Archive for the ‘Volunteer Recognition’ Category

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Get Creative and Say “Thank-you” to Volunteers

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

National Volunteer Weeks is a time to “celebrate people in action!” Volunteers contribute so much everyday to the community, with little or no recognition for the work that they do. The Independent Sector values volunteer time in 2011 to be $21.79. We believe their contributions are worth more than any money could buy!

If you love volunteers like we do, why not show them your love this week and beyond. This week is the perfect time to start showing your recognition for the work that your volunteers are doing. Whether you are a traditional thank-you note kind of person, or you like to spice things up a bit, we have an idea for you! Check out today’s list and get inspired to celebrate the volunteers who make our community better everyday.

  1. Present your volunteers with handwritten appreciation certificates
  2. Host a theme party for your volunteers (toga, tea party, Hawaiian theme)
  3. Send a kind smile their way
  4. Outreach to local media for volunteer project coverage or thank you write up to volunteers
  5. Send them candy for a job well done
  6. Create a volunteer suggestion box and show them that you value their opinion
  7. Shake hands with your volunteers and thank them for a job well done
  8. Invite volunteers to staff meetings so that they  have a voice in organizational decisions
  9. Is your organization hosting a conference? Develop a special award for volunteers to allow them to go for free!
  10. Have a volunteer of the month hall of fame
  11. Host a volunteer party catered by a local restaurant. Include a volunteer red carpet for their entrance.
  12. Provide coffee and breakfast for an early volunteer event.
  13. Take pictures of volunteers at the service project and share them on social media.
  14. Provide volunteers with a four-leaf clover and a note saying, “We’re lucky to have a volunteer like you!”
  15. Hold a volunteer awards ceremony similar to the Academy Awards for volunteers. Best female volunteer, anyone?
  16. Give volunteers sparklers with a note saying, “No one sparkles like our volunteers.”
  17. Hold a volunteer ice cream social.
  18. Give your volunteers a round of applause at the end of a service project
  19. Have a fabulous contest to reward dedicated volunteers with prizes
  20. Utilize Cabot Creamery Cooperative’s Reward Volunteers Smartphone application to celebrate service hours!
  21. Have the CEO of your organization come to the service project to say “thank-you” to the volunteers
  22. Pass out Lifesavers to your volunteers with a note saying, “Thank-you volunteer, you’re a lifesaver!”
  23. Have a volunteer pizza party!
  24. Sponsor a volunteer retreat for the most active volunteers
  25. Give movie passes to your volunteer leaders.
  26. Ask your volunteers to contribute a blog post to your organization’s blog about their volunteer experience.
  27. Let your organization and your volunteers know the impact that they made during the project.
  28. If your volunteers are involved in big projects, have a plaque made for the site with their names on it.
  29. Make a photo album of the project and the volunteers to display at your organization.
  30. SAY THANK YOU EVERY PROJECT EVERY TIME!

It is important to show your volunteers how much your organization appreciates the work that they do. We hope that you will take a minute and recognize them for their commitment to service this week and beyond!

How do you say “thank-you” to your volunteers? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, we would love to hear your ideas!

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It’s That Time of the Year to Celebrate Volunteers!

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Happy National Volunteer Week! Yesterday started the kickoff for the week. How will you celebrate the power of volunteerism? If you stick with HandsOn Network and our friends, you won’t be disappointed this week!

President Barack Obama officially the week of April 15-21 to be National Volunteer Week April 9th. National Volunteer Week is a week long celebration of volunteer recognition and the power of service. It is the perfect time for beginner volunteers to start giving back, families to come together through volunteering, and organizations to recognize their volunteers and partners.

How can you celebrate this week with HandsOn Network, Points of Light, generationOn, and AmeriCorps Alums? The list below will make it easy for you to get involved!

