National Volunteer Week was last week, April 10-16, and many organizations celebrated their volunteers during the week with a party or event. The Women’s Resource Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, annually honors their volunteers during National Volunteer Week.

The Women’s Resource Center strives to improve women’s workplace and economic opportunities, and volunteers donate more than 2,500 hours a year coaching, mentoring, and working with the women who utilize the center’s resources.

The volunteers at the Women’s Resource Center make a difference in the lives of every woman who comes through their doors, and the organization knows how important it is to recognize their volunteers. “The Women’s Resource Center has been truly lucky to have these dedicated people land on our team,” said Lee Vandenberg, Volunteer Coordinator at Women’s Resource Center.

To celebrate their volunteers, Lee hosted a gardening themed event that used the lady bug motif in its decorations. Lee said the garden party was a huge hit!

Lee presented each of her volunteers with a Lucky Us Character Pin. She chose this pin because the story was “perfect for our presentation.” The connection with the garden theme certainly helped, too!

Express your appreciation for your volunteers, and they will remain dedicated to you and your organization. Employers, likewise, recognize their employees to help maintain and improve retention of top talent.

How did you recognize volunteers this year during National Volunteer Week?

Did you forget to do something during National Volunteer Week? It’s not too late! Check out our additional volunteer appreciation articles for tips and ideas.Send a Volunteer ePraise right now!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

Spring is here! (At least that’s what they tell us. Parts of Michigan got 9 inches of snow last week!) And many schools, teachers, and room moms will soon be planning the annual spring field day in the upcoming weeks. To make your event fun and memorable, incorporate recognition into your plans. 

First, streamline the planning and coordination of all the field day volunteers An online sign up sheet by VolunteerSpot saves time and makes it super easy to coordinate parents and volunteers.. They have a free web application that allows you to easily sign up and organize your volunteer efforts online. No more sign up sheets, reply-all emails, or confused volunteers. VolunterSpot will help you coordinate everyone. It even sends reminder emails to your volunteers! The easy-to-use system makes volunteer scheduling easier and increases participation.

Once you get your volunteers organized, remember to thank them for their time. A small gift as a token of your affection or a simple thank you card can make a volunteer feel sincerely appreciated. Plan your volunteer recognition ahead of time so you can recognize volunteers at the event.

At the end of the day, hand out Field Day Certificates to all the students who participated in the events. Presented in a certificate folder, this simple recognition of participation will give all students a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

Students can earn Milestones for completing field day events. At the end of the day, students will have a collection of different charms to display on their backpacks or wear around their neck. Receiving a small token at each event will reinforce the behaviors and attitudes they displayed while participating: teamwork, positive attitude, collaboration, can-do attitude, and respect.

Incorporating recognition into your field day event will make the day memorable event for both students and volunteers! For field day activities and ideas, visit the VolunteerSpot blog.

Colorful foil certificates are perfect for Field Day participation certificates.  

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

As our days are becoming shorter and the air crisper, nature is telling us back to school is around the corner. My first day back to school is the 29th, which is less than a week away. Yikes! Back to school for me means, last year of classes, running my advertising club, volunteering for a professor, and of course, enjoying my friends. Oh but wait, best of all I will still be here at Baudville writing blog posts for you to enjoy!

Last year, another student and I helped a professor of mine put on an advertising competition in Grand Rapids. Throughout the entire experience the three of us would go get coffee once a week to meet and talk about what had been accomplished, what needed to be fulfilled, and then how our lives were going. He took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with us, see how we were doing, and get to know us a little better.

On top of the weekly coffee meetings, I would get emails once or twice a week with words of encouragement telling me to keep up the good work, and praising me for a job well done. These would always bring a smile to my face. The emails motivated me to keep up the hard work, even though I was really busy.

At the end of the year, Grand Valley State University put on a dinner party recognizing all the volunteers and workers for their efforts. This was a perfect way to end the year! I was told that I did a great job and thanked for all my hard work.

