Tips for local recognition
Volunteer recognition does not always have to come in the form of an expensive, fancy Awards ceremony or dinner. Sometimes a simple thank you can go a long way. Here are some tips, tools, and resources for recognizing your volunteers on a timely basis. Be sure to visit the links provided often, as many of them are frequently updated with new ideas!
Tips from the field on recognizing volunteers consistently and timely:
- Always keep supplies for recognition on hand as stock items to be easily distributed to the leaders throughout your camps and lodges. General cards can be used for thank you, recognition of accomplishment, sympathy, thinking of you, etc.
- Arrange for a community leader to come to your project or mention it in a speech or announcement in the community
- Send out motivational flyers/e-flyers (a quote with a picture on one sheet) to volunteer leaders and regular participants
- Give them something back. Instead of a regular luncheon or dinner event, turn it into an informational/motivational seminar and find a community member to donate their time to speak to your volunteers about issues that are important to them
- Make it personal- learn what the volunteer enjoys doing in their free time and give them something useful and relevant to their hobby
- Partner with local non-profits and other organizations to recognize all volunteers in the community in addition to your own. Get the local government involved and work to secure company sponsorship/donations
- Good old-fashioned hand written letters go a long way to say a volunteer is appreciated
- Call the volunteer on the phone to say thanks personally
- Conduct an end of the year recognition program for all people who led projects during the year
Members
Camp/Lodge Leaders
Awards
