown up and placed on the faces of the painted people
in the mural. And then, on a designated day, all the volunteers from
all the agencies were invited to come out and paint in the rest of the
mural with all sorts of colors! The mural painting itself generated
publicity that day (and new knowledge of volunteering in the community)
and the mural stayed up for the duration of the construction project.
Submitted by Susan J. Ellis, president of Energize, Inc.
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