Recognizing your student volunteers and workers doesn’t need to be super expensive or grand.  Trust me; students understand the importance of free!

6 Inexpensive tips for acknowledging back to school student workers or volunteers:

1.    Make sure you take time out of your schedule to get to know your student workers because they are taking time out of their busy schedules to help you.

2.    Acknowledge your student workers with a fun low-cost note card, pocket praise, email, or ePraise, our free ecards. These are great was to let your student workers know you care. 

                         Thank You theme Pocket Praise are a great way to write a small note of praise!

3.    Throw a pizza party, have a potluck picnic, bring in cookies, or just have a candy jar. Let's be serious - what student doesn’t like some type of free food!

4.    Have a team bonding day. If your school has volley-ball courts, go out and play a couple games, or get a bocce ball or cornhole game going. Do something as a team that is easily available to you.

5.    Take your student workers or volunteers out for a cup of coffee. Coffee shops are a nice relaxing area to learn more about them!

6.    For more free ideas check out our Recognition Resource Center.

Come on, join the conversation!

Click the button below to start sharing your inexpensive tips to recognize student workers or volunteers!

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Kendra is the newest Baudvillian. She is currently an advertising intellectual at Grand Valley State University, and is ecstatic about the change of atmosphere as Baudville’s web marketing intern. Watch out because this young professional just touched down at Baudville.

Over the years, I have volunteered for a number of different organizations. And I’ve done it for a number of reasons: desire to help people in need, passion for a particular cause, and an interest in growing my community. Never once did I decide to do it because of a strong need to feel appreciated.

That said, I have a confession: when, at one organization, I felt frustrated over their poor communication and unresponsiveness, I kind of lost the drive to continue giving my valuable time and talent. And, after repeated incidents of feeling like all of my work was just being sucked into a gaping void, I decided to step down.  

Does this make me a bad person? Maybe a little. But I am also human and, from what I’ve heard, so are a lot of other people. Honestly, if we’re going to put forth an effort, most of us need to know what we’re doing is making some kind of difference.

If you’re an organization that thrives on the time, skills, and unpaid labor of volunteers, you know that these folks aren’t in it for money, or fame, or recognition. But that doesn’t mean that they’re OK with working in a vacuum.

So, what can you do to ensure that your volunteers feel their work is worthwhile and meaningful? Show volunteer appreciation and cultivate an environment of growth and acknowledgement by offering:

Information: Above all, provide proper tools, information, and feedback so your volunteers can be as effective as possible. This can be in the form of educational materials, newsletters and event calendars, and email updates.

Communication: Not only do you need to be available to answer questions and give direction; you also want to reinforce your goals, identify achievements and setbacks, and express a clear message that through everyone’s contributions, you are fulfilling your mission.  

Appreciation: This is the easiest part. Say thank you. Say great job. Say you’re making a difference. Say together everyone achieves more. You don’t need to do it every day; but you really do need to do it.

We’re here to help you with that, with two new volunteer appreciation themes for the new year that are perfect for inspiring and motivating.

 
Together Everyone Achieves More is a team-oriented, gender-neutral theme that helps you emphasize the unique skills of individual volunteers  - and the success they can attain when they bring those skills together.

Making a Difference 2012 is lively and energetic, with a message that will reassure volunteers that they matter - and galvanize their spirits every day of the year. It’s also an ideal theme for your annual volunteer appreciation celebration!

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Allison is a self-proclaimed Copywriting Diva and has the certificate to prove it! She’s been writing for Baudville for three years and has worked in a variety of business settings for more than 18 years. Before becoming a professional writer 11 years ago, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer!

When is National Volunteer Week 2012 and how will you celebrate volunteers this year?

April is National Volunteer Month, and the week of April 15-21 is celebrated as National Volunteer Week. Organizations celebrate National Volunteer Week differently, and over the past few years I’ve been privileged to help some great non-profit organizations plan their volunteer appreciation events. The most important thing to remember when planning your volunteer appreciation event is to make it personal and meaningful to your volunteers.

