If You Missed Volunteer Recognition Day

Were you one of those managers who missed Volunteer Recognition Day this year? Well, it's past, but that doesn't mean you have to wait until next year. Show your volunteers how much they are appreciated at other times, too. My motto is to take every excuse in the book for Volunteer Recognition.

So what are you going to do now? At Appreciate Volunteers, we have some other ideas for you. In fact, that's what the whole site is about. Ways to show your appreciation.

If your budget allows, plan a special event to recognize all your volunteers, but especially those who have been with you for a time. If you can pick the week where your longest service volunteer celebrates a milestone, then you can honor that person and recognize the time or service hours of each volunteer in turn.

Remember to include the newest volunteers. Welcome them into your organization or group. It's especially helpful and encouraging to them to see the others who have been with you for a nice length of time.

If your budget doesn't allow for a big event, think about smaller events. Bringing lunch in for your volunteers on special days is a less expensive alternative. You can still honor milestones and welcome new volunteers.

Even on the smallest budget, simple things that sending a thank you card or note on a volunteer's anniversary with your group can mean so much. Bringing some home baked cookies in with you to share with the volunteers is very inexpensive.

You may have missed Volunteer Recognition Day this year, but put it on your calendar for next year. Then do other things to appreciate your volunteers during the rest of the year.

Simple Ways to Express Volunteer Appreciation

Large events and large gifts are not always necessary for volunteer appreciation. Sometimes the budget just doesn't all for much. But we still want show our thanks in some special way.

Simple ways tend to be the best for volunteer recognition on a budget. Everybody enjoys food while at work or taking a break from the work. So think food treats. When I can get around to baking, I always make extras to take into work for the volunteers. Especially cookies, but I've brought in cupcakes, fresh bread pieces with a couple of spreads to go on top, even chips and dip. Whatever treat you pick will be appreciated by your volunteers.

This doesn't need to elaborate nor does it need to be homemade. You might just enjoy stopping by the grocery store on your way into work and picking up a few food items. Think a little ahead for this and bring along some proper serving dishes. A plate for cookies or cupcakes, a bowl for chips, that sort of thing.

Also, think a head and prepare a little tent sign that you can stand alongside the plate of goodies. The sign can say something simple as well. Thanks to all our volunteers works just great.

At Appreciate Volunteers are always busy sharing our ideas, plans and tips for ways to show recognize and thank the many hard-working people who make our organization run. Stop by and get ideas for your own group, or share with us some of the successful things you've done.

Volunteer Recognition Day

The day to celebrate volunteers is coming. April 20th is Volunteer Recognition Day. It's such a special day that we need to take the time to plan something very special for these very special people. Yes, I know I used that word "special" often, but for good reason. Where would we be without these folks in our world?

If you manage volunteers in anyway, you need to be planning for this day. Our motto is: take every opportunity in the book to appreciate our volunteers. What better opportunity than Volunteer Recognition Day?

What are you planning? Some big event? A smaller celebration just for those volunteers? It doesn't matter what you actually planning, as long as you do something special on April 20th. We have some ideas to help you out at Appreciate Volunteers.

Why not use this day to give a personalized gift? If you budget can afford it, go for something extra special that has meaning for your volunteers. If you are on a small budget, something as small as a refrigerator magnet or a pin that is personalized for your volunteers will be appreciated as well.

What ever you decide to do, do something! This is the day to show how much we appreciate the time and effort our volunteers give us. April 20th is coming so get moving and get planning.

Welcome Appreciate Volunteers

We are happy to announce a web site devoted entirely to recognizing and appreciating the volunteers of our group or organization. If you manage volunteers, the you want to visit this site. Appreciate Volunteers is all about ways to help you show your thanks for all the efforts your volunteers put in.

The site is written by people with a wealth of experience in managing volunteers in many different organizations and groups, from community to private. Along with being volunteers themselves, so they know what they are talking about.

It's easy to get distracted in this busy world, but taking the time to recognize and appreciate volunteers is so important. You'll find lots of little ways and simple things to show how important your volunteers are to you.

So take a few minutes and visit Appreciate Volunteers. Tour around the site, read helpful tips and information and share your own insights.