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Access our news feedHoliday Events as Volunteer Recognition Opportunities
Recognition
Thanks into Thanksgiving
This fall I decided to put the Thanks into Thanksgiving by sending
out hand-made notes to each active volunteer. A very artistic volunteer
helped me to make the notes - no two were the same! Then I wrote a
short Thanks inside making sure to mention specific things that they
had helped with. In addition, I had people from the departments they
had volunteered in add something - at the least signing it. They went
out right at Thanksgiving and the responce has been lovely, with vounteers
coming in specially to thank us for making their day! A Win-win, I
think!
Submitted by Heidi Walker, Coordinator of Volunteers, Natrona
County Public Library, Wyoming
Volunteers are the Recipe for Success
Every year we have a potluck holiday party and our volunteers have
asked us to print up the recipes from their various co-workers who
brought dishes. This year, we created a blank recipe form and mailed
it to each volunteer asking for their best recipe. We then compiled
the recipes into a cookbook that would be given to each volunteer
as a gift at the recognition event. The theme was centered around
cooking so we held it at a rustic venue in the country and printed
awards on paper designed to look like a picnic. Instead of the generic
thank you speeches from the volunteer coordinators, the Executive
Director and members of the Board, we created a skit on "What is the
recipe that makes up an ideal volunteer" and each official stood up
and told the crowd what they think that recipe would be (a cup of
smiles mixed with a teaspoon of wit...etc). The message at the end
of the skit was that there is not just one recipe that makes up an
ideal volunteer. Instead there are many recipes that include the different
traits, personalities and styles that make the volunteers so necessary
and unique. In the end, we concluded that each volunteer and his/her
unique traits are equally valuable in ensuring a successful volunteer
program. Kind of like a big, gourmet potluck...
Submitted by Miranda Prescott & Rachael Park, Volunteer Coordinators, Snohomish County Tourism Bureau, Washington, USA
Volunteer Luck
Our volunteer dinner last year was held on March 13 using a St. Patrick's
Day Theme because we feel 'lucky' to have our volunteers. We used
green derby's planted with green and white carnations for centerpieces.
Planning ahead we planted shamrock bulbs in green spray painted peat
pots as favors at each place setting. We had prints of different Irish
Blessings rolled and tied with green ribbon by each plate. Our menu
was corned beef and cabbage with potatoes, green salad, and grasshopper
pie. For entertainment we had a local clogging group perform. Awards
and recognitions were given. Two staff members then sang 'Oh, Danny
Boy". To give away the centerpieces we had some silly questions and
trivia questions that we asked...such as who: 1. has 13 pennies in
their pocket 2. has visited Ireland 3. has an Irish Setter at home
4. knows the legend of St. Patrick 5. showered with Irish Spring today
etc, etc. I closed with the Irish Blessing: May the road rise up to
meet y! ou... It was another successful program suggested by the words
of praise and thank you notes we received.
Submitted by Jayne Rice, Director of Community Programming and Volunteers, Honeywell Center
Low-Cost, High-Impact Life-Changing Recognition
This past year, our program lost one of its most beloved volunteers.
One month shy of her 90th birthday, she worked two days a week in
our laboratory and at one of the hospital information desks. Though
frailer in the past few months, she was still at the hospital working
the week before she died. At word of her passing, I called the family,
to inquire about funeral arrangements. The daughter-in-law informed
me that there would likely be no memorial service, because, in her
words, "she (the volunteer)didn't really have any friends here." I
assured her that the volunteer circle of friends was sizeable, and
included many fellow volunteers and hospital staff. The family eventually
decided to have a service. Other than family and a few other attendees,
the pews were filled exclusively with volunteers and hospital staff.
The family was shocked that so many people knew and loved their quiet
little mom, and that they had never known about this support system
of friends, despite her seven years of involvement as a volunteer
at our hospital! Something about this experience troubled me greatly.
I fear that many children and spouses, especially of our older volunteers,
see their volunteer activities as just something for them to do to
keep busy. They really have no idea that their loved ones are doing
important, valuable work with our patients. I wanted to find a way
to avoid a scene like this with others in our program, if at all possible.