Here are four ideas that have been a huge hit for National Volunteer Week:

1. Volunteer Appreciation Event. Many organizations host a small reception or luncheon to recognize their volunteers during National Volunteer Week. To make your event successful, use a theme to coordinate your gifts, decorations, and messaging. Visit the Recognition Resource Center to read the case study of a library that celebrated volunteer with an Essential Piece theme luncheon. Read the volunteer appreciation event case study.

2. Volunteer Appreciation Awards. When you have all your volunteers together during National Volunteer Week, take advantage of the large audience to recognize their hard work. Present all volunteers with a certificate to thank them for their efforts, and present award trophies to individuals with an outstanding number of service hours. Get ideas for volunteer certificate titles and verses.

3. Mail a Volunteer Thank You Gift. It can be difficult – if not nearly impossible! – to get all your volunteers together at one time, but it’s still vital to recognize their contributions. You can do volunteer appreciation from afar by mailing a thank you card or small gift to your volunteers’ homes. Each year, I work with a local civic theatre on their National Volunteer Week gift which is mailed to 650 volunteers. This year, the theatre is sending volunteers a fun Thanks Sticky Note Booklet. The gift has an appreciation message all over it and can be used by volunteers of all ages!

4. Share Public Volunteer Appreciation. Let the whole world know about your awesome volunteers by shouting their praises! There are lots of free and low cost ways to appreciate volunteers:
- Write a press release about National Volunteer Week and how your organization is celebrating volunteers. 
- Send a letter to the editor about the difference your volunteers make in the community. 
- Mail letters to volunteers’ employers that express how grateful you are that their employee contributes time to your organization. 
- Design a social media campaign on your star volunteers. Each day during National Volunteer Week, spotlight a different volunteer on your blog, Twitter feed, and Facebook timeline.

Sharing the praises of your volunteers publically will let them know how much you appreciate them during National Volunteer Week!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

Since Volunteer Appreciation Week is in one month, I know there are lots of volunteer coordinators and leaders who are working on their volunteer appreciation plans. To help you out, I've lsited five great free volunteer appreciation resources you can use this spring:

1. Volunteer Appreciation Ideas eBook. We created this eBook at Baudville to generate great ideas and meaningful recognition for volunteers. It has 52 ideas for volunteer appreciation events, volunteer award, volunteer appreciation gifts, and low and no cost ideas. Download it for free from our Recognition Resource Center.

2. EnergizeInc.com Volunteer Appreciation Resource.Energize Inc.  is a great resource for volunteer coordinators and leaders. They have lots of ideas for volunteer awards, volunteers events, and volunteer gifts that will inspire your Volunteer Appreciation Week activities.

3. Volunteer Appreciation ecards. It’s not uncommon for volunteer coordinators to have little or no funds budgeted for volunteer appreciation. You can still let your volunteers know you value their contributions by sending them a free volunteer appreciation ecard. Choose from our vast selection of trendy cards and schedule cards to individuals or groups of volunteers.

4. Sample Volunteer Appreciation Certificate Titles.Certificates are a popular award and appreciation item for volunteers because they are so affordable. For volunteer appreciation ideas that you can use on a certificate, visit the Recognition Resource Center. We have several resources, including Sample Employee Recognition Award Certificate Titles and Volunteer Certificate Titles and Verses, that will make your certificate design easier.

5. Volunteer Appreciation Themes. A great appreciation event starts with a memorable theme. For volunteer appreciation theme ideas, browse our 100+ recognition themes, or read about our Top Ten Themes for National Volunteer Appreciation Week. Once you decide on a theme for your appreciation event, everything else will fall into place!

How do you celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week? What are you favorite sources for volunteer appreciation ideas? Tell us here! 

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

I recently told you about an inspiring volunteer experience our creative team had at Kids’ Food Basket here in Grand Rapids. Buzz went around the office after we returned, and more teams were asking me how they could get involved, too.

