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Access our news feedLearning Opportunities as Thanks for Volunteers
Recognition
Container Gardening
This year at our Volunteer Appreciation Dinner one of our staff members, a passionate gardener, gave a container-garden demonstration. The container, soil, plants, fertilizer - even her gloves - were donated by a local nursery. The lovely finished product became the much coveted door prize that evening and one of the volunteers took it home. The nursery also donated gift certificates for everyone.
Submitted by Jan Schumacher
Gardening Theme
This year we used a gardening theme for our volunteer appreciation event.
We invited Master Gardeners to do a demonstration and called it "All
the Dirt on Container Gardening". It was an evening event with refreshments
and desserts (also cheese, crackers and fruit for those with dietary
limitations). At the end of the demonstration we raffled the 3 containers
as door prizes. We also had small gifts for each volunteer - Herb starter
kits. They were small plant containers with herb seeds, fertilizer sticks,
soil and growing instructions. They had an small ornamental bird in
the pot and a sign that said: "Volunteers love to share their Thyme". Submitted by Jerrie McLean, Administrative Assistant, Woolwich Community
Health Centre, Ontario, Canada
Taking Volunteers to Court
Every year we plan a tour of our county courthouse and a luncheon with
our county commissioners. Many of our volunteers love the tour, we visit
places like the 911 center, the sheriff's office and recorder of deeds.
When these volunteers see how the court house is run they are so amazed.
Their favorite department is security. The chief of security always
shows them weapons that people have brought into the court house. Submitted
by Edward Callahan, Coordinator Volunteer Services, Children's Cultural
Center
Chips and Chat
Each year before our busy season starts we host a feedback session where
we invite all our volunteers to our office for dinner and discussion.
In the past we have called these sessions "chips and chat" and "pizza
and parley". This evenings are a chance for our volunteers to share
what they think about how we are doing as an organization and where
we should be moving to in the future. It gives them a sense of ownership
and stake in the orginization. It also lets them know that we as managers
are interested and listening to what they have to say and that we care
about their opinions. Submitted by Drew Gulyas, Assistant Camp Director,
Camp Oochigeas
Gifts Galore
We have a speaker that gives a mini-seminar about the ten gifts that
each of us have. Our tables are decorated with gifts (wrapped empty
packages). We ask that each volunteer bring a non-perishable food item
to donate to the local food pantry and a gift to pass on to another.
Submitted by Desiree Larson, Volunteer Coordinator, Women' s Way,
North Dakota
Ask Your Volunteers
This year, we asked our 25 volunteers what they would like to do for
a recognition event. The general consensus was we do something fun (go
to a museum or gallery) or have the opportunity to learn something new.
The Volunteer Connection is hosting a staff prepared lunch. One of our
staff is an art gallery director and photographer. She will teach us
the art of creating Polaroid transfers from a picture we take or a colored
slide we bring. We are also having a guest poet teach us the art of
writing poetry which we will share with each other. The entire event
is scheduled over a four hour period. Submitted by Charlotte Smith
Neyland, Director of Services, Volunteer Connection East of Longmont
Giving Back to Yourself
I had done a survey on what volunteers thought about our volunteer program
and many of the surveys indicated that park volunteers really enjoyed
what they do but they would like more training. I was determined to
use volunteer recognition as a means to kick-off volunteer training
opportunities throughout the year. As a result, I developed my own workshop-Giving
Back to Yourself This was a one day motivational workshop put on during
National Volunteer Week. It opened with a Board of Park Commissioner
and Executive Director giving park wide updates, followed by a short
film and two great motivational speakers. Volunteers asked questions,
got some answers, meditated and left feeling a renewed sence of commitment
to the parks and to themselves. It was one of the best recognitions
we have had. Submitted by Merle Walker, Volunteer Program Manager,
Lake Metroparks
Resume Writing
In my volunteer program at the Philadelphia Family Court, we recognized
graduating student volunteers with a special seminar on resume writing,
with emphasis on how they could describe their volunteer work as a credential
that would impress prospective employers or university admissions officers.
Submitted by Susan J. Ellis, Energize, Inc.
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