  1. Learning time: Our partners have many volunteer learning resources happening this week. GenerationOn is hosting a free webinar on April 18 “With Honor! May Moments of Service.” This is a great opportunity for youth to learn about service projects or organizations and individuals who work with youth to participate, as well. AmeriCorps Alums will be hosting a webinar on “Resume Assistance” April 17. This webinar is a great tool for adding volunteer experience to your career resume. You can also find many webinar resources on our website! Register for the above webinars by clicking on the webinar titles.
  2. Reward volunteer hours: Cabot Creamery Cooperative, All for Good, Create the Good, and Points of Light have teamed together to make volunteer hours count for even more. Thanks to the “Reward Volunteers” mobile Smartphone application you can get prizes just for sharing your volunteer hours.
  3. Volunteer with our friends: HandsOn Network has over 250 action centers who are all hosting volunteer projects across the nation. Whether you are interested in the environment or you just want to play with some cute animals we know you will not have a problem finding something to do.
  4. Recognize volunteerism: There are so many ways that you can tell your volunteers “Thank-you” this week. From a simple thank-you card to a volunteer parade just show them that you care.
  5. Tell us what you do: your story of volunteerism with Points of Light this week. By sharing your story, you could have a chance to win one of five cruise tickets to Alaska for you and a guest thanks to Cabot Creamery Cooperative.
  6. Girl power: Do you know a woman who is making a big difference in the community through the power of volunteerism? Nominate her for the 2012 L’Oreal Paris USA’s Women of Worth contest. Your nomination could help her win money for her nonprofit!
  7. Feed the hungry: Join generationOn and No Kid Hungry as they team up for the Great American Bake Sale. All you have to do is register your bake sale and donate your profits to Share Our Strength who will put your donations toward the fight against hunger.
  8. Visit the Extra Mile Pathway: Want to be inspired by great acts of service? Visit the Points of Light Extra Mile Pathway, if you will be in the Washington DC area. There is a great bunch of dedicated volunteer stories just waiting to inspire you along the way.
  9. Join Clifford: Know someone who is making an impact this week and beyond? Whether they are young or old nominate them for Scholastic’s BE BIG Challenge today!

National Volunteer Week is going to be awesome! We hope that you will get out and celebrate people in action.

Got questions? Let us know in the comments section below, after all we are a fun bunch so don’t be scared to ask!

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Volunteers, You’re Awesome Take a Bow

Monday, April 9th, 2012

We absolutely love volunteers! Not just because we are a nonprofit organization focused on volunteer listings and opportunities, but also because they are just plain awesome! Why?

Volunteers dedicate themselves to a cause or an issue in the community because they care and want to give back. They do not act for monetary rewards or even recognition. They volunteer their in many different ways from book drives to park clean up just to give back to their neighbors.

April is National Volunteer Month, so let’s celebrate the hard work volunteers are doing around the world by recognizing their efforts!

  • In 2012, 62.7 million people volunteered in America.
  • Thanks to those 62.7 million volunteers, 8.1 billion hours of service were logged for the United States. Imagine what the nation would look like without those 8.1 billion hours!
  • 26.5% of United States residents reported that they volunteered in some form over the past year in 2010. Those 26.5 percenters individually contributed 34.1 service hours in their communities.
  • The Independent Sector reports that those 8.1 billion hours of service were worth $178 billion in 2010. Each volunteer is worth $21.67 per hour, but they do the work for their love of the community, rather than salary.
  • 23.5% of volunteers are actively involved in food collection and distribution. How many residents would go hungry without these volunteers?
  • 26.7% of volunteers for education. How would our children succeed in school without the help of education volunteers?
  • 11.6 million Millennials volunteered 1.2 billion hours of community service to their community in the categories of fundraising, labor, mentoring, and food distribution. Do you still believe that young people cannot make a difference?
  • 9.2 million older Americans (65 years and older) donated 1.7 billion hours of hours to their communities. Older adults are able to find new meaning to their lives after retirement thanks to volunteer work.
  • Volunteers with HandsOn Network affiliates impacted the service economy by $546,638,278!

Are you still skeptical about the value of volunteer work? We hope not. Recognize the work being done in your community via volunteers. National Volunteer Week is just around the corner, April 15-21. Do something special for your volunteers! Whether you want to alert the media about your volunteer events and impact or you want to write personal thank you notes for your volunteers, make this a week of recognition for the unbelievable service work happening every day!

 

The statistics used in this report can be found in the 2010 Volunteering in America report conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

This infographic can be found via the Corporation for National and Community Service.

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Spread the Volunteer Love for National Volunteer Week

Monday, March 5th, 2012

This year’s National Volunteer Week is April 15 through April 21! It’s a week dedicated to recognizing and honoring the amazing work of volunteers throughout the nation. Whether you’re serving your local school, nursing home, community organization, or mentoring someone, the service volunteers provide is PRICELESS, ha ha no pun intended! But in all seriousness, we are so thankful for the great service of volunteers and want offer you 4 ways to honor volunteers during National Volunteer Week or year-around.