A few weeks passed, and our day out in the wild was about to become a distant memory when we, a recognition company, ended up receiving a little recognition ourselves. Yes, to our surprise, a poster showed up at our front door decorated with thank you letters and photos from the kids who benefited. We proudly displayed our poster in a common area, and, as a result, our little mission (and KFB, more importantly) got even more exposure. Hooray!

We weren’t expecting a big thank you like this; but it sure made us feel great when we got it. Your volunteers are the same. They don’t freely give their time and enthusiasm because they secretly want a nice reward. They do it because they believe in your mission and the initiatives your organization wants to promote in your community.

Truly, these are some of the most important people you can have behind you. Which means it’s probably a good idea to surprise them every so often with your appreciation.

National Volunteer Week is just a few weeks away, April 15-21, 2012. You don’t want to be caught not holding the bag!

Let them know that their contributions make a difference with meaningful gifts from some of our most popular volunteer appreciation themes.

A Helping Hand
With bright, contemporary art and a message that acknowledges all that they do, our Helping Hand theme gifts are just what you need to express your appreciation.

Making a Difference
Featuring a classic story about how one person can make an impact, these theme gifts will inspire your volunteers and remind them that, no matter how small, their contributions really matter.

You Are Truly Appreciated
This theme says it all—simply and sincerely. You Are Truly Appreciated gifts are some of our bestsellers because they appeal to every audience: women, men, young, and old. Because who doesn’t want to feel truly appreciated?!

Volunteers Make a Difference
Coming soon… (seriously, just as soon as we can get all this cool stuff unpacked and on our inventory shelves) this brand new volunteer appreciation theme is designed specifically for volunteers! Check out this preview and then check back with us soon to order the real deal!

Want to see what else we have? Find a more volunteer appreciation themes, plus all kinds of tools and ideas here!

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Allison is a self-proclaimed Copywriting Diva and has the certificate to prove it! She’s been writing for Baudville for three years and has worked in a variety of business settings for more than 18 years. Before becoming a professional writer 11 years ago, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer!

April is National Volunteer Month, and I encourage organizations to honor their volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 15-21. I’ve been able to learn a lot about volunteer through my work with local non-profit organizations on their events and my personal volunteer work. After all, one of the best ways to learn about appreciation is to be appreciated!

If you’re looking for volunteer appreciation ideas, I recommend you grab a cup of coffee and watch our 10 minute Recognition TV webisode. I share popular themes for volunteers and volunteer appreciation event ideas you can use this year.

In the video, I also recommend a few free resources that will help your volunteer appreciation event planning go smoothly. You can download all these resources from our Recognition Resource Center or by clicking on the links below.

Volunteer Appreciation Ideas eBook



Employee Event Planning Check List



Award Presentation Guide

Are you a volunteer or do you recognize volunteers? Tell us what you do for National Volunteer Week!

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Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

Working for Baudville comes with its perks – free product, for example. Well, one of those free products, our I Radiate Pure Awesome Tote Bag has happened to become my six-month-old son’s diaper bag (because what six-month-old happy boy doesn’t radiate pure awesome?!). About a month ago, one of the other daycare moms noticed the tote bag and requested one for her upcoming business trip…to AFRICA! Of course I said “sure thing!”

She works for a global non-profit organization, Bethany Christian Services, which is dedicated to caring for orphans and vulnerable children on five continents. During her time in Africa she would be spending time in Ghana and Ethiopia training social workers, administrators, nannies, and directors working in the local orphanages. You can learn more about her mission by following her journey through her personal blog here: http://sahzu.wordpress.com/
 

At a local market in Accra, Ghana

As I read her daily updates, it was clear to me that she was embodying the spirit of radiating pure awesome – all the way across the globe! Through her work she is using her talents and passion to bring a voice to a part of the world many of us never think of, let alone travel to. Her words are full of life and cry out for all of us to find our “awesome” in the world and let it radiate, as far as it will go… 

So what are you doing to radiate your pure awesomeness? You may be lucky enough to work in the field of your passion. If not, try this: find your passion and volunteer, write, create, paint, build, help, talk, run, play, mentor, coach, listen, engage. Do it. Do it now. I promise you will not regret it.