Volunteers were asked for the names and addresses of their immediately
family - spouses, children, or close friends. They were not told the
exact reason for the information - ironically, many assumed we were
gathering next of kin info, in the event of their death on the job!
With those names, we created a family database. At Christmas, instead
of the usual inspirational letter to volunteers, talking about the
meaning of the season and their wonderful deeds throughout the year,
I wrote letters to each of these on the mailing list. I told them
about what their wife, mother, brother, etc. did at our hospital,
and how important they were in the lives of our staff, patients and
families. Many of those who received letters have called, and told
very touching stories of how they read the tributes to "their" volunteer
at a family gathering during the holidays. Several said they had the
letter framed, and gave it as a gift to their loved one. The volunteers
had no idea this was happening, and were moved beyond words. In over
25 years of managing volunteers, I have never done any recognition
activity that has had a more profound impact on the timbre of our
program, and on the lives of our volunteers! Obviously, this was quite
time-consuming (I wrote about 150+ letters), but extremely high-impact
on the recipients and, as a bonus, on the author. It really made my
holiday season very meaningful. I will continue to look for opportunities
to communicate the countless ways our volunteers make a difference
to the other people who care so much about them - their families.
Submitted by LouAnne Smith, Volunteer Coordinator, Doctors Hospital of Dallas
Staff-Made Dinner
I work for an AIDS Service organization where volunteers give their
time in a variety of programs and services. Every year we have an
annual holiday party for volunteers which has always been an open
house style event. This year I asked the staff to help plan something
a bit more ambitious - we cooked and served a full course meal! The
menu was a choice of turkey dinner with all the trimmings, or a vegetarian
pasta dish. Staff volunteered to cook the various dishes, turkeys,
mashed potatoes, stuffing, salads, etc., or contributed buns, cranberry
sauce, salad dressing, etc. The staff were all assigned jobs; cooks,
plate fillers, servers, etc., and all of the staff wore black pants,
white shirts and colorful name tags. We had a Christmas tree with
donated gifts underneath and drew names for a chance to pick a gift.
We utilized space in our multi-purpose room and set beautiful places
using rented cutlery and plates. Everyone contributed decorations
and we had plenty of candlelight and twinkle lights strung up. Our
physicians offered grace and a toast to the volunteers that reaffirmed
their value within our organization. All in all, it was a tremendous
gift of caring by the staff, and a wonderful experience in feeling
appreciated by the volunteers!
Submitted by Corrie McGibney, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Village Clinic
Thanks at Thanksgiving
The week before Thanksgiving, the Center always recognizes the volunteers
with a catered meal and music as a way to show our appreciation and
thanks. This year the theme was "Handful of Thanks" with decorations,
centerpieces and even the certificates adorned with cookie cutter
dough hands. I gave a speech incorporating hands as the theme (right
hand men and women, hand you can rely on, etc). The highlight though
was the many frail older clients (the receivers of the voluteerism)
giving testomonials as to how there lives are better because of these
wonderful volunteers.
Submitted by M. Judith Nortman, Director, Westside Senior Adult Day Center
Personal Note from Board
Our Board of Directors has a Volunteer Services Committee. These members
write a personal, handwritten note to each volunteer who donates anything
over four hours during a year. The committee members are given enough
information to let them know what work the volunteer has done. The
notes are written around Thanksgiving and around Valentine's Day,
for those who started volunteering after Thanksgiving. We have recently
added a printed note to all our one-time volunteers with the personal
signature of the committee chair. This wonderful tradition, which
is above and beyond the annual Volunteer Recognition Party, wasn't
started by me, but I am happy to be apart of an agency with such caring
board members. Submitted by Marty Atherton, Coordinator of Volunteer
Services, Families First Thanksgiving Day Cards Thanksgiving Day cards
to the families of volunteers. The response from the volunteers was
terrific.
Submitted by Mike Corbin, Director of Volunteer Services, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan
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