  1. The Daily Point of Light Award: The Daily Point of Light Award was established by former President George H. W. Bush to engage individuals, families, businesses and groups to solve community problems through voluntary service. Recognize an individual or group that is inspiring change through voluntary action by submitting a nomination for the Daily Point of Light Award. If selected, your nominee will join an esteemed group of volunteers recognized on the Points of Light blog for their leadership and voluntary service, and receive a certificate signed by President George H. W. Bush and Points of Light Institute CEO Michelle Nunn honoring their achievement!
  2. Recognize a Point of Light on the Pointsoflight.org Tribute Wall: The Points of Light tribute wall provides you with access to an online community dedicated to recognizing volunteers. Whether you’re shouting out George H.W. Bush or posting a video or simply writing kind words about how a volunteer has inspired you or changed your life, the tribute wall is a way to point out the Points of Light in your life and/or your community.
  3. The President’s Volunteer Service Award: Established in 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President’s Volunteer Service Award program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspires others to make service a central part of their lives. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.
  4. Celebrate people who went the Extra Mile: If you’re visiting the Washington, DC area or just surfing the exciting highways of the world wide web, visit the Extra Mile national monument. This new national monument in the heart of Washington, D.C. is a testament to the tradition, spirit and culture of service in America. From founders of major service organizations to civil rights leadersExtra Mile, the monument tells the story of people who have gone the “extra mile” to help others realize a better America. Comprised of a series of bronze medallions, it will form a one-mile walking path just blocks from the White House.

No matter what you do to recognize volunteers, make sure they know that their services help to improve your life or spark a light of volunteerism and inspiration in their community. Comment and tell us how you plan to honor your volunteers during National Volunteer Week and beyond!

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The President Wants to Recognize You for Your Great Work!

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

For more than two decades, Points of Light honors and encourages organizations throughout the nation to celebrate National Volunteer Week, providing visibility, thematic focus and resources to enable them to commemorate this signature week of volunteer recognition,. National Volunteer Week is April 15-21, 2012.

During National Volunteer Week, we at Points of Light and HandsOn Network encourage people to recognize the outstanding impact of volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Created by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the President’s Volunteer Service Award program is a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. 

Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspires others to make service a central part of their lives. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

To date, the President’s Council has partnered with more than 80 leadership organizations and more than 28,000 certifying organizations to bestow more than 1.5 million awards to the Nation’s deserving volunteers.

Depending on which award package is ordered, award recipients can receive: An official President’s Volunteer Service Award lapel pin, a personalized certificate of achievement or a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States.

Any individual, family, or group can receive Presidential recognition for volunteer hours earned over a 12-month period or over the course of a lifetime at home or abroad. The following are the eligibility requirements for each age group: Kids, age 5-14, young adults, individuals age 15-25, and adults age 26 and up.

Criterion for the bronze presidential award include the completion of  50-74 service hours for kids, 100 to 174 hours for Young Adults, 100 to 249 hours for adults, and 200 to 499 hours for families and groups.

Criterion for the silver presidential award include the completion of 75 to 99 hours for Kids, 175 to 249 hours for Young Adults, 250 to 499 hours for adults, and 500 to 999 hours for families and groups.

Criterion for the gold presidential award include the completion of 100 hours or more for kids, 250 hours or more for young adults, 500 hours or more for adults, and 1000 hours or more for families and groups.

Additionally, volunteers of all ages with 4,000 or more service hours over a lifetime can receive the President’s Call to service award.

We hope that during National Volunteer Week and throughout the year, you choose to recognize and honor volunteers with the Presidential service award for their amazing service and impact on their communities.

 

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Great Ways to Show Your Volunteers You Love Them

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Happy Valentines Day to all! We hope that you are enjoying your chocolates, cards, or flowers from your sweetheart today. Did you know Valentines Day can be more than just honoring the love you share with your significant other? It is also a great way to show your volunteers just how much you love them and the tremendous service they give to you and your organization! Below are some great suggestions to show your volunteer love not only just today but always!