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As a team member since 2005, Falon has worn just about every hat the ‘ville has to offer. She’s seen both sides of working life — as an employee and as a manager — so if it sounds like she knows what she’s talking about, we’re pretty sure that’s why. When she’s not juggling between the IDville and Baudville brands, she’s been known to whip up a mean diorama - just like that!

National Volunteer Week (April 21-27) is fast approaching! How will you celebrate the dedicated volunteers who give their time and energy to help your organization achieve its goals?

If you’re not sure, no worries! We’re here to help with our top three volunteer appreciation ideas!

Celebrate. If you get started now, you’ll have plenty of time to organize a celebration that makes your volunteers feel like a million bucks. It doesn’t have to be formal; the most important part is that it’s meaningful, well-thought-out, and filled with appreciation.

On a budget? (We know you are!) How about a simple, themed potluck with dishes brought in by the staff your volunteers serve? The theme could be related to your mission, or a special type of cuisine, or even focused on a meal of the day. At Baudville, we love a breakfast potluck—and we bet your volunteers will, too!

To add a special touch, and still keep mindful of your spending, we recommend a personalized award certificate given to each volunteer. They’ll have a memento of their service to proudly display, plus a lasting reminder of your appreciation at the same time.

A customer favorite is our You Make the Difference Certificate Bundle, which contains all of the components you need to create 50 finished certificates—folders and all!

When your celebration day comes (make sure it’s during National Volunteer Week, April 21-27!), call each volunteer up individually to present their certificate and give a heartfelt thanks.

Appreciate. If you have volunteers all over the state, country, or world, getting everyone together for a celebration might be a bit of a challenge. But that shouldn’t take the wind out of your sails! Baudville’s volunteer appreciation themes feature gifts and notecards that you can send to every volunteer far and wide. To make it easy for you, we organized all of our top volunteer appreciation gifts here. You can shop by theme, by price (we still haven’t forgotten your budget!), and by our hot, new products.

Don’t forget, you can also send free ePraise cards to all of your volunteers. We created several with National Volunteer Week precisely in mind, plus many more in your favorite themes!

Commemorate. Want to give your volunteers an appreciation gift that will last well beyond the week? Our new Team Shirts™ are your answer! We created hundreds upon hundreds of designs that are customizable with your text, logo, and/or message. Pick a favorite Baudville theme, an event type, or a smart saying and we’ll seamlessly integrate all of the custom details that you want.

Your volunteers will have a personal reminder of your appreciation every time they put on their shirts, plus, when they’re sporting their tees, they’re also spreading your organization’s message and getting your name some public attention. We call that a win-win around here!

The Ultimate. If you want to create an unforgettable volunteer appreciation moment, you could combine all three of our ideas. They’ll be fed, clothed, and loved: quite the trifecta of appreciation, wouldn’t you say?

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Allison is a self-proclaimed Copywriting Diva and has the certificate to prove it! She’s been writing for Baudville for four years and has worked in a variety of business settings for more than 19 years. Before becoming a professional writer 12 years ago, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She’s what we call a true believer! 

For more than 20 years, USA WEEKEND Magazine and Points of Light have joined together to sponsor Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of community service. Millions of people join together on this day each year with one common goal: to improve the lives of others. >

Thanks to Newman's Own, you have the chance to win one of thirteen $10,000 grants to support your community, based on your Make a Difference Day event!

If you don't have anything planned yet, don't worry! Here are 5 ideas to get you started for National Make a Difference Day 2013!


1. Work Together As a Team. As we have found in our latest community service endeavor at Baudville, serving together as a team not only feels good, it builds camaraderie and bonds that would never come out of our day-to-day work. So gather your team, decide on a cause, and get out there and make a difference together!

