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Volunteering > Volunteer Recognition> Recognition Ideas


Recognition Ideas

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Participants of Volunteer Manitoba's Volunteer Management Introduction course generate many great ideas to recognize a variety of types of volunteers. Below are these ideas by the following categories:

No/Low Cost Ideas
Youth
Seniors
Mixed Ages
Learning & Growth
Fun
Public

No/Low Cost Ideas
· cook/bake and serve them.
· personal thank you's
· pass on compliments from clients
· smile
· hugs
· telephone call on birthday
· tea party
· volunteer pass to a service the agency delivers
· slurpees
· thank you board
· pot luck
· recruit volunteers to donate a handmade craft for others
· garden flowers
· flower seeds
· candy fairy - office fairy - surprise.
· note with inspirational quote/affirmation.
· canvas for donations.
· something alive - give a plant/goldfish/host an event in a garden.
· coffee cake and time together.
· scrapbook/wall of success.
· acknowledgements - newsletters and bulletins. Enter them in radio station promo's.
· offer available resources.
· contact gyms/movie theatres.
· volunteer involvement "projects" as a group
· sports events & games - mini Olympics, baseball, billiards, horseshoes, skating, kite flying, swimming, beach, fishing
· comedy club
· in-door play places
· group walk ending with a social time
· family cook-off
· Roasting someone
· Sundaes
· measuring things with bananas
· board games & tournaments
· mixed up menu dinner

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Ideas to recognize youth
· pizza party
· movie night gift certificate
· sports event
· rave parties
· teen advisory committee on recognition
· fast food gift certificate
· slurpees
· posters
· technology stuff
· reference letters
· discounts for rock concerts
· CD/DVD's
· t-shirt
· hats
· excursion
· scavanger hunt

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Ideas to recognize seniors
· tea party
· games/cards/fun casino
· jigsaw puzzles
· bingo
· pins
· length of service award
· nostalgia theme party
· sing-a-longs
· symphony/theatre
· gardening
· crafts
· line dancing/square dancing
· gift certificate for drugstores
· bowling

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Ideas to recognize volunteer groups of mixed ages
· family BBQ/picnic
· indoor olympics
· fun casino - gift certificate as a prize.
· storytelling
· pot luck
· talent show
· pins/pens/mugs
· hot chocolate & iced tea
· photo albums
· disposable camera
· bus passes
· tote bag
· Progressive dinner

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Learning and personal growth opportunities we can provide to
recognize our volunteers
· Send them to workshops (external and internal)
· Give them references
· Frequent evaluations
· Growth journal/track skills
· Mentorship programs
· Sponsorships
· Opportunity to be guest speaker or trainer
· Bursary program
· Growth/Job offers
· Volunteer job rotation
· Job shadow
· Involve them in developing new training materials
· Provide opportunities to share personal success stories, share testimonials
· Inspirational quotes/thoughts
· Books related to their interest area
· Personalized project
· Recommendations to opportunities
· Provide opportunities for fun activities
· Take down formal boundries/create openness
· Resume development
· Increase responsibility
· Provide resources/tools/access
· Certificates of achievement
· Access to resources (ie. Library)
· Audio books, DVD's, books

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Fun ways to recognize our volunteers
· provide snacks
· greet volunteers when they arrive
· banquet
· bus trip
· pass on jokes/funny pictures
· scavenger hunt
· games night
· phone calls
· family days
· birthday parties
· laser tag
· mini golf
· field trips
· silly prizes
· bubble blowers
· secret santas
· chat nights
· makeover night
· pageant/skit night
· costume/theme day
· casual day
· karaoke machine/talent night
· pay day lunches
· book clubs
· volunteer drop-in hours
· volunteer in teams

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Public ways to recognize our volunteers
· years of service pins
· awards luncheon
· nomination to Volunteer Manitoba awards
· mugs/clothing with organization logo
· plaque
· parking lot space
· certificate
· volunteer appreciation day
· stickers
· mall display
· list in Annual Report
· picture on your website
· feature in internal newsletter
· letter of thanks to volunteer's employer (or parent, school)
· community contest - have picture in the newspaper and ask people to guess where these people volunteer
· public service announcement/feature article in newspaper/radio
· awards board

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