We Are Thankful for Our Volunteers This Holiday Season

12 Tips for Recognizing Volunteer Managers

Recognizing Volunteers on Labor Day

6 Tips for Recognizing Volunteers

Four Tips for a Different National Volunteer Week

Giving Thanks for Volunteers

The Nine Basic Rules for Volunteer Recognition

National Volunteer Week, which runs from 4/15 to 4/21, is also a great way to recognize your volunteers and the work they do for your organization. You can recognize them not only with a service award, but also by sharing their ! Submit your stories by 3/31.

 

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Dr. King’s Challenge: What Are You Doing for Others?

Friday, January 6th, 2012

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights leader whose actions sparked a national movement. The 13 years he dedicated to civil rights activities ignited concern and conscience within our country’s citizens. His courage and selfless devotion were undeniable, and for this his legacy continues to inspire Points of Light and volunteers around the world.

Just four days after the assassination of the civil rights icon, legislation was proposed to make his birthday an official holiday. It took nearly 20 years and countless politicians to gather enough public support to receive Congressional support, and the day was first officially observed in 1986.

Martin Luther King, Jr. SpeechDuring his lifetime Dr. King worked tirelessly toward a dream of equality. He believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. King’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve problems. MLK Day programs meet tangible needs, such as revitalizing schools and feeding the homeless; but also build a sense of community and mutual responsibility by spurring conversation. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through volunteering and unite to strengthen communities, empower individuals, and bridge barriers.

There are many ways to celebrate MLK Day in your community, whether you’re leading a local nonprofit, organizing an event with your family or an elementary school student looking to make a difference.

Inspired by the legacy of Dr. King, America’s Sunday Supper invites people from diverse backgrounds to come together and share a meal, discuss issues that affect their community and highlight the power each one of us has to make a difference. These family and community suppers unite individuals for dinner and dialogue in the restaurants, coffee shops, community centers, faith-based organizations, and homes across the country. Leading up to MLK Day, individuals will participate in a community-by-community, nationwide conversation about our country’s most pressing social issues related to hunger, homelessness, and poverty.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

When individuals reach across differences in economic, ethnic, racial, and religious identities, meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with neighbors can occur. A sense of community is gained by neighbors working together on projects, resulting in stronger civic engagement and bringing us all closer to Dr. King’s legacy.

How will you honor Dr. King with your service this upcoming MLK Day? Let us know in the comments below!

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Posted in Events, Faith, Inspire, Mobilize, Service, Social Justice, Volunteer Recognition, Volunteerism | 2 Comments »

We Are Thankful for Our Volunteers This Holiday Season

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

Everyday hundreds of people volunteer their time and skills to give back to their community. These volunteers are so will to put the “giving” back into Thanksgiving, why not show them how thankful you are for their service?

Thanking volunteers for their time of service can sometimes be overlooked when planning a service project. These volunteers are so willing to do their work without acknowledgement so this step can be easily overlooked. So how can you include this step into your service project planning?

Here are some suggestions that may help you add acknowledgement of gracious commitment to your service project checklist!

  • The most important thing to do to make your volunteers feel appreciated is to say THANK YOU!
  • Invite a celebrity or locally elected official to visit the site and personally thank the group.
  • Arrange for someone from the organization or site that you are helping to come on site and send a personal thank you to the volunteers
  • Finish the day off with an on site luncheon or picnic to bring everyone together to reflect on the experience.
  • Have a pep rally for your volunteers complete with cheerleaders from a local high school, college, sports team, or peppy volunteers
  • Sing a meaningful song together
  • Have someone take pictures of the day with an instant camera and distribute the pictures to the volunteers at the end of the day
  • Present volunteers with pins, certificates, hats, bumper stickers, notepads, cups, or other mementos from the day.
  • Give volunteers goody bags filled with donated merchandise from local organizations or business es.
  • Give away tickets to movies or other local events
  • Hold a raffle for the volunteers
  • Give discount coupons from local restaurants, car washes, or other local services.
  • Send personalized thank you notes to volunteers for their time
  • Hold a special recognition even for all groups, volunteers, partners, etc.
  • Send holiday cards
  • Recognize volunteers at their places of worship, work, school, or civic involvement
  • Provide photos with names to newspapers, newsletters, community bulletin boards, radio stations, or television stations
  • Nominate the group for a civic engagement award
  • Ask the organization you helped to write a letter to the local newspaper editor thanking the volunteers

 

Volunteers are the backbone to any successful organization. Show them your thanks this holiday season.