2. Find Your Common Cause. Perhaps your workplace is already connected with an organization that could use your help. Or, perhaps someone in your organization has fallen on hard times – or one of their family members has. Get the word out that you're looking for ways to serve in your community. It could be something as common as serving in a local food pantry, cleaning up a local park, or doing some home improvements for a family in need.

3. Spread the Word! You may only have a couple of team members ready to get out there and pound the pavement with you – don't let that kill your mojo. Invite family members, friends, and co-workers from other departments to give their time and talents with you! Order t-shirts to build your sense of team and act as a keepsake from the event. Our "Making a Difference, It's What I Do" team shirts would be perfect!

4. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate. As the team leader, it's up to you to make sure everyone is informed. For first-time volunteers, it will probably be nerve-wracking leading up to the day. What can they expect? Are they ready? What should they bring? What SHOULDN'T they bring? Will they be uncomfortable? Will they offend someone? What should they wear? Should they bring something to eat and drink or will it be provided? How long will it last? Can they bring a friend, or their kids? Try to answer as many of these questions beforehand so your volunteers can put their minds at ease.

5. Have a Great Time & Take Pictures! You will have a great time together as a team – that's a guarantee. Document it with photos, do a few interviews of your volunteers, and the community you're serving, and after you're all done, talk about it. As much as you can. It will make you smile, and it will make you proud. Then start planning a time to do it again. Don't wait until next year – your heart, your team, and your community will thank you.

What are you doing for National Make a Difference Day 2013? Share your plans with us and then share your post-event pictures and stories – we'd love to hear about it!

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As a team member since 2005, Falon has worn just about every hat the 'ville has to offer. She's seen both sides of working life — as an employee and as a manager — so if it sounds like she knows what she's talking about, we're pretty sure that's why. When she's not juggling between the IDville and Baudville brands, she's been known to whip up a mean diorama - just like that!

Before I came to work at Baudville, I will have to admit that my volunteer experience was dismal. I had always fallen back on the excuse that I was too busy or just filled my weekend with other plans, as I am sure most of us are guilty of. 

However, Baudville has truly changed my outlook on volunteering. It is wonderful to be a part of a company that prides itself on giving back to the local community. Last year, the Baudville Team had a chance to help build a sensory riding trail for the Equest Center for Theraputic Riding. The Equest Center is a local nonprofit whose goal is to improve the lives of individuals with special needs through the power of the horse. I encourage you to read the testimonials of the parents and children of the Equest Center, but fair warning, have your tissues ready!

Each and every employee was given a chance to volunteer at Equest to help build the sensory trail. There was a lot of root pulling, hole digging, raking, paving, and many other tasks required to get this trail ready for riding. However, I think I am speaking for most of us here at the ‘ville when I say it was exhausting, but the outcome was so worth it! Watching kids be able to ride on the trail we paved for them and get such joy out of it provided instant gratification.

More recently, we have partnered with another local nonprofit, the Conductive Learning Center. CLC is an educational program for children with motor disabilities such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida. CLC helps children living with these disabilities gain independence to perform every day activities that we take for granted being able to do, like dress ourselves or brush our teeth.

Baudville has become part of Team CLC for the 5/3 Riverbank Run and has paid the entry fees for all 30 of our voluntary runners. Each runner is collecting pledges for CLC's "Champion a Child" scholarship fund, allowing even more children to experience the life-changing Conductive Education program. Baudville employees can also purchase casual days for the month of April, with 100% of the proceeds going to CLC. I was so inspired, I decided to challenge myself to run the 25k this year as part of Team Baudville on behalf of Team CLC!

Volunteering time, training, and a little bit of cash towards these organizations has given me an incredible amount of respect to people who spend their time volunteering for organizations that are close to their heart. Those who spend most of their weekends and time after work to give back to the community need to be recognized for all of their hard work and dedication! April 6-12 is National Volunteer Week so be sure to say thank you to those you know who take time out of their day to make a difference in someone's life! At the very least, take some time out of your busy schedule to volunteer for an organization that inspires you! I promise, it's worth it!

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Krista is the 'ville's Web Marketing Coordinator. She came to us in 2012 as part of our stellar Sales team. Using her experience with Baudville customers, she helps create an online experience we're sure you will enjoy! Being the chatterbox she is, she truly misses talking with all of you so don't be shy and drop her a line!

As a creative writing major in college I was required to complete a semester-long internship in the writing field. There weren't many "creative" writing gigs in our town so I opted for grant writing, but at the Children's Museum – at least part of the job had to be fun. Getting a little glimpse into the world of not-for-profit for 8 weeks really opened my eyes to the invaluable gift that volunteers bring to these organizations on a daily basis.

Volunteers have passion.
Volunteers hunger to make a difference.
                             Volunteers give.

This week – April 6-12, 2014 – is set aside as a time to thank your volunteers for all they do, for all they give, and for their time. Here are 5 low-cost, no-cost ways you can show your appreciation during National Volunteer Week.

1. Host a Meal. Ask the staff members to come together (pot-luck style) and prepare and serve a meal for your volunteers. Express your appreciation with a short speech and present each volunteer with a personalized certificate to thank them for their contributions.

2. Send an ePraise. Are your volunteers spread out across the state or country? Send individual ePraise cards to each of them! The more you personalize your message of appreciation, the more effective it will be! Send one now!

3. Make a Difference for the Difference Makers! Oftentimes volunteers give so much of their time and energy to the cause they serve that they neglect their own needs. Come together to help the helpers! Offer to help with some at-home fixes they may need, get their clothes dry cleaned for them, renew a magazine subscription, get their car washed, send them to get a massage, or take their pet to the local groomer.

4. Celebrate Great Character. Check out our vast line of Character Pins™ that give you the right sincere words of appreciation and include a keepsake lapel pin gift. Choose just the right story and pin for each of your special volunteers.

5. Ask for Help! If your volunteers serve your community or a group of people, ask one of the people whose lives they have touched to either write or communicate through video just how much your volunteers have impacted them personally. Share the stories with your volunteers during National Volunteer Week!

I don't know about you, but I love spring! The sun finally comes out, the birds begin to chirp, and we welcome our resident family of geese back to their summer home here at the 'ville. But the cherry on top is all the recognition events that happen in the spring! This week is National Volunteer Week, April 17 is National High 5 Day, Administrative Professional's Week is April 20, and then, in May, there are Teacher Appreciation Week and National Nurses Week. That's a lot of recognition! So, in staying festive I've picked my favorite springtime recognition gifts!

1. California Tumblers	With so many colors and messages to choose from, this gift will put a smile on your recipient's face. Pair it with a handwritten note and a Crystal Light On-the-Go packet and you have a fresh, new gift!
2. Mini Glass Candy Mason Jars	Filled with gourmet Jelly Beans, this gift is a tasty treat that lasts! Pair a Mini Glass Candy Mason Jar with one of our Mason Tumblers for a fun gift! We have a lot of great sentiments for Teachers and Nurses.
3. Glitter Lapel Pins	Add a little sparkle to your co-worker's day with our best-selling Glitter Lapel Pins! Glitter Lapel Pins are a fresh, new take on the classic lapel pin. Pair the Glitter Lapel Pin with our lapel pin presentation box for a completed gift.
4. Tervis	Tervis Tumblers® are a popular drinkware item that now features Baudville art! Tervis Tumblers will fit anyone in your work place. They hold hot or cold beverages and are dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe. Plus, they offer a Lifetime Guarantee and are Made in America!
5. Slingpack Bags	This bag is just the gift or giveaway for your summer picnics this year! For as low as $3.95 per bag, you can fill it up with our Color Splash Water Bottles and an Eye Popping Squeezie for a low cost gift giveaway. With ten different options to choose from you're guaranteed to find one that fits your team!