Are you giving thanks for those who serve? Share your plan of action with us in the comment section below!

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12 Tips for Recognizing Volunteer Managers

Friday, November 4th, 2011

This Saturday, November 5th is International Volunteer Managers Day. What exactly is this international holiday you may be asking yourself? International Volunteer Managers Day was first observed in 1999. It was developed to bring recognition and support to those who manage volunteer resources and promote volunteer activation. It is a way to celebrate these managers for their commitment to service around the world. In 2006, the International Supporters Group was formed to include key leaders and groups to spread the word about International Volunteer Managers Day as well.

Now you know a little more about this holiday, but how do you celebrate your organization’s outstanding volunteer managers? It’s simple! The following is a list of ideas that you can use to make your managers feel a little more special on their big day.

  1. Schedule an annual conference to fall on IVM Day and make the day a feature of the conference.
  2. Have the president of your volunteer management department write a letter to all volunteer managers telling them how much their work means to the organization.
  3. Send a thank you message to the extended staff members in your agency that may not be actual volunteer managers, but support the work of volunteers.
  4. Send an e-card about the day to your peers and colleagues.
  5. Encourage local volunteer centers to observe this day or at least mention it in their newsletter.
  6. Place a link to the International Volunteer Managers Day website on your volunteer page to increase awareness.
  7. Send a letter to your local newspaper editor to feature an article about the day on November 3rd.
  8. Create an annual award to celebrate the volunteer managers in your office.
  9. Host a luncheon for your volunteer managers.
  10. Request a special recognition for volunteer managers from your local mayor.
  11. Throw a party to recognize the volunteer managers in your agency.
  12. Create thank you gifts for your volunteer managers.

It is important to recognize the huge commitment that our volunteers make, but it is equally important to recognize those who manage these volunteers and provide resources to those who serve. International Volunteer Managers Day is the perfect day to provide this recognition to those who dedicate their lives to serving others. Hope these tips help you recognize the managers in your agency on November 5th!

Is your organization planning on recognizing its volunteer managers? Let us know how in the comments!

 

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Posted in Volunteer Management, Volunteer Recognition | 1 Comment »

6 Tips for Recruiting Boomer Volunteers

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Boomer volunteersWhy are boomers the future of volunteering? First, because of their sheer size: boomers represent about 77 million potential volunteers. They also have longevity on their side; this group has an average life expectancy of 83 years. That, coupled with higher levels of income and savings than earlier waves of retirees, suggest they have both the time and resources for volunteering.

Could you benefit from boomer volunteers? Here are some tips to help recruit them:

  • Boomers may be highly resistant to a group that includes the previous generation. They may be highly resistant to words like “senior”, “older adult”, “golden years”, “mature adult”, etc. Be creative – anecdotal evidence shows that “experienced” may appeal to this demographic. “Experienced” avoids negative connotations associated with aging and highlights the fact that you value their experience and skills.
  • Boomer volunteersBe highly aware of the images used in materials targeted towards boomers. According to the Boomer Project national survey, boomers see themselves as being at least 12 years younger than their chronological age. Images of individuals they perceive as “elderly” may be unappealing to boomers – they want to see people who reflect their own self-image.
  • Consider using words other than “volunteer” which is often associated with negative images of PTA lunches or menial tasks unappealing to boomers. The Montgomery County Volunteer Center came up with the name “Pro-Bono Consultants” after several volunteers felt as if they were continuing their professional work – but in an unpaid capacity.
  • According to the Harvard study, Reinventing Aging, boomers are less likely to volunteer out of a response to civic duty or obligation. For goal-oriented boomers, a message shows how they can make a difference in their community is more effective.
  • Boomers may need to have a sense of “what’s in it for me?” Recent studies have shown the health benefits of volunteering, as well as the social benefits that may be important as boomers leave the workplace.
  • Bear in mind that boomers may never fully “retire” – they express a strong interest in continuing part-time work or self-employment. Even a boomer who works a few hours a year may not consider themselves “retired” – tailor you messages, as well as your opportunities, accordingly.

Do you work with boomer volunteers? Share your experience and tips in the comments!

 

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