To find more recognition events, click here to visit our recognition event calendar.

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Kendra is Baudville's Product Coordinator. Using her awesome powers of organization and research, she brings new and innovative products to our customers. She is a recent graduate and is ready to help with your recognition wants and needs. Watch out, because this young professional just touched down at Baudville!

On the first day of the month, I saw a post in my newsfeed that said our main Grand Rapids Public Library would be closing permanently. My heart sank as I thought of that beautiful, iconic structure becoming obsolete—the place where I spent hours researching in college, the place where I tutored my ESL student every Monday night, the place that welcomed one and all to come through its doors to explore and learn. :sigh:

Thank goodness, it was later revealed to be an April Fool's Day joke! Not funny, I thought. But, I also thought: I hope it startled many people into remembering how important this free resource is to our community, and that it raised awareness that without public support, this joke could be a reality.

In the immortal words of Carl Sagan: 

"Books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors. The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully extracted from Nature, of the greatest minds that ever were, with the best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all our history, to instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species. I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries." -Carl Sagan, Cosmos

With that in mind, what can you do to support your local library—during National Library Week, or any day of the year?

Volunteer. Libraries rely on the generous time of their volunteers. If you have some extra time, consider giving it to help a library in your community. 

Pass on Your Used Books. Some libraries have more than enough, while others are in need of more books for their shelves. Find out it you have a needy library in your area and pack up those old books that are taking up space in your basement!

Make a Financial Donation. Money talks, friends. And charitable donations make great tax deductions (so I learned this year—cha-ching!).

Say Thank You. If my other ideas are a little more than you had in mind, at least say thank you to your local library for all they do to enrich your neighborhood. We have free ePraise cards for doing just that!

On April 21, in an undisclosed year in the 20th Century, I turned 21. My roommates threw a big shindig for me, which they cleverly called the Bearthday Party, combining the festivities of a milestone birthday with the commemoration of Earth Day, April 22. We were a clan of new bohemians who did things that weren't as common back then as they are now, like composting and recycling; tree hugging and rainbow gazing. So, this holiday was right in line with our lifestyle and a good reason to celebrate for 48 hours straight.

That was then, and this is 20 years & change later. What's happened since? Well, I started buying wrinkle cream, and words like sustainability, renewable resources, clean energy, and green consumerism have made it into the average person's vocabulary.

Earth Day celebrations now occur globally and have become a time for conversation, education, and conservation. If you're thinking about celebrating Earth Day, what can you do to make a difference?

Carpool. Or take the bus or train. Or ride your bike. Or even walk. The more you share rides, the less you tax the environment. And, if you travel with just the horsepower of your two legs—even better!

Save a tree. That means thinking before you print that email or 50-page annual report that you can just as easily view on screen. Or, paying a bill online or in person instead of mailing it. And, if you sign up for electronic statements, you'll reduce the amount of paper going in to your recycling bin.

Plant a tree. Trees provide so many benefits, I can't begin to list them all here. Good thing Tree People know their stuff so well and have shared their 22 reasons to plant and care for trees here.

Volunteer or Get Involved. At Baudville, we advocate for volunteering all year 'round, but if you want to do something special for Earth Day, then check out their Billion Acts of Green campaign. They have tons of ways to make an impact—many you might have never thought of!

Keep it up. The biggest change you can make is to take your Earth Day activities and spread them over days and months. Pretty soon, you'll be celebrating Earth Year!

Finally, if you're looking for gifts to reward eco-conscious behaviors on your team, you'll love our Growing Together theme. Check it out here!

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Allison is a self-proclaimed Copywriting Diva and has the certificate to prove it! She's been writing for Baudville for five years and has worked in a variety of business settings for 20 years. Before becoming a professional writer 13 years ago, Allison worked as a department manager where she used Baudville products to motivate her team. She's what we call